TABLE OF CONTENTS This introduction covers the numerous dimensional standards that relate to the most commonly used piping components within a metallic piping system. A piping component is a fitting that does one or more of the following:
Transports the fluid pipe.
Changes the direction of the flow elbows, tee.
Changes the size of the pipe reducers, reducing tees, reducing couplings.
Joins together pipe flanges, couplings.
Dismantles pipe flanges, unions.
Isolates the flow. Spectacle blinds, Spades and Spacers
Reinforces branch connections weldolets, threadolets, sockolets.
The term piping component is interchangeable with piping fitting. A piping fitting is considered a component of a piping system.
A piping system comprises a variety of these components, and they serve one or more function. For example, a reducing tee changes the direction of the flow and the size of the pipe. Each particular component is manufactured to a specific dimensional standard, with fixed tolerances, based on its size, pressure rating, the method of manufacture, and the choice of end connections. The table in the next section lists the piping components most commonly used with their purposes and the appropriate dimensional standards.
