Pipe Fittings Products
Copper, Brass, and Bronze Fittings
Copper fittings and flanges join Type K, L, and M copper tubes by soldering or brazing for water, hydronic, and DWV lines. Brass fittings and flanges provide threaded connections for water, air, and gas service. Bronze fittings and flanges are cast for threaded and solder joints at valves, pumps, and water service lines.
Press Fitting Systems
Press fittings seal with an internal element that a powered press tool compresses onto the pipe, so no torch is needed. ProPress fittings are designed for copper tubes, and MegaPress fittings for carbon steel IPS pipe. PureFlow press fittings connect PEX tubing. Press fittings and flanges cover added transitions and flanged ends.
PEX and CPVC Water Distribution Fittings
PEX fittings connect PEX tubing by crimp, clamp, expansion, or press, based on the fitting standard and tool. PEX manifolds and kits distribute hot and cold water from one point to each fixture. CPVC CTS fittings solvent weld to copper tube size CPVC, while CPVC fittings and flanges cover Schedule 80 process piping.
Plastic DWV and Chemical Waste Fittings
ABS fittings solvent weld to ABS pipe in drain, waste, and vent systems. Plastic fittings and flanges cover PVC and other thermoplastic drainage and pressure fittings. Acid waste fittings and polypropylene fittings are built for laboratory, school, and healthcare drains that carry corrosive chemicals, and join by heat fusion or mechanical joint.
Steel and Iron Fittings
Carbon steel fittings and flanges join steel pipe by threading, socket welding, or butt welding. Forged steel fittings handle high-pressure threaded and socket weld joints. Malleable fittings and flanges thread onto black and galvanized gas and water pipe. Stainless steel fittings serve process lines, and pressure rated cast iron fittings serve water and fire mains.
Gas, Grooved, and Specialty Fittings
CSST fittings terminate corrugated stainless steel tubing at appliances, manifolds, and black iron pipe. These fittings are manufacturer-specific and generally not interchangeable between CSST brands. Grooved fittings and flanges connect roll-grooved or cut-grooved pipe with a gasketed mechanical coupling. Misc pipe fitting and accessories cover supporting parts that complete an assembly.
How Pipe Fittings Work and Where to Use Them
Joining Methods
Pipe joining fittings fall into a few connection types. Threaded fittings screw onto tapered pipe threads. Solder and braze fittings bond copper with heat and filler metal. Solvent weld fittings fuse plastic pipe chemically. Press, crimp, and expansion fittings seal with a dedicated tool, and push-to-connect fittings grip with an internal ring. Grooved and welded pipe connection fittings serve larger piping.
Fitting Shapes and Functions
Each shape performs one job. Elbows change direction, tees and wyes branch, couplings and unions join runs, reducers and bushings change size, adapters transition materials, and caps and plugs close a line. Most layouts combine several plumbing pipe connectors and fittings on one run.
Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Applications
Residential pipe fittings serve water heaters, supply lines, and drains, while kitchen pipe fittings and bathroom pipe fittings connect sinks, showers, and toilets. Commercial pipe fittings include press, grooved, and cast iron systems for water, fire, and HVAC piping. Industrial pipe fittings cover forged steel, stainless, and acid waste lines.
Key Specifications and Planning Steps
Sizing: Nominal Pipe Size, CTS, and Schedule
Most pipe fittings follow nominal pipe size (NPS), which differs from actual outside diameter. CTS CPVC matches copper tube dimensions (ASTM D2846), while Schedule 80 CPVC follows iron pipe size with heavier walls (ASTM F439). The two need a transition fitting.
Pressure Class and Rating
Pressure class sets a fitting's working limit. Malleable iron threaded fittings come in Class 150 and 300 under ASME B16.3. Forged steel fittings are rated from Class 2000 to 9000 under ASME B16.11, by end type. Confirm the exact rating on each listing.
Potable Water and Lead-Free Compliance
Water pipe fittings on drinking water lines must meet the federal lead-free limit of 0.25% weighted average lead on wetted surfaces under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Check for NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 certification on the product or listing.
Choosing the Right Pipe Fittings
Select pipe fittings by matching the pipe material first. PEX fittings need a crimp, expansion, or press tool and suit flexible runs with fewer joints. Copper fittings join by solder or press and suit exposed lines and water heater connections. Where copper meets galvanized or black steel, a dielectric union or nipple separates the metals to limit galvanic corrosion; confirm the method with local code and the manufacturer. Keep each joint within one fitting system, and source matching pipe and tubing and pipe fitting supplies, such as primer, solder, and thread sealant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pipe fittings do I need for a residential repipe using PEX and copper?
A typical repipe uses PEX tees, elbows, and couplings in the connection type that matches your tool, plus a PEX manifold or branch layout. Copper or brass fittings are common at the water heater, main shutoff, and stub-outs. Transition adapters, such as sweat or press x PEX, join the two materials.
Which press fittings should I buy for copper water lines versus carbon steel lines?
Match the press system to the pipe. ProPress fittings are designed for copper tube, and MegaPress fittings are designed for carbon steel IPS pipe. Each system uses its own jaws, and fuel gas service requires fittings specifically rated for gas.
What is the difference between ProPress and MegaPress fittings?
Both seal with a powered press tool, but they fit different pipes. ProPress connects copper tube and is also offered for stainless steel. MegaPress connects carbon steel (black iron) IPS pipe, so steel lines can be joined without threading or welding. The fittings and jaws are not interchangeable.
Should I use PEX or copper fittings for residential water supply?
Both are accepted for potable water under US plumbing codes. PEX fittings join by crimp, clamp, expansion, or press and work with flexible tubing that needs fewer fittings. Copper fittings join by solder or press and suit exposed runs and water heater connections. Local code, available tools, and the existing system usually decide.
Which handles higher pressure, malleable iron or forged steel fittings?
Forged steel. Malleable iron threaded fittings are made in Class 150 and 300 under ASME B16.3, while forged steel fittings are rated from Class 2000 to 9000 under ASME B16.11, depending on end type. Actual limits vary with size and temperature, so check each product's rating.
How do I connect copper pipe to PEX or CPVC without creating a leak point?
Use a transition adapter with the correct end on each side, such as a sweat or press copper end to a PEX crimp or expansion end, or a CPVC transition adapter to a threaded copper fitting. Make each joint with the method and tool the fitting manufacturer specifies, and keep soldering heat away from plastic.
What fitting should I use to join copper to galvanized or black steel pipe?
A dielectric union or dielectric nipple separates the two metals to limit galvanic corrosion. Brass or bronze fittings are sometimes used as transitions, but suitability depends on water chemistry, the application, and local code. Confirm the method with the code official and the fitting manufacturer.
Which pipe fittings are allowed on potable water lines?
Water pipe fittings on drinking water lines must meet the federal lead-free standard of no more than 0.25% weighted average lead on wetted surfaces under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 on the product or listing.
What fittings are used for lab or chemical waste drainage lines?
Acid waste fittings, commonly made from polypropylene, are designed for drain lines that carry corrosive chemicals from laboratories, schools, and healthcare facilities. They join by heat fusion or mechanical joint. The system must match the chemicals, temperatures, and code requirements of the facility.
How do I connect CSST gas piping to appliances and black iron pipe?
CSST fittings attach to the corrugated tubing with a mechanical nut on one end and provide a male or female NPT end on the other for black iron pipe, appliance connectors, or manifolds. Use fittings from the same manufacturer as the tubing, follow that manufacturer's bonding and installer training requirements, and comply with the adopted fuel gas code.
What are the different types of pipe fittings?
Pipe fittings are grouped by shape and function: elbows change direction, tees and wyes branch, couplings and unions join runs, reducers and bushings change size, adapters transition materials, and caps and plugs close lines. They are also grouped by material and by joining method, such as threaded, solder, solvent weld, press, or grooved.
What are the main ways pipe fittings connect to pipe?
Pipe connection fittings attach by threading, soldering or brazing, solvent welding, pressing, crimping or expansion, push-to-connect, grooved coupling, or welding. The method depends on the pipe material, size, and service, and each method requires fittings and tools built for that system.
What does CTS mean on CPVC fittings, and how is it different from Schedule 80 CPVC?
CTS means copper tube size. CTS CPVC fittings (ASTM D2846) match the outside dimensions of copper tube and are used for hot and cold water distribution. Schedule 80 CPVC fittings (ASTM F439) follow iron pipe size with heavier walls for industrial service. The two do not connect without a transition fitting.
Can I install copper press fittings without a torch, and what tool do I need?
Yes. Copper press fittings seal with an internal element compressed by a powered press tool fitted with the correct jaw for the fitting system and size. No flame, solder, or flux is required, which suits occupied buildings and sites where hot work is restricted.
When should I use grooved fittings instead of threaded or welded fittings on large commercial piping?
Grooved fittings suit larger diameter commercial pipe fittings applications such as fire protection, HVAC, and water mains, where flame-free assembly, faster installation, and later disassembly for maintenance matter. Threaded fittings are common on smaller pipe, and welded joints are typical where a permanent connection is required.
