When creating or repairing water pipelines, one inevitably has to delve into the issue of pipe characteristics. Indeed, depending on the existing conditions, it is necessary to purchase one or another variety of such products. Water pipe diameters are one of their most important characteristics. Therefore, much attention is paid to this issue.
There are several main varieties of water pipes. Depending on the group to which each product belongs, their specific sizes exist. What are the diameters, how to choose them, should be considered before buying and installing the system.
general characteristics
To equip the water supply system inside buildings, metal, plastic and combined pipes are used. Each species has its own measure. Diameters of water pipes can be measured in inches or millimeters. The choice of calculus depends on the characteristics of the product.
To fix the dimensions of the water pipe, 3 main indicators are used. These include external and internal diameter, as well as wall thickness.
In the last century, when only steel pipes stood in the apartments of ordinary citizens, a unique system was invented for calculating the size of communications. The internal diameters of the water pipes (in mm this is 12.7) could be, for example, half an inch. But at the same time, the outer size and thread reached as much as 21 mm. Therefore, for marking the thread indicated that it is ½ inch.
Steel and copper pipes
The diameter of the steel water pipes is indicated in the marking according to the size on the outside, as well as the wall thickness. For example, a 60x3 product is a communication that has an outer section of about 60 mm and a wall thickness of 3 mm. The internal section in this case will be 54 mm. There is also a simple metric system. Its marking, for example M14, indicates that the outer diameter of the pipe is 14 mm.
But for copper products an inch measurement system is used. Moreover, the marking is made taking into account the outer diameter. At the same time, there is a certain correspondence between the sizes of copper pipes and the metric system. For example, 1 inch equals 25.4 mm.
If in the process of work it is necessary to connect a steel pipe with plastic varieties, special couplings are used. There may be difficulties. To choose their size, it is necessary to pay attention to the marking indicator of a steel pipe.
Plastic pipes
A few other labeling approaches have plastic water pipes. Diameters, GOST of which has the number 18599-2001, have a wide range. On sale are plumbing communications with a cross section of 20 to 1200 mm. Most often, the choice falls on products like PE 80 or 100.
PE 80 pipes are designed for cold water supply (0-40 ° C). They are painted black with a longitudinal strip of blue. The internal diameter of the most commonly used communications can be from 16 to 110 mm. Their working pressure depending on the group is from 0.32 to 2 MPa.
PE 100 is a pressure pipe. It is made by extrusion. This variety is used in outdoor cold water supply systems.
Polyethylene pipes go on sale with a marking that indicates the type of product, its purpose, wall thickness and diameter, as well as the GOST marking by which this product was created.
Polypropylene and PVC pipes
A plastic water pipe on sale is presented with a marking of the wall thickness. Also, manufacturers indicate its outer diameter. This is one of the new types of plumbing communications. Therefore, they are manufactured in accordance with standards (e.g. 4200 / DIN or 2458 ISO, etc.).
Such pipes must have a trademark and material certification. There are several types of polypropylene communications, depending on the nominal pressure.
The outer size of the presented pipe varieties can be indicated both in inches and in metric values. The choice of system depends on the manufacturer.
PVC pipes are designated in the same way as polypropylene varieties. For both types of products, the sizes do not coincide with the usual values of the metric system.
Convert inches to millimeters
A water pipe, the outer diameter of which is indicated in inches, can be converted to millimeters. The procedure should be considered as an example. Suppose you purchase a pipe with a diameter of 1 inch. Its outer diameter when measuring with a ruler is about 25.4 mm.
But for the selection of fittings, you need to know the indicator for the thread. If we take into account the technical parameters of the cylindrical thread for pipes, then the outer diameter of this indicator will be 33.2 mm. This is due to the features of production. The thread is cut from the outside of the communications. Therefore, its relation to the inner diameter is rather arbitrary. For calculations, doubled wall thickness is added to 25.4 mm.
Diameter selection
Diameters of water pipes are an important characteristic. This is due to the bandwidth of communications. It depends on the diameter how much water passes through the system per unit of time. The greater the differential pressure in it, the greater the rate of fluid flow.
Special techniques for calculating communication throughput. Special tables are also used. Due to the fact that such a calculation is rather complicated, it is almost never used, equipping the system indoors.
Usually professional repairmen and home craftsmen are guided by simplification. Creating a water distribution inside the apartment, they acquire pipes ½ inch. When installing a riser, communications with a cross section of ¾ or 1 inch are required.
Diameter versus Material
As mentioned above, a plastic water pipe can dock with steel communications. To choose the right fittings, you need to purchase their standard varieties. In their manufacture, pipe size features are considered depending on the material. Therefore, difficulties in this process should not arise.
But changing copper, aluminum pipes, one will have to delve into the issue of their regulation. The size of such products is indicated in the metric system. Moreover, joining them with plastic varieties, one should take into account both the inner and outer diameters, as well as their actual size in millimeters.
So, for internal wiring, you can purchase products with a diameter of 10 and 15 mm, and for a riser - 20 and 25 mm. It should also be noted that a plastic pipe with a half-inch cross-section may have an internal size of 11-13 mm.
Having become acquainted with such a characteristic as the diameters of water pipes , you can correctly choose the products for the communication system.