Copper Tubing and Fittings

in hot water heating systems, and in soil, waste, and vent lines. Copper is

light, easily installed, and resists corrosion. Rigid copper tubing is hard

tempered and comes in 20-foot lengths. It does not bend so changes in direction

must be made with fittings. Flexible copper tubing is soft tempered, easily bent

for changes in direction, and comes in coils of 40 to 100 feet, depending on size,

Larger coils are available in the smaller sizes.

(2) Types and sizes.

(a) Type K has a heavy wall and is used for underground and other heavy

duty purposes. It is available in hard and soft temper and in sizes from 1/4 inch

to 6 inches.

(b) Type L has a medium wall and is used for general indoor plumbing

where conditions do not require heavier tubing. It, too, is available in hard and

soft temper and in the same sizes as type K.

(c) Type M has a thin wall and is used mainly in hot water heating

systems.

It is available only in hard temper in the same sizes as types K and L.

(d) Type DWV (drain, waste, and vent) is used only in aboveground soil,

waste, and vent lines. It is furnished in hard temper only and in sizes from 1-1/4

inches to 8 inches. It comes in 12-foot lengths as-well as the standard 20-foot

length.

b. Fittings.

{1) Solder-type fittings. These are the more widely used of the two types

of fittings. They can be used with either rigid or flexible copper tubing and are

made in the usual iron pipe patterns; i.e., T's, elbows, couplings, etc. Figure 7

shows solder-type fittings. In addition to those shown, solder-type fittings

include reducing T's, reducing ells, T's with male or female iron pipe adapter

outlets, iron pipe adapter ells, and others. Fittings for use with DWV copper pipe

are similar to cast iron soil pipe fittings and include Y-branches, sanitary T's,

combination Y and 1/8 bends, an adapter for joining to a cast iron soil pipe hub,

and others.

Figure 7.

Solder-type fittings.

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