While not flashy or exciting, pipe fittings are crucial to the success of plumbing systems. This is because they allow pipes to connect to form a cohesive setup. Without fittings, pipes would be unable to form a seal with each other, and liquids would not be able to flow to your faucets and fixtures. Thousands of combinations of pipe sizes, materials, and thread types demand a need for thousands of types of pipe fittings. In this article, you can learn about the most popular types of pipe fittings used in household plumbing systems, the materials used to make them, and tips on how to select the right fitting for your system.

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What is a pipe fitting?

Pipe fittings are used to join plumbing components to allow for many types of configurations. They are used to either extend or change the direction of flow in a plumbing system. Pipe fittings are available in many different sizes and materials, allowing compatibility with many different types and sizes of pipe. Within a plumbing system, a pipe fitting can change the direction of the flow of liquid, extend the length of a pipe run, or change the flow rate of liquids or gases. The material, size, and type of fitting a system requires is determined by the pipe size, pipe material, the liquids used in the system, and the pressures within and outside of the system.

Types of pipe fittings

Many types of pipe fittings are used in plumbing systems, but some are used more often than others. We include some of the most popular types of fittings below. For an all-encompassing look at pipe fitting types and terms, refer to our pipe fitting glossary.

What materials are used for pipe fittings?

Pipe fittings, just like pipes, are made from a wide array of materials. The materials used in a fitting must be compatible with the material of the pipes it is connecting. As a result, fittings are made from many of the same materials as pipes. Some of the most common materials used for pipe fittings include PVC, CPVC, copper, steel, brass, ABS, HDPE, and polypropylene. When selecting the material for your pipe fitting, ensure it can handle the temperatures, liquids or gases, and pressures within your system.

How to choose the right pipe fitting

When choosing a pipe fitting for your application, you must focus on three details of your pipes: their materials, sizes, and fitting standards.

Material

The material of your pipe fitting must be compatible with the material of your pipes. As a general rule, the same material should be used for both the pipe fitting and the pipe it is connected to. This ensures that both components are well suited for the application they are used for. In cases where pipes of different materials must be connected, transition fittings are used. These fittings contain one material on one end and a different material on the other. This allows for pipes of different materials to integrate seamlessly as long as the materials are compatible with the application they are used for.

Sizes

The size of fittings is an obviously important factor in selecting the correct fittings for your system. Without precise sizing, there will be no seal, and the system will not function properly. If you need to connect two pipes or fittings of different sizes or standards, there is an adapter fitting that will suit your needs. Read below to learn more about how pipe fittings are measured.

Learn more: How to determine pipe thread type and size

Fitting standards

Pipe fitting standards are determined by a governing body to determine how pipes and fittings join together. Some of the most common pipe standards include NPT, NPTF, BSPT, BSPP, SAE, UN, and UNF. Because these standards are determined by governing bodies, they differ based on location. For example, NPT (National Pipe Thread) is the most popular US standard for tapered thread fittings. BSP (British Standard Pipe), on the other hand, is the popular standard in Great Britain, Australia, and the commonwealth countries.

The standard of fitting you need is determined by the standard of your pipes. When connecting pipes of two different standards, use an adapter fitting that is suited to your pipes&#; respective sizes and standards.

Learn more: Common pipe thread types

 

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Home / Pipe Fitting by Types

Pipe Fitting by Types

Pipe fittings are widely demanded for any piping and plumbing systems used in industrial and commercial applications. Fittings allow pipes to be joined or installed in the appropriate place and terminated or closed where necessary. Fittings are available in various shapes and sizes. They can be expensive, require time, and different materials and tools to install. They are an essential part of piping and plumbing systems. There are thousands of specialized fittings manufactured. Each type of pipe or tube requires its own type of fitting, but usually all pipe fittings share some common features. Pipe fittings are available everywhere where plumbing materials are sold.

Pipe Fittings Types & Their Functions

1. Elbows: Such pipe fittings are used to change the direction of the flow. They are majorly available in two standard types - 90 and 45 degree angles owing to their high demand in plumbing. The 90 degree elbow is primarily used to connect hoses to water pumps, valves, and deck drains, while the 45 degree elbow is mostly used in water supply facilities, electronic and chemical industrial pipeline networks, food, air-conditioning pipelines, garden production, agriculture, and solar-energy facility.

Available in: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS plastic), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chrome-plated brass, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), stainless steel, malleable (galvanized and black), and copper.

2. Couplings: A coupling is a pipe fitting used to stop leakages in broken or damaged pipes. The pipes to be connected should be of the same diameter. The two kinds of couplings used in plumbing are regular coupling and slip coupling. The regular coupling is arranged between the two pipes to prevent further leakages with the help of rubber seals or gaskets on the both sides. The slip coupling itself contains two pipes to repair the damaged lengthy pipes.

Available in: ABS, brass, copper, chrome-plated brass, CPVC, PVC, malleable (galvanized and black), and stainless steel.

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3. Union: This type of pipe fitting is almost similar to coupling in terms of functions, but just with a difference, i.e. a union can be removed easily any time while the coupling cannot. A variety of dielectric unions are used to join pipes made of different materials to avoid any kind of galvanic corrosion between them. These pipe fittings comprise of a nut, female and male ended threads.

Available in: Brass, copper, chrome-plated brass, malleable (galvanized and black), PVC, CPVC, and stainless steel.

4. Adapters: Adapters are connected to pipes to either increase their lengths or if pipes do not have appropriate ends. These pipe fittings make the ends of the pipe either male or female threaded as per the need. This permits unlike pipes to be connected without any need of extensive setup. They are mostly used for PVC and copper pipes.

Available in: ABS, CPVC, copper, malleable (galvanized and black), PVC, brass, and stainless steel.

5. Nipple: This is a short butt of a pipe that works as a connection between two other fittings having male threads. A close nipple is a type of pipe fitting having continuous threading on them. They are mostly used in hoses and plumbing.

Available in: Brass, chrome-plated brass, malleable (galvanized and black), PVC, copper, and stainless steel.

6. Reducer: This pipe setting is used to reduce the flow size of the pipe from the bigger to smaller one. There are two kinds of reducers- concentric reducer and eccentric reducer. The former one is in the shape of a cone used for gradual reducing of the size of the pipe. The latter one has its one edge facing the mouth of theconnecting pipe reducing the chances of air accumulation.

7. Tee: This T-shaped pipe fitting used in the plumbing system has one inlet and two outlets arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to the main pipe. This kind of fitting is used to connect the two pipes and make their flow direction as one. If all the three sides of this fitting are same in size, it is called equal tee, otherwise unequal tee.

Available in: ABS, copper, CPVC, PVC, brass, chrome-plated brass, malleable (galvanized and black), and stainless steel.

8. Cross: This type of pipe fitting contains four openings in all thefour major directions. This fitting is adjoined to four pipes meeting at common point. There is either one inlet and three outlets or vice-versa to flow water or any other liquid in four different directions. These kinds of pipe fittings are commonly used in fire sprinkler systems.

Available in: PVC, brass, malleable (galvanized and black), and stainless steel.

9. Flanges: A flange is another pipe fitting used to connect pipes, pumps, valves, and other components to form a full-fledged piping system. They come with a flexibility of easily cleaning or inspecting the whole system from within. They are fixed to the pipes using welding, threading or screwing techniques and then finally sealed with the help of bolts. They are used in residential pump systems and majorly for industrial purposes.

Available in: Brass, copper, malleable (galvanized and black), and PVC.

10. Caps & Plugs: Both these pipe fittings are used to close the ends of the pipe either temporarily or permanently. The plugs are fitted inside the pipe and threaded to keep the pipe for future use. There are a good number of ways a cap can be applied to the pipe like soldering, glue, or threading depending on the material of the pipe.

Available in: ABS, brass, copper, chrome-plated brass, malleable (galvanized and black), CPVC, PVC, and stainless steel.

11. Bushings: These pipe fittings are used to combine pipes of different sizes together by decreasing the size of the larger fitting to the size of the smaller pipe. Bushings are not always threaded inside out and occupy very little space in comparison to a union or coupling used for the same purpose.

Available in: ABS, chrome-plated brass, copper, brass, CPVC, PVC, stainless steel, and malleable (galvanized and black).

12. Wyes: Such type of pipe fittings are used in drainage systems and have a branch line at 45 degrees to keep the flow of water smooth. When the sanitary tees fail to work in a horizontal connection, such cases needs a wye.

Available in: Brass, ABS, and PVC.

13. Valves: Valves are used in the plumbing system to stop the flow of gases or liquids. There are of three types &#; throttling, isolation, and non-return. The isolation valves are used to disconnect a part of the piping system temporarily for maintenance or repair. The throttling valves are used to regulate the amount of pressure of a liquid in a pipe; they can also withstand the stress caused by this process.

14. Barb: A barb is another useful pipe fitting used in the plumbing system that connects flexible tubing to pipes. It has a male-threaded end on one side that connects with the female threads, and the other end has a single or a multi-barbed tube that is inserted in the flexible tubing.

Available in: Brass for hot water uses and plastic for cold water.

15. Diverter tee: This kind of a tee-shaped pipe fitting is commonly used in the pressurized hydronic heating systems to redirect a part of the flow from the main line to the side branch connected to a heat exchanger.

16. Olet: These fittings are used when the standard size of the fittings fails to serve the purpose. How are pipe fittings connected to pipes?
Pipe fittings are either male fittings or female fittings. In threaded pipe fittings, female threads are on the inside while male threads are on the outside. Pipe fittings that have one female end and one male end are called street fittings. Pipe fittings are used to connect pipes or tubes in two ways:

• By threading: Threaded pipes screw together to connect or join. Generally metal pipes are threaded and they have threaded fittings.
• By slip fit: Slip fit pipes use sleeves that slip into one another. The plastic pipes are either threaded or slip fit.

Accordingly pipe fittings are organized as follows:

• Male threaded: Exterior threads. Are screwed into the inside of pipe end of a larger diameter with internal threading.
• Female threaded: Interior threads. Receive male threaded pipe fittings.
• Male slip fit: There are no threads. Receive a narrower.
• Female slip fit: Female slip fit: There are no threads. Made to slip into slightly larger male sleeve.

Purpose of a pipe fitting:

The basic purposes of any pipe fitting are as follows:

• Connecting the bores of two or more pipes or tubes.
• Connecting pipe sections.
• Connecting a pipe to a different apparatus.
• Changing the direction of fluid/liquid flow.
• Maintaining or regulating the flow.
• Closing and sealing a pipe.

Selection criteria for pipe fittings:

Pipe fittings are to be chosen considering certain factors. They are as follows:

• Connection types: When purchasing pipe fittings, you should be aware of the fact that a fitting can have two different connector types. One end of the fitting might be female threaded while the other female threaded. One end might be male slip while the other end is threaded, in the case of plastic fittings. They can also have matching ends which can accommodate any requirement.
• Materials of construction: As a rule, the pipe fitting should be of the same material as the material used in the making of the pipe in which it is to be fitted. However, in some cases, materials conforming to certain codes or standards can also be used in pipes of another material.
• Check for flow: To keep the flow consistent, the ends of pipe fittings should be slightly larger than the rest of the pipe so that they can accommodate connections without narrowing the inner diameter (ID) of the pipe.
• Type of fitting: Besides pipe materials, pipe fittings are identified by the type of fitting &#; threaded or slip, male or female.
• Size: When measuring the size of pipe fittings, it is to be noted that the male threaded fittings are measured to the outside edge or OD, while female fittings are measured to the inside edge of the inlet or ID.
• Thickness: Just as pipes are available in a number of different thicknesses or "schedules", so also the pipe fittings.
• Design: Each pipe or tube is designed to carry certain specific types of fluids, liquids, gases, chemicals under varying conditions. Accordingly, the pipe fittings are also available in variety of designs.
• Standards and codes: There are certain standards and codes set by various organizations by which the different pipe fittings are graded. For example, ASTM, ASME, BSP etc. are certain standards assigned to pipe fittings and those standards dictate their use.

Pipe Fittings based on Purposes :

Depending on the purposes served, pipe fittings can be categorized as under:

• Pipe fittings to extend or terminate pipe runs: For example, Couplings, Adapters, Unions , Caps and Plugs Pipe.
• Fittings to change a pipe's direction: For example , Elbows
• Pipe fittings to connect two or more pipes: For example: Tees, Cross, Side-inlet Elbows, Wyes
• Pipe fittings to change pipe size: For example, Reducers, Bushings, Couplings
• Pipe fittings to manage or regulate flow: For example, Valves
• Pipe fitting tools: For example, Pipe fasteners
• Pipe flanges

On the basis of the above categories, we give below an idea about the various types of pipe fittings available in the market.

The basic purposes of any pipe fitting are as follows:Pipe fittings are to be chosen considering certain factors. They are as follows:Depending on the purposes served, pipe fittings can be categorized as under:On the basis of the above categories, we give below an idea about the various types of pipe fittings available in the market.