BSP and NPT Pipe Fittings - Stainless Steel

Stainless BSP Pipe Fittings are a family of fittings used to connect up threaded pipe and equipment in non-critical low pressure situations with a maximum pressure of 150 PSI. Types of fittings include; Elbows, Tees, Nipples, Reducing Bushes, Reducing Sockets, Hex Caps, Round Caps, Male & Female Elbows, Hose Tails and Reducing Nipples.

How They Work: Female BSP fittings have a parallel thread and male BSP fittings have a tapered thread, when fitted together with a sealant (either PTFE tape or some other thread sealing compound) a leak proof joint is formed. These sealants also assist in lubricating the joint during assembly and reduce the potential for galling.

Types/Styles: There are a few different methods of manufacture of Stainless BSP pipe fittings, they can be manufactured from pipe, bar, hollow-bar, castings or forgings, and the method of manufacture has a large bearing on the final cost and performance of the fittings.

Anzor Stainless BSP fittings are manufactured by the lost wax casting method (not sand cast), this means they have a smooth finish, which not only looks good but is also more corrosion resistant. With sand cast fittings the fittings are more likely to have air pockets and therefore more likely to fail. Anzor sockets are OD machined for a smooth finish and all fittings are 316 grade.

How To Identify: BSP fittings are measured by NB (nominal bore size). Nominal bore is the inside diameter of the pipe, not the outside diameter. So for example, if the inside diameter of the pipe is 6mm, the BSP size required is 1/8BSP. Here are the common BSP sizes, with the nominal bore in brackets: 1/8 BSP (NB6mm), ¼ BSP (NB8mm), 3/8 BSP (NB10mm), ½ BSP (NB15mm), ¾ BSP (NB20mm), 1 BSP (NB 25mm), 1 1/4 BSP (NB 32mm), 1 1/2 BSP (NB 40), 2 BSP (NB 50), 2 1/2 BSP (NB65), 3 BSP (NB65), 4 BSP (NB100mm).

Materials: Anzor BSP fittings are all grade 316, lost wax investment cast.

Typical Customers: Stainless BSP fittings are used in a multitude of applications for transporting fluids in situations requiring maximum corrosion resistance, E.g. Marine industry, chemical industry, fertilizer plants, dairy plants, petroleum industry, food processing plants, Fish processing plants, Brewing plants, pharmaceutical plants, and wine process facilities to name a few.

Advantages: They can be used in situations where welding or hot work is not possible, they are demountable and are able to be used again. Used to connect valves into lines so maintenance or replacement of valves can take place.

Disadvantages: The only real disadvantages are that if the fittings are not correctly fitted there can be leaks and also they are a bit more bulky than a butt weld fitting. Materials And Tools Required For Installation: Normally the only tools required for installation are high quality chrome vanadium pipe wrenches (to reduce the chance of cross contamination), and pipe sealants.

Alternatives: The alternative to using stainless BSP fittings are stainless butt weld fittings which as the name suggest require welding, or black or galv BSP fittings which don't offer the corrosion resistance of stainless.

Tips When Installing Stainless BSP Fittings: Make sure enough sealant or PTFE tape is used to make a leak proof joint. Don't grind or cut pipe using carbon based cutting discs, only use inox cut-off discs, so cross contamination doesn't occur.

For Australian customers - see also Stainless Steel BSP Australia, Stainless Steel Pipe Fittings Australia and Stainless Steel NPT Australia