Lead-Free Water Shut-off Valves

Q. "What does compression style and 1/4 turn 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. 1/4 turn style valves have inside the stem a port that when the handle is turned one quarter of a turn counterclockwise, the valve is open fully and the same quarter turn in the opposite direction closes the valve completely.

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. 5/8" o.d. compression would fit a 1/2" nominal piece of copper.

Q. "What is the difference between 'nominal' dimensions and 'outside diameter (OD)' dimensions?"
A. Nominal is the term used to describe most pipe and fitting measurements in the plumbing industry. Nominal refers to the inside diameter measurement of the pipe. The actual inside pipe measurements will vary slightly due to the wall thickness of the pipe, so it is referred to as "nominal" meaning a small variance of size. The outside diameter (OD) dimensions refer to the actual outside diameter of the pipe. The outside diameter dimensions of pipe are a constant size which allow pipe fittings to be used with the same type of piping with multiple grades of wall thickness.

Q. "Some of the outlet sizes are shown as 3/8" O.D. or 5/8" 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. "How are lead levels in drinking water currently regulated?"
A. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the amount of lead and other contaminants in drinking water under guidelines established in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

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.