MSS SP-104-2018

Wrought Copper, Solder-Joint

Pressure Fittings

Standard Practice
Developed and Approved by the
Manufacturers Standardization Society of the
Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
127 Park Street, NE
Vienna, Virginia 22180-4602 www.msshq.org
Phone: (703) 281-6613
Fax: (703) 281-6671
E-mail: standards@msshq.org
MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

This MSS Standard Practice was developed under the consensus of the MSS Technical Committee 201, Non-
Ferrous Fittings and Flanges, and the MSS Coordinating Committee. The content of this Standard Practice is
the resulting efforts of competent and experienced volunteers to provide an effective, clear, and non-exclusive
standard that will benefit the industry as a whole. This MSS Standard Practice describes minimal requirements
and is intended as a basis for common practice by the manufacturer, the user, and the general public. The
existence of an MSS Standard Practice does not in itself preclude the manufacture, sale, or use of products not
conforming to the Standard Practice. Mandatory conformance to this Standard Practice is established only by
reference in other documents such as a code, specification, sales contract, or public law, as applicable. MSS has
no power, nor does it undertake, to enforce or certify compliance with this document. Any certification or other
statement of compliance with the requirements of this Standard Practice shall not be attributable to MSS and is
solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement.
"Unless indicated otherwise within this MSS Standard Practice, other standards documents referred
to herein are identified by the date of issue that was applicable to this Standard Practice at the date
of approval of this MSS Standard Practice (see Annex B). This Standard Practice shall remain silent
on the validity of those other standards of prior or subsequent dates of issue even though applicable
provisions may not have changed.”
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or of any patent rights in connection therewith. MSS shall not be held responsible for identifying any patent
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are entirely their responsibility.
For all MSS Standard Practices, the term “shall” means “must” and “shall not” means “must not”.
In this Standard Practice, all text, notes, annexes, tables, figures, and references are construed to be essential to
the understanding of the message of the standard, and are considered normative, unless denoted as
“supplemental”. All appendices, if included, that appear in this document are construed as “supplemental”.
Supplemental information, within this Standard Practice, does not include mandatory or normative requirements.
Substantive changes in this 2018 addition are "flagged" by parallel bars as shown on
the margins of this paragraph. The specific detail of the change may be determined
by comparing the material flagged with that in the previous 2012 edition.
Non-toleranced dimensions in this Standard Practice are nominal, unless otherwise specified.

Excerpts of this Standard Practice may be quoted with permission. Credit lines should read ‘Extracted
from MSS SP-104-2018 with permission of the publisher, Manufacturers Standardization Society of the
Valve and Fittings Industry'. Reproduction and/or electronic transmission or dissemination is prohibited
under copyright convention unless written permission is granted by the Manufacturers Standardization
Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry Inc. All rights reserved.

Originally Published: April 1990

Current Edition Approved: April 2018
Current Edition Published: September 2018

MSS is a registered trademark of Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.

Copyright ©, 2018 by
Manufacturers Standardization Society
of the
Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

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Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION
1 SCOPE ......................................................................................................................................... 1
2 DESIGN ....................................................................................................................................... 1
3 ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... 2
4 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................................. 2
5 SIZE ............................................................................................................................................. 2
6 MARKINGS ................................................................................................................................ 2
7 MATERIALS ............................................................................................................................... 2
8 LAYING LENGTHS ................................................................................................................... 2
9 INSPECTION TOLERANCE ..................................................................................................... 3
10 THREADED ENDS...................................................................................................................... 3
11 DESIGN OF THREADED ENDS ............................................................................................... 4
12 ALIGNMENT .............................................................................................................................. 4
13 TESTING ..................................................................................................................................... 4
14 GAUGING ................................................................................................................................... 4

TABLE
1 Inspection Tolerance .................................................................................................................... 3
2 Dimensions of Solder-Joint Fittings ............................................................................................ 5
A1 Pressure-Temperature Ratings of Solder Joints ........................................................................... 8

FIGURE
1 Method of Designating Laying Lengths of Fittings and Openings of Fittings .........................6-7

ANNEX
A Strength of Solder Joints .............................................................................................................. 8
B Referenced Standards and Applicable Dates ............................................................................... 9

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

WROUGHT COPPER, SOLDER-JOINT PRESSURE FITTINGS

1. SCOPE

1.1 This Standard Practice covers seamless wrought-copper fittings in nominal size 1/8 through 8,
straight and reducing size, with solder-joint or threaded-end connections, and for use with copper water
tube, per ASTM B88, at the pressures and temperatures shown in Table A1.
The fittings in this Standard Practice have dimensions and ratings not covered in ASME B16.22. Included
in this Standard Practice are:
a) Pressure-temperature ratings
b) Abbreviations for end connections
c) Size and method of designating openings and fittings
d) Markings
e) Materials
f) Dimensions and tolerances
g) Testing

2. DESIGN

2.1 Rating of Fitting Fittings manufactured to this Standard Practice shall have pressure-temperature
ratings that are the lower of either the calculated tube rating (see Section 2.2) or the rating of the joint
(see Section 2.3).

2.2 Rating of Tube The pressure-temperature rating for ASTM B88 Type "M" annealed copper
water tube, is calculated as follows:
2St m
P
D  0.8t m

Where:
P = working pressure at temperature, psi
S = allowable stress at temperature, psi (per ASME B31.1 or ASME B31.9)
tm = minimum wall thickness, in. (per ASTM B88)
D = maximum tube outside diameter, in.

2.3 Rating of Piping System The working pressure-temperature rating for a solder-joint piping system is
dependent not only on fitting and tube strength, but also on the composition of the solder used for the joint.
Pressure-temperature ratings for solder joints to the dimensions of Table 2 made with typical commercial
solders are given in Annex A.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

3. ABBREVIATIONS

3.1 The following abbreviations are used to designate the type of fitting end:
Symbol Definition
C = Solder-joint fittings end made to receive copper tube diameter (female)
FTG = Solder-joint fitting end made to copper tube diameter (male)
F = Internal (female) American National Standard Taper Pipe Thread (NPT),
as per ASME B1.20.1
M = External (male) American National Standard Taper Pipe Thread (NPT)

4. DEFINITIONS

4.1 Out-of-roundness – The maximum measured diameter minus minimum measured diameter.

4.2 Ovality – An elliptical condition associated with out-of-roundness.

5. SIZE

5.1 The sizes of the solder-joint end connections shown in Table 2 shall correspond to nominal size
water tube, as defined in ASTM B88. The sizes of the threaded ends shall correspond to nominal pipe
sizes, as defined in ASME B1.20.1.

5.2 Fittings are designated by the size of the openings in the sequence illustrated in Figure 1.

6. MARKINGS

6.1 Each fitting shall be permanently marked with the manufacturer’s name or trademark in accordance
with MSS SP-25. Markings may be omitted from any fitting where it may damage soldering surfaces.

7. MATERIALS

7.1 Fittings shall be made from copper alloy UNS designations C10200, C12000, or C12200 for which
allowable stresses are found in ASME B31.1 or ASME B31.9.

7.2 Other copper alloys may be used provided they meet the chemical requirements of 84% minimum
copper and 16% maximum zinc, and provided the fittings produced from the copper materials meet all the
mechanical and corrosion resistant properties suitable for the end purposes of the fittings. The composition
of the copper materials shall contain nothing that will inhibit joining to tube or to other fittings.
INFORMATIONAL NOTE: Products anticipated for potable water service should comply with the U.S. Federal
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as Amended, and any other code or regulations, as applicable.

8. LAYING LENGTHS

8.1 Due to widely varying manufacturing processes, uniform laying length dimensions of fittings
cannot be established. Consult the manufacturer for these dimensions.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

9. INSPECTION TOLERANCE

9.1 Linear Dimensions An inspection tolerance, as shown in Table 1, shall be allowed on center-to-
shoulder, center-to-center, center-to-threaded end, and shoulder-to-threaded end dimensions on all
fittings having female solder (solder cup) ends, and on center-to-solder end and solder end-to-threaded
end dimensions on all fittings having male solder (fitting) ends.
Coupling inspection limits for shoulder-to-shoulder and shoulder-to-end dimensions shall be double
those shown in Table 1, except that the minus tolerance applied to dimension "L" shall not result in a
dimension less than 0.06 in.

9.2 Ovality Maximum ovality shall not exceed 1% of the maximum diameters shown in Table 2. The
average of the maximum and minimum diameters must be within the dimensions shown in the table.

TABLE 1
Inspection Tolerance
Tolerance,
Nominal Size, Water Tube
Plus or Minus
and Pipe Threads
(in.)
1/8(a), 1/4, 3/8 0.05
1/2, 5/8, 3/4 0.06
1, 11∕4, 11∕2, 2 0.08
21∕2, 3, 31∕2 0.11
4 and 5 0.12
6 and 8 0.16
NOTE: (a) Nominal size 1/8 is 1/4 O.D. seamless copper tube for
refrigeration service, etc., as listed in ASTM B280.

9.3 Minimum Wall Thickness The average of the wall thickness shall not be less than the thickness
shown in Table 2 and the wall at any given point shall not be less than 90% of the wall thickness shown
in the table.

9.4 Inside Diameter, "O" The minimum cross-sectional area of the inside diameter through the
fitting body shall not be less than the theoretical minimum area defined by diameter "O" in Table 2. The
maximum out-of-roundness of diameter "O", shall not exceed 3% of the given minimum diameter. For
reducer or adapter fittings, the smallest end diameter shall apply.

10. THREADED ENDS

10.1 Threading of fitting end connections shall be right-hand, conforming to ASME B1.20.1. They shall
be taper threads (NPT).

10.2 Countersink or Chamfer All internal threads shall be countersunk a distance not less than one-half
the pitch of the thread at an angle of approximately 45 degrees (~45°) with the axis of the thread. All external
threads shall be chamfered at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees (30 – 45°) from the axis, for the purpose of easier
entrance in making a joint and protection of the thread. Countersinking and chamfering shall be concentric
with the threads. The length of threads shall be measured to include the countersink or chamfer.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

10.3 Threading Tolerances Tapered pipe threads (NPT) shall be checked by use of working plug or ring
gauges in either standard or limit types. Gauges shall be threaded on/in hand tight. The reference point
for gauging internal product threads depends upon the chamfer diameter.

When the internal chamfer diameter exceeds the major diameter of the internal thread, the reference point
is the last thread scratch on the chamfer cone. Otherwise, when the internal chamfer diameter does not
exceed the major diameter of the internal thread, the reference point is the end of the fitting. On the
external thread, the reference point shall be flush with the end of the fitting.

Tolerance for an internal threaded end having an internal shoulder shall be from the gauge reference point
(notch) to one turn small. Tolerance for an internal threaded end without shoulder and for an external
threaded end shall be from one turn small to one turn large.

11. DESIGN OF THREADED ENDS

11.1 The wrenching section of internal threaded ends shall be polygonal, and the wrenching section of
external threaded ends shall be furnished with a polygon or flats, at the manufacturer's option.

12. ALIGNMENT

12.1 The maximum allowable deviation in the angular alignment of any opening shall be 0.06 in./ft. (0.5%).

13. TESTING

13.1 When required, these fittings shall be tested with air at a gauge pressure of 60 psi minimum while
under water or at a hydrostatic gauge pressure of 250 psi.

14. GAUGING

14.1 Standard Gauging Method of Solder-Joint Ends The standard method of gauging the diameter
tolerance for male and female ends shall be by the use of plain plug and ring gauges designed to hold the
product within the limits established in Table 2.

14.2 Plug & Ring Gauge Requirements For nominal tube sizes up to and including 5/8, the leading edge of
the plug or ring gauge shall have a 0.03 in. radius. For nominal tube sizes 3/4 and above, the leading edge of
the plug or ring gauge shall have a 0.04 in. radius.

14.3 Optional Gauging Method of Solder-Joint Ends For gauging the diameter tolerance of male and
female ends, the manufacturer may use direct reading instruments instead of ring and plug gauges as
specified in Section 14.1. When gauging the diameters of male and female ends, using direct reading
instruments, refer to Section 9.2.

14.4 Standard Gauging Method of Threaded Ends (a) The standard method of gauging the externally
and internally threaded ends shall be in accordance with ASME B1.20.1.

NOTE: (a) In gauging pipe threads, it is acceptable and common practice to rap or tap the product to assure proper
seating of the gauge. However, it is first necessary to clean both the gauge and the product threads to assure that they
are free of chips, burrs, abrasives, or other foreign materials.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

TABLE 2
Dimensions of Solder-Joint Fittings (a)

Dimensions in inches
Male End Female End Inside
Nominal Wall
Diameter of
Size, Outside Diameter Length Inside Diameter Depth Thickness (d)
Fitting
Water A K F G T
O
Tube (b)
Min Max. (c) Min Min. Max. (c) Min. Avg. Min.
1/8 0.248 0.251 0.31 0.252 0.256 0.25 0.019 0.18
1/4 0.373 0.376 0.38 0.377 0.381 0.31 0.023 0.30
3/8 0.497 0.501 0.44 0.502 0.506 0.38 0.026 0.39

1/2 0.622 0.626 0.56 0.627 0.631 0.50 0.029 0.52

5/8 0.747 0.751 0.69 0.752 0.756 0.62 0.031 0.63
3/4 0.872 0.876 0.81 0.877 0.881 0.75 0.033 0.74

1 1.122 1.127 0.97 1.128 1.132 0.91 0.040 0.98

11∕4 1.372 1.377 1.03 1.378 1.382 0.97 0.044 1.23
11∕2 1.621 1.627 1.16 1.628 1.633 1.09 0.051 1.47

2 2.121 2.127 1.41 2.128 2.133 1.34 0.059 1.94

21∕2 2.621 2.627 1.53 2.628 2.633 1.47 0.067 2.42
3 3.121 3.127 1.72 3.128 3.133 1.66 0.075 2.89
31∕2 3.621 3.627 1.97 3.628 3.633 1.91 0.086 3.37

4 4.121 4.127 2.22 4.128 4.133 2.16 0.096 3.84

5 5.121 5.127 2.72 5.128 5.133 2.66 0.111 4.70
6 6.121 6.127 3.22 6.128 6.133 3.09 0.124 5.72
8 8.119 8.127 4.09 8.128 8.133 3.97 0.173 7.55
NOTES:
(a) Drawings and designs of fittings are illustrative only. Dimensions herein shall govern in all cases.
(b) For size designation of fittings, see Section 5.
(c) For ovality, see Section 9.2.
(d) See Section 9.3.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

FIGURE 1
Method of Designating Laying
Lengths of Fittings and Openings of Fittings
(Fitting designs and drawings are illustrative only)

continued on next page

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

FIGURE 1 (continued)
Method of Designating Laying
Lengths of Fittings and Openings of Fittings
(Fitting designs and drawings are illustrative only)

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

ANNEX A
Strength of Solder Joints

This Annex is an integral part of this Standard Practice and is placed after the main text for convenience.

The maximum pressure-temperature ratings for solder joints made with copper tube and wrought copper or
copper alloy pressure fittings, using representative commercial solders, are listed in Table A1 below:

TABLE A1
Pressure-Temperature Ratings of Solder Joints
Maximum Working Gauge Pressure
Working (psi)
Joining Material Temperature
Nominal Size (a)
( F)
1/8 to 1 11∕4 to 2 21∕2 to 4 5 to 8
100 200 175 150 135
50-50 150 150 125 100 90
Tin-Lead Solder (b) (c) 200 100 90 75 70
250 85 75 50 45
100 1090 (h) 850 (i) 705 (i) 660 (i)
95-5 150 625 (j) 485 (j) 405 (j) 375 (j)
Tin-Antimony 200 505 (k) 395 (j) 325 (j) 305 (j)
Solder (d) 250 270 210 175 165
100 710 (j) 555 (j) 460 (j) 430 (j)
150 475 (k) 370 (j) 305 (j) 285 (k)
Alloy E (e)
200 375 290 240 (k) 225 (k)
250 320 250 205 195
100 1035 (h) 805 (i) 670 (i) 625 (h)
150 710 (j) 555 (j) 460 (j) 430 (j)
Alloy HB (f)
200 440 (k) 345 (k) 285 (k) 265 (k)
250 430 (k) 335 (k) 275 (k) 260 (k)
Joining Materials
Melting at Pressure-temperature ratings consistent with the materials and procedures employed.
or Above 1100 F (g)
GENERAL NOTE: For extremely low working temperatures in the 0 °F to -200 °F range, it is recommended that a
joint material melting at or above 1100 °F be employed {see Note (g)}.
NOTES:
(a) Nominal size of Water Tube per ASTM B88.
(b) ASTM B32, Alloy Grade Sn50.
(c) The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), as amended, prohibits any solder with a lead content in excess of
0.2% for use in plumbing systems providing water for human consumption.
(d) ASTM B32, Alloy Grade Sb5.
(e) ASTM B32, Alloy Grade E.
(f) ASTM B32, Alloy Grade HB.
(g) These joining materials are defined as “brazing alloys” by the American Welding Society.
(h) The solder joint exceeds the strength of Types L and M tube in drawn temper and Type K tube in annealed temper.
(i) The solder joint exceeds the strength of Types K, L, and M tube in drawn and annealed tempers.
(j) The solder joint exceeds the strength of Type M tube in drawn temper and Types L and K in annealed temper.
(k) The solder joint exceeds the strength of Type L tube in annealed temper.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-104

ANNEX B
Referenced Standards and Applicable Dates
 
This Annex is an integral part of this Standard Practice and is placed after the main text for convenience.

Standard Name Description

ASME; ANSI/ASME
B1.20.1-2013 Pipe Threads, General Purpose (Inch)
B16.22-2013 Wrought Copper and Copper Alloy Solder-Joint Pressure Fittings
B31.1-2016 Power Piping
B31.9-2017 Building Services Piping

ASTM Standard Specification for:

B32-08(R2014) Solder Metal
B88-16 Seamless Copper Water Tube
B280-16 Seamless Copper Tube for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Field Service

MSS; ANSI/MSS
SP-25-2018 Standard Marking System for Valves, Fittings, Flanges, and Unions

The following organizations appear in the above list:

ANSI American National Standards Institute, Inc.

25 West 43rd Street, Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10036-7406

ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International)

Two Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016-5990

ASTM ASTM International

100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959

MSS Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
127 Park Street, NE
Vienna, VA 22180-4602

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 Purchase or View a Full Listing of MSS Standards at:
http://msshq.org/Store/PriceList.cfm
MSS Standard Practices (SPs) related to or referenced in this publication:
ANSI/MSS SP-25 Standard Marking System for Valves, Fittings, Flanges, and Unions
ANSI/MSS SP-96 Terminology for Valves, Fittings, and Their Related Components

–––––––––––

American National Standards Published by MSS, an ANSI-accredited Standards Developer:

ANSI/MSS SP-25 Standard Marking System for Valves, Fittings, Flanges, and Unions
ANSI/MSS SP-44 Steel Pipeline Flanges
ANSI/MSS SP-55 Quality Standard for Steel Castings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components
– Visual Method for Evaluation of Surface Irregularities
ANSI/MSS SP-58 Pipe Hangers and Supports - Materials, Design, Manufacture, Selection, Application, and
Installation
ANSI/MSS SP-96 Terminology for Valves, Fittings, and Their Related Components
ANSI/MSS SP-114 Corrosion Resistant Pipe Fittings Threaded and Socket Welding Class 150 and 1000
ANSI/MSS SP-122 Plastic Industrial Ball Valves
ANSI/MSS SP-134 Valves for Cryogenic Service, including Requirements for Body/Bonnet Extensions
ANSI/MSS SP-135 High Pressure Knife Gate Valves
ANSI/MSS SP-138 Quality Standard Practice for Oxygen Cleaning of Valves and Fittings
ANSI/MSS SP-144 Pressure Seal Bonnet Valves
–––––––––––
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About MSS
The Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) of the Valve and Fittings Industry is a non-profit technical association
organized for development and improvement of industry, national and international codes and standards for Valves, Valve
Actuators, Valve Modifications, Pipe Fittings, Flanges, Pipe Hangers and Supports, and Associated Seals. Since its establishment
in 1924, MSS has been dedicated to developing standards for national and global applications, in cooperation with other
standardizing bodies and regulatory authorities.

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127 Park Street, NE, Vienna, VA 22180-4620 • Phone (703) 281-6613 • Fax (703) 281-6671
“The Technical Voice of the Industry”

TECH-MSS SP-104-2018