Pipe Thread Compatibility etc between USA and UK

[friartuck]

Hi Folks

Tucky here

Still working on the holiday resort job in Antigua

Just a thought,--- can anyone tell me if the equipment used in the USA/Antigua area has compatible pipe threads, flanges etc as we use in the UK

We use metric (although we still refer to 1" pipe, 2" pipe etc, but we also refer to 25mm pipe, 32mm pipe etc)

Also is the soil pipe (foul drainage waste) the same standard. We use for instance PVC pipe which we call 4" and this is 110mm diameter.

My point is, if we export equipment from Europe, will we be able to marry the equipment together if we use locally purchased materials.( or do we ship over the pipe and fittings, or do we buy equipment locally)

The last thing I want is to send a boat load of hot water cylinders across and find that the local pipework is not compatible with European standard sizes.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please.

Tucky

PS

If the answer is...Use local pipe,fittings and equipment, then I will need to know who can supply the following:

Solar water panels and solar storage hot water cylinders, Rain water tanks and controls, Reverse Osmosis water treatment plant, fire sprinkler systems for commercial and domestic systems.

Thanks


Friar Tuck of Sherwood

 

[AbbyNormal]

Good Luck

Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Some sizes of ISO/BSP pipe threads will sort of mate with US pipe threads, given luck, low pressures, and Loctite PST.

I don't know what they typically use in Antigua. I get the impression that in most of the Caribbean, anything goes.

If there's a yacht repair yard nearby, they might have, or have a local source of, any adapter fittings you might need ...
or they might rely on my second suggestion: your hometown Swagelok distributor and Fedex.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[TBP]

British pipe thread and NPT are not the same. That also applies for flanges and the pipe itself. It's close - sometimes really close. But not close enough. We used to do work in a tobacco processing plant in Ontario, where much of the equipment came as assembled packages from the UK manufacturer, but was interconnected with North American dimensioned piping. It was an absolute nightmare.

Check what the local supply houses stock for pipe & fittings. The European equipment manufacturers should be able to provide detailed info about the piping connections on his units. If things aren't going to match, see if the equipment vendor offers any options on the connections so they can match the local supply situation. If not, order adapters.

 

[AbbyNormal]

Brockway Fire Protection International Inc 3411 Southwest 11th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 (954) 426-6360

Take the "V" out of HVAC and you are left with a HAC(k) job.

 

[friartuck]

Something tells me that this project is going to be very demanding.

Friar Tuck of Sherwood

 

[walkes]

but your site reviews may be worth it

 

[Golestan]

Friar Tuck,
From actual project experience, please stay with one system. The NPT, IP system is available in the area of your project. I would not mix the two BSP vs NPT parts. You are asking for trouble.

Use pipe and flanges of the same system.

Good luck,

 

[kepharda]

I agree with Golestan, If you have the decision to make pick on and stick with it.

I am working on a Toner Manf. Facility here in the US and most of the equipment is coming from Europe. Making all the necessary connections is a nightmare.

To add to the difficulty the Process Engineer is Swiss, so we don't really communicate too well.

 

[friartuck]

Kepharda

It has been suggested that I ask for blank flanges with major plant items. That way I can drill and match any flange to it and make the necessary connections.

Thats the theory any way

Friar Tuck of Sherwood

 

[kepharda]

Friartuck

That might not be a bad way to do it, just make sure the flanges they install meet the Pressure rating you are trying to design to.

Also, if you are responsible for the drawings, be sure to add lots of notes for the Contractor to field verify the pipe spool lengths etc.

My recent problem was that a valve had a backing flange instead of a weld neck. This made the spool length wrong and the pipe fitter tried to blame the engineer (me). Except my drawing showed a backing flange, as did the equipment drawing. The Swiss didn't assemble it exactly per their Equipment drawing.

Not that it was a big deal, but I hate always being the one that takes the blame.