What Are Sanitary Tube Fittings?
Sanitary fittings are specialized plumbing components used in hygienic applications, such as those in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. They are designed to maintain cleanliness, prevent contamination and promote health and safety. These fittings include items such as valves, elbows, tees, clamps, and gaskets that are made of materials such as stainless steel or other non-porous materials. They are used to connect tubes and process equipment in a sanitary manner.
Sanitary fittings and tubing (categorized also as hygienic fittings and tubing) were developed and are used because they are cleanable; either by dismantling a system and manually cleaning it or using a CIP (clean in place) process. They limit entrapment areas where bacteria could form or harbor. They are also corrosion resistant.
Additionally, sanitary fittings do not contain any pockets, threading, or tight bends. This design specification is meant to eliminate the areas that are difficult to clean.
Occasionally materials being processed will interact with stainless steel, potentially causing them to corrode and eventually fail. For this reason, sanitary tube fittings are available in specific stainless steel alloys to make sure they can handle more demanding processing environments.
Surface Finish & Roughness Average (Ra)
One of the most distinguishing features of all sanitary tube fittings is the surface finish, most commonly referred to as Roughness Average (Ra). At a microscopic level, stainless steel has peaks and valleys that can harbor bacteria throughout the production cycle. Sanitary tube fittings are polished to a point where the peaks and valleys are minimized or in some cases eliminated. The lower the roughness average the smoother the surface.
The standard roughness average for sanitary tube fittings is 32Ra. This is for both the inside and outside of the fittings. Bio-Pharmaceutical, or BPE fittings, require a smoother finish than standard food-grade fittings. The roughness average for BPE fittings is either 20Ra or 15Ra. BPE fittings with a roughness average of 15Ra typically include electropolishing finish to remove any traces of stray metallic particles that may interfere with the processing of pharmaceutical products.
Assembling Tube Fittings
Sanitary tube fittings are connected to each other in either of two methods: butt-welding or tri-clamp connections. Tri-Clamp connections are assembled by mating two flanged end together with a gasket that fits into the face of both ends. A clamp is then used to secure the two ends in order to create a leak-proof connection between the two process lines.
Measuring a Sanitary Tube Fitting
Sanitary tube fitting sizes are denoted by the “sanitary size”, measured in inches ranging from 1/2″ up to 12″. The sanitary fitting size refers to the outside diameter of the tube. There are two options to determine the sanitary size for any fitting:
- Measure the Outside Diameter (OD) of the tube end:
- Lay your piece down on a sheet of paper and trace a circle around the outside of the tube end
- Measure the diameter of the traced circle to determine your piece’s Outside Diameter (OD)
- Measure the Outside Diameter (OD) of the flange end:
- Lay your piece down on a sheet of paper and trace a circle around the outside of the flange end
- Measure the diameter of the traced circle to determine the Outside Diameter (OD) of the flange end
- Note: 1″ & 1 1/2″ Sanitary Fittings have the same flange OD. To determine your size, also note the Inside Diameter (ID)
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Sanitary Tube Fittings Stainless Steel Alloys
Sanitary tube fittings are available in two different stainless steel alloys, 304 and 316. All stainless steel products contain a mixture of elements including chromium, nickel, carbon, and manganese. The most common alloy is 304 which is used in a variety of applications for its durability, appearance, and resistance to corrosion. However, situations involving acidic material, industrial solvents, or highly concentrated saline environments can cause corrosion and eventual failure of this material.
316 stainless steel has the same chemical composition as 304 coupled with another element, molybdenum. This addition turns common stainless steel into a more resilient product with the ability to withstand harsh environments.
3A Certification
In order for a stainless steel fitting to be deemed “sanitary” in the United States, it must adhere to 3A Sanitary Standards. 3-A SSI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing hygienic equipment design for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. We represent the interests of three stakeholder groups with a common commitment to promoting food safety and the public health — regulatory sanitarians, equipment fabricators and processors.
Products used in the manufacturing of sanitary processes will typically be stamped/etched with the 3A logo seen here. 3A certification is on the manufacturer by manufacturer basis. In order to stamp sanitary tube fittings with the 3A logo, a manufacturer must apply for a license and have their manufacturing process and products inspected and approved by the organization.