Different types of pipe joints used in plumbing system

are as follows.

• Threaded joint
• Brazed joint
• Soldered joint
• Welded joint (butt welded, socket welded)
• Flanged joint
• Compression joint
• Grooved joint
 Threaded joint means, pipes are connected by screwing with
the help of threads provided for each pipe.
 One pipe having internal threads and the other one having
threads externally.
 Cast iron pipes, copper pipes, PVC and G.I pipes are
available with threads.
 Threaded joints are available from 6mm diameter to 300mm
diameter pipes.
 They are preferable for low temperature areas and low
pressure flows.
 In the areas of high temperature, the joints may expands
and leaked due to thermal expansion.
 Installation of threaded joint is easy but good maintenance
required.
 Brazing is the process of jointing pipes using molten
filler material at above 840oC.
 Brazing is generally used for joining copper pipes or
copper alloy pipes.
 The filler material majorly consist tin which has great
affinity towards copper. But because of its weak
property tin is added to other materials like nickel,
bismuth, silver and copper.
 The melting point of parent metal should be higher
than filler metal.
 Mechanical strength of brazed joint is low compared
to other joints.
 This type of joint is suitable in moderate range of
temperature areas.
 Soldering is also similar to brazing but the only
difference is in case of soldering the filler metal melts
at below 840oC.
 Soldering also used to joint copper and copper alloy
pipes.
 Before proceeding to soldering flux called paste is
applied to pipes and fittings to prevent them from
oxidation from flame.
 Here also we require skilled workers for installation.
 Soldered joints are suitable for low temperature areas.
 These are having low mechanical strength as brazed
joints.
 When the pipes are of same diameter butt welding is to done to
join the pipes and is the most common type of welding.
 Skilled workers are required and these joints are generally used
for large commercials and industrial piping systems.
 Butt weld provides good strength for the joint and it can resist
high pressure because of smooth and continuous surface inside
the joint.
 Butt weld joints are expensive, to make it economical sometimes
internal weld backing rings are used, which joins the pipe with
less amount of filler material.
 But these rings may fail under heavy stress and cracks are
developed.
 The joints are fixed and do not opened for maintenance purposes.
External smoothing of welded portion will give good appearance
to the piping system.
 Socket welded joints are used wherever there is a high
chance of leakage in joints.
 Pipes are connected as putting one into other as shown
below and welded around the joint.
 Pipes having different diameters are suitable for this
type of joint.
 If pipes having similar diameter, then required fittings
are used.
 Welding cost is generally lower than butt welding.
 Fatigue resistance is lower for socket welded joints
when compared to butt weld joints.
 However, socket welded joint give good results when
compared with other mechanical joints.
 When the pipes have plain ends they are joined by
installing some fittings at their ends then that type
of joint is called compression joint.
 The pipe ends will be fitted with a threaded
fittings or couplings hence they are connected.
 So, in this case we can connect pipes of different
materials and different sizes.
 But the joints should be properly fitted to resist
flow pressure otherwise they may fail and leakage
occurs.
 Compression fittings are available in different
materials and selection of fittings may depend
upon our requirement.
 Flanged joints are used for high pressure flows and for
large diameter pipes.
 In general they are used for plain end pipes or
threaded pipes.
 Two flange components are connected by bolts at the
pipe joint to prevent leakage.
 Generally these are made of cast iron, steel etc. these
are having good strength and do not fail against high
pressure.
 Against high temperatures the bolts may fail under
creep lost their grip so, fixing of bolts should be done
properly while installing.
 They are also useful for repairing pipelines and
maintenance purposes.
 In case of grooved joint, the pipe ends consist grooved edges
which are connected by elastomer seal and then ductile iron
made grooved couplings are used as lock for elastomer seal.
 This grooved couplings are connected by bolts and easy to
install and economical.
 Grooved joints will give good resistance against pressure
and allows moderate axial movement due to thermal
expansion.
 But, in high temperature Areas elastomer seal may lost its
strength and torsional failure occurs.
 So, these are permitted to moderate temperature areas.
 Grooved joints are easily removable so, for maintenance
purposes of pipes these joints are preferable.