Common Plumbing Processes

A guide to fittings

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

• The aims of this slideshow are to: 

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• Introduce the different types of fittings.
• Develop an understanding of different types and sizes of fittings.

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• The objectives of this slideshow are to ensure that students will be able to differentiate between the following types of fittings:

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• End feed
• Integral solder ring
• Speed fit
• Hep 2 O
• Male & female Iron fittings

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• And be able to correctly record a Tee fitting.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

15mm End Feed Coupler

15mm End Feed Tee

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

• Integral Solder Ring (Yorkshire)

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• Yorkshire fittings (Yorkshire is a trade name) already contain a ring solder inside them
• All pipes used must be cleaned and have flux applied to each joint before heating evenly with a blow torch until the solder is seen to melt

15mm Integral Solder Ring Coupler

15mm x 15mm x 15mm Integral Solder Ring Tee

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

• Compression Fittings (COMP)

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• Compression fittings use a nut and olive (copper, brass or rubber compression ring) to make a watertight seal between the fitting and the pipe.  All pipes used must be clean and free from burrs before assembly. A suitable sealing paste should also be applied before the joints are tightened using a wrench or spanner. Do not over tighten as this can lead to problems should the fitting need to be removed 

15-millimeter Compression Tee

15-millimeter Compression Service Valve

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

• Speed Fit, HEP2O, Copper/Brass Push Fit

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• There are many different types of push fit joints are now being marketed, they're available in plastic, brass & copper. There's not much difference between them, they all incorporate some form of grip ring which creates a seal between the pipe and the fitting and prevents the pipe from pulling out. All pipes used must be clean and free from burrs before assembly. Insert the cleaned pipe into the fitting and push into place by hand.

Hep20 Straight Coupler

Speed Fit Straight Coupler

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

• Male Brass (MI) Fittings

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• Male Brass (MI) fittings have an external thread and are made as the name suggests from brass.
• These fittings are tightened using a wrench or spanner. Always use a suitable sealing compound when assembling joints using these fittings. Do not over tighten.

1/2" MI bsp x15mm Elbow

3/4" MI bsp x 22mm coupler

Female Brass (FI) Fittings

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Female Brass (FI) fittings have an internal thread and are made as the name suggests from brass.

These fittings are tightened using a wrench or spanner. Always use a suitable sealing compound when assembling joints using these fittings. Do not over tighten.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

1/2" FI BSP x 15mm Integral Solder Ring Coupler

1/2" FI BSP x 15mm Compression Elbow

1/2" FI BSP x 15mm Wall Plate Elbow

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

• Fitting Sizes

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• Fittings are supplied in a variety of sizes ranging from 6mm through to whatever size you require, although larger size fittings may have to be specially ordered.

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• Generally, the average plumber working in domestic properties will encounter fittings ranging from 6mm to 28mm.

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• As a plumber you will continue to encounter fittings still measured in old imperial (inches). Some merchant's catalogues will have fittings still measured in inches especially internally or externally threaded fittings as these are to BSP (British Standard Pipe). 

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• 1/2"=12.7 mm 3/4"=19.05mm 1"=25.4 mm 

Ordering Fittings 1

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Ordering couplers is straight forward as they are the same size at both ends (eg 15mm coupler)

Ordering tees is slightly more complicated. State the largest size first then the opposite side and then the centre size (eg 22mm x 15mm x 22mm or 22mm x 22mm x15mm see examples below)

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

22mm x 15mm x 22mm Compression Tee

22mm x 22mm x15mm Hep2O Tee

Ordering Fittings 2

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What if all the sides of a Tee fitting are the same?

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The Tee would simply be called an E...L Tee.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

15mm Equal Tee (York)

15mm Equal Tee (Hep2o)

Other Fittings – what connectors are these ?

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These fittings are also known as swivel fittings and they come in either straights or elbows.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

15mm Straight Tap Connector in Brass

15 mm Straight Tap Connector (Speed Fit)

Other Fittings - Tap connectors continued:

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Further examples of tap connectors

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

15 mm Compression Elbow Tap Connector

15 mm Hep2o Elbow Tap Connector

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Other Fittings - Reducers

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These are used when you need to reduce the pipe size e.g. 22mm cold feed to a bath tap would then be reduced to 15mm to supply a basin tap, not only is this more pleasing to the eye it is also more economical.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

Integral Solder Ring Copper Reducer

Push Fit Plastic Reducer

15 mm x 22mm End Feed Reducer

Other Fittings - Stop Ends

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These fittings are used for capping off water supplies either temporally or when permanently decommissioning.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

22mm WHAT TYPE Stop End

22mm WHAT TYPE Stop End

15mm WHAT TYPE Stop End

Other Fittings -

 WHAT ARE THESE CALLED AND USED FOR?

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The D..N off is a valve located at the lowest point of any system and has a serrated hose connection out-let.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

(Male Iron)

(end feed)

(Hep20 or Speed Fit)

Other Fittings - Couplers

Couplers are used to connect pipes together to form longer pipe runs.

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

15 mm Straight Coupler WHAT TYPE?

15mm WHAT TYPE Coupler

15mm WHAT TYPE Coupler

15mm WHAT TYPE Coupler

Identify the following fittings

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings

Accurately describe the following fittings

Imagine you are ordering these fittings over the phone, what would you ask for?

An Introduction to Common Plumbing Fittings