Some ignorance on display here, but, the abbreviations I sometimes see on plumbing items, IPS or NPS, what do they mean and why would I care? I see them sometimes on brass fittings I think, and on slip nuts and other threaded fittings.
I am wondering, what other potential abbreviations are out there regarding fittings I may not know of???
A custom finish carpenter shares how he designed and outfit his two-car garage shop with all the tools, jigs, and accessories he needs to comfortably do great work.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
NPS is National Pipe Straight, which means the threads don't taper and to seal it would need a rubber washer or O-ring to seal , think garden hose, under sink hoses or washing machine hoses. There are different types of straight threads such as NPSM (mechanical), NPSL (locknut), etc.
NPT (Nat Pipe Taper), MPT (NPT male), FPT (NPT female) would be something that seals by virtue of the tapered threads compressing as the joint is tightened. Copper pipe and black iron pipe are the most common examples. There is also BSP (British Standard Pipe) and a whole host of other less common thread styles.
IPS? Are you sure you aren't dyslexic?! PSI maybe....LOL, I haven't heard of IPS, doesn't mean it's not out there, just haven't heard of it before.
IPS - iron pipe standard (tapered) OR Internal Pipe Swivel Connection which is straight thread.http://www.plumbingworld.com/pluminfo.html
http://www.plumbingworld.com/terminologies.htmlhttp://www.robertmfg.com/specs7.html"NPT (Nat Pipe Taper), MPT (NPT male), FPT (NPT female)"But will be more commonly marked MIP or FIP for male or female iron pipe.
Thanks Bill....I was sure it was IPS....you educated Troy and myself.
NPS stands for Nominal Pipe Size, IPS stands for Iron Pipe size, In threaded pipe there is NPT = National Pipe Thread, which is tapered, there is also BSPT = British Standard Pipe Taper & BSPP = British Standard Parallel Pipe. Trust me I've been in pipe for over 43 years
Troy, thanks....I never paid attention to pipe threads being tapered or not, though I know I've seen tapered threads but never wondered "why." Now I know. Great explanation. This would be a good post from BT to put in FHB because I'm sure I wasn't the only one scratching my head.
Thanks Bill....I was sure it was IPS....you educated Troy and myself.