Equivalent Many methods exist for calculating When comparing equivalent length

Length of Fittings
This section provides the equivalent
length of piping pressure loss
for several ProPEX fittings. The
equivalent length is used to
approximate the impact the fittings
have on pressure loss across the
piping length. The equivalent length
for each fitting is shown in the tables
below. Add the equivalent length to
the total piping length for each fitting
installed along the piping run. The
total pressure loss is then computed
from the adjusted total piping length.
Equivalent lengths are commonly
utilized to calculate the Total
Developed Length (TDL) along a
critical piping path. All Uponor values
represent pressure loss at 8 ft./sec.
the coefficient of velocity (Cv)
across valves and fittings. The
proceeding set of Uponor data
was derived from empirical testing
performed by NSF International and
tested to ISA-S75.02 Pressure Drop
Measurement and Cv Calculations at
a measured and verified flow rate.
In order to calculate equivalent
length in feet, a quadratic equation
is utilized to determine pressure drop
versus flow data at precisely 8 ft./sec.
Other common methods for
calculating Cv include UL 1821
Thermoplastic Sprinkler Pipe and
Fittings for Fire Protection and the use
of flow modeling software. Through
extensive testing and validation by
NSF International, Uponor has built
a complete and accurate data set
for AquaPEX Plumbing Systems.
data across PEX fitting manufacturers,
values may differ due to different
testing methods and reported values
at specific flow velocities other
than 8 ft./sec.
For comparison purposes, NSF
International tested commonly
available ASTM F1807 Brass Insert
Fittings Utilizing Copper Crimp Ring
for PEX Tubing Fittings and ASTM
F2159 Plastic Insert Fittings Utilizing
Copper Crimp Rings for PEX Tubing
Fittings to the ISA-S75.02 test
method using the same quadratic
equation as the Uponor ProPEX
Fittings to determine pressure drop
versus flow data at precisely 8 ft./sec.
Reference Table 4-3 for equivalent
length comparisons.

ASTM F1960 ASTM F 1807 ASTM F 2159

1960 1960
Nominal
Fittings Uponor Brass Plastic vs vs
Size (in) ProPEX Crimp Ring Crimp Ring 1807 2159
Eq. Length Eq. Length Eq. Length
1
⁄2 1 3.19 6.03 219.00% 503.00%
Tee-Run 3
⁄4 1.5 2.57 6.12 71.33% 308.00%
1 1.3 2.49 6.26 91.54% 381.54%
1
⁄2 6.3 9.05 15.34 43.65% 143.49%
Tee-Branch 3
⁄4 15.6 10.16 17.04 -34.87% 9.23%
1 12.7 11.87 20.17 -6.54% 58.82%
1
⁄2 10.4 9.11 13.53 -12.40% 30.10%
Elbow 3
⁄4 10.8 10.47 16.21 -3.06% 50.09%
1 11.5 10.14 17.05 -11.83% 48.26%
1
⁄2 0.8 2.03 6.55 153.75% 718.75%
Coupling 3
⁄4 0.9 2.18 5.64 142.22% 526.67%
1 0.9 1.49 4.97 65.56% 452.22%

Table 4-3: Equivalent Length Comparison of Various PEX Fitting Types

54 Chapter 4 – Pipe Sizing — www.uponorengineering.com

Equivalent Length
of Uponor fittings
The equivalent length for each fitting is shown in the
tables below. Add the equivalent length to the total EP Reducing Tees Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
piping length for each fitting installed along the piping Through 33.0 4.2
run. The total pressure loss is then computed from the 11⁄4 x 11⁄4 x 1
Branch 15.8 6.3
adjusted total piping length.
Through 19.5 4.0
11⁄2 x 1 x 3⁄4
Branch 9.3 5.1
EP Tees Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
Through 18.9 4.3
Through 7.7 1.0 11⁄2 x 1 x 1
1
⁄2 x 1⁄2 x 1⁄2 Branch 15.6 6.5
Branch 3.4 6.3
Through 19.1 4.2
Through 15.7 1.5 11⁄2 x 1 x 11⁄2
3
⁄4 x 3⁄4 x 3⁄4 Branch 26.5 14.9
Branch 5.4 15.6
Through 33.1 4.2
Through 30.5 1.3 11⁄2 x 11⁄4 x 3⁄4
1x1x1 Branch 6.3 11.3
Branch 11.3 12.7
Through 36.4 3.1
Through 34.0 3.8 11⁄2 x 11⁄4 x 1
1 ⁄4 x 1 ⁄4 x 1 ⁄4
1 1 1
Branch 11.2 13.1
Branch 23.9 8.6
Through 45.4 2.0
Through 63.7 1.8 11⁄2 x 11⁄4 x 11⁄4
1 ⁄2 x 1 ⁄2 x 1 ⁄2
1 1 1
Branch 17.0 17.7
Branch 31.0 10.6
Through 60.5 2.4
Through 150.7 0.8 11⁄2 x 11⁄2 x 1⁄2
2x2x2 Branch 3.4 6.3
Branch 52.5 15.5
Through 56.0 2.9
11⁄2 x 11⁄2 x 3⁄4
Branch 9.0 5.4
EP Reducing Tees Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft) Through 53.8 3.1
11⁄2 x 11⁄2 x 1
Through 4.6 3.5 Branch 15.3 6.9
3
⁄4 x 1⁄2 x 1⁄2
Branch 3.4 6.4 Through 54.3 3.2
11⁄2 x 11⁄2 x 11⁄4
Through 5.4 2.3 Branch 33.7 4.1
3
⁄4 x 1⁄2 x 3⁄4
Branch 5.4 16.1 Through 43.5 4.9
2 x 11⁄2 x 3⁄4
Through 14.2 2.0 Branch 8.4 6.2
3
⁄4 x 3⁄4 x 1⁄2
Branch 3.1 7.6 Through 42.4 5.5
2 x 11⁄2 x 1
3
⁄4 x 3⁄4 x 1 Branch 8.7 5.7 Branch 13.9 8.4
Through 12.8 2.4 Through 41.8 5.6
1 x 3⁄4 x 3⁄4 2 x 11⁄2 x 11⁄4
Branch 5.3 16.7 Branch 22.0 10.3
Through 12.9 2.4 Through 42.1 5.4
1 x 3⁄4 x 1 2 x 11⁄2 x 11⁄2
Branch 10.5 15.1 Branch 28.5 13.0
Through 32.2 1.2 Through 38.6 6.6
1 x 1 x 1⁄2 2 x 11⁄2 x 2
Branch 3.4 6.5 Branch 51.8 16.1
Through 27.8 1.7 Through 111.1 2.7
1 x 1 x 3⁄4 2 x 2 x 1⁄2
Branch 8.2 6.4 Branch 4.3 4.0
Through 21.0 3.4 Through 115.0 2.7
11⁄4 x 1 x 3⁄4 2 x 2 x 3⁄4
Branch 9.3 5.2 Branch 8.2 6.8
Through 11.7 11.0 Through 119.7 2.4
11⁄4 x 1 x 1 2x2x1
Branch 8.4 23.0 Branch 13.8 8.5
Through 45.2 1.9 Through 107.0 3.1
11⁄4 x 11⁄4 x 1⁄2 2 x 2 x 11⁄4
Branch 4.1 3.9 Branch 23.6 8.8
Through 43.4 2.3 Through 115.8 2.5
11⁄4 x 11⁄4 x 3⁄4 2 x 2 x 11⁄2
Branch 8.9 5.7 Branch 29.9 11.7

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual — Chapter 4 – Pipe Sizing 55

 EP Coupling Nominal Size (in) Flow Path Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
1
⁄2 x ⁄2 1
Through 8.3 0.8
3
⁄4 x ⁄2 1
Through 5.2 2.6
3
⁄4 x 3⁄4 Through 19.0 0.9
1 x 3⁄4 Through 12.5 2.7
1x1 Through 33.8 0.9
11⁄4 x 3⁄4 Through 10.9 3.6
1 ⁄4 x 1
1
Through 22.3 2.6
11⁄4 x 11⁄4 Through 53.3 1.1
1 ⁄2 x ⁄4
1 3
Through 10.8 3.5
1 ⁄2 x 1
1
Through 19.0 4.3
11⁄2 x 11⁄4 Through 33.9 3.7
11⁄2 x 11⁄2 Through 69.5 1.4
2 x 11⁄2 Through 45.2 4.6
2x2 Through 107.8 2.7

45º Elbow Nominal Size (in) Flow Path Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
11⁄2 Through 33.1 9.3
2 Through 68.9 8.8

90º Elbow Nominal Size (in) Flow Path Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
1
⁄2 Through 2.6 10.4
3
⁄4 Through 6.7 10.8
1 Through 11.9 11.5
11⁄4 Through 22.2 10.0
1 ⁄2
1
Through 29.7 11.5
2 Through 50.2 17.1

Sweat Adapters Nominal Size (in) Flow Path Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
1
⁄2 PEX x 1⁄2 Copper Through 5.7 2.0
1
⁄2 PEX x ⁄4 Copper
3
Through 5.1 2.7
3
⁄4 PEX x 1⁄2 Copper Through 8.8 1.4
3
⁄4 PEX x ⁄4 Copper
3
Through 13.4 2.1
3
⁄4 PEX x 1 Copper Through 10.9 3.7
1 PEX x 1 Copper Through 22.1 2.4
1 ⁄4 PEX x 1 ⁄4 Copper
1 1
Through 34.0 3.9
11⁄2 PEX x 11⁄2 Copper Through 45.5 4.3
2 PEX x 2 Copper Through 83.6 5.3

56 Chapter 4 – Pipe Sizing — www.uponorengineering.com

 Fitting Adapters Nominal Size (in) Flow Path Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
1
⁄2 PEX x ⁄2 Copper
1
Through 7.7 1.0
1
⁄2 PEX x ⁄4 Copper
3
Cu to PEX 5.6 2.2
3
⁄4 PEX x 1⁄2 Copper PEX to Cu 8.8 1.5
3
⁄4 PEX x ⁄4 Copper
3
Through 15.7 1.5
3
⁄4 PEX x 1 Copper Cu to PEX 11.4 3.1
1 PEX x 1 Copper Through 30.5 1.3
1 ⁄4 PEX x 1 ⁄4 Copper
1 1
Through 34.0 3.8
11⁄2 PEX x 11⁄2 Copper Through 63.7 1.8
2 PEX x 2 Copper Through 150.7 0.8

Male Adapters Nominal Size (in) Flow Path Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
1
⁄2 PEX x 1⁄2 MNPT Through 5.0 2.3
1
⁄2 PEX x ⁄4 MNPT
3
NPT to PEX 6.2 1.8
3
⁄4 PEX x ⁄4 MNPT
3
Through 11.3 2.7
3
⁄4 PEX x 1 MNPT NPT to PEX 10.9 3.4
1 PEX x ⁄4 MNPT3
PEX to NPT 17.8 1.2
1 PEX x 1 MNPT Through 19.9 3.2
1 ⁄4 PEX x 1 ⁄4 MNPT
1 1
Through 32.4 4.2
1 ⁄2 PEX x 1 ⁄2 MNPT
1 1
Through 39.3 5.5
2 PEX x 2 MNPT Through 78.6 5.6

Female Adapters Nominal Size (in) Flow Path Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
1
⁄2 PEX x ⁄2 FNPT
1
Through 4.8 2.5
1
⁄2 PEX x ⁄4 FNPT
3
NPT to PEX 5.1 2.7
3
⁄4 PEX x ⁄4 FNPT
3
Through 12.0 2.3
3
⁄4 PEX x 1 NPT NPT to PEX 10.8 3.6
1 PEX x 1 FNPT Through 19.7 3.8
11⁄4 PEX x 11⁄4 FNPT Through 30.8 4.8
1 ⁄2 PEX x 1 ⁄2 FNPT
1 1
Through 40.9 5.1
2 PEX x 2 FNPT Through 77.7 5.7
2 PEX x 2 MNPT Through 78.6 5.6

Brass Ball Valve Nominal Equivalent

Cv Brass Ball Valve Nominal Equivalent
Cv
(large bore) Fitting Size Length (ft) (full port) Fitting Size Length (ft)
1
⁄2" 1.2 7.2 ⁄4"
3
2.2 13.5
3
⁄4" 3.6 10.7 1" 2.8 22.3

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual — Chapter 4 – Pipe Sizing 57

 Elbows EP Multiport Elbows Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)

EP Flow-through Multiport Elbow, Through 7.1 8.8

3 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #2 3.4 6.3
EP Flow-through Multiport Elbow, Through 7.1 8.9
4 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 3.4 6.4
1" EP Branch Multiport Elbow,
#5 3.0 7.9
10 outlets with mounting clips

Flow-through EP Flow-through Multiport Tees Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)

EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 15.3 1.6

2 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #2 3.4 6.4
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 99.0 3.9
3 outlets, 2" x 2" ProPEX #2 13.4 9.0
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 11.6 3.2
3 outlets, 1" x 3⁄4" PEX #2 3.7 5.4
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 7.1 8.8
3 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #2 3.4 6.3
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 7.1 8.9
4 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 3.4 6.4
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 29.3 1.5
4 outlets, 1" x 1" PEX #3 3.2 7.5
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 11.7 3.0
4 outlets, 1" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 4.0 4.5
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 11.8 3.1
6 outlets, 1" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 3.5 5.8
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 13.2 3.8
6 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 3.7 5.3
EP Flow-through Multiport Tee, Through 25.1 2.5
6 outlets, 1" x 1" ProPEX #3 3.1 7.6

Vertical EP Flow-through
Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
Multiport Vertical Tee
Tee to Tee 13.6 2.3
Tee to Side 7.4 8.2
EP Flow-through Multiport Vertical Tee,
Tee to #2 3.1 7.8
3 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX
Side to Tee 6.9 9.5
Side to #2 3.6 4.9

58 Chapter 4 – Pipe Sizing — www.uponorengineering.com

 Branch EP Branch Multiport Tees Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)

3
⁄4" EP Branch Multiport Tee, 3 outlets #2 3.4 6.0

1" EP Branch Multiport Tee, 4 outlets #3 4.2 3.9

3
⁄4" EP Branch Multiport Tee, 4 outlets #3 3.3 6.7

1" EP Branch Multiport Tee, 6 outlets #3 3.6 5.4

3
⁄4" EP Branch Multiport Tee, 6 outlets #3 4.1 3.8
3
⁄4" EP Branch Multiport Tee,
#4 2.6 10.6
7 outlets with mounting clips

1" EP Branch Multiport Tee,

#4 2.6 10.7
7 outlets with mounting clips

⁄4" EP Branch Multiport Tee, 8 outlets

3
#4 2.6 10.9
with mounting clips

1" EP Branch Multiport Tee, 8 outlets

#4 3.2 6.1
with mounting clips

Opposing EP Opposing-port
Flow/Port Avg. Cv Eq. Length (ft)
Multiport Tees
⁄4" EP Branch Opposing-port
3
#2 3.3 6.5
Multiport Tee, 3 outlets
EP Flow-through Opposing-port Through 15.9 1.6
Multiport Tee, 3 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 3.4 6.4
⁄4" EP Branch Opposing-port
3
#3 3.5 6.0
Multiport Tee, 4 outlets
EP Flow-through Opposing-port Through 16.9 1.3
Multiport Tee, 4 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 3.4 6.3
EP Flow-through Opposing-port Through 16.4 1.3
Multiport Tee, 6 outlets, 3⁄4" x 3⁄4" ProPEX #3 3.4 6.2
⁄4" EP Branch Opposing-port
3
#4 3.4 6.0
Multiport Tee, 8 outlets

Plumbing Design Assistance Manual — Chapter 4 – Pipe Sizing 59