This section is from the book "Plumbing Estimates And Contracts", by J. J. Cosgrove. Also available from Amazon: Plumbing estimates and contracts.
In taking off the quantity of wrought pipe for an operation the plans are scaled, as in the case of cast-iron pipe, and the fittings are counted. All of the branch fittings that will be required can be determined from the drawings, if complete, but an allowance of 45° elbows must be made for offsetting around obstructions which might not be shown on the drawings, and to offset at various heights of the building where the walls are made thinner. This latter allowance is necessary only when the stacks are run against outside walls, from which they are to be spaced a uniform distance.
The number of extra fittings required for this purpose can be ascertained, with a fair degree of accuracy, by noting the various floors of the building where offsets will have to be made, and locating the various obstructions in the basement around which the horizontal pipes will have to be run.
The manner of taking off quantities from wrought-pipe systems is shown in Fig. 3. In the example illustrated the fittings occupy so much of the space that the sum of the length of the different pieces of pipe would be found by scaling, and only that amount of pipe listed in the estimate sheet. This is the more necessary, as there is but little waste to wrought pipe and allowance need not be made for waste, as would be the case with cast-iron pipe.
Having the number of feet of pipe, the fittings would next be counted, and if this layout represents the work in a number of toilet rooms the pipe and fittings in the one layout can be multiplied by the number of toilet rooms in the building to ascertain the total number of fittings and length of pipe required to rough-in all the toilet rooms. The necessity for accuracy in estimating can well be pointed out and emphasized in this example. For instance, there are 4 double Y's, and measuring the length of the fittings, then adding the distance from the center of the fitting to the end of the branches, each Y fitting occupies 2 feet in length. Besides the branch fittings there are 9 elbows, each of which occupies 6 inches along the run. If, therefore, a careless estimator, instead of taking off only the exact amount of pipe required for each toilet room, were to scale over all, measuring the fittings as though they were pipes in one layout, such as shown in the illustration, he would figure on using 12 1/2 feet of pipe more than would be required. Then, in a building many stories in height, where there are, say, twenty toilet rooms to be roughed-in, in accordance with the sketch, he would figure on using 20xl2 1/2 equals 250 feet of pipe more than his more careful competitors, and this one item of excess cost might lose the contract. If not, there is no doubt but that an estimator so careless as to figure that quantity of pipe more than is required for roughing-in the toilet rooms would be equally careless in taking off other quantities, and either lose the work by being too high or overlook some important item which would win the contract for him to his sorrow.

Fig. 3.
Classification and List. Adopted June 5, 1907.
Class................ | A | B | C |
Price per lb.. Black................. | .40 | .20 | .12 |
Price per lb.. Galv................. | .50 | .28 | .19 |
Elbows.................... | 1/8 x 1/8 | 1/4 x 1/4 1/2 x 1/4 | |
1/4 x 1/8 | 3/8 x 3/8 1/2 x 1/2 | * 3/4 and larger | |
3/8 x 1/8 | 3/8 x 1/4 1/2 x 3/8 | ||
Elbows, R and L | 1/4 and 3/8 | 1/2, 3/4 and 1 | * 1 1/4 and larger |
Elbows, 45°............................. | 1/4 to 2 inclusive | 2 1/2 and larger | |
Elbows, street..................... | 1/2 to 1 x 3/4 inclusive | 1 and larger | |
Elbows, Side Outlet...................... | all sizes | ||
Elbows, Drop.......................... | all sizes | ||
Tees............................. | 1/4 x 1/4 3/8 x 1/4 | ||
1/8 x 1/8 1/4 x 1/8 | 3/8 x 3/8 3/8 x 1/4 x 3/8 | ||
1/8 x 1/4 3/8 x 1/8 | 1/4 x 3/8 1/2, and 1/2 | 3/4 and larger | |
3/8 x 1/4 x 1/4 reducing | |||
Tees, service..................... | 1/2, 3/4 and 1 x 3/4 x 1 | 1 and larger | |
Tees, Four Way...................... | all sizes | ||
Tees, drop.................. | all sizes | ||
Crosses.......................... | 1/4 to 1 inclusive............... | 1 1/4 and larger | |
Crosses, Reducing...................... | 1 and smaller | 1 1/4 and larger | |
Y Bends................................. | all sizes | ||
Return Bends........................ | 1/4 | 3/8 to 1 inclusive | 1 1/4 and larger |
Return Bends. R and L....................... | 3/8 and 1/2 | 3/4 and larger | |
Couplings, R H..................... | 1/8 | 1/4 to 3/4 inclusive | 1 and larger |
Couplings, R and L .......................... | 1/8 | 1/4 to 3/4 inclusive | 1 and larger |
Couplings, Reducing..................... | 1/4 x 1/8, 3/8 x 1/8, 1/2 x1/8 | 3/8 x 1/4 to 1 x 3/4 inclusive | * 11/4 and larger |
Caps....................... | 1/8 | 1/4 to 1 inclusive | 1 1/4 and larger |
Lock Nuts........................ | 1/8 | 1/4 to 1 1/4 inclusive | 1 1/2 and larger |
Extension Pieces......................... | all sizes | ||
Waste Nuts........................ | all sizes | ||
Chandelier Hooks..................... | all sizes | ||
Chandelier Loops....................... | all sizes |
*Fittings in class C, having one or more outlets smaller than 3/4, will be charged in class B.
The run of tees gives the size for the purpose of classification, and the outlet being larger does not change it.
Sizes.................Inches............... | 1/8 | 1/4 | 3/8 | 1/2 | 3/4 | 1 | 1 1/4 | 1 1/2 | 2 | 2 1/2 | 3 | 3 1/2 | 4 | 4 1/2 | 5 | 6 |
Elbows. Straight and Reducing..................... | .06 | .07 | .08 | .10 | .15 | .22 | .25 | .35 | .50 | .90 | 1.50 | 2.25 | 3.00 | 3.50 | 4.00 | 6.50 |
Elbows, Right and Left..... | ... | .09 | .11 | .13 | .17 | .25 | .30 | .40 | .65 | |||||||
Elbows, 45°............... | ... | .08 | .10 | .12 | .18 | .26 | .36 | .54 | .82 | 1.25 | 2.50 | 3.25 | 4.50 | 5.25 | 6.00 | 7.50 |
Elbows, 60°............... | ... | ... | .. | ... | ... | .25 | .30 | .45 | .65 | |||||||
Elbows, Street........... | ... | .10 | .10 | .12 | .20 | .25 | .40 | .55 | .90 | 1.50 | 2.25 | 3.50 | ||||
Elbows, 45° Street......... | .12 | .20 | .25 | .40 | .55 | .90 | ||||||||||
Elbows, Side Outlet.............. | ... | ... | .08 | .10 | .18 | .30 | .45 | .60 | 1.00 | |||||||
Elbows, Drop................ | ... | .06 | .08 | .12 | .20 | .25 | ||||||||||
Elbows, Long Drop................ | ... | .... | .10 | |||||||||||||
Tees, Straight and Reducing | .07 | .08 | .09 | .11 | .15 | .25 | .30 | .45 | .60 | 1.05 | 1.70 | 2.50 | 3.40 | 4.25 | 5.00 | 7.75 |
Tees, Drop...................... | .... | .... | .10 | .14 | .22 | .30 | ||||||||||
Tees, Long Drop...................... | ....... | ..... | .12 | |||||||||||||
Tees, Service................ | ...... | ..... | .12 | .15 | .25 | .35 | .50 | .75 | 1.15 | 2.00 | ||||||
Tees, Four Way............ | .12 | .14 | .20 | .35 | .50 | .80 | 1.25 | |||||||||
Crosses, Straight and Reducing | ... | .09 | .10 | .16 | .20 | .30 | .40 | .60 | 1.00 | 1.75 | 3.00 | 3.25 | 5.25 | 7.50 | 13.00 | |
Caps................... | ... | .03 | .04 | .05 | .08 | .12 | .16 | .24 | .32 | .45 | .85 | 1.00 | 1.20 | 2.50 | 3.50 | |
Couplings, Right Hand........... | .... | .03 | .05 | .07 | .10 | .14 | .20 | .25 | .35 | |||||||
Couplings, Right and Left.............. | .04 | .06 | .08 | .12 | .16 | .25 | .36 | .52 | .70 | 1.00 | ||||||
Couplings, Reducing.............. | ..... | .05 | .06 | .07 | .10 | .16 | .20 | .28 | .45 | .70 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 1.85 | |||
Lock Nuts................. | .02 | .03 | .04 | .05 | .07 | .09 | .11 | .18 | ||||||||
Waste Nuts.................. | .... | .04 | .05 | .06 | .08 | .10 | .15 | .25 | ||||||||
Extension Pieces................ | .... | .... | .06 | .09 | .12 | .15 | ||||||||||
Chandelier Hooks or Loops.. | ..... | .... | .10 | .12 | ||||||||||||
Y Branches, Straight and Reducing........... | .... | ... | ... | .40 | .50 | .60 | .80 | 1.00 | 1.70 | 2.00 | 4.00 | 5.50 | ||||
Y Branches, 60° Straight and Reducing........ | .... | .... | .... | ... | .... | ... | ... | 1.00 | 1.70 | |||||||
Return Bends, Close or Medium, R. H................ | .... | ... | ... | .18 | .25 | .35 | .50 | .75 | 1.00 | |||||||
Return Bends, Close or Medium, R & L or L. H.. | .... | ..... | .... | .23 | .30 | .45 | .60 | .90 | 1.25 | |||||||
Return Bends, Open Pattern, R. H.................... | .... | .... | .... | .20 | .30 | .50 | .65 | .85 | 1.25 | 2.00 | 3.00 | |||||
Return Bends, Open Pattern, R. &L. or L. H.......... | .... | .... | .... | .25 | .38 | .60 | .80 | 1.05 | 1.55 | 2.50 | 3.75 | |||||
Crossovers................... | .... | ..... | .... | .20 | .30 | .45 |
DISCOUNT.....................................%
DATE....................190.......
Knowing the quantity of pipe and fittings, the number and kind of hangers must be ascertained, and the labor measuring, cutting, threading and installing the pipe. This will depend not only on the personnel of the workmen but on the quality of the tools given them to work with. Cutting and threading large pipes is machine work and satisfactory work cannot be economically done with old, wornout, unsuitable hand tools. If the contractor expects good work of average quantity he must supply his workmen with the necessary tools and apparatus. As the matter stands, each estimator must determine for himself just how long it will take his workmen to do the work with the tools and apparatus at their command.
In estimating the cost of fittings for wrought pipe it should be borne in mind that all large size fittings that is, fittings 11/2 inches in diameter and larger - are listed and sold at a certain price per fitting. This is likewise true of all cast-iron steam and water fittings of whatever size. Malleable fittings, on the other hand, if under 1 1/2 inches in size are sold by the pound, according to certain classifications. According to the classifications the smaller fittings cost more per pound than the large fittings, but to compensate for that fact there are more fittings to a pound. The size and classification of the various fittings can be seen in Table VI.
Size.................... Inches............ | 1/8 | 1/4 | 3/8 | 1/2 | 3/4 | 1 | 1 1/4 | 1 1/2 | 2 | 2 1/2 | 3 | 3 1/2 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Elbows, Straight and Reducing ... | .08 | .09 | .11 | .14 | .20 | .32 | .40 | .60 | .90 | 1.50 | 2.60 | 3.75 | 5.00 | 6.50 | 10.00 |
Elbows, Right and Left................... | ... | .. | ... | .17 | .23 | .35 | .45 | .65 | 1.00 | ||||||
Elbows, 45°.................... | .... | .12 | .15 | .20 | .25 | .40 | .50 | .85 | 1.35 | 1.90 | 3.75 | 4.75 | 6.75 | 9.00 | 11.00 |
Elbows, 60o | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | .. | .45 | .70 | 1.05 | ||||||
Elbows, Street................ | ..... | .12 | .12 | .15 | .28 | .35 | .55 | .80 | 1.30 | 2.25 | 3.50 | ||||
Elbows, 45° Street.............. | .... | .... | .... | .15 | .28 | .35 | .55 | .80 | 1.30 | ||||||
Elbows, Side Outlet.................... | ... | ... | .10 | .15 | .25 | .45 | .65 | .90 | 1.50 | ||||||
Elbows, Drop......................... | .... | .... | .12 | .20 | .35 | ||||||||||
Elbows, Long Drop.................... | .... | .... | .18 | ||||||||||||
Tees, Straight and Reducing................ | .09 | .10 | .13 | .16 | .20 | .38 | .50 | .70 | 1.00 | 1.90 | 3.00 | 4.25 | 5.75 | 8.00 | 12.00 |
Tees, Drop..................... | .... | ..... | .15 | .25 | .40 | .55 | |||||||||
Tees, Long Drop....................... | ..... | .... | .17 | ||||||||||||
Crosses, Straight and Reducing.. . | .... | .12 | .14 | .25 | .29 | .45 | .60 | .90 | 1.50 | 2.75 | 4.50 | 8.00 | |||
Caps........................ | .... | .04 | .05 | .08 | .12 | .17 | .24 | .38 | .52 | .76 | 1.30 | 1.60 | 2.00 | ||
Couplings Right Hand.................... | .... | .05 | .07 | .10 | .17 | .23 | .30 | .40 | .55 | ||||||
Couplings, Right and Left............... | .... | .06 | .09 | .10 | .17 | .25 | .35 | .55 | .75 | 1.05 | 1.60 | ||||
Couplings, Reducing....................... | ..... | .08 | .10 | .10 | .15 | .25 | .35 | .45 | .75 | 1.05 | 1.65 | 2.40 | 3.05 | ||
Lock Nuts........................... | ..... | .03 | .04 | .05 | .07 | .10 | .14 | .20 | .30 | ||||||
Waste Nuts......................... | ..... | .08 | .10 | .12 | .16 | .20 | .30 | .50 | |||||||
Extension Pieces....................... | .... | .... | .09 | .13 | .18 | .22 | |||||||||
Y Branches, Straight and Reducing...................... | .... | .... | ..... | .60 | .75 | .90 | 1.25 | 1.50 | 2.50 | 3.00 | 6.00 | 8.25 | |||
Y Branches, 60° Straight and Reducing.................... | .... | .... | .... | .... | .... | ... | .... | 1.50 | 2.50 | ||||||
Return Bends, Close or Medium, R. H......................... | .... | .... | .... | .25 | .35 | .55 | .75 | 1.15 | 1.65 | ||||||
Return Bends, Close or Medium, R. & L. or L. H............... | .... | .... | .... | .... | .40 | .65 | |||||||||
Return Bends, Open Pattern, R. H............................ | ..... | .... | ... | .28 | .45 | .70 | .90 | 1.25 | 2.00 | 3.50 | 5.00 | ||||
Return Bends, Open Pattern, R. & L. or L. H.................. | .... | .... | .... | .55 | .80 | ||||||||||
Crossovers................................. | .... | ... | ... | .25 | .40 | .60 |
DISCOUNT.....................................%
DATE.....................190. .
Diameter | Thickness | Circumference | Transverse Areas | Length of Pipe per sq. foot of | Length of pipe containing 1 cubic foot | Nominal weight per foot | Number of threads per inch of screw | ||||||
Nominal internal | Actual external | Actual internal | External | Internal | External | Internal | Metal | External surface | Internal surface | ||||
Inches | Inches | Inches | Inches | Inches | Inches | Sq. In. | Sq. In. | Sq. In. | Feet | Feet | Feet | Pounds | |
1/8 | .405 | .27 | .068 | 1.272 | .848 | .129 | .0573 | .0717 | 9.44 | 14.15 | 2513 | .241 | 27 |
1/4 | .54 | .364 | .088 | 1.696 | 1.144 | .229 | .1041 | .1249 | 7.075 | 10.49 | 1383.3 | .42 | 18 |
3/8 | .675 | .494 | .091 | 2.121 | 1.552 | .358 | .1917 | .1663 | 5.657 | 7.73 | 751.2 | .559 | 18 |
1/2 | .84 | .623 | .109 | 2.637 | 1.957 | .554 | .3048 | .2492 | 4.547 | 6.13 | 472.4 | .837 | 14 |
3/4 | 1.05 | .824 | .113 | 3.299 | 2.589 | .866 | .5333 | .3327 | 3.637 | 4.635 | 270. | 1.115 | 14 |
1 | 1.315 | 1.048 | .134 | 4.131 | 3.292 | 1.358 | .8626 | .4954 | 2.904 | 3.645 | 166.9 | 1.668 | 11 1/2 |
1 1/4 | 1.66 | 1.38 | .14 | 5.215 | 4.335 | 2.164 | 1.496 | .668 | 2.301 | 2.768 | 96.25 | 2.244 | 11 1/2 |
1 1/2 | 1.9 | 1.611 | .145 | 5.969 | 5.061 | 2.835 | 2.038 | .797 | 2.01 | 2.371 | 70.66 | 2.678 | 11 1/2 |
2 | 2.375 | 2.067 | .154 | 7.461 | 6.494 | 4.43 | 3.356 | 1.074 | 1.608 | 1.848 | 42.91 | 3.609 | 11 1/2 |
2 1/2 | 2.875 | 2.468 | .204 | 9.032 | 7.753 | 6.492 | 4.784 | 1.708 | 1.328 | 1.547 | 30.1 | 5.739 | 8 |
3 | 3.5 | 3.067 | .217 | 10.996 | 9.636 | 9.621 | 7.388 | 2.243 | 1.091 | 1.245 | 19.5 | 7.536 | 8 |
3 1/2 | 4. | 3.548 | .226 | 12.566 | 11.146 | 12.566 | 9.887 | 2.679 | .955 | 1.077 | 14.57 | 9.001 | 8 |
4 | 4.5 | 4.026 | .237 | 14.137 | 12.648 | 15.904 | 12.73 | 3.174 | .849 | .949 | 11.31 | 10.665 | 8 |
4 1/2 | 5. | 4.508 | .246 | 15.708 | 14.162 | 19.635 | 15.961 | 3.674 | .764 | .848 | 9.02 | 12.49 | 8 |
5 | 5.563 | 5.045 | .259 | 17.477 | 15.849 | 24.306 | 19.99 | 4.316 | .687 | .757 | 7.2 | 14.502 | 8 |
6 | 6.625 | 6.065 | .28 | 20.813 | 19.054 | 34.472 | 28.888 | 5.584 | .577 | .63 | 4.98 | 18.762 | 8 |
7 | 7.625 | 7.023 | .301 | 23.955 | 22.063 | 45.664 | 38.738 | 6.926 | .501 | .544 | 3.72 | 23.271 | 8 |
8 | 8.625 | 7.982 | .322 | 27.096 | 25.076 | 58.426 | 50.04 | 8.386 | .443 | .478 | 2.88 | 28.177 | 8 |
9 | 9.625 | 8.937 | .344 | 30.238 | 28.076 | 72.76 | 62.73 | 10.03 | .397 | .427 | 2.29 | 33.701 | 8 |
10 | 10.75 | 10.019 | .366 | 33.772 | 31.477 | 90.763 | 78.839 | 11.924 | .355 | .382 | 1.82 | 40.065 | 8 |
11 | 11.75 | 11. | ........ | 36.914 | 34.558 | 108.434 | 95.033 | 13.401 | .325 | .347 | 1.51 | 45.028 | 8 |
12 | 12.75 | 12. | ........ | 40.055 | 37.7 | 127.677 | 113.098 | 14.579 | .299 | .319 | 1.27 | 48.985 | 8 |
13 | 14. | 13.25 | ........ | 43.982 | 41.626 | 153.938 | 137.887 | 16.051 | .273 | .288 | 1.04 | 53.921 | 8 |
14 | 15. | 14.25 | ......... | 47.124 | 44.768 | 176.715 | 159.485 | 17.23 | .255 | .268 | .903 | 57.893 | 8 |
15 | 16. | 15.43 | ........ | 50.26 | 48.48 | 20106 | 187.04 | 14.02 | .239 | .248 | .77 | 62. | 8 |
16 | 17. | 16.4 | ........ | 53.41 | 51.52 | 226.98 | 211.24 | 15.74 | .225 | .233 | .68 | .......... | 8 |
17 | 18. | 17.32 | ........ | 56.55 | 54.41 | 254.47 | 235.61 | 18.86 | .212 | .221 | .61 | ................. | 8 |
Diameter | Thickness | Nearest Wire Gauge | Circumference | Transverse Areas | Length of Pipe per sq. Foot of | Nominal Weight per Foot | ||||||
Nominal Internal | Actual External | Approxmate Internal Diameter | External | Internal | External | Internal | Metal | External Surface | Internal Surface | |||
Ins. | Inches | Inches | Inches | No. | Inches | Inches | Sq. Ins. | Sq. In. | Sq. In. | Feet | Feet | Lbs. |
1/8 | .405 | .205 | .1 | 12 1/2 | 1.272 | .644 | .129 | .033 | .086 | 9.433 | 18.632 | .29 |
1/4 | .54 | .294 | .123 | 11 | 1.696 | .924 | .229 | .068 | .161 | 7.075 | 12.986 | .54 |
3/8 | .675 | .421 | .127 | 10 1/2 | 2.121 | 1.323 | .358 | .139 | .219 | 5.657 | 9.07 | .74 |
1/2 | .84 | .542 | .149 | 9 | 2.639 | 1.703 | .554 | .231 | .323 | 4.547 | 7.046 | 1.09 |
3/4 | 1.05 | .736 | .157 | 8 1/2 | 3.299 | 2.312 | .866 | .452 | .414 | 3.637 | 5.109 | 1.39 |
1 | 1.315 | .951 | .182 | 3 | 4.131 | 2.988 | 1.358 | .71 | .648 | 2.904 | 4.016 | 2.17 |
1 1/4 | 1.66 | 1.272 | .194 | 6 1/2 | 5.215 | 3.996 | 2.164 | 1.271 | .893 | 2.301 | 3.003 | 3. |
1 1/2 | 1.9 | 1.494 | .203 | 6 | 5.969 | 4.694 | 2.835 | 1.753 | 1.082 | 2.01 | 2.556 | 3.63 |
2 | 2.375 | 1.933 | .221 | 5 | 7.461 | 6.073 | 4.43 | 2.935 | 1.495 | 1.608 | 1.975 | 5.02 |
2 1/2 | 2.875 | 2.315 | .28 | 2 | 9.032 | 7.273 | 6.492 | 4.209 | 2.283 | 1.328 | 1.649 | 7.67 |
3 | 3.5 | 2.892 | .304 | 1 | 10.996 | 9.085 | 9.621 | 6.935 | 3.052 | 1.091 | 1.328 | 10.25 |
3 1/2 | 4. | 3.358 | .321 | 0 | 12.566 | 10.549 | 12.566 | 8.856 | 3.71 | .955 | 1.137 | 12.47 |
4 | 4.5 | 3.818 | .341 | 0 | 14.137 | 11.995 | 15.904 | 11.449 | 4.455 | .849 | 1. | 14.97 |
4 1/2 | 5.000 | 4.280 | .360 | 00 | 15.708 | 13.446 | 19.635 | 14.387 | 5.248 | .764 | .748 | 18.22 |
5 | 5.563 | 4.813 | .375 | 00 | 17.477 | 15.120 | 24.306 | 18.193 | 6.12 | .687 | .793 | 20.54 |
6 | 6.625 | 5.75 | .437 | 000 | 20.813 | 18.064 | 34.472 | 25.967 | 8.505 | .577 | .664 | 28.58 |
Extra strong pipe is always shipped without threads or couplings, unless otherwise specified.
The list prices for the various classes of fittings indicated in Table VI are subject to change at any time. They are here given merely to show comparatively the cost per pound of the various classes of malleable fittings.
For quick reference the plumber will find it a great convenience to have at hand a card showing in tabular form either the list or the net prices for each fitting of the various kinds and sizes. If a net price list for black malleable fittings is compiled, while more convenient for reference it will have to be revised from time to time, sometimes as often as once a week, as the discount fluctuates; while if a card or chart made up as shown in Table VII be prepared, giving the list prices, the table will not have to be changed until a new list is adopted by the association of manufacturers, a revision which occurs only once in several years.
 
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