I was curious why there are iron pipe fitiings and compression fittings? Seems like plumbing would be easier with one type{compression or pipe} of fitting. So in what situation would you use compression over iron pipe and vice versa? Are compression fittings designed to take more water presssure? Thanks.
Aren't iron pipe fittings often compression? What is a pipe screw/thread fitting if it isn't compression?
wrote
Historically heating pipework was run in galvanised pipe with threaded iron fittings. In this case the joint seal was provided by sealant (boss white and hemp originally) wrapped around the male thread before the joint was made. Compression fittingsAFAIK came into popularity with the use of softer copper pipe and rely on the crimping of an olive to the outside of the pipe to form part of the seal. The other part of the seal is made between a taper on the end of the olive and a corresponding taper on the fitting. At joints between fixed equipment like hot water cylinders, there is still a requirement to make a thread seal (usually nowadays achieved using PTFE tape) before conversion to compression fittings or soldered.
But with the advent of plastic, a lot has changed. As well as threaded and soldered copper work close to equipment (plastic is not recommended close to a boiler for instance) there are push fit fittings. To confuse things, compression fittings can be used on plastic but require a plastic reinforcing sleeve be inserted in the pipe end.
The plastic option has a great deal of support in this NG partly because of speed and ease of install. Many it has to be said remain to be convinced.
HTH
Phil
Do you actually mean iron? As in *iron pipe*? Or by 'iron' do you mean a soldered rather than a screwed fitting, but both on copper pipe?
How does a thread compress? Compression in this context refers to the olive which grips the pipe. The threads on a compression fitting pay no part in the sealing, whereas they do on iron barrel.
Steel pipe compression fittings are much easier to use than threaded connectors when you want to cut into an existing pipe and install something in it, particularly if you want to be able to remove the item to service it later. I supply insect screens for water storage cistern overflows, which need to be cleaned from time to time, and, up to 2" pipe, steel pipe compression fittings are quite a common choice. Above that, the screens are often fitted using flanges or, up to 6" pipe, can fitted with slip-over rubber sleeves held in place by Jubilee clips.
Colin Bignell
necessarilly used because they withstand more water pressure, but they are easier to work install or repair.
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