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pipingdesigners.com Training Seminar

Section - I
C: Fittings (Just the basics)

By: James O. Pennock

Definition:
A fitting is a pipe ite m use d for changing dire ction, branching or attaching in a piping syste m . The re are m any diffe re nt type s of fittings
and the y are produce d in all the sam e size s and we ights (sche dule s) as the pipe . Fittings are com m only se gre gate d into thre e groups;
Butt-we ld, Sock e t-we ld and Scre we d. O nly the m ost com m on will be discusse d in this article .

Materials of construction:
Lik e pipe , fittings are fabricate d from se ve ral diffe re nt type s of m ate rial and usually m atch the m ate rial of the pipe to which the y are
be ing attache d. Som e fittings are C ast Iron, som e are Malle able Iron, som e are Forge d Ste e l and othe rs are e ve n fabricate d from rolle d
Ste e l Plate . The m ost use d m ate rials are again com m on carbon ste e l, along with chrom e s, stainle ss ste e l, iron, brass, coppe r, le ad,
alum inum , glass, rubbe r and various type s of plastic and plastic line d m e tal m ate rials.

Fitting Types:
Norm ally, fittings fall into thre e basic type s or cate gorie s. The se are In-line , O n-line and C losure s. The In-line fittings include e lbows
(Ells), Te e s, C ouplings and R e duce rs. The O n-line fittings include a wide varie ty of "O -Le t" fittings use d prim arily for m ak ing branch
conne ctions. The closure fittings are various type s of caps and plugs use d to close the e nd of a pipe syste m . W e also will discuss som e
case s whe re the re are alte rnate s to the se norm al cate gorie s.

Butt-Welded Fittings
Elbows (Ells):

An Elbow is a piping fitting use d for changing dire ction. The re are five basic ve rsions of e lbows. The first and by far the m ost com m on is
the 90 long radius Ell. The se cond is the 45 long radius Ell. The third is the 90 short radius Ell. The fourth is the long radius re ducing
Ell. The fifth ve rsion is the long radius 180 R e turn Be nd. The basic Butt-W e ld Ell is m anufacture d in 90 or 45 configurations as a
standard. Howe ve r for spe cial orde r and e x tra cost, the large size s can be m ade in othe r de gre e s of turn.

The standard Butt-W e ld e lbows (90, 45 and 180 ) can be alte re d to m e e t any spe cial angle ne e ds of a piping syste m . Elbows lik e pipe
can be flam e cut or m achine cut to the re quire d angle . The rough e nd is the n ground or m achine be ve le d to the prope r angle for we lding.

The re is norm ally no harm to the fitting whe n this is done .

The re is norm ally no harm to the fitting whe n this is done .

The te rm s "Long R adius" and "Short R adius" are im portant to unde rstand. "Long R adius" m e ans that the ce nte r to e nd dim e nsion is one
and a half tim e s the nom inal pipe size .

Example:

Nom inal Line Size (and C e nte r-te nd of C e nte r-to-e nd of long
short radius Ell) radius Ell
4" 6"
10" 15"
14" 21"
20" 30"
24" 36"

"Short R adius" m e ans that the ce nte r to e nd dim e nsion is e qual to the nom inal pipe size . This m e ans that the ce nte r-to-e nd for a 4"
short radius Ell is 4", for a 10" Ell the ce nte r-to-e nd is 10" and so on.

The long radius Ell is the de fault standard. All e lbows shown in a syste m are assum e d to be long radius 90 Ells unle ss note d othe rwise .
This m e ans that the de signe r m ust call out any and all e x ce ptions to this rule . If the Ell is a 90 long radius Ell the n the e lbow sym bol is
all that is re quire d. Howe ve r, if the Ell is a 45 Ell the n the de signe r m ust add the notation "45 Ell" ne x t to the e lbow sym bol. If the Ell is
a 90 short radius Ell the n the de signe r m ust place the notation S. R . ne x t to the e lbow sym bol. Also if the e lbow has be e n trim m e d to
any odd angle this too m ust be note d ne x t to the fitting.

As state d above the 90 long radius Ell is the de fault standard and is the m ost use d. The de signe d should use the long radius Ell at all
tim e s unle ss conditions e x ist that force anothe r choice . The short radius 90 Ell should only be use d whe n tight space doe s not allow the
long radius. The 45 Ell is norm ally use d whe re a sim ple offse t is re quire d for som e purpose . The 180 Ell is use d m ostly by e quipm e nt
m anufacture rs to form he ating or cooling coils. R e turn Be nds are not norm ally re quire d by the piping de signe r unle ss the re is a
re quire m e nt to fabricate a com ple x configuration.

The purpose of the 90 long radius R e ducing Ell is to do the job of an e lbow and a re duce r. (R e duce rs will be cove re d late r.) As such this
Ell is m ade with one e nd of one size and the othe r e nd one or two line size s sm alle r. The using of the re ducing Ell is not che ape r; it only
tak e s le ss room . The "long radius" dim e nsion for the 90 long radius re ducing Ell is base d on the size of the large e nd.

Be cause the long radius and short radius de signation of the 90 Ells are base d on the nom inal pipe size the de signe r quick ly le arns the
ce nte r-to-e nd dim e nsions. The ce nte r-to-e nd dim e nsions for the 45 Ell are norm ally found only on a chart. Howe ve r, the re is a short-cut
way to "k now" the se dim e nsions. You se e , the se dim e nsions are also base d on the nom inal pipe size . This short-cut m e thod work s for all
45 Ells from 4" to 24" line size . You can do this in your he ad. You sim ply divide the line size in half thre e tim e s. Tak e the answe r from
the first tim e and the third tim e and total the m up. That will be the dim e nsion for the 45 Ell fitting.

Example:

C olum n #5 -Fitting
dim e nsion
C olum n #1 (Line Column #2( Col. C olum n #3( C ol. Column #4( Col.
size ) #1) #2) #3)
(Total of C ol. #2 & C ol.
#4)
4" 2" 1" " 2 "
8" 4" 2" 1" 5"
10" 5" 2 " 1 " 6 "
14" 7" 3 " 1 " 8 "
20" 10" 5" 2-" 12

Tees:
The prim ary purpose of a Te e fitting is to m ak e a branch from a pipe line (or run). The branch m ay ne e d to be the sam e size as the run
or it m ay ne e d to be one or m ore size s sm alle r than the run. Be cause of e conom ics (the cost of spe cial orde rs) the use of Te e s is
norm ally lim ite d to size -to-size or Straight Te e , (all thre e conne ctions are the sam e size ) or R e ducing Te e s whe re the branch outle t is
only one size sm alle r than run size . Me thods for m ak ing branche s of othe r sm alle r size s will be discusse d late r.

The dim e nsions of Te e s are not as sim ple as the y are for Ells. For Te e s you m ust look the m up on a fitting chart. The dim e nsion found
the re is howe ve r standardize d be twe e n all m anufacture rs. For Straight Te e s the ce nte r-to-e nd dim e nsion of both e nds and for the branch
outle t is the sam e . For R e ducing Te e s the ce nte r-to-e nd of the branch outle t is diffe re nt from that of the run.

Reducers:

A R e duce r is a fitting use d to change the line size one or m ore size s sm alle r (or large r). The re are two ve rsions of R e duce rs. The re is
C once ntric R e duce rs- whe re the ce nte rline of the inle t and the outle t are the sam e . The re is Ecce ntric R e duce rs- whe re the ce nte rline of
the inle t is diffe re nt than the ce nte rline of the outle t. W ith the Ecce ntric R e duce r, one side is flat. De pe nding on how it is installe d you
m ay have bottom flat (BF) or top flat TF). You m ay also have a ne e d to have (*) side flat (*= north, south, e ast or we st). It is about a
toss-up as to which is use d m ore . C once ntric R e duce rs are use d m ostly in situations whe re the re duce r is in a ve rtical run of pipe . Ecce ntric
R e duce rs are use d in horizontal runs of pipe such as pipe ways or in pum p suctions.

The dim e nsions for re duce rs m ust be look e d up but are norm ally standardize d am ong the m anufacture rs for a give n size . The le ngth of a
re duce r is the sam e for a range of size s (Ex am ple : The e nd-to-e nd dim e nsion for 10" x 4", 10" x 6" and 10" x 8" re duce rs is 7"). As you
can se e the le ngth of a R e duce r is ve ry short in re lation to the diam e te r.

Caps:

The we ld C ap is a fitting use d to close the e nd of a pipe . The close d e nd of the C ap is se m i-e lliptical in shape . The dim e nsion of a we ld
cap is a look -up ite m . W e ld caps are m ost ofte n found at the bottom of a piping configuration calle d a "Boot." A boot is a short le ngth of

pipe with a pipe C ap that is attache d to the bottom of ste am line and provide s for the colle ction of conde nsate .
pipe with a pipe C ap that is attache d to the bottom of ste am line and provide s for the colle ction of conde nsate .

Alternates:
He re are a fe w alte rnate s to the norm al m e thods of doing busine ss discusse d above .

Miters:

W e talk e d about e lbows as a way to change dire ction. You can change dire ction without using e lbows. You m ight do this with a Mite r Ell (or
Mitre , both spe llings are corre ct). A Mite r Ell is whe re no fitting is use d. Mite rs are norm ally use d in large size /low pre ssure piping.

You fabricate the Mite r or change in dire ction from pipe se gm e nts (or pie ce s) that are cut at spe cific angle s de pe nding on the num be r of
pie ce s and we lds re quire d. This is re ally e ffe ctive whe n re ally odd angle s are re quire d. Two of the pie ce s are the incom ing pipe and the
out-going pipe . The re m ay be no m iddle pie ce or the re m ay be one (or m ore ) othe r short m iddle pie ce s de pe nding on the angle of the
turn. A sim ple turn of 45 m ight be m ade with a two-pie ce /one we ld m ite r. O the r change s in dire ction m ight be thre e pie ce /two we ld
m ite rs, thre e pie ce /two we ld m ite rs and so on. The num be r of we lds is always one le ss than the num be r of pie ce s.

De pe nding on the size and sche dule of the pipe a Mite r m ight be che ape r than buying fittings. In sm all diam e te r piping the m ite r is m ore
e x pe nsive (labor costs) and the re is m ore pre ssure drop through a sm all m ite r than a sm all fitting. Mite rs are also not re com m e nde d for
high te m pe rature line s be cause m ite rs are m ore susce ptible to ove rstre ssing.

Stub-in (Stub-on):

W e talk e d about using Straight Te e s and R e ducing Te e s as a way to m ak e branche s from a line . For low pre ssure (or re asonably low
pre ssure ) the re is anothe r way to m ak e branche s from a line . This m e thod use s only pipe . It is norm ally use d only for low pre ssure /low
te m pe rature applications whe re the branch is re ducing. The ASME B31.3 (and othe r piping B31 C ode se ctions) re cognize two basic ve rsions
of the pipe to pipe branch.

O ne m e thod is whe re the run pipe has a hole cut the outside diam e te r of the branch pipe . This ope ning is the n be ve le d for a "full
pe ne tration we ld" The branch pipe is saddle cut (with no be ve l) to m atch the I. D. of the run pipe . The y are the n fitte d toge the r and
we lde d.

The se cond m e thod is whe re the diam e te r of the hole in the run pipe is the sam e I. D. as the I. D. of the branch pipe . This hole doe s not
ge t a be ve l. The e nd of the branch pipe is saddle cut to fit the run pipe and is the n be ve le d for a full pe ne tration we ld.

W ith the first m e thod, the branch pipe is inse rte d in the run pipe . W ith the se cond m e thod, the branch pipe is se t on the run pipe . Both
are still com m only re fe rre d to as "Stub-ins"
Both of the se can com e non-re inforce d (as de scribe d above ) or re inforce d. The re inforce d ve rsion is norm ally only re quire d for highe r
stre ss situations. The re inforce m e nt is a "ring" plate cut from som e scrape run pipe or the sam e m ate rial as the run pipe . At the ce nte r is
a hole the sam e size as the branch pipe . If cut from flat plate it is the n shape d to fit around the run pipe . The width of the ring is
norm ally one half the diam e te r of the branch pipe . The ring is inte nde d to re place the m ate rial that was re m ove d whe n the hole was cut in
the run pipe . A sm all diam e te r hole (1/4" NPT) is norm ally drille d (and tappe d) in the ring to act as a ve nt during the we lding proce ss and
to allow for Hydrote sting of the we lds. The ring is the n we lde d to the branch pipe and the run pipe with full pe ne tration we lds. The sm all
hole is fitte d with a plug afte r work is com ple te d.

O-let fittings:
Anothe r way to m ak e branch conne ctions on pipe and ve sse ls is by using an "O -Le t" fitting. An "O -Le t fitting is de signe d for use on 3"
and large r we lde d pipe . The m ain fe ature of the typical O -Le t fitting is the built-up base de sign which e lim inate s the ne e d of any othe r
form of branch re inforce m e nt. The O -le t fitting is m anufacture d in a num be r of style s.

The se are :

Weld-O-Let - (com m on) - This fitting is be st de scribe d as an odd shape d "donut." It's purpose is to m ak e se lf-re inforce d branch outle ts
on a large r (one size or m ore ) run of pipe . The base of the com m on we ld-o-le t has a saddle shape to fit the run pipe . The outle t e nd of
the we ld-o-le t has a be ve le d-e nd allowing for butt we lding a pipe or fitting. W e ld-O -Le ts com e in a wide range of size s and m ate rials. The
size call-out is norm ally the run (he ade r) size by the branch size (Ex am ple : 24" x 4" W O L). It m ay be of som e inte re st to k now that m ost
O -Le t fittings are m ade with the base that cove rs a range of he ade r size s. This m e ans that the 24" x 4" W O L will also fit on all pipe size s
from 24" pipe to 36" pipe .

Thread-O-Let - The Thre ad-O -Le t is m ade m uch the sam e as the W e ld-O -Le t e x ce pt that the outle t is thre ade d to m atch the norm al
tape re d pipe thre ads. The thre ade d outle t size s are norm ally lim ite d to the sm alle r (2" and unde r) pipe size s.

Sock-O-Let - The Sock -O -Le t is also m ade m uch the sam e as the W e ld-O -Le t e x ce pt that the outle t has a sock e t to m atch the sock e t
we lde d piping fittings and pipe . The sock e t outle t size s are norm ally lim ite d to the sm alle r (2" and unde r) pipe size s.

Latrolet - A Latrole t is a we ld on branch fitting that is attache d to the run pipe at a 45 angle . The angle attachm e nt is som e tim e s
re quire d on high pre ssure re lie f syste m s. A Latrole t m ay be orde re d with; a Butt-we ld outle t e nd, a thre ade d outle t e nd or a sock e t we ld
e nd.

Elbowlet - The Elbowle t is m ade to be fitte d on the back side of a long radius 90 e lbow. An Elbowle t m ay also be orde re d with; a Butt-
we ld outle t e nd, a thre ade d outle t e nd or a sock e t we ld outle t e nd.

Nip-O-Let - A Nip-O -Le t is a fitting that has the re inforce d base for attaching to the run pipe and the n has a short pipe e x te nsion with a
thre ade d or plain outle t e nd. The Nip-O -Le t doe s com e in a range of size s, howe ve r the y are lim ite d to the sm alle r size s. This fitting is
norm ally use d for ve nt, drain and pre ssure gage conne ctions.

Flange-O-Let - This fitting is m uch lik e the Nip-O -Le t but has a flange d outle t e nd. The purpose is the sam e as for the Nip-O -Le t.

Couplings: (as a branch outle t fitting)

The com m on pipe C oupling (to be discusse d late r) can also be use d in the m ak ing of sm all size branche s from a large r he ade r or run
pipe . O ne e nd of the (Thre ade d or Sock e t W e ld) C oupling is shape d to m atch the O . D. of the large r pipe . This shape d e nd is the n
ground to form a be ve le d e nd which allows for a full pe ne tration we ld.

Screwed and Socket-Welded Fittings

The se fittings pe rform the sam e function as the Butt-W e ld fittings. The re function is the sam e but the m e thod of joining and the
 The se fittings pe rform the sam e function as the Butt-W e ld fittings. The re function is the sam e but the m e thod of joining and the
dim e nsioning is diffe re nt. Norm ally the se fittings are use d in size s 1-1/2" (or 2") and sm alle r. W e lde d fittings are spe cifie d the sam e as
the pipe , by we ight, sche dule or wall thick ne ss. Scre we d and Sock e t-W e ld fittings are spe cifie d pe r the pre ssure class.
Thre ad e ngage m e nts as we ll as the de pths of the sock e ts for diffe re nt pipe size s are diffe re nt and m ust be look e d-up on an approve d
dim e nsion table .

Threaded fitting pressure classes:

125# C ast Iron

250# C ast Iron
150# Malle able Iron
300# Malle able Iron
2000# Forge d Ste e l *
3000# Forge d Ste e l *
6000# Forge d Ste e l
* Most com m on

The C ast Iron and Malle able Iron fittings are basically use d for air and wate r se rvice s at a low te m pe rature and pre ssure . Forge d fittings
are norm ally use d for highe r pre ssure s and te m pe rature s as we ll as for the m ore com ple x com m oditie s.
The m ajority of the scre we d fittings will have fe m ale (inte rnal) thre ads pe r NPT (National Pipe Thre ad). The e x ce ption will be the swage s
and the plugs - the y will have m ale (e x te rnal) thre ads.

Socket-Weld fittings are manufactured in two classes.

3000# Forge d Ste e l

6000# Forge d Ste e l

Sock e t-W e ld fittings have a de e p sock e t into which the pipe slips and aligns itse lf. The we ld is the n m ade on the oute r surface of the pipe
and fitting. This e lim inate the ne e d for or use of spe cial clam ps or tack we lding for alignm e nt prior to the final fit-up we lding. At the
bottom of the sock e t a 1/16" gap is le ft to com pe nsate for e x pansion whe n the we ld is m ade . This gap is calle d a root-gap. The swage
doe s not have an inte rnal sock e t; it will fit into the sock e t of a fitting or be butt-we lde d to a pipe .

The dim e nsions for scre we d and sock e t-we ld fittings m ust be look e d up on a standard fitting dim e nsion chart. The re are no dim e nsion
short-cuts for the se fittings.

Common Screwed an Socket-Weld fittings:

Elbows (Ells): He re again we have a fitting whose purpose is to change dire ction. The re are only two ve rsions. The re is the 90 Ell and the
45 Ell. W ith the Scre we d and Sock e t-W e ld Ells the re is no long radius or short radius. The y are just as the y are and the y cannot be
"trim m e d" to allow for odd angle s..

Tees: The Scre we d and Sock e t-W e ld Te e fittings are use d for m ak ing branche s. The y do com e in straight and som e re ducing size s.

Swages: The Scre we d and Sock e t-W e ld Swage com e s in both the conce ntric and the e cce ntric shape s. Swage s do have an im portant
fe ature that e ve ry de signe r ne e ds to k now and acce pt. W he re a Butt-W e ld re duce r is short re lative to the diam e te r, the swage is ve ry long
re lative the diam e te r. Scre we d and Sock e t-W e ld swage s are m ade by the sam e pe ople and in som e case s by the sam e m achine . Som e
are the n thre ade d and som e are le ft with a plain e nd or be ve le d for we lding. The e x tra le ngth on the Scre we d Swage allows space for the
pipe wre nch.

Caps and Plugs: C aps and Plugs are inte nde d to provide for the close r of the e nd of a pipe or fitting.

Nipples: A Nipple is a nam e give n to a short le ngth of pipe . It is not re ally a fitting in the sam e conte x t as an e lbow or a Te e . Nipple s are
cut from pipe and can be purchase d in 4", 6" and 12" standard le ngths. Pipe Nipple s can also be m ade by the piping cre w in the fie ld.

Unions: The Union is basically use d as a dism antling fitting, and in m any case s it is ne ce ssary for asse m bly. The fie ld cre w m ay install
e x tra Unions at the ir own discre tion to e x pe dite and facilitate the construction of sock e t-we ld and scre we d piping.

For additional inform ation about fittings se e the "Standards" tab on this we bsite .

James O. Pennock is a former Piper with more than 45 years experience covering process plant engineering, design, training, pipe
fabrication and construction. He is now retired and lives in Florida, USA .

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