Options for 60-degree Sprinkler Main Angle?

9/28/2020

Is it possible to make a 60-degree angle to a main pipe using grooved pipe and fittings?

If I'm correct there is only 90-degree, 45-degree, and 11.5 degree angles normally available.

If a 60-degree angle is impossible, is there a way to use welded parts to make this angle happen? What's my best option here?

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10 Comments

Mike

9/28/2020 10:06:28 am

Back to back 90's to rotate to the correct angle but there would be an offset in elevation.

Could also bend it as long as the radius limitations are maintained.

Steve Frederick

9/28/2020 10:07:13 am

Just use 2 90's back to back and make a swing joint. You can make any angle you want that way.

Casey Milhorn

9/28/2020 10:11:21 am

You can create a 60 degree turn using a 45 and 11.25 ell, along with several flexible grooved couplings. Depending on size, they will allow around 1 to 2 degrees of deflection. The other route would be custom fabricated ell, which I believe is still allowable per NFPA 13, but you will want to check per the applicable edition just to make sure.

Anon.

9/28/2020 10:18:07 am

When the architect designed a weird (for us) angle, I sometimes would find a commercially-available grooved elbow, or combination of elbows, in conjunction with utilizing flexible grooved couplings, making sure not to deflect the pipe more than the flexible couplings are listed to deflect. But most often I would rely on the skills of our in-house, or outside fabrication shop welder to custom-fab an grooved elbow with the needed bend. If I used too many grooved elbows, my boss would accuses me of owning stock in Victaulic.

Anon.

9/28/2020 10:19:38 am

...granted, the flexible coupling allowable deflection is sometimes difficult to find in the literature. But it's there.

CJ Bonczyk

9/28/2020 10:20:47 am

You can do as stated previously to use back to back grooved fittings and adjust to obtain the angle required or you can have your fabricator fabricate a custom angled welded piece. The fabricator will tell you the minimum angles and take outs they are able to weld and groove. I have done this many times and had them painted fitting orange similar to a seg welded drain elbow. Even though there is a small amount of coupling deflection the seg welded fittings need to be matched and cut to the angle and length as best as possible.

Ivonn

9/28/2020 11:26:10 am

You can use flexible couplings and sections of pipe to create the angle, but like someone already say you can use 2 elbows to create any angle do you need.

Dan Wilder

9/28/2020 12:12:31 pm

Talk to your local fabrication company to weld up the elbows. A nice round number like 60 degrees should be no issue for any fabrication shop.

Last one I had fabricated had was setup to be 1'-0" (center to end) with grooved ends so that I could grab hangers on each side of a GLB in the NAU Skydome retrofit. You can also utilized flex couplings as needed.

Shawn G.

9/28/2020 12:40:04 pm

Iowa Fittings will custom make fittings. https://iowafittings.com

Paul

10/1/2020 07:05:38 am

We've used 60's before. They do exist. But it's hard on our fitters, because if they're misaligned at all, it's less forgiving. We always use 2 90's first and resort to that last.

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