Piping and Plumbing Fitting - Material

The material with which a pipe is manufactured is often the basis for choosing a pipe. Materials used for manufacturing pipes include:

·Carbon (CS) and galvanized steel

·Impact-tested carbon steel (ITCS)

·Low-temperature carbon steel (LTCS)

·Stainless steel (SS)

·Malleable iron

·Non-ferrous metals (includes copper, inconel, incoloy and cupronickel)

·Non-metallic (includes acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP),       polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and toughened glass)

·Chrome-molybdenum (alloy) steel—Generally used for high-temperature service

The bodies of fittings for pipe and tubing are most often the same base material as the pipe or tubing connected: copper, steel, PVC, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) or ABS. Any material permitted by the plumbing, health, or building code (as applicable) may be used, but it must be compatible with the other materials in the system, the fluids being transported and the temperature and pressure inside (and outside) the system. Brass or bronze fittings are common in copper piping and plumbing systems. Fire hazards, earthquake resistance and other factors also influence the choice of fitting materials.