In determining the sizes of the needed pipes for plumbing activities, it is not the physical appearance that is considered. It is also important to determine the external pipe diameters in sizing up pipes. Pipe sizes for plumbing are determined on a unit value where thread per inch is the thread size of a plumbing pipe. When measuring the size of plumbing pipe, the thread per inch and the diameter is taken.
Specific thread types of pipes that shall be used for plumbing projects are set out by the American National Standards institute or the ANSI. In prior years, sizing up of metal pipes were just dependent on their relative diameters. Thus, for the industry to have a standard measurement, they would make specifications based on the external diameters of the pipes. Although a bit similar in terms of plumber pipe sizing, relative thickness of the pipe is put into consideration due to the fact that the material of piping today is no longer made of pure metal or galvanized iron, but more on copper tubes. Hence, today there is what we call the Nominal Pipe Size or the Iron Pipe Size.
There are two types of sizes of plumbing pipes, the Iron Pipe Size (IPS) and the Copper Tube Size or CTS. IPS is based on the length on the pipe associated to its single wall thickness. While CTS or Copper Tube Sizes was formulated because copper pipes have different sizes in terms of its wall thickness apart from the measurements of the length and its diameters. Plumbing pipe sizes has different number of thickness or what we call “schedules”. These schedules are measured with the pipes inside diameter, or the ID, and the outside diameters, or the OD, in relation to the thickness of the walls. In terms of plumbing pipes weights, pipes are called Standard Wall (Std), extra strong wall also called as the XS, and the double extra strength wall also known as XXS. XS plumbing size is also regarded as extra heavy and XXS the double extra heavy ones.
The relative plumbing pipe size to be used would be dependent on the plumbing work or repair that would be done. For pipes that would hold massive amounts of pressure, the plumbing pipe size should be as heavy as possible to allow continuous and unwavering pressure rates. Heavier sizes would also avoid rupture of the pipes and possible leakages. Heavy walled pipes for these purposes are typically smaller in terms of diameter.
For purposes of drainage, waste pipe system and ventilation, plumbing pipe sizes that are relatively thinner and much lighter compared to that of the pressure pipes is required. These pipes would naturally allow the free flow of such materials. The standard residential plumbing pipe sizes are 1 to inch, 2 inches, 3 inches and the 4 inches pipes. The 4 inches soil pipe is most appropriate for disposing solid materials. The 3 inches pipe increases the flowing rate for horizontally inclined piping system that would be very beneficial to avoid clogging problems.
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