The typical dimensions are closer to 1.5 by 3-3/8, but they have always been called two-by-fours. When considering all your options for a new Drip Irrigation system, we wanted to help you understand the different systems so you can easily choose which is best for your needs. Thank you for reading. This will warm the tubing and make it more pliable and easier to force into fittings and reduce the tendency to re-coil during installation. Hydraulic Specifications/Limitations:FLOW RATE: Since the poly tubing is the main supply line for the majority of noncommercial drip irrigation systems, it is very important to know how much water it can deliver without creating hydraulic problems like excessive water velocity or pressure. More information and details about poly tubing, fittings, and other drip irrigation products are available in print and online, and many free resources are available at www.digcorp.com or www.irrigation.org. The 3/4 and 1 tubing can be run for a much longer distance than the 1/2 poly and are often used as a header or as a supply line to feed 1/2 poly tubing laterals. This means that the total of the flow rates for all the emission devices connected to the line should not exceed 220 GPH. The tubing is connected to the fitting by forcing the end of the tubing into the fitting while moving it from side to side, gradually, until the end is about 3/4 inside the fitting. The outside diameter is usually printed on the outside of the tubing itself, or on the products packaging or label. by Stuart Spaulding, CLIA These fittings are designed for one-time use and are not easily removed from the tubing after installation. sales & tips in the industry. Like the smaller 1/2 tubing, the larger diameter poly tubing will be easier to work with after it is uncoiled and laid out in direct sunlight for about 20 minutes. This is a good example of a nominally sized commodity. Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor Universal Poly Tubing Fittings:The universal type of tubing fittings is available in a variety of designs that typically utilize a threaded nut to connect the fittings to all three of the sizes of 1/2 poly tubing. OPERATING PRESSURE: The poly tubing should be used on drip systems only and operated in the range of 20 to 40 psi. They cost a bit more than basic compression fittings, but they are very useful, especially when the installer is not certain of the tubing size. The tubing should require a fair amount of effort to force into the fitting, but not too much. It may help to make the comparison to the way lumber is specifiedtake a common two-by-four for example. Remember that drip systems apply water at lower pressure and at lower flow rates (gallons per hour-GPH) than sprinkler systems (gallons per minute-GPM). 1/2-inch Poly Tubing is not 1/2 inch Unfortunately, there is one aspect of drip irrigation poly tubing that remains unchanged, and that is the fact that the tubing is still nominally sized. One way to judge the size of the tubing is by how it fits into a fitting. This is because, over time, the lettering on the outside of the tubing can fade away, and there may be no color-coded fittings available to indicate the tubing size. If it slips in easily then the fitting is probably too large for the tubing. Use the all-black fittings for .700 OD tubing, green for the .620 and blue for the .710 OD poly tubing. In short, todays drip irrigation poly tubing will stay flexible and functional for decades even if it is exposed to direct sunlight in challenging environments. of poly tubing. New Installations:It is not so difficult to determine the outside diameter of the tubing in the store or online. Stores should stock the appropriate fittings for the tubing they sell. Unlike PVC pipe, there is no industry or global standard for the outside diameter (O.D.) The polyethylene supply tubing produced today for drip irrigation systems is a far superior product compared to the tubing that was manufactured in years past. Training & Communications Manager at DIG Corp. Currently, there are three different sizes of so-called 1/2 poly tubing; they all have slightly different inside (I.D.) Please be aware that most stores stock more than one size of poly tubing. Closing Comments:We hope that the information contained in this article can help to inform the installer, do-it-yourselfer, and designer to the facts about these products with the goal to ultimately reduce the headaches and problems that can occur due to lack of knowledge and/or installation experience. Thousands of Items Available For Delivery or local In-Store Pickup, Posted by Todd Hedberg on January 7, 2020. Sign up today for emails with exclusive offers, Inside and Outside Diameter & Compression Fittings The three main sizes of so-called 1/2 poly tubing are: The outside diameter is critical when it comes to selectin compression fittings because these fittings seal against the outside of the tubing. Of course, the larger the inside diameter, the more water the tubing can deliver. And since the compression fittings are color-coded, its easy to select the proper size. and outside diameters and none of them are 1/2! This usually means that a pressure regulator should be installed to lower the dynamic (operating) pressure. Existing Installations: It is not uncommon for identification problems to occur when installers are dealing with existing systems. These fittings can also be removed and re-used if necessary. The tubing is typically rated to handle a maximum of 60 psi., but it never should be installed upstream of a remote-control valve, where it will be subject to continuous pressure. The variety of configurations is more limited, however, and is usually only available in tee, elbow or coupler. But if this is too problematic, fear not, there is a solution; universal fittings are now available that will fit all three sizes of 1/2 poly tubing. The fitting has an interior lip that allows the tubing to go in but not out. They are sold in the lumber yard in a variety of lengths under the two-by-four name, but the actual height and width are not 2 by 4. The less common .620 OD poly tubing is noticeably smaller than the larger sizes, but even a trained, experienced person cannot easily notice the difference between .700 & .710 tubing. Also available for 3/4 and 1 poly tubing are barbed insert fittings and adapters which are forced into the end of the tubing and are sometimes held in place with a hose clamp. Larger Sizes of Poly Tubing:The 1/2 sizes of drip supply tubing are the most common sizes in use today, but there are also larger sizes produced and installed, although they are mainly used in commercial and agricultural installations. These larger sizes are typically used on commercial drip/low-volume irrigation systems with higher total flow rates which connect to an automated irrigation valve. Compression fittings are available in a variety of configurations including coupler, elbow tee, end cap, hose adapter and more. When selecting either of these fittings, it is essential to identify the ID and/or OD of the tubing and verify that it is compatible with the fittings selected. The maximum distance limit for 1/2 poly tubing depends on the flow rate but a safe number to use is not to exceed 350 for any single run length. Significant advances in extruding technology and refinements in the processing and blending of raw materials have led to the production of polyethylene tubing that has a longer lifespan, a higher resistance to UV rays, and greater protection from thermal degradation. The maximum flow rate for .700 OD and .710 OD poly tubing is approximately 220 gallons per hour. Specialized compression fittings are available in many configurations (similar to 1/2 compression fittings) which fit over the outside of the tubing.
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