The Merit Pipeline - July 2024
Pipeline Picks - Brass: Enhancing Efficiency and Reliability in the PVF Industry
Brass is often used in many PVF (pipe, valve & fitting) applications due to its superior corrosion resistance from water & heat. Brass also resists attack from salt water, acids, minerals, and peaty soils contained in water. This provides systems with long-lasting performance, and it also minimizes maintenance. Brass is available in several grades (e.g. C84400, C83600, C898833 & Alloy 360) giving you the flexibility to use it in a variety of applications.
Common applications for brass include commercial and residential plumbing, waterworks, light irrigation, industrial distribution, architecture, construction, and OEM. It can also be used in oil, gas, and steam applications.
There are several benefits to using brass including:
Brass fittings and valves provide quality connections for demanding projects. Merit Brass has a comprehensive offering of brass fittings for your inventory needs and your customers’ applications. Merit’s domestic brass fittings are compliant with the Buy America Act.
Merit’s lead-free brass fitting & valve offering, certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 provides you with peace of mind in meeting your customers’ needs where potable water is involved. Our offering includes 1/8” – 4” lead-free ball valves and import & domestic lead free brass fittings in class 125 and 250. Our fittings conform to ASME B16.15 from Copper Alloy C89833 in accordance with ASTM B584. Our valves are available in 1/4" - 4".
Merit’s leaded brass fitting and valve offering is available in size ranges of 1/8” – 4”. These fittings conform to ASME B16.15 from Copper Alloy C83600 in accordance with ASTM B62.
If you are exploring alternatives to brass for potable water applications, Merit’s 150# stainless steel fittings and stainless-steel welded pipe are both compliant with NSF 61.
Product Pulse: Pipe Flanges 101
What is a Pipe Flange?
Pipe flanges connect piping and the components of a piping system such as valves, fittings, pipe with each other and specialty items using bolted connections and gaskets. They can be installed in several fashions including: welding, lapping or screwing.
There are several benefits to using a pipe flange including: it provides a secure connection between pipes, valves & other equipment; it allows for quick disassembly by providing installation or modification access points; and it increases the strength at the joint.
The application and type of flange determine the way in which the connection is made. Always consider the fluid being conveyed through a pipeline, the operating temperature, flange type, size, pressure class/rating and other specifications prior to installation. This ensures safety during installation and operation of the piping system.
A pipe flange has several components: a unique bolt pattern, connection type (e.g. socket weld, threaded, slip on, etc.) and face. They have varying bolt patterns that are based on the type of flange and its diameter. It is important to note that flanges do require a gasket to make the seal except for ring-type joint faces.
Flanges also have several types of facing which include: flat face, ring-type joint, lap joint, tongue & groove and raised face. The facing is the area that is used to seal the flange. The face itself can be serrated or smooth. There are several industries that traditionally require a specific type of facing.
If you are interested in adding flanges to your inventory, explore Merit's offering which includes:
To speak with a member of our team today contact us at 800.726.9800.
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Unlocking Solutions through Services & Capabilities: – Manufacturing Opportunities to Support Your Growth
For over 8 decades, Merit has been committed to innovation and quality; and one way we demonstrate this, is through our pipe nipple manufacturing capabilities. Merit understands the importance of consistency for ease of installation which is why we focus on the pipe that they are manufactured from, the quality of threads, industry specifications compliance and cleanliness. Merit carries several alloys (stainless steel (304/L & 316/L), brass, chrome plated brass and aluminum) of pipe nipples because we understand that piping systems and their applications require specific characteristics from the alloys that make those connections.
Merit also understands that the needs of a piping system can be unique which is why we offer special pipe nipple machining processes to our wholesale distributor partners and their customers including:
We further understand that the connections within a system can be unique which is why we extend to our customers several types of threads:
If you are interested in learning more, please contact a member of our sales team today or call us at 800.726.9800.
Engineering Edge: Understanding Piping System NSF 61 and NSF 372 Compliance for Potable Water Systems
Involved in drinking water production? Engineering a water system involves NSF 61 and 372 Compliance. Uncover the differences prior to building your system.
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61
In 1985, the EPA awarded a contract to a group of organizations lead by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF International) to develop standards and a certification program for products used to treat or distribute drinking water. In 1988 NSF delivered NSF 61 Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects.
In 1989, NSF 61 became an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standard, and NSF began certifying products to the standard.
In 2008, the Annex G lead content requirement was introduced, which came about as a response to legislation stating what the maximum lead content of potable water products could be. California Assembly Bill 1953, and Vermont Senate Bill S 0.152 are two examples of the legislation.
In 2010, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) changed the requirement of “Lead-Free” to reflect the 0.25% or less lead content stipulated in Annex G; requirements were moved to NSF 372 Drinking Water System Components - Lead Content as a reference document to determine lead content (see below). Annex G was completely removed from NSF/ANSI 61 in 2013.
This new legislation went into effect in January 2014. Furthermore, NSF/ANSI 61 Section 3.5 also required all affected products meet the lead-free definition of the SDWA.
In 2019, NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 were approved as national standards in Canada, so now both are referred to as NSF/ANSI/CAN standards.
What is NSF 372?
NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 Drinking Water System Components – Lead Content is an American National Standard that establishes a methodology for the determination and verification of product compliance to minimize lead contaminants.
The NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 standard includes a formula for calculating the weighted average lead content of each product and specific procedures for lead content testing.
Meet the Merit Family: Your Partners to Your Success
Meet Michael Riddle, our Director of Sales. Michael has been a part of the Merit family for over 2 years now. He leads our West Coast team of Regional Sales Managers and Key Account Managers in an effort to support your needs and develop partnering relationships with our wholesale distributor customers. Michael is committed to leading by example and delivering legendary service to you and your team every day.
A professional brass fittings and valves seller at ZHEJIANG BORNIC FLUID CONTROL CO., LTD
2moHello! Nice to meet you. We are brass fittings and valves manufacture from China and we believe that you require a business partner with the same professional quality as you. We can customize products with a number of specifications, such as size and threading to meet your specific requirements. If you are interested in our products, please shoot me a note.