Pipe connector tees | T-connectors

Pipe connector tees

The tee joins a continuous tube to a tube branching off at 90 degrees. It is the most widely used component in railing construction: it lets you set intermediate posts beneath a continuous handrail without interrupting the handrail.

Short tees (101) take the branching tube on one side, long tees (104) carry it through. For different tube sizes at one junction there are reducing versions.

Material and finish

All pipe connectors in our malleable cast iron range are cast to ASTM A197. Malleable cast iron is tougher than ordinary cast iron: it does not fracture in a brittle way but deforms under overload – in a component that holds a structure together, that is the decisive difference. The wall thickness is at least 2,5 mm.

The surface is hot-dip galvanised to ASTM A153 and additionally electro-galvanised. Hot-dip galvanising forms a metallurgically bonded zinc layer that also holds on edges; the electro-galvanising adds an even, smooth surface on top. A clamping screw in V2A stainless steel is supplied with every fitting – it will not seize up outdoors and can still be undone years later.

Tested safety

The pipe connector range is type-tested by TÜV Rheinland (test report no. 17704961 001). Bending moment and pull-out force were tested on at least three samples per type and load case; the permissible values include a safety factor of 2,0. You will find them with every item under "Technical data". The pipe connectors are not suitable for use in scaffolding.

Sizes

Six tube sizes are available: Ø 21,3 mm (1/2"), Ø 26,9 mm (3/4"), Ø 33,7 mm (1"), Ø 42,4 mm (1 1/4"), Ø 48,3 mm (1 1/2") and Ø 60,3 mm (2"). What matters is always the outside diameter of your tube. For railings, Ø 42,4 mm is the usual standard.

Not sure which component you need? Our guide to building a railing contains a complete materials list – or give us a call and we will put the parts list together with you.