Menu
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
Smith Blair
The leak-free tapping boss for every new water service connection. Bolted onto a live distribution main, a service saddle lets you tap a new corporation stop or service line without shutting the system down. Thirteen styles β ductile iron, bronze, and all-stainless β covering 1" through 42" pipe and 5/8" through 4" taps in both NPT and CC thread. Same-day quote response from Houston stock.
A service saddle (also called a tapping saddle) clamps around a water main and provides a reinforced, gasketed outlet boss through which the main can be drilled and tapped β under pressure, without interrupting service β to start a new service line.
When a utility needs to connect a new customer, fire line, or branch to an existing distribution main, it does not cut the main. Instead, a service saddle is bolted around the pipe, a corporation stop (or tapping valve) is threaded into the saddle outlet, and a tapping machine drills through the corp stop and the pipe wall while the line stays pressurized. The saddleβs gasket seals the connection; its body gives the corporation stop enough thread engagement to hold against system pressure and the torque of the tapping drill.
Correct saddle selection is non-negotiable. A saddle that does not match the pipe outside diameter (OD), the pipe material, and the tap size and thread will leak, damage the tap drill, or fail at pressure. The three pieces of information that determine the right saddle every time are: actual pipe OD, pipe material, and the tap size + thread type (NPT or CC).
The styles look similar but differ by pipe material, strap configuration, body metal, and pipe diameter. Match your situation below to narrow to the right style, then confirm OD and tap thread.
Service saddle datasheets assume waterworks fluency. Here is what each term means so you can read a spec sheet and order right the first time.
Every Smith-Blair saddle outlet is offered in two thread types. Choosing the wrong one is the single most common service-saddle ordering mistake β and it cannot be corrected in the field.
CC and NPT taper angles and pitch differ. An NPT corporation stop threaded into a CC saddle (or vice-versa) will either fail to seal under pressure or strip and damage the corporation stop. Always confirm the corporation stopβs inlet thread and order the matching saddle outlet. When in doubt, CC is the most common service-tap thread.
Strap count drives clamping force. Single-strap saddles handle the majority of standard service taps; double-strap and double-bale saddles add grip and sealing for larger or higher-pressure mains and irregular pipe surfaces.
The most widely used configuration for standard residential and commercial connections. A rigid ductile iron body (ASTM A536) gives the corporation stop enough thread engagement to withstand tapping torque and system pressure. The two styles share the same DI body and differ only in the clamping band.
Two clamping bands provide greater circumferential force and better sealing on larger diameters, higher-pressure systems, and pipe with irregular or deteriorated surfaces. Many utility specs require double-strap or double-bale saddles for taps on mains 8" and larger.
Beyond ductile iron, two premium body materials solve specific corrosion and compatibility requirements.
Bronze body saddles are specified where galvanic compatibility with copper service tubing and brass corporation stops is required, or where the utilityβs material standard mandates all-metallic / all-bronze wetted surfaces. A premium product for high-value residential developments and copper service systems. Sized to fit PVC pipe at steel or ductile-iron OD.
Where full corrosion immunity is required β offshore installations, desalination plants, aggressive salt-marsh soils, or long-term asset-preservation programs β the all-stainless saddles provide a completely non-corroding assembly from strap to boss, including body, straps, studs, and nuts.
The specialty series covers non-standard tapping conditions found in aging or complex distribution systems.
For pure pipe repair (no service tap), the Style 281 full-circle wide-range repair clamp seals splits, cracks, and pinholes on 3"β12" pipe in gasket widths from 7.5" to 30". 304 stainless, conforms to AWWA C223. It is a repair clamp, not a tapping saddle β ask us if you need repair coverage rather than a new tap.
All thirteen service saddle styles at a glance. Use this for selection and submittal prep, then confirm actual pipe OD and tap thread before ordering.
| Style | Configuration | Body | Strap / Bale | Nominal Size | Tap Threads | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 311 | Single Bale | Ductile Iron | Electro-Galvanized | 1"β12" | 5/8" CCβ2" NPT | Standard taps, normal soils |
| 315 | Single Strap | Ductile Iron | 304 Stainless | 1"β12" | 5/8" CCβ2" NPT | Standard taps, corrosive soils |
| 313 | Double Bale | Ductile Iron | Epoxy / SS / Galv | 1"β24"+ | 5/8" CCβ4" NPT | Larger / rough pipe; choose bale by environment |
| 317 | Double Strap | Ductile Iron | Double 304 SS | 4"β24" | 5/8" CCβ4" NPT | Coastal / industrial; large mains |
| 325 | Single/Double Strap | Bronze | 304 Stainless | 4"β12" | 3/4"β2" CC/NPT | Copper systems; all-bronze spec |
| 371 | Single Stud | All 304 SS | All 304 SS | 4"β12" | 1/2"β1" CC/NPT | Corrosion-prone environments |
| 372 | Double Stud | All 304 SS | All 304 SS | 4"β16" | 1/2"β2" CC/NPT | Offshore / desal / salt marsh |
| 331 | Double Bale (Repair) | Epoxy DI | Galv / Epoxy | 4"β12" | 5/8" CCβ2" NPT | New tap beside a pipe defect |
| 357 | Large Tap | Ductile Iron | 304 Stainless | 6"β12" | 3" & 4" NPT only | Fire lines, large branches (not DI pipe) |
| 362 | Concrete Pipe | Epoxy DI | Epoxy-Coated | 12"β36" | 3/4"β2" CC/NPT | Concrete cylinder pipe (CCP) |
| 366 | Large Diameter | Ductile Iron | Epoxy-Coated | 18"β42" | 3/4"β2.5" CC/NPT | Large transmission mains |
| 377 | Wide Range | All 304 SS | All 304 SS | 4"β12" | 1/2"β2" CC/NPT | Mixed-vintage pipe; fewer SKUs |
| 397 | Double-Wide Strap | Ductile Iron | Double-Wide 304 SS | 2"β12" | 3/4"β2" CC/NPT | PVC (C-900 / C-905) pipe |
Pipe material is the first filter. Narrow from thirteen styles to two or three, then apply tap thread and size.
Service saddles touch the drinking-water stream, so material safety and corrosion behavior both matter. Here is what is certified and why each body metal exists.
Smith-Blair service saddle gaskets are Nitrile (Buna-N) certified to NSF/ANSI 61, the standard governing materials in contact with drinking water. All saddle styles in this collection conform to AWWA C800 for service-line threads and fittings; the Style 281 repair clamp conforms to AWWA C223. For project submittals or NSF 61 documentation on a specific style, contact us and we will coordinate with Smith-Blairβs technical team.
Body metal is a corrosion and compatibility decision, not just a price one. The wrong metal in the wrong environment fails early β galvanic corrosion, soil attack, or alkaline degradation.
Every saddle part number encodes the style, the pipe OD, and the tap size + thread. Understanding the structure makes ordering and cross-checking fast.
372 - 00 1110 14 - 000
372 = style Β |Β 1110 = pipe OD Γ100 (11.10") Β |Β 14 = tap code (2" NPT) Β |Β 000 = configuration suffix. So 372-00111014-000 = Style 372, 11.10" OD, 2" NPT tap, standard config.
| Code | Tap Size & Thread | Code | Tap Size & Thread | Code | Tap Size & Thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 | 1/2" CC | 09 | 1" CC | 14 | 2" NPT |
| 05 | 5/8" CC | 10 | 1-1/4" NPT | 15 | 2" CC |
| 06 | 3/4" NPT | 11 | 1-1/4" CC | 16 | 2-1/2" NPT |
| 07 | 3/4" CC | 12 | 1-1/2" NPT | 17 | 3" NPT |
| 08 | 1" NPT | 13 | 1-1/2" CC | 18 | 4" NPT |
Note the NPT / CC pairing: odd vs even codes within each tap size denote thread type (e.g., 14 = 2" NPT, 15 = 2" CC). Configuration suffixes vary by style (e.g., double-strap and stainless-bale lines). Always verify the final catalog number against actual pipe OD β call 281.664.8000 with pipe OD, material, tap size, and thread for confirmation.
Send us pipe material, actual pipe OD, nominal pipe size, tap size, and thread type (NPT or CC). We confirm the catalog number and stock-check in minutes.
sales@watermainsupply.com