Introduction to Pipe Fittings

Pipe Fittings are an important piping component that helps in changing the direction of the flow such as elbows, tees, changes the size of the pipe such as reducers, reducing tees, distribute the water supply from the main pipe to other pipes of equal size or lower size, etc. connect different components such as couplings and stop the flows such as caps. In plumbing, many types of fixtures are joined with the help of various types of material such as metallic or plastic, as per the requirement. Pipe fittings vary depending on the type of pipe used. Pipe fittings basically include the range of components that are used to connect pipe ends for in-line, multi-port, offset and mounting configurations. Pipe fitting cross sections are mostly, but not always, circular in shape to match with the pipe section with which they are connected.

As one of the biggest manufacturer of steel pipes and pipe fittings manufacturer in India, Metallica carries inventory of over 15,000 tons in its warehouses in Mumbai, Maharashtra India.

Types of Pipe Fittings

Fittings are divided into the following 4 groups:

Buttweld Pipe Fittings

  • A butt weld pipe fitting is a type of pipe fitting, which is designed to be welded on site to connect pipes together. Welding of a buttweld pipe fitting to pipes or other fittings is generally done to allow change in direction of the piping system. Buttweld fittings are generally identified or inquired in nominal pipe sizes with specified pipe schedule. Buttweld fitting’s dimensions and tolerances are defined as per ASME B16.9 standard. All buttweld pipe fittings have beveled ends as per ASME B16.25 standard. This helps create full penetration weld without any extra preparation needed for the butt weld fitting.
  • Manufacturing buttweld fittings – A butt weld pipe fitting is made by the process of hot forming that includes bending and forming to shape. The starting material of butt weld fitting is a pipe that is cut to length, heated and molded into specific shapes by means of dies. Heat treatment is also done to remove residual stresses and obtain desired mechanical properties. Sch 10 fittings are also more common in stainless steel butt weld fitting, while SCH 40 is common for carbon steel butweld fittings.
Pipes Bends
Size3″-48″
Radius3D, 4D, 5D, 6D, 8D, 10D
Angles22.5Deg, 30Deg, 45Deg, 60Deg, 90Deg
Pipe Fitting StandardANSI B16.9, ANSI B16.11, ANSI B16.28, DIN 2605, DIN2615, DIN2616, JIS B2312, JIS B2313
Pipe Fitting Material
Carbon SteelASTM A 234 WPB, A420 WPL1, WPL3, WPL6, ASTM A860 WPHY 42, WPHY52, WPHY60, WPHY65, WPHY70
Stainless SteelASTM A403 WP304/304L, WP316/316L, WP321, WP347
Alloy SteelASTM A234 WP1, WP5, WP9, WP11, WP12, WP22, WP91
Duplex & Super Duplex SteelASTM A815 UNS S31803, UNS S32750, UNS S32760
Pipe Fitting Schedule
Carbon Steel & Alloy SteelSTD, XS, XXS, SCH10-SCH160
Stainless SteelSCH5S, 10S, 40S, 80S
Pipe Fitting Size
Carbon Steel1/2″-96″
Stainless Steel1/2″ – 24″ (Seamless and Welded), 26″ – 72″ (Welded)
  • All our products are supplied with Test certificates as per EN 10204 3.1

Forged Pipe Fittings

  • Threaded Pipe Fittings  – 90° Elbow, 45° Elbow, Threaded Tee, Threaded Cross, Full Coupling, Half Coupling, Reducing Coupling, Pipe Cap, Hex Head Bushing, Hex Head Plug, Square Head Plug, Round Head Plug, Threaded Union, Hex Nipple, Bull Plug, Boss, Swage Nipple, Pipe Nipple, Adapter, Union (Male x Female), Branch Outlet, 90° Elbow Outlet, Threaded Street Elbow, Threaded Lateral Tee, Lateral Outlet, Nipple Branch Outlet
  • Socket Weld Pipe Fittings – 90° Elbow, 45° Elbow, Tee, Cross, Full Coupling, Half Coupling, Pipe Cap, Union, Reducer Insert, Boss, Branch Outlet, 90° Elbow Outlet, 45° Lateral Tee, Lateral Outlet, Branch Outlet Butt Weld, 90° Elbow, Outlet Butt Weld, Lateral Outlet Butt Weld, Nipple Branch Outlet Butt Weld
Socket Weld Fittings
Socket Weld 90 Degree Elbow – ASME B16.11Socket Weld Cross Tee – ASME B16.11
Socket Weld 45 Degree Elbow – ASME B16.11Socket Weld Lateral Tee – ASME B16.11
Socket Weld Tee – ASME B16.11Socket Weld Reducing Insert – MSS SP-79
Threaded Pipe Fittings
Threaded 90 Degree Elbow – ASME B16.11Threaded Street Elbow – ASME B16.11
Threaded 45 Degree Elbow – ASME B16.11Threaded Lateral Tee – ASME B16.11
Threaded Tee – ASME B16.11Threaded Adapter – ASME B16.11
Threaded Cross – ASME B16.11
Threaded Plugs & Bushings
Threaded Square Head Plug – ASME B16.11Threaded Hexagon Head Bushing – ASME B16.11
Threaded Round Head Plug – ASME B16.11Threaded Flush Bushing – ASME B16.11
Threaded Hexagon Head Plug – ASME B16.11
Coupling Reducers and Caps – ASME B16.11
Threaded Coupling – ASME B16.11Socket Weld Coupling – ASME B16.11
Threaded Half Coupling – ASME B16.11Socket Weld Half Coupling – ASME B16.11
Threaded Pipe Cap – ASME B16.11Socket Weld Cap – ASME B16.11
Union – MSS-SP 83
Socket Weld Union – MSS SP-83Socket Weld x Female Threaded Union – MSS-SP83
Threaded Union – MSS SP-83Butt Weld Union – MSS-SP83
Male x Female Threaded Union – MSS-SP83Lug Nut Union
Outlets (Olets) – MSS-SP97
Butt Weld Outlet – MSS-SP97Lateral Outlet – MSS-SP97
Socket Weld Outlet – MSS-SP97Nipple Outlet – MSS-SP97
Threaded Outlet – MSS SP-97Sweep Outlet – ASME B31.3, MSS SP97
Elbow Outlet – MSS-SP97Flanged Nipple Outlet
Swage Nipple and Bull Plugs – MSS SP-95, BS 3799
Pipe Nipple and Hex Nipple
  • Click on the above names, to view dimensions of respective products

Metallica is a well known manufacturer and supplier of forged pipe fitting for the clients from oil and gas, petrochemicals, railway, construction and other industries. We manufacture different size and shapes of forged pipe fittings by open die forging, closed die forging and drop forging. Our main products include socket weld and threaded pipe fittings in size range of 1/4″ to 4″ (6mm-100mm), with pressure rating of 2000LBS, 3000LBS, 6000LBS, and 9000LBS. The most common and materials include ASTM A105, ASTM A182 F304, F316, F304L, F316L, and A182 F5/F9/F11/F22/F91. In nickel alloys we produce socket welded and threaded pipe fittings in various grades such as Alloy 200, 201, 400, K500, 600, 625, 800H/HT, 825, X-750, C276, Hastelloy B & C22.

Forged socket weld and threaded pipe fittings are generally used for small size pipes and piping systems (generally below 4 inches in diameter for Class 3000, and below 2 inches for fittings in class 6000 and 9000). Forged pipe fittings are manufactured by forging, followed by heat treatment and machining solid steel as per ASME B16.11 and other dimensional standards. For bigger size piping systems buttweld pipe fittings produced as per ASME B16.9 are used.

Product Specification for Forged Pipe Fittings

ProductForged Pipe Fittings
ConnectionScrewed or Threaded (M/F), Socket Weld
TypePipe Union, Cross, Elbow, Tee, Half Coupling, Full Coupling, Branch Outlets, Forged Plug, Hexagon Bushing, Plugs, Inserts, Caps
Size1/2″ to 4″
Pressure Rating2000#, 3000#, 6000#, 9000# or 2000LB, 3000LB, 6000LB, 9000LB
Process methodForged, CNC Machined
Standards:ASME/ANSI B16.11, MSS SP 83, MSS SP 97, MSS SP 95
CertificationEN 10204 3.1
  • Forged pipe fittings are available in both socket weld and threaded ends.

Forged Fittings Materials & Grades

Carbon SteelASTM A105/N, ASTM A350LF2, LF3, LF6
Duplex2205(F51/60), 2507(F53)
Chrome MolySA182, F1, F5, F5a, F9, F9l, F11, F12, F22
Stainless Steel304/L/H, 316/L/H, 310, 317L, 321/H, 347/H, 410, 416, 420, 17-4, 440, Alloy 20
Nickel Alloys200, 201, 400, K500, 600, 625, 800H/HT, 825, X-750, C276, Hastelloy B & C22
  • Forged pipe fittings are also available in other grades on request

Flanges

  • A steel flange (forged, cut from plate, or rolled) comes in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different applications. A flange is usually in the shape of a round disc and is used to connect two pipes together or to connect a pipe to a pressure vessel, valve, pump, integral flanged assembly or other component. A flange comes with holes for bolts around the rim. Bolts are used to connect two flanges which are typically attached to pipe ends with a gasket in between.
  • Flanges are available in multiple shapes, as welding neck (the pipe is welded to the collar of the flange), threaded (the pipe is screwed on the flange), socket weld (fillet welds connections), lap joint (for connections using stub ends), slip on, etc. A flange can also be a plate for covering or closing the end of a pipe. This is called a blind flange. Thus, flanges are considered to be internal components which are used to support mechanical parts.
  • The ASME B16.5 and ASME B16.47 specifications cover US standard pipe flanges, the EN 1092-1 specification covers European steel flanges.
  • A flange can be produced and designed to the specific pressure ratings; 150lb, 300lb, 400lb, 600lb, 900lb, 1500lb and 2500lb.

What are the Various Types of Flanges?

A flange can be characterized and classified in various ways such as:

-Types of Connection
-Flange facing Types
-Pressure Temperature Ratings
-Material Types

Anchor FlangesLong Weld Neck Flanges
Blind FlangesOrifice Flanges
Expander FlangesWelding Neck Flanges
High Hub FlangesRing Type Joint Flanges (RTJ)
Lap Joint FlangesPlate Flanges
Spades & Ring SpacersThreaded Flanges
Reducing FlangesSlip On Flanges
Socket Weld FlangesSpectacle Blind Flanges
Square FlangesNipoflanges
  • Click on the above names, to view details of respective products

Some of the Most Widely Used Pipe Fittings for Piping Systems

There are different types of pipe fitting used in piping.

1. Adapters: Adapters are an extremely important pipe fitting that extend or terminate pipe runs. They are used to connect dissimilar pipes. These fittings are somewhat similar to pipe couplings, with the difference that they connect pipe of different types, one of which is an IPS (Iron Pipe Size). AdaptersThese 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.

2. Elbows: Elbows, also known as “ells,” are used to change the direction of the flow. ElbowsA common example of an elbow fitting in the home is the piece that extends from the wall of your shower to which the shower head connects. They are majorly available in two standard types – 90 and 45 degree angles owing to their high demand in plumbing.

3. Couplings: A coupling is a pipe fitting used to stop leakages Couplingsin 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 basic function of Couplings and Union is simply to connect two pieces of pipe or tubing. Therefore, couplings and unions are generally quite short fittings. 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.

4. Olet: These fittings are used when the standard size of the fittings fails to serve the purpose. Whenever branch connections are required in size where reducing tees are not available and/or when the branch connections are of smaller size as compared to header size, olets are generally used.

5. Union: This type of pipe fitting is almost similar unionto coupling in terms of functions i.e. to connect two pieces of pipe or tubing, but just with a difference, i.e. couplings are designed to be somewhat permanent and are often welded in place or secured by a series of bolts and nuts, while unions are designed to be easily removed at any time.. 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.

6. Nipple: Nipple It is a piece of pipe having thread at both sides, and
could be used for short extension of plumbing lines. It can also be used for connecting two fittings within small distance.

7. 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. It is used to connect pipes of different diameters. A
reducer may be of various types like reducer tee, reducer elbow and reducer socket. ReducerThe 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 the connecting pipe reducing the chances of air accumulation.

8. Tee: This T-shaped pipe fitting used in the plumbingtee system has one inlet and two outlets arranged at an angle of 90 degrees to the main pipe. Pipe tee is used for distributing or collecting the fluid from the run pipe. There are two types of Tee used in piping, Equal / Straight Tee and Reducing / Unequal Tee. 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.

9. Cross: Cross is also known as four-way pipe fitting. A cross has one inlet and three outlets (or vice versa). Generally, crosses are not used in process piping to transport fluid. But forged crosses are common in the fire water sprinkler line.cross

10. Flanges: A flange is another pipe fitting used to connect pipes,Flanges 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.

11. Caps & Plugs: A cap, as its name suggests, is a cap that goes over the end of a pipe, creating a dead end. Plugs also stop up a pipe or tube system, but are plugged, like a stopper, into the end of the pipe.Caps & Plugs 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.

12. Bushings: BushingsIt is used to join two pipes of different sizes. Bushings are not always threaded inside out and occupy very little space in comparison to a union or coupling used for the same purpose. A type of backflow preventer installed in a pipe run that allows water to flow in only one direction.

13. Wyes: It is a type of Tee which has the branch at a 45° angle, or an angle other than 90°. Wye tee allows one pipe to be joined to another at a 45° angle. This type of tee reduces friction and turbulence that could hamper the flow. Wye tee is also known as a lateral.Wyes

14. Valves: Valves are used in the plumbing system to stop Valvesthe flow of gases or liquids. There are of three types – throttling, isolation, and non-return. But the one unifying attribute is that they control the flow of fluids and gases through a system.Some common types of valves are butterfly, gate, globe and ball. Sink and shower/bathtub faucets are among the most common types of valves.

15. Barb:Barb

A “barb” or “hose barb” fitting is used to connect flexible hose or tubing to pipes. A barb fitting typically has a male-threaded end used to mate with female threads. The other end of the fitting has either a single- or multiple-barbed tube having a tapered stub with ridges, which is inserted into a flexible hose to secure it.

16. Diverter tee: Diverter teeThis 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.

Various types of pipe joints are as follows:-

  1. Threaded joint
  2. Welded joint (butt welded, socket welded)
  3. Brazed joint
  4. Soldered joint
  5. Grooved joint
  6. Flanged joint
  7. Compression joint