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No-Lead Brass Service
No-Lead Brass Services
Corporation Stop, Curb Stop and Meter Stop are some of the common terms used to describe non-lead brass service. Brass service is a term used to describe brass fittings used in waterworks to bring water service from municipality to your house or building. Synonymous terms that are related to these products include Corp Stop, Curb Stop and Meter Stop or Corp Valve, Curb Valve and Meter Valve. Brass service encompassed the following piping solutions.
- CORPORATION VALVES
- CURB VALVES & BOXES
- COPPER METER SETTERS
- IRON METER YOKES
- METER VALVES
- METER BOXES
- METER COUPLINGS & FLANGES
- SERVICE SADDLES
- SERVICE FITTINGS
Why No Lead?
With the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA) effective in January 2014, all brass services must have no more than 0.25% on lead content on wettable surfaces. Brass fittings must conform to ANSI/NSF61, C-800.
Lead Free Brass Composition
Service fittings
Service fittings are available in 1/2”- 2”. All service lines are to be buried below ground at depths determined by the frost line. For the water distribution field, the most used commodities consist of corporation stop, curb stop with service box, meter valves, union, and adapters.
Corporation Valve (Crop Stop)
Corporation valves are fittings used to tap into the watermain, bring water service into a building. Watermain pipe is usually Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP), PVC or HDPE Pipe. It can tap directly into the watermain with a tapping saddle and the help of a drilling machine. Tapped repair clamps are used if direct taps are not allowed. The female threading of these saddles and clamps match corresponding to the corporation valve. The saddle/clamp is affixed to the watermain prior to tapping. Saddles are commonly single or double strapped with bronze or epoxy coat. Stainless steel full circle repair clamps are furnished with an O-ring at the seal or fully gasketed depending on specifications.
The most common tap threading is AWWA (tapered thread) or MNPT. Corporation valves are available in plug type and ball types with flared ends, compression ends, or pack joint ends. End connections are supplied with copper tube size (CTS) connections. If plastic tube is used in place of copper, a stainless-steel insert must be used to keep pipe from crimping or breaking.
Corporation stops are generally only to be open or closed once after tapping the main. A special tapping machine is used to tap thru the corporation stop with proper adapters for the end connections (i.e. compression). Once the connection is made, the valve will always be in the open position since this valve is not meant to turn control the flow to the outlet.
Corporation Stop Types
Corporation Valve / Corporation Stop / Crop Stop is available primarily in two types;
- Ball Style
- Plug Style
The ball style corp stop is show below. Different varieties of end connections such as flared ends, compression ends, threaded ends, pack joints etc. are available depending on pipe and joint type.
The plug style corp stop is show below
Curb Stop
The curb stop is used to open and close the water service. Located between the corporation valve and the new service structure, the curb valves allow for easy access to shut off the water going into a building or residence. These products provide years of trouble-free service without replacement or special attention. The curb stop is used as the primary shut off for maintenance or emergency shut-off events from a leak or break in the service line. This is also the access the water service provider would use if turn off the water due to lake of payment for the service. The curb stop is often located in the curb line which is owned by the city or municipality. Curb stops are generally furnished with a T-handle shut off where a key can be used to shut the valve on and off below ground. Typically curb stops are ball type with end connections that are flared, compression, or female national pipe threads (FNPT).
Curb Stop Types
Curb stops are available in ball style or plug style. However, ball style is the most common one used in the industry.
The ball style curb stop is shown below.
The plug style curb stop is shown below
Curb Box / Service Box
The curb stop is buried underground for protection. The service box or curb box sits on the surface and is used to access the curb stop. The service box can be furnished as an Arch type so it can straddle the curb stop or Minneapolis type (threads directly on the curb stop) and is adjustable for various bury lengths and final grading.
The curb box usually has water lid marked “water”. Other styles can be plain with different style lids such as pentagon or 2-hole lid. The stationary rod leading to the curb stop can come in varying lengths so the shut off key does not have to go to bury depth in the event the curb stop shifts due to ground movement. The stationary rod is furnished with a brass cotter pin to attach to the curb stop and the top as made to accept a standard shut off key.
No-Lead Brass Service Fittings
Brass service fittings are made to copper tube size (CTS) in either straight or angle patterns. Unions come in either compression or pack-joint types and are to be used with CTS pipe or plastic pipe. When joining different types of materials, i.e. copper to iron pipe, adapters are available. A pipe stiffener can be used with plastic pipe to prevent damage to the end connection from crimping.
Brass Fittings include:
- Compression Fitting
- Pack Joint Fitting
- Copper Flare Fitting
- Insta-Tite Fitting
- Straight Cuopling
- Threaded Couplign
- Service Tee
- U Branch
- Y Branch
- Bushings
No Lead Brass Service Saddles
Service saddles are designed to quickly and dependably connect service lines to water mains. Made from either bronze or ductile iron, a variety of styles allow the saddle to be used for essentially any type of pipe. Service saddles use an O-ring that sits in tight groove to prevent creep and potential seal blowout.
Pictured below, the different kind of service saddles are shown.
Meter Valves
Another brass service module are meter box valves, used to connect directly to water meters. These valves are made with a lock-wing design so that the water can be stopped before or after the meter for maintenance and replacement. Angled and straight configurations are available per requirements.
Various configurations are available as well such as in-line check valves, copper horns, meter setters and straight meter couplings. For larger water meters, generally 1-2” oval flanges are used. The standard meter valves sizes are 5/8 or 5/8 x 3/4 for most residential services but larger sizes are available up to 2”. Depending on frost lines, water meters and fittings can be installed outside of the property in a meter box or pit style with lid. These outside meters are usually lockable to deter vandalism.
Types of Meter Valves
- Angle Ball
- Straight Ball
- Angle Check
- Inline Check
Meter Yokes / Meter Setters
Meter yokes are designed to provide adequate space around the inlet and outlet pipe from the water meter. Made to be durable and compact these yokes set in place 5/8", 5/8" X 3/4", 3/4", and 1" water meters. The yoke also provides electrical grounding for the safety of the water meter.
Other items included in brass service cover water meters, water meter boxes, meter fittings, analogue, digital or automatic water meters with remote connectivity.
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