The 'bodies' of fittings for pipe and tubing are most often of the same base material as the pipe or tubing being connected, e.g., copper, steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) ie; Flowguard or PlatinumXCELL or other plastic. However, any material that is allowed by code may be used, but must be compatible with the other materials in the system, the fluids being transported, and the temperatures and pressures inside and outside of the system. For example, brass-bodied fittings are common in otherwise copper piping and plumbing systems. Fire hazards, earthquakes, and other factors also influence fitting materials.
Common fittings for both piping and plumbing
While there are hundreds of specialized fittings manufactured, some fittings are used widely in piping and plumbing systems.
A pipe fitting installed between two lengths of pipe or tube allowing a change of direction, usually 90 or 45. The ends may be machined for butt welding, threaded (usually female), or socketed, etc. When the two ends differ in size, it is called a reducing or reducer elbow.
Most elbows are available in short radius or long radius of types. The short radius elbows have a center to end distance equal to the NPS in inches, while the long radius is 1.5 times the NPS in inches. Short elbows are universally available; long elbows are readily available in Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS, plastic), PVC for DWV, sewage and central vacuums, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) and copper for 1950s to 1960s houses with copper drains.
A variant of the elbow, typically of male to female connections; see Street elbow.
A tee is used to either combine or split a fluid flow. Most common are tees with the same inlet and outlet sizes, but 'reducing' tees are available as well. Tee-fittings are also an integral part of the computer-enthusiast level watercooling solutions found in many modern enthusiast PCs. The fitting is one of the three main components of a T-Line, alongside an end-cap or fillport and a length of tubing. They are plumbed into the system, with the perpendicular barb (and its attached stretch of tubing leading to a fillport or a cap).
A cross has one inlet and three outlets, or vice versa. Crosses are common in fire sprinkler systems, but not in plumbing due to their extra cost as compared to using two tees.
The three outlets should be named in order; left, middle , right. For example 15-22-15
A type of pipe fitting, often liquid or gas tight, which covers the end of a pipe. A cap has a similar function to a plug. In plumbing systems that use threads the cap has female threads.
A plug closes off the end of a pipe. It is similar to a cap but it fits inside the fitting it is mated to. In a threaded iron pipe plumbing system, plugs have male threads.
Short stub of pipe, usually threaded iron, brass, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC)or copper; occasionally just bare copper. A nipple is defined as being a short stub of pipe which has two male ends. Nipple are commonly used for plumbing and hoses, and second as valves for funnels and pipes.
Additional common fittings for plumbing systems
The closet flange is the drain pipe flange to which a 'water closet' (toilet) is attached.
Clean-outs are fittings that allow access to drains without removing plumbing fixtures. They are used for allowing an 'auger' or 'plumber's snake' to 'clean out' a plugged drain. Clean-outs should be placed in accessible locations throughout a drainage system, and outside the building as these augers have limited length. The minimum is typically at the end of each branch, just ahead of each water closet, at the base of each stack, and both inside and outside the building in the building drain/sewer. Clean-outs normally have screw-on caps. Clean-outs are also known as 'rodding eyes' from the eye-shaped cover plates used on external versions.
Trap primers regularly inject water into traps so that water seals are maintained. This seal is necessary to keep sewer gases out of buildings.
A combination tee (combo tee) is a tee with a gradually curving center connecting joint. It's used in drain systems to provide a smooth, gradually curving path to reduce the likelihood of clogs and to ease pushing a plumber's snake through a drain system. The "combo" is a combination of a wye and a 1/8 bend or 45 elbow.
A sanitary tee is a tee with a curved center section designed to minimize the possibility of siphon action that could draw water out of a trap. The center connection is generally connected to the pipe which leads to a trap (the trap arm).
Double Sanitary Tee (Sanitary Cross)
Similar to a cross. This fitting differs from a standard cross in that two of the ports have curved inlets. The fitting has been used in the past for connecting the drains of back to back fixtures (such as back to back bathroom sinks). Some current codes (including the 2006 UPC) preclude the use of this fitting for that purpose. Instead a Double Fixture Fitting is required.
A type of waste fitting tee which has the side inlet pipe entering at a 45 angle.
Hydraulics use extremely high fluid pressures to create useful work, such as in the actuators for machinery such as backhoes. As such the hydraulic fittings are designed and rated for much greater pressures than those experienced in general piping systems and they are generally not compatible for use in general plumbing. More information on hydraulics and their fittings can be found in the hydraulic machinery article.
A threaded pipe is a pipe with screw-threaded ends for assembly.
A coupling connects two pipes to each other. If the material and size of the pipe are not the same, the fitting may be called a 'reducing coupling' or reducer, or an adapter. The term 'expander' is not used for a coupler that increases pipe size; instead 'reducer' is used.
A union is similar to a coupling, except it is designed to allow quick and convenient disconnection of pipes for maintenance or fixture replacement. While a coupling would require either solvent welding or being able to rotate all the pipes adjacent as with a threaded coupling, a union provides a simple nut transition, allowing easy release at any time.
In addition to a standard union, there exist dielectric unions which are used to separate dissimilar metals (such as copper and galvanized steel) to avoid the damaging effects of galvanic corrosion. When two dissimilar metals are placed in an acidic solution (most tap water is mildly acidic), they will form a battery and generate a voltage by electrolysis. When the two metals are in contact with each other the current from one metal to the other will cause a movement of ions from one to the other, dissolving one metal and depositing it on the other. A dielectric union breaks the electric current with a plastic liner between two halves of the union, thus limiting galvanic corrosion.
A solvent is applied to PVC piping that dissolves and fuses the adjacent surfaces of piping. This is used with a sleeve-type joint.
Flux is applied to the inner sleeve of a sleeve type joint. The joint is then heated using a propane or MAPP gas torch, solder is applied to the heated joint, and the solder is drawn into the joint as the flux vaporizes.
Fuel gas, steam, and other piping
Rainwater, surface, and subsurface water drainage
Traps, Drains, and Vents
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: fitting
the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
the International Code Council
the American Society for Testing and Materials
Society of Piping Engineers and Designers (Society of piping professionals with many resources and technical information)
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