Q. "What does compression style (angle stop or straight stop) mean?"
A. The compression style in this case is referring to the way the water is shut off when the valve is closed. Please do not confuse this with the inlet or outlet size which can also be referred to as "compression". The handle is attached to a stem with a rubber washer on the other end. As the handle is turned to close the valve (clockwise), the rubber washer is forced (compressed) against the "seat" which is the metal opening of the waterway.

Q. "How do I know if I need 1/2" Fip inlet or 5/8" o.d. inlet angle stops?"
A. Angle or straight stops have an inlet that is either 1/2" fip (female iron pipe) or 5/8" o.d. copper compression. The 1/2" fip stops are for attaching to threaded pipe nipples. The copper compression fittings are designed to attach to the smooth outside surface of copper pipe.

Q. "Some of the outlet sizes are shown as 1/4" O.D. or 3/8" O.D. or 1/2" O.D. compression nut w/sleeve. Is this measurement referring to the outside diameter of the compression nut?"
A. No, it is not. Copper compression fitting sizes are measured and sized according to the outside diameter (O.D.) of the copper tubing or copper pipe for which they will be used.

Q. "Why are some of these fittings, valves, and nipples not for potable water?"
A. Starting January 1st of 2010, California and Vermont enacted new lower lead laws and many more states are adopting such laws. Before that time, these top quality brass products were legal for potable water and products used throughout the world and actually contain much less lead than products manufactured before the 1980's.

Q. "What does it mean to have ANSI Certification for lead free plumbing products?"
A. Laws requiring plumbing products that come in to contact with drinking water to be essentially lead-free (0.25% weighted average) have been passed in California, Louisiana, Maryland, and Vermont. In order for companies to ship these plumbing products to locations in CA, LA, MD and VT, they must be ANSI certified lead free.

Q. "What is CA AB 1953, LA Act No. 362, MD HB 372, and VT S.152 and how is this different from previous low-lead legislation?"
A. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the amount of lead in drinking water under guidelines established in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (passed in 1974; amended in 1988 and 1996). This Act defines "lead-free" as not more than 8% lead in pipes and fixture fittings. PLEASE NOTE: Use of the term "lead-free" varies between the new legislation in CA (AB 1953), LA ( Act No. 362), MD (HB 372), and VT (S.152), and in the current Federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. In the new legislation for CA, LA, MD and VT only (as of Jan 2013), it will mean 0.25% or less (weighted average). Similar national legislation is scheduled to go into effect Jan 2014.