What are buttweld fittings in piping? Buttweld fittings are pipe fittings used to change the pathway of a pipeline (elbows), reduce/increase the pipe bore size (reducers), branch (tees, cross) or blind a pipeline (butt weld cap). ASME B16.9 (and MSS-SP 43) Buttweld fittings are used for piping systems above 2 inches in diameter, whereas socket weld and threaded fittings are used for smaller size pipes (ASME B16.11).
BUTTWELD FITTINGS IN PIPING
Buttweld fittings are available in multiple shapes (elbows, tees, reducers, crosses, caps, stub ends), material grades (carbon, high-yield carbon, low-alloy, stainless, duplex, and nickel alloys), and dimensions (2 to 24 inches in seamless execution, and welded for larger pipe sizes).
The key specifications for buttweld fittings are the ASME B16.9 (carbon and alloy fittings) and the MSS SP 43 (that integrates ASME B16.9 for stainless steel, duplex, and nickel alloy BW fittings).
Butt welding fittings have the following benefits
- allow strong, and leak-proof, piping connections
- minimize pressure drops and the turbulence inside the pipeline
- have a long service life
- are rather cheap to purchase and deploy

For piping systems below 2 inches in diameter, socket weld and threaded (forged) fittings are generally used (ASME B16.11).
BUTTWELD ELBOW 45/90/180 DEG.
ASME B16.9 buttweld elbows are manufactured in a wide range of dimensions (combinations of outside diameter and wall thickness) to fit ASME B36.10 and ASME B36.19 carbon, alloy and stainless steel pipes of any size between 2 and 48 inches (and above).
Buttweld elbows below 24 inches in diameter are produced by cutting, heating and bending seamless steel pipes; pipe elbows of larger sizes are manufactured, instead, from welded pipes or steel plates.
The three most common types of elbows in piping are the 45, 90, and 180 degrees (or return elbow), as shown in the image:
Some special types of pipe elbows are:
- reducing elbow: a pipe connector with an inlet and an outlet in two different bore sizes is used instead of the combination of a standard elbow and concentric reducer.
- mitered elbow: large size elbow assembled by joining steel plates
SHORT VS LONG RADIUS ELBOW
The center to face distance of a long radius pipe elbow is always 1.5 times the nominal pipe size, whereas, for a short radius pipe elbow, the center to face distance is equal to the nominal pipe size.
Example:
- For a 4 inches long radius (LR) butt weld elbow, the center to face distance is 4 x 25.4 x 1.5 = 152.4 mm;
- For a short radius butt weld elbow, the center to face distance is instead 4 x 25.4 x 1 = 101.6 mm. Short radius pipe elbows are available only for the 90 and 180-degree configuration (and not for the 45 degrees); instead, long radius elbows are available for all degrees.
.
PIPE ELBOW MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Buttweld elbows 45 and 90 degrees can be manufactured in different ways, the main ones are the “mandrel process” and the “cold forming” (other methods are the elliptical forming and the double-seam welding method).
Mandrel Process
Cold forming
PIPE BENDS
A pipe bend is a generic term to indicate a fittings that changes the direction of the piping system (technically, elbows are pipe bends too but of a standardized type in terms of angle degree and direction). The term “pipe bend” refers to a fitting that offsets the direction of the pipe works, without specifying the actual degree and direction.
Pipe bends are manufacturing by twisting a pipe or a tube using a bending machine, with an hot or a cold forming process. Pipe bends are economical ways of making pipe works layouts decreasing the number of other pipe fittings used.
BUTTWELD TEE
EQUAL TEE
An equal tee, otherwise called straight tee, is a buttweld fitting used to branch a pipeline, or any other pipework, at 90 degrees.
A pipe tee is defined “equal” when the bore size at the run and branch sides have the same diameter. An equal tee is, therefore, used to connect two pipes of the same nominal diameter.
Equal tees are available in sizes from half an inch to 48 inches (or larger) and in seamless and welded execution (seamless up to 24 inches, welded for tee sizes above 24 inches).
Buttweld tees are manufactured according to ASME B16.9 (carbon and alloy) and MSS SP 43 (stainless steel and nickel alloy).
REDUCING TEE
A reducing tee features a smaller bore size at the branched pipe side (generally 2/3 sizes smaller).
In case a larger bore size reduction is necessary, then a reinforced branch connection (such as a Weldolet) shall be preferred to prevent turbulence and have a smoother flow reduction.
The standard dimensions and tolerances of equal and reducing pipe tees are covered by the ASME B16.19 specification (carbon and alloy steel) and by the MSS SP 43 spec (for stainless steel and nickel alloys tees).
BARRED TEE
A barred tee is a special type of (equal) tee used for pigging operations (reducing barred tees do not exist, as the pig would not pass through the reduced area anyway).
A barred tee features a welded restriction on the branch pipe side that prevents the pig from flowing from the run pipe into the branched pipe.
Such barred restriction is welded on the internal side of the fitting and looks like a steel cage.
PIPE TEE MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Cold forming is the most used manufacturing process for seamless buttweld tees, as illustrated below. Other methods are the single or double seam welding process.
BUTTWELD CROSS
A Butt weld cross fitting is used when a double branch at 90 degrees is required, which is a rather rare need.
ASME B16.9 and MSS SP43 define the pipe cross dimensions and tolerance. There are no specific limitations in terms of available sizes and schedules for butt weld crosses.
BUTTWELD REDUCERS
CONCENTRIC REDUCER
The open ends of a concentric reducer are aligned and centered one to the other. Generally, this type of pipe reducer is used to modify the bore size of the pipeline by two (maximum three) measures, to avoid an excessive pressure drop in the pipeline.
If a larger reduction is needed, then a sequence of reducers shall be used to have a smooth and gradual adjustment of the pipeline bore size (vs. a drastic change).
For small bore size reductions, reducing flanges may be an alternative to buttweld reducers.
ECCENTRIC REDUCER
The open ends of an eccentric reducer are in an “offset” position one to the other.
Eccentric reducers are used, generally, for pipelines installed in a horizontal position (whereas concentric reducers are used for pipelines installed vertically or for the inlets of suction pumps, as top flat eccentric reducers).
TOP AND BOTTOM FLAT ECCENTRIC REDUCER

CONCENTRIC VS ECCENTRIC REDUCER
The key difference between concentric vs eccentric reducer is the centricity of the inlet vs. the outlet of the fitting, which is perfect for a concentric reducer and offset of an eccentric reducer.
BW REDUCER MANUFACTURING PROCESS
Cold forming is the most common manufacturing process for seamless eccentric/concentric reducers (welded reducers are produced with the single or double seam weld process):
PIPE CAP
A buttweld pipe cap is used to blind or isolate the pipeline, permanently or temporarily (for example during the execution of maintenance and reparation works).
Buttweld pipe caps are manufactured using steel plates for most sizes and materials. The shape of a pipe cap is ellipsoidal and conforms to the requirements set by the «ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel» code.
PIPE CAP MANUFACTURING PROCESS
The manufacturing process of caps starts from steel plates that are cut and shaped with a cold forming procedure:
SEAMLESS VS WELDED BW FITTINGS
Butt weld fittings are available in seamless and welded execution (seamless for bore sizes below 24 inches, welded for sizes above 24 inches).
Seamless buttweld fittings have no seam welds and are therefore considered superior to welded BW fittings (a weld is always a weak point on the metal, prone to corrosion).
Seamless BW fittings are manufactured by cutting, heating and shaping seamless pipes into desired forms. Welded buttweld fittings have one, two or more welds, depending on the dimension, the type of fitting and the manufacturing process adopted by the mill.

BUTT WELD FITTINGS MANUFACTURERS
- Awaji
- APP/CB&I
- Bassi Luigi
- Canadoil
- Close Bend
- Colonial Machine
- Erne Fittings
- Ezeflow
- Hackney-Ladish
- Houston Pipe Benders
- IRC Spa
- Mills Iron Works
- OMR Raccordi (Officine Meccaniche Righi)
- Raccortubi
- Shanghai Gateway Fittings Co
- Steel Forgings
- Sungkwang Bend
- Tectubi
- Tenaris
- TK Bend
- Tube Forgings of America
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Item End user code Materials Qty: Origin
1 Carbon steel Elbow 10″ 45 degree SCH 40 10
2 Carbon steel Elbow 10″ 90 degree SCH 40 20
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4 Carbon steel Elbow 12″ 90 degree SCH 40 20
5 Carbon steel Elbow 14″ 45 degree SCH 40 8
6 Carbon steel Elbow 14″ 90 degree SCH 40 10
7 Carbon steel Elbow 16″ 45 degree SCH 40 8
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13 Carbon steel Elbow 24″ 45 degree SCH 40 8
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15 Carbon steel Elbow 28″ 45 degree SCH 40 8
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17 Carbon steel Elbow 2″ 45 degree SCH 40 50
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20 Carbon steel Elbow 3″ 90 degree SCH 40 100
21 Carbon steel Elbow 4″ 45 degree SCH 40 50
22 Carbon steel Elbow 4″ 90 degree SCH 40 100
23 Carbon steel Elbow 5″ 45 degree SCH 40 10
24 Carbon steel Elbow 5″ 90 degree SCH 40 20
25 Carbon steel Elbow 6″ 45 degree SCH 40 25
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28 Carbon steel Elbow 8″ 90 degree SCH 40 50
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Email:- [email protected]
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Dear Sirs
Iam Sara from China, we are manufacturer for pipe fittings, including elbow, tee,flange,reducer, act.
you can send your enqiury to my email [email protected]
thanks
Dear Manager
Good day
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Our product include:Tube Elbow Bend Tee Cross Reducer Caps Flange
Material: ASTM SA106B API5L GrB X42 X46 X52X56 X60 X70 X80 A179 NACE MR0175 A210C A333 Gr6 Gr9 13CrMo44 10CrMo910 A335 Gr P1 P5 P9 P11 P12 P22 P91 P92 WB36 ASTM 304 304L 310 310S 316 316L 321 321H 317L 904L S31803 S32205 S32654 S32750
Pipe&Pipe fitting Size: OD 1/4″-80″ WT 2-160mm
Flange: 1/2”-48” Class 150- 2500 or as your drawing.
If you have requirement about pipe&fitting from China, pls enquiry to me, competitive price to you.
—
Thanks and Regards
Jasen Xu
Mob/Whatsapp: +8615076705167
Skype: xujiansheng888
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Dear Sirs
Iam Sara from China, we are manufacturer for pipe fittings, including elbow, tee,flange,reducer, act.
you can send your enqiury to my email [email protected]
thanks
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Dear Manager
Good day
Nice to know you . I am Jasen hope to be your Piping material vendor . We are a leading steel Pipe &fitting Manufacturer and stockist in China.
Our product include:Tube Elbow Bend Tee Cross Reducer Caps Flange
Material: ASTM SA106B API5L GrB X42 X46 X52X56 X60 X70 X80 A179 NACE MR0175 A210C A333 Gr6 Gr9 13CrMo44 10CrMo910 A335 Gr P1 P5 P9 P11 P12 P22 P91 P92 WB36 ASTM 304 304L 310 310S 316 316L 321 321H 317L 904L S31803 S32205 S32654 S32750
Pipe&Pipe fitting Size: OD 1/4″-80″ WT 2-160mm
Flange: 1/2”-48” Class 150- 2500 or as your drawing.
If you have requirement about pipe&fitting from China, pls enquiry to me, competitive price to you.
—
Thanks and Regards
Jasen Xu
Mob/Whatsapp: +8615076705167
Skype: xujiansheng888