What are Stainless Steel pipe fittings? Why are they essential?
Stainless steel pipes as we know are the heart of numerous piping and plumbing applications. But have you ever wondered what keeps these pipes in place and helps them regulate the flow of liquids and gases? This is carried out by “fittings”. Stainless steel fittings play a vital role in plumbing and pipeline work. However, it is essential to choose the perfect fitting according to the size of the pipes used. One needs to be extremely careful with precise dimensional fittings and adjustments to ensure perfect and leak-free piping joints.
Why choose Stainless Steel?
Although there are numerous metals and alloys that are used to make pipe fittings, one of the best metal alloys is “Stainless Steel”. Stainless steel grades 304 and 316 are the best grades for forged fittings. Among these, grade 304 is the common and widely used grade. Numerous industries utilize fittings made out of stainless steel 304.
Why grade 304?
Stainless steel is made by combining iron, chromium, and nickel in definite proportions. Several other alloying filler metals are added to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of stainless steel. One of these grades includes stainless steel 304. This grade includes the addition of molybdenum which enhances the structural integrity and corrosion resistivity of the metal alloy.
What are the factors one should consider while choosing a stainless steel fitting?
- The quality of the materials:
While purchasing a pipe fitting one should be extremely aware and careful of the quality of the metal provided. Always look for the best quality material with ISO markings and validations. Check the strength, durability, and corrosion resistance of the material. Make sure the fitting is perfect according to the OD and ID of your pipeline. The use of low-quality materials poses a threat to the entire hardware or pipeline. Low-quality material tends to get affected by corrosive particles easily which affect the whole system. If you choose to use 316 grade stainless steel pipe fittings, always check for ISO 9001: 2000 marking.
- Performance of the fitting:
Always buy your fittings from renowned and well-known manufacturers. Ask the sellers for a dummy or a test product to know the exact working of the product. Always make sure that the fittings manufactured are at par with all global and international standards. Ask for test reports and quality assessment reports from the buyer. Following these steps ensures that you won’t be handed a faulty product.
- Testing the fitting:
Every well-renowned manufacture makes it a point to test the products manufactured by their team. The buyers should be well aware of the tests conducted on the fitting. The fittings should pass all the criteria set b international norms and standards.
- Make sure the credits and certifications are authentic:
When evaluating a fitting and its certifications, make sure they’re globally recognized. Several essential markings that need to be there on certification include:
- ATEX 94/9/EC
- PED 97/23/EC
- ISO 9001:2008
- ISO 22000:2005
