Wednesday 24 October 2012

Choosing The Right Size And Type Of Different Metric Tube Fittings

By Mamie Conrad


Building contractors use different kinds and sizes of metric tube fittings. These fittings are primarily used as connectors of two or more pipes in plumbing, drainage, and electrical installations. The usages of these accessories depend on the type, the size, and the material from which it is made.

Pipes and connectors are made from the same set of raw materials. The aim is to make sure that the connectors are compatible with the materials they connect, and vise versa. Steel, copper, and brass are among the common compounds used to make the fittings. Plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and aluminum are also used.

The sizes of these connectors are available in metric or standard measurements. Metric tube fittings measurements range from ten mm to 1,000 mm in diameter size. The standard diameter sizes range from one-eighth of an inch to 36 inches. The use of the measurement depends on the preferred measurements specified in the project plans.

The purpose for which the connectors are used dictates the shape and size of the pipe accessories. One is employed to connect two pipes together, called a coupling. Couplings may be employed to connect same material pipes as in a brass and brass connection. It can also be utilized to link tubes from various materials, as in a steel-copper combination.

It can be used to connect same size tubes or pipes of different sizes. Here it is called a reducer coupling or an enlarger coupling. For example, a ten mm diameter pipe is connected to a 25 mm diameter pipe with a 10-20 enlarger coupling. Enlarger or reducer couplings can also be fabricated to connect tubing made from different materials.

There are also accessories that are called adapters and caps. These are employed to seal the ends or make an extension of a particular pipe run. Elbow connectors are used to alter the direction of the pipe run. To connect multiple pipes together in a series, plumbers and electricians use accessories called tees and crosses. The names of these accessories imply the shape.

The characteristic of the different materials used in making the fittings show their purpose in the construction business. For instance, aluminum and copper tube accessories which are highly resistant to corrosion are utilized in areas of high humidity or are constantly exposed to moisture and highly corrosive materials. Cast iron devices are preferred for heavy-duty purposes. The strength and durability of the steel and brass pipes also has their preferred usage. For low-cost installations, contractors prefer to use plastic or PVC tubing.

Cast iron devices are preferred by contractors to use in the sanitation, storm, and drainage systems. Brass connectors are utilized mainly for transporting production slurries, water, gases, and other chemicals. Because of its resistance, copper is the preferred material of connectors utilized in heating and cooling installations.

The different determining factors for choosing the correct fittings are important in construction. A staff from the hardware store may be helpful in making the right choice. It does not matter if the project plan shows metric tube fittings o standard measurements because both are acceptable.




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