Basics of Pipe, Valves & Fittings

• Pipe is a hollow tube whose primary function is to transport material.  Meets specific published size standards.

• Fittings are connections for joining pipe, changing directions, reducing size of lines, closing lines, draining lines.

• Nipple is a piece of pipe cut to length and typically threaded.  A nipple may have several types of ends, see the specials section.

• Flanges are steel rings designed to join two sections of a piping  system by bolting (to a vessel, pump, valve, fitting or pipe sections).

• Valves are mechanisms to control fluid handling systems.

  • Starting & stopping flow (gate, ball, plug, butterfly).

  • Regulations flow or throttling (globe, butterfly).

  • Prevent back blow (check valves).

  • Relieving & regulating pressure (relief valve).