Basics, terms, explanations

Metric and inch system

For those unfamiliar with the difference between metric and inch sizes the following note may be helpful. In imperial systems, the sizes of pipes, fittings and other components such as valves are identified by reference to the nominal size of the bore of the pipe expressed in inches and fractions of an inch. In metric systems, however, sizes are identified by references to the outside diameter of the pipe expressed in millimetres. The table below shows the metric sizes which are regarded for practical purposes as being generally equivalent to imperial sizes. It should, however, be understood that metric sizes are not simply inch sizes which have been converted into millimetres and called metric; their actual dimensions are slightly different and they are with the exception of 2 " (75 mm) and 5" (140 mm) not interchangeable.
Imperial Sizes Nominal bore DN (inch) 1/8 1/4 3/8 1/2 3/4 1 1 1/4 1 1/2 2 2 1/2 3 3 1/2 4 5 6 Metric Sizes Pipe outside Pipe outside Nominal diameterd diameterd bore DN (mm) (mm) (mm) 10.2 13.5 17.2 21.3 26.9 33.7 42.4 48.3 60.3 75.3 88.9 101.6 114.3 140.3 168.3 10 12 16 20 25 32 40 50 63 75 90 110 125 125
1)

Imperial Sizes Nominal bore DN (inch) 8 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 40

Metric Sizes Pipe outside Pipe outside Nominal diameterd diameterd bore DN (mm) (mm) (mm) 219.1 219.1 244.5 273.0 323.9 355.6 406.4 457.2 508.0 508.0 558.2 609.6 660.4 711.2 762.0 812.8 863.6 914.4 1016.0 200 225 250 280 315 355 400 450 450 500 560 630 710 800 900 1000 200 200 250 250 300 350 400 450 500 500 600 600 700 800 900 1000

6 8 10 15 20 25 32 40 50 65 80 100 100 125 125 150

2)

140 160 180

150

1) only cementing socket systems 2) only butt fusion systems

July 8, 2011