RECOMMENDED PRACTICE

ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

Nomenclature for
Instrument Tube Fittings

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT
This is a copyrighted document and may not be copied or distributed in any
form or manner without the permission of ISA. This copy of the document was
made for the sole use of the person to whom ISA provided it and is subject to
the restrictions stated in ISA’s license to that person. It may not be provided to
any other person in print, electronic, or any other form. Violations of ISA’s
copyright will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and may result in
substantial civil and criminal penalties.

Approved 12 November 2001

TM

ISA–The Instrumentation,
Systems, and
Automation Society
ISA-RP42.00.01
Nomenclature for Instrument Tube Fittings

ISBN: 1-55617-784-4

Copyright © 2002 by the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society. All rights reserved. Not for
resale. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the Publisher.

ISA
67 Alexander Drive
P.O. Box 12277
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
USA
 –3– ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

Preface

This preface, as well as all footnotes and annexes, is included for information purposes and is not part of
ISA-RP42.00.01-2001.

The standards referenced within this document may contain provisions which, through reference in this
text, constitute requirements of this document. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were
valid. All standards are subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this document are
encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated
within this document. Members of IEC and ISO maintain registers of currently valid International
Standards. ANSI maintain registers of currently valid U.S. National Standards.

This document has been prepared as part of the service of ISA–The Instrumentation, Systems, and
Automation Society, toward a goal of uniformity in the field of instrumentation. To be of real value, this
document should not be static but should be subject to periodic review. Toward this end, the Society
welcomes all comments and criticisms and asks that they be addressed to the Secretary, Standards and
Practices Board; ISA; 67 Alexander Drive; P. O. Box 12277; Research Triangle Park, NC 27709;
Telephone (919) 549-8411; Fax (919) 549-8288; E-mail: standards@isa.org.

The ISA Standards and Practices Department is aware of the growing need for attention to the metric
system of units in general, and the International System of Units (SI) in particular, in the preparation of
instrumentation standards. The Department is further aware of the benefits to USA users of ISA
standards of incorporating suitable references to the SI (and the metric system) in their business and
professional dealings with other countries. Toward this end, this Department will endeavor to introduce
SI-acceptable metric units in all new and revised standards, recommended practices, and technical
reports to the greatest extent possible. Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The
Modern Metric System, published by the American Society for Testing & Materials as IEEE/ASTM SI 10-
97, and future revisions, will be the reference guide for definitions, symbols, abbreviations, and
conversion factors.

It is the policy of ISA to encourage and welcome the participation of all concerned individuals and
interests in the development of ISA standards, recommended practices, and technical reports.
Participation in the ISA standards-making process by an individual in no way constitutes endorsement by
the employer of that individual, of ISA, or of any of the standards, recommended practices, and technical
reports that ISA develops.

CAUTION — ISA ADHERES TO THE POLICY OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS

INSTITUTE WITH REGARD TO PATENTS. IF ISA IS INFORMED OF AN EXISTING PATENT THAT IS
REQUIRED FOR USE OF THE STANDARD, IT WILL REQUIRE THE OWNER OF THE PATENT TO
EITHER GRANT A ROYALTY-FREE LICENSE FOR USE OF THE PATENT BY USERS COMPLYING
WITH THE STANDARD OR A LICENSE ON REASONABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT ARE
FREE FROM UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION.

EVEN IF ISA IS UNAWARE OF ANY PATENT COVERING THIS STANDARD, THE USER IS
CAUTIONED THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD MAY REQUIRE USE OF TECHNIQUES,
PROCESSES, OR MATERIALS COVERED BY PATENT RIGHTS. ISA TAKES NO POSITION ON THE
EXISTENCE OR VALIDITY OF ANY PATENT RIGHTS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTING
THE STANDARD. ISA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING ALL PATENTS THAT MAY
REQUIRE A LICENSE BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD OR FOR INVESTIGATING
THE VALIDITY OR SCOPE OF ANY PATENTS BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION. THE USER SHOULD
CAREFULLY INVESTIGATE RELEVANT PATENTS BEFORE USING THE STANDARD FOR THE
USER’S INTENDED APPLICATION.
ISA–RP42.00.01–2001 –4–

HOWEVER, ISA ASKS THAT ANYONE REVIEWING THIS STANDARD WHO IS AWARE OF ANY
PATENTS THAT MAY IMPACT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD NOTIFY THE ISA
STANDARDS AND PRACTICES DEPARTMENT OF THE PATENT AND ITS OWNER.

ADDITIONALLY, THE USE OF THIS STANDARD MAY INVOLVE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS,

OPERATIONS OR EQUIPMENT. THE STANDARD CANNOT ANTICIPATE ALL POSSIBLE
APPLICATIONS OR ADDRESS ALL POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH USE IN
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. THE USER OF THIS STANDARD MUST EXERCISE SOUND
PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT CONCERNING ITS USE AND APPLICABILITY UNDER THE USER’S
PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THE USER MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE APPLICABILITY OF
ANY GOVERNMENTAL REGULATORY LIMITATIONS AND ESTABLISHED SAFETY AND HEALTH
PRACTICES BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THIS STANDARD.

The following individuals served as members of the SP42 Committee, who reaffirmed RP42.1 in 1992:

NAME COMPANY

W. Wilson, Chairman Consultant

B. Fogleman Fogleman Company Inc.
K. Hopkins Consultant
R. Lacluyse Lesman Instrument Company
B. Traylor GE ICS
F. Zikas Parker Hannifin Corporation

The following individuals served as members of the SP42 Committee, who revised RP42.00.01 in 2001:

E. Vodopest, Chairman Consultant

A. Webb, Vice Chair* Consultant
M. Widmeyer, Managing Director EG & G Defense Materials
S. Bovetz Frost Engineering
L. Carpenter* Fluor Daniel, Inc.
C. Chandler Exxon Company, USA
F. Cunningham Swagelok Company
R. Davies Midwest Valve & Fitting Company
R. Dear Brown & Root
K. Dowden Technical Controls, Inc
D. Gibson* Parker Hannifin Corp.
E. Girgis* Fluor Daniel Northwest
B. Hedlund Seattle Valve & Fitting Company
B. Hughes* Parker Hannifin Corporation
M. Johnson Frost Engineering
F. Metzger Consultant
R. Mulley Raymond Mulley Engineering
F. Norman Kvaerner E & C
E. Shufflebarger* Swagelok Company
J. Stone* Parker Hannifin Corporation
T. Weber Meriam Instrument
S. Wirbel* Swagelok Company
C. Yeager, P.E. Siemens Power Corporation
F. Zikas* Parker Hannifin Corporation

This published Recommended Practice was approved for publication by the ISA Standards and Practices
Board on 12 November 2001.
 –5– ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

NAME COMPANY

M. Zielinski Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.

D. Bishop Consultant
P. Brett Honeywell, Inc.

______
* One vote per company.

M. Cohen Senior Flexonics, Inc.

M. Coppler Ametek, Inc.
B. Dumortier Schneider Electric SA
W. Holland Southern Company
A. Iverson Ivy Optiks
R. Jones Dow Chemical Co.
V. Maggioli Feltronics Corp.
T. McAvinew Instrumentation & Control Engineering LLC
A. McCauley, Jr. Chagrin Valley Controls, Inc.
G. McFarland Westinghouse Process Control Inc.
D. Rapley Rapley Consulting Inc.
R. Reimer Rockwell Automation
J. Rennie Factory Mutual Research Corp.
H. Sasajima Advanced Architecture and Technologies
R. Webb Altran Corp.
W. Weidman Parsons Energy & Chemicals Group
J. Weiss EPRI
J. Whetstone National Institute of Standards & Technology
M. Widmeyer EG&G Defense Materials
R. Wiegle CANUS Corp.
C. Williams Eastman Kodak Co.
G. Wood Graeme Wood Consulting
This page intentionally left blank.
 –7– ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

Contents

1 Scope..................................................................................................................................................... 9

2 Purpose.................................................................................................................................................. 9

3 Definitions .............................................................................................................................................. 9

4 Specifications....................................................................................................................................... 10

5 Fittings ................................................................................................................................................. 12

Annex A — References .............................................................................................................................. 19

This page intentionally left blank.
 –9– ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

1 Scope

This Recommended Practice defines nomenclature for tube fittings most commonly used in
instrumentation. It is not intended as a substitute for manufacturers' catalog numbers, nor does it apply to
special fittings. This Recommended Practice is intended to apply to mechanical flared and flareless tube
fittings as commonly used in instrument tubing systems.

2 Purpose

The purpose of this Recommended Practice is to aid in the proper specification and application of
instrument tube fittings by standardizing nomenclature. Proper use of this Recommended Practice
should result in data that

a) more accurately describes a particular fitting for all interested parties;

b) permits better communications between manufacturer, vendor, purchaser, and ultimate user;

c) provides standardized nomenclature to be used by drafting, billing, purchasing, and stores groups;
and

d) makes more clear the use of standardized symbols.

3 Definitions

3.1 bored through:

a fitting that has the “shoulder” or “tube stop” of the fitting removed.

3.2 branch:
the connection of a fitting tee that is in a 90° relation to the other two connections.

3.3 bulkhead:
a partition, panel, or bracket through which a fitting is installed.

3.3.1 bulkhead fitting:

a fitting designed with a body, hex, extended threading, and a bulkhead locknut (jam nut) between ports
that allows the fitting to be inserted through and secured to a bulkhead.

3.4 compression (fitting):

a fitting that achieves a seal without the necessity of flaring the end of the tubing.

3.5 ferrule:
a tube fitting component that provides the sealing and/or holding function of the flareless fitting on the
tubing.

3.6 flared (fitting):

a fitting assembly consisting of a body, nut, and sleeve that is designed to seal by mechanically mating
the cone or angular sealing surface area of the body with a similar angular (typically 37°) surface on the
inner diameter of the tube end.

3.7 flareless (fitting):

a type of compression fitting assembly consisting of a body, nut, and ferrule(s) that is mechanically
attached to the outside diameter of the tube, to hold and seal the tube and mating section of the fitting
body.
ISA–RP42.00.01–2001 – 10 –

3.8 port:
a fitting assembly connection.

3.9 run:
that portion of a fitting assembly having two ports on the same axis.

3.10 sleeve:
a flared fitting component that provides support from the nut shoulder to the flared tube end.

3.11 tube fitting:

a mechanical device attached to the end of a tube used in the assembly of a tubing system.

4 Specifications

CAUTION  USER SHOULD APPLY FACTORY SPECIFICATION FOR THE PROPER APPLICATION
OF FITTINGS.

4.1 Standardized nomenclature

A commonly used tube fitting should be specified with the following:

a) Common name (see clause 5)

b) Fitting material

c) Tube outside diameter

d) Pipe thread, if applicable

e) Flared or flareless

NOTE 1 — For abbreviations used on text or drawings, see ASME Y14.38-1999.

NOTE 2 — For SI letter symbols used on text, see ANSI/IEEE 260.1-1993 and ISO 1000; for drawings requiring capitalization, see
ASME Y14.38-1999.

NOTE 3 — The symbol x is commonly used between connection size callouts.

EXCEPTION: Special tube fittings not covered by this Recommended Practice, including fittings with
coincident inch (customary U.S. units) and millimeter (SI units) connection sizes, should be specified as
provided in manufacturers’ pertinent data.

4.2 Fractional unit dimensions

When (fractional) inch tubing sizes are in use, the specifications should use (fractional) inch dimensions.

NOTE 1 — For National Standard Pipe Taper (NPT) male or female threads, see ANSI/ASME B1.20.1-1983.

NOTE 2 —American National Standard Dryseal Pipe Threads (NPTF) male or female threads, see ANSI/ASME B1.20.3-1976.
 – 11 – ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

EXAMPLES:

MALE CONNECTOR, STAINLESS STEEL, 1/4 IN. OD X 1/4 IN. NPT, FLARELESS (See 5.1) (As
used on drawing.)

FEMALE CONNECTOR, BRASS, 1/2 IN. OD X 1/2 IN. NPTF, FLARED (See 5.2) (As used on
drawing.)

4.3 SI unit dimensions

When SI unit tubing sizes are used, the specifications should use SI unit dimensions.

NOTE 1 — For pressure tight joints SI unit pipe taper male or female threads, see ISO 7, Pt 1-94.

NOTE 2 — For non-pressure tight joints SI unit pipe parallel male or female parallel threads, see ISO 228, Pt 1-94.

EXAMPLES:

male connector, brass, 6 mm od x ISO 7-R 1/4 in., flareless (See 5.1) (As used in lower case text.)

male connector, brass, 12 mm od x ISO 7-R 1/2 in., flareless (See 5.1) (As used in lower case text.)

4.4 Tee/cross specification

The ports for each tee or cross tube fitting (see 5.8 through 5.13) should be specified in the order
indicated by the port numbers as noted adjacent to the detailed symbol.

EXAMPLES:

male run tee, brass, 1/4 in. od x 1/4 in. npt x 1/4 in. od, flareless (See 5.9) (As used in lower case
text.)

FEMALE BRANCH TEE, STAINLESS STEEL, 12 MM OD X 12 MM OD X ISO 7-1/2 IN. FLARELESS

(See 5.12) (As used on drawing.)

4.5 Abbreviations

Abbreviations not appearing in ASME Y14.38-1999 should be defined in the document in which they
appear.

4.6 Additional features

Additional design features may be specified.

EXAMPLE:

MALE CONNECTOR, STAINLESS STEEL, 1/4 IN. OD X 1/4 NPT, FLARELESS, BORED THROUGH
(See 5.1) (As used on drawing.)
ISA–RP42.00.01–2001 – 12 –

5 Fittings
NOTE — Detailed symbols are shown to illustrate the common name tube fittings.

Common Name Detailed Symbol

5.1 Male Connector

5.2 Female Connector

5.3 Male Elbow

5.4 Female Elbow

 – 13 – ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

5.5 Union Elbow

5.6 Tubing Union

5.7 Bulkhead Union

5.8 Union Tee

ISA–RP42.00.01–2001 – 14 –

5.9 Male Run Tee

5.10 Male Branch Tee

5.11 Female Run Tee

 – 15 – ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

5.12 Female Branch Tee

5.13 Union Cross

5.14 Bulkhead Male Connector

5.15 Bulkhead Female Connector

ISA–RP42.00.01–2001 – 16 –

5.16 Reducing Union

5.17 Tube End Male Adapter

5.18 Tube End Female Adapter

5.19 Tubing Cap

5.20 Plug

5.21 Tube End Reducer

 – 17 – ISA–RP42.00.01–2001

5.22 Tube Port Connector

5.23 Tube End Bulkhead Reducer

This page intentionally left blank.
 – 19 – ISA–RP42.00.01

Annex A — References

This annex is included for information purposes and is not part of this recommended practice.

The following standards contain provisions that, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this
ISA Recommended Practice. At the time of publication, the editions indicated were valid. All standards
are subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this Recommended Practice are encouraged
to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the standards indicated below.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (ASME)

ANSI/ASME B1.20.1-1983 Pipe Threads, General Purpose (Inch)

(Revision and Redesignation of ANSI/ASME B2.1-1968 [R 2001])

ANSI/ASME B1.20.3-1976 Dryseal Pipe Threads (Inch)

(Revision and Redesignation of ANSI/ASME B2.2-1968 [R 1998])

ASME Y14.38-1999 Abbreviations and Acronyms (Revision and Redesignation of ASME

Y1.1-1989)

Available from: ASME

22 Law Dr.
P.O. Box 2900
Fairfield, NJ 07007-2900
Tel: (800) 843-2763
www.asme.org
www.ansi.org

INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS (IEEE)

ANSI/IEEE 260.1-1993 American National Standard Letter Symbols for Units of Measurement
(SI Units, Customary Inch-Pound Units, and Certain Other Units)

IEEE/ASTM SI 10-1997 Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern
Metric System

Available from: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

445 Hoes Lane
P.O. Box 1331
Piscataway, NJ 08855-1331
Tel: (732) 981-0060
www.ieee.org

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION (ISO)

ISO 7, Pt 1-94 Pipe Threads Where Pressure Tight Joints are Made on Threads -
Part 1: Dimensions, Tolerances and Designation (3rd ed.)

ISO 228, Pt 1-94 Pipe Threads Where Pressure Tight Joints are Not Made on Threads -
Part 1: Dimensions, Tolerances and Designation (3rd ed.)
ISA–RP42.00.01–2001 – 20 –

ISO 1000, 1992 SI Units and Recommendations for the Use of Their Multiples and of
rd
Amendment 1 - 1998 Certain Other Units (3 ed.)

Available from: ISO

c/o ANSI
rd
25 W. 43 St.
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10036
Tel: (212) 642-4900
www.ansi.org
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Developing and promulgating sound consensus standards, recommended practices, and technical
reports is one of ISA’s primary goals. To achieve this goal the Standards and Practices Department
relies on the technical expertise and efforts of volunteer committee members, chairmen and reviewers.

ISA is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited organization. ISA administers United
States Technical Advisory Groups (USTAGs) and provides secretariat support for International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) committees
that develop process measurement and control standards. To obtain additional information on the
Society’s standards program, please write:

ISA
Attn: Standards Department
67 Alexander Drive
P.O. Box 12277
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

ISBN: 1-55617-784-4