Fittings have become some of the most essential components in pipe installations across several major industries, including oil, gas, water, and auto. The fittings that you choose are just as important as the pipes they help join, regardless of the machine part you are assembling or repairing. That is why your engineers and technicians should be observant when selecting connectors for use in repairs and installations.

Read on to learn about some of the most important factors that they should consider.

The Size of the Fitting

Your team should start piping systems installation by determining the outside diameter and wall thickness of a tube. Some of the things that they need to check include ambient conditions, pressure, flow rate, and temperature.

You have to remember that most fittings have a maximum or minimum thickness limitation. Ensure that your team studies the manufacturer’s manuals carefully before you order the fittings. Olet fittings are particularly sensitive to girth because they join pipes with different diameters.

The Allowable Temperature Range

If you check the general specifications on most engine or piping components, you will realize that they come with temperature specifications. Now, you need to make sure that the fittings that your team buys correspond to the specifications. It will help prevent future problems such as leaks, which are caused by expansion and contraction.

Understandably, it may not always be easy to obtain this information. Go ahead and call your local fittings dealer and ask them for more information. The dealer will be cooperative, especially if they have the opportunity to make a sale. Remember that olet fittings may need more complex specifications.

The Application of the Fitting

You need to be careful choosing the perfect fitting based on your application. Some chemicals, gases, and fluids will make different types of fittings unsuitable due to possible reactions. Check with your fitting distributor that the olet fittings you need have the proper chemical specification.

For example, you need to pay special attention to steel fittings due to rusting. If you must buy a fitting element that potentially exposes the machine to certain kinds of corrosion, make sure that it has a protective coating.

The Target

All piping systems are meant to be used as conduits for different kinds of fluids. You need to make sure that the gas or liquid that will flow through the assembled element does not react with the fitting. Ensure that both physical and chemical compatibility are checked before placing an order. If an olet fitting joins two chemically different pipes, it should withstand the properties of the fluid.

Pressure Rating

You need to ensure that the fitting you select has a suitable pressure rating. Most installations will allow you to use a component whose rating is equal or higher than the stated one. The pressure rating ensures that the machine or installation is safe to use in the future. It also increases long-term reliability for the end client.

In addition, it means that you should get your engineers and technicians up to speed on pressure sensitivity. The pressure capability of screwed fittings depends on many factors, such as the tube’s standard dimensions, hose pressure rating, the flare, the laboratory torque, the material, and the media.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that the fitting torque should be tested against the pressure expected from the machine or installation. You have to inform your team that an improperly torqued fitting could blow the connection, and potentially injure someone.

Final Word

Pipe fittings are some of the most indispensable elements in piping, plumbing, and engines. Selecting the right fittings for a new installation or repair can be a challenge for most people. Yet, contractors have to handle this job daily, which explains why piping repairs in the United States cost about $9 billion per year.

Regardless of the kind of piping work that you are working on, you should educate your team on selecting the most appropriate fittings. Some of the factors that they should consider include pressure, media, application, temperature, and size. Contact us today, to learn more about fittings selection and similar tasks.