In a plumbing system, a number of accessories are used to build up a proper connection of pipes and create a secure plumbing system that has no leaks and provides optimum pressure and flow of water. Among all those plumbing system accessories, pipe nipples are the most crucial when it comes to making pipe to pipe connections seep less. It is a pipe nipple that is used to connect one pipe with another pipe, and as the types of connection couldn’t be the same, there are a variety of pipe nipples to facilitate each type of pipe connection. With that being said, let’s have a look at different types of pipe nipples.
Common Types of Pipe Nipples:
- Barrel Pipe Nipple: This is a tapered pipe nipple and is threaded on both ends with an unthreaded middle section.
- T.O.E. Pipe Nipple: This is a pipe nipple that is threaded on one end only, and the rest of the area is unthreaded.
- Welded Pipe Nipple: This is an unthreaded pipe nipple; the entire nipple has no threads. It is connected by welding it to the pipe or fittings.
- Close Pipe Nipple: This is a pipe nipple that has no unthreaded area; it is entirely threaded. When connected with pipes or fittings, it hides inside them; only a very small side of the nipple will be seen between the connection.
- Shoulder Pipe Nipple: This pipe nipple looks somewhat similar to a close pipe nipple; the only difference is that this nipple is entirely threaded but with only very little unthreaded middle section.
- Hex Pipe Nipple: This pipe nipple is also entirely threaded with only little hexagonal middle unthreaded section.
- Right-Left Hand Pipe Nipple: This is a pipe nipple that has right-hand threads on one end and left-hand threads on the other.
Common Materials of Pipe Nipples:
Pipe nipples are made from a variety of materials, each of which has its own strengths and advantages. Galvanized carbon steel is one of the ideal materials for providing an outstanding aesthetic surface look to a pipe nipple. Its appealing surface appearance is unrivaled; as a result, people prefer to use pipe nipples produced of this material more frequently. Excellent corrosion resistance, superb malleability, outstanding formability, and astonishing durability are some of the other characteristics of this material. The fact that this pipe nipple material is recyclable is another strong reason for its popularity. This material’s nipples are known as black pipe nipples, and they can easily be found at any black pipe nipples manufacturer. The other option for pipe nipples is stainless steel as it has high tensile strength, ideal temperature resistance and requires very little maintenance. Other than these two materials, there is also brass, aluminum, iron, copper, and PVC. These materials are also suitable for pipe nipples, but these materials are not the best if one compares them with galvanized carbon steel or stainless steel. However, these materials can be considered for low-impact uses with a minimal pressure rating.
When it comes to choosing an ideal pipe nipple, there is no hard and fast rule; it all depends on what you need and the type of application. As a result, each material has its own level of suitability for different uses.
Price Factor:
Generally speaking, the materials that produce more expensive pipe nipples are stainless steel and galvanized carbon steel. These materials are well-suited for high-pressure applications like water use or wastewater treatment plants. On the contrary, the comparatively less expensive materials like iron, brass, copper, and aluminum are not an option for tougher uses; they can either cause leaks or burst with high-pressure levels. However, PVC is comparatively inexpensive than other pipe nipple materials; it works best in laid-back applications like irrigation systems. The cost of production and installation is also another important factor to consider when choosing pipe nipples. Pipe nipples manufactured from stainless steel galvanized carbon steel and brass are more expensive than other types of materials like PVC and aluminum. However, they can be considered for high-impact uses with a minimum pressure rating.
Future Maintenance:
Apart from the initial cost to buy a pipe nipple, factors like future maintenance cost must also be taken into consideration. Pipe nipples made of stainless steel and galvanized carbon steel do not require any kind of coating on the surface; hence these beauties will look as good on their hundredth birthday as they did on their first day out of the factory. However, this is not the same for other types of materials. One must also consider their ease of installation while choosing a pipe nipple material. Galvanized carbon steel is comparatively tough to bend, so it’s not possible to use this type of pipe nipple in an application that requires some kind of intricate bending, but being malleable makes it easy to be threaded on the ends. Brass is another good choice when considering about future maintenance; its surface becomes dull with time and thus needs polishing after some years. However, brass can easily be polished up in no time by using any metal polish.
Pipe Nipple Sizes:
The size of a Pipe Nipple is measured in either inches or millimeters (mm) depending upon the country/region where you are. The general Pipe Nipple size you will find in most of the countries is NPS-44 (Nominal Pipe Size-44), where 1/2″ BSP would be the British Standard Pipe Taper which has an outside diameter of 44mm or 1.73 inches.
Pipe Nipple Pressure Classifications: Not all pipe nipple specifications are alike; some pipe nipples can take different working pressures for different applications. This factor determines the pressure class of a particular material. Most commonly used materials like steel, brass and PVC have four maximum working pressures each, while galvanized carbon steel has only three maximum working pressures. Some materials like Aluminum and CPVC have five maximum working pressures each whereas copper has six maximum working pressures. This classification is done based on the time period for which it can maintain its strength after exceeding the maximum working pressure.
Pressure classes of nipple materials:
Stainless Steel (resistant to rust) -150 PSI; 300 PSI; 600 PSI; 900 PSI; 1500 PSI (15 atmospheres, 170 Bar).
CPVC (high grade PVC) -400 PSI; 800 PSI; 1200 PSI; 1800 PSI (18 atmospheres, 248 Bar); 6800PSI (68 atmospheres, 1034 Bar).
Brass -200PS I ; 400 P SI ; 700 P SI ; 1000 P SI ; 1400 P SI .
Galvanized Carbon Steel -125 PSI; 250 PSI; 400 PSI; 600 PSI; 900 PSI (9 atmospheres, 124 Bar).
Aluminum-400 P SI ; 800 P SI ; 1200 P S I .
Copper -100 P SI ; 200 P SI ; 300P SI ; 350P SI ; 400P SI .
Since these materials are manufactured in different pressure classes, it becomes difficult to find out which one is the best or most suitable material for a particular application. So, be sure to ask before buying if you are not very sure about your choice of pipe nipple materials.