Introduction

When coupling pipes and attaching pipes to components screwed fittings are often used as opposed to compression couplings,
soldered or welded connections. Historically in the UK, and throughout europe, British Standard Pipe Threads (BSP)have been
used . These threads are still widely used but the threads are generally no longer identified as BSP threads ..
BS 21 has been used in the UK for BSP threads for pressure tight joints and BS 2779 has been used for BSP threads which are
not used for pressure tight joints. BS 21 has now been generally replaced by BS EN 10226-1, and BS 2779 has been totally
replaced by BS EN ISO 0228-1
BS 21 is still (2007) relevant for taper ext. /taper int. threads which are used for pressure tight joints (until BS 10226-2 is issued)
and for longscrew threads. Longscrew threads are parallel threads used as longscrew connectors as specified in BS
1387 . Using these components pressure tight joints are made my using soft annulus seals between a backnut and a connector
face.
Symbols
Note: all dimensions in mm

D = Major diameter of Internal Thread

D1 = Minor diameter of internal Thread = D -1,280654P
D2 = Pitch diameter of internal Thread = D - 0,640327P
H = Height of fundamental triangle of thread form
h = height of thread profile with rounded crests and roots.
P = Pitch
r = radius of crest (and roots)
R = Designation of a taper external thread
Rp = Designation of a parallel internal thread
TD1 = Tolerance of minor diameter of internal thread
TD2 = Tolerance of pitch diameter of internal thread

T1 = Tolerance on gauge length of external thread

T2 = Tolerance pos'n of gauge length of int'l thread
A = tighter class tolerance of ext thread (BS EN 10228).
B = wider class tolerance of ext thread (BS EN 10228)
d = Major diameter of External Thread
d1 = Minor diameter of External Thread = D -1,280654P
d2 = Pitch diameter of External Thread = D - 0,640327P
La = Accommodation Length
Le = Useful thread length external threads
Li = Useful thread length internal threads
Td = Tolerance of major diameter of external thread
Td2 = Tolerance of pitch diameter of external thread

Reference Standards
BS 21:1985 :...Specification for pipe threads for tubes and fittings where pressure-tight joints are made on the threads (metric
dimensions)..Part Superseded. This standard is applicable only for longscrew threads and Taper int/Taper ext thread
combinations
BS EN 10226-1:2004 :..Pipe threads where pressure tight joints are made on the threads. Taper external threads and parallel
internal threads. Dimensions, tolerances and designation ..Part Supersedes BS 21
BS 2779:1986 :...Specification for pipe threads for tubes and fittings where pressure-tight joints are not made on the threads
(metric dimensions)..Superseded Withdrawn
BS EN ISO 228-1:2003 :...Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are not made on the threads. Dimensions, tolerances and
designation ..Supersedes BS 2779
BS EN ISO 228-2:2003 :...Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are not made on the threads. Verification by means of limit
gauges /
Note: Equivalent international Standards...
ISO 7-1:1994...Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are made on the threads -- Part 1: Dimensions, tolerances and
designation
ISO 7-2:2000...Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are made on the threads -- Part 2: Verification by means of limit
gauges..As yet there is no English /European equivalent of this standard(BS EN 10226-2 is in preparation). In the UK the current
equivalent standard is BS 21
Thread Designations.
BS EN ISO 0228 -1
When designating threads to this standard three blocks are require:
Block 1 (Pipe Thread):
Block 2 (International standard ref = ISO 228:
Block 3 G(size) for internal thread: or G ( size) A for external thread to class A: or G (size ) B for external thread
class B
If the thread required is a left hand thread then LH should be appended
Example internal thread designation... Pipe Thread ISO 228 - G 3/4

Example External thread designation...Pipe Thread ISO 228 - G 3/4A

BS EN 10226-1
When designating threads to this standard three blocks are require:
Block 1 (Pipe Thread):
Block 2 (International standard ref = EN 10226:
Block 3 R(size) For external taper thread: or Rp ( size) For internal parallel thread
Example external taper thread designation... Pipe Thread EN10226 - R 3/4
Example parallel internal thread designation...Pipe Thread EN10226 - Rp 3/4
BS 21:1985
Taper external threads shall be designation with R followed by the size.
Taper internal threads shall be designation with Rc followed by the size.
Long screw threads shall be designation with RL followed by the size.
Example external taper thread designation... Pipe Thread R 3/4
Example Internal taper thread designation... Rc 3/4
Example long screw thread designation... RL 3/4
Terminology
Mostly applicable to taper thread assemblies....
Gauge Diameter. Major diameter of Thread (Int and Ext) at gauge plane.
Major Cone.. Imaginary cone on taper thread which touches the crest of all external threads or the roots of all internal threads.
Gauge plane. Plane on taper threads, which is perpendicular to the thread axis, at which the major cone has gauge diameter.
Gauge length.. On external threads the distance from the gauge plane to the small end of the thread.
Complete thread.. The thread which is full formed at both crest and root.
Washout thread.. Thread which is not full formed at the root.
Useful thread.. All thread excluding washout thread.
Assembly Length (Fitting Allowance)..Useful thread beyond the gauge plane on an external thread required to provide an
assembly with an internal thread at the upper limit of tolerance. It includes the wrenching allowance.
Wrenching Length (Wrenching Allowance)..Useful thread length provided to accommodate the relative movement when
wrenching from the hand tight position to the fully tightened position.
Accomodation length. Distance from the face of the internal thread to the first obstruction which the externally threaded
component will encounter on tightening....
BS EN
EN ISO 0228 -Thread Sizes
This standard "Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are not made on the threads." are whit worth form threads for parallel
fastening threads that are generally used for fastenings purposes in the mechanical assembly of fittings including valves,
accessories etc. Pressure tight joints are not made on the threads but may be made by using the threads to compress together
surfaces onto seals. The crests of the basic web form may be truncated, within the limits in the last two columns of the table
below, except when they are likely to be used in conjunction with an external taper thread conforming to BS EN 10226. When
the thread forms are not truncated they are identical to the threads in BS EN ISO 0228

Thread
Size

Threads per
25,4 mm
(No.Thds/inch)

Thds.

Class A
Class B
Ext.
Int. Pitch
Int. Minor
Ext.
Ext.
Major
Dia
Dia
Pitch
Minor
Pitch Dia Pitch Dia
Dia
Tolerance
Tolerance
Diameter Diameter
Tolerance Tolerance
Tolerance
Lower
Lower
Lower
Lower
Lower
/Upper
/Upper
/Upper
/Upper
/Upper

Pitch

Height
of
Thread

Major
Dia

D=d

D2 = d2

D1 = d1

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

TD2

Td2 class
A

Td2 class
B

TD1

Td

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

1/16"

28

0,907

0,581

7,723

7,142

6,561

0/
+0,107

0/
-0,107 / 0 -0,214 / 0
+0,282

-0,214 / 0

1/8"

28

0,907

0,581

9,728

9,147

8,566

0/
+0,107

-0,107 / 0 -0,214 / 0

0/
+0,282

-0,214 / 0

1/4"

19

1,337

0,856

13,157

12,301

11,445

0/
+0,125

-0,125 / 0 -0,250 / 0

0/
+0,445

-0,250 / 0

3/8"

19

1,337

0,856

16,662

15,806

14,95

0/
+0,125

-0,125 / 0 -0,250 / 0

0/
+0,445

-0,250 / 0

1/2"

14

1,814

1,162

20,955

19,793

18,631

0/
+0,142

-0,142 / 0 -0,282 / 0

0/
+0,541

-0,284 / 0

5/8"

14

1,814

1,162

22,911

21,749

20,587

0/
+0,142

-0,142 / 0 -0,282 / 0

0/
+0,541

-0,284 / 0

3/4"

14

1,814

1,162

26,411

25,279

24,117

0/
+0,142

-0,142 / 0 -0,282 / 0

0/
+0,541

-0,284 / 0

7/8"

14

1,814

1,162

30,201

29,039

27,877

0/
+0,142

-0,142 / 0 -0,282 / 0

0/
+0,541

-0,284 / 0

1"

11

2,309

1,479

33,249

31,77

30,291

0/
+0,180

-0,180 / 0 -0,360 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,360 / 0

1 1/8"

11

2,309

1,479

37,897

36,418

34,939

0/
+0,180

-0,180 / 0 -0,360 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,360 / 0

1 1/4"

11

2,309

1,479

41,91

40,431

38,952

0/
+0,180

-0,180 / 0 -0,360 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,360 / 0

1 1/2"

11

2,309

1,479

47,803

46,324

44,845

0/
+0,180

-0,180 / 0 -0,360 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,360 / 0

1 3/4"

11

2,309

1,479

53,746

52,267

50,788

0/
+0,180

-0,180 / 0 -0,360 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,360 / 0

2"

11

2,309

1,479

59,614

58,135

56,656

0/
+0,180

-0,180 / 0 -0,360 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,360 / 0

2 1/4"

11

2,309

1,479

65,71

64,231

62,752

0/

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0 0 /

-0,434 / 0

+0,217

+0,640

2 1/2"

11

2,309

1,479

75,184

73,705

72,226

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

2 3/4"

11

2,309

1,479

81,534

80,055

78,576

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

3"

11

2,309

1,479

87,884

86,405

84,926

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

3 1/2"

11

2,309

1,479

100,83

98,851

97,37

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

4"

11

2,309

1,479

113,03

111,551

110,072

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

4 1/2"

11

2,309

1,479

125,73

124,251

122,772

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

5"

11

2,309

1,479

138,43

136,951

135,472

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

5 1/2"

11

2,309

1,479

151,13

149,651

148,172

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

6"

11

2,309

1,479

163,83

162,351

160,872

0/
+0,217

-0,217 / 0 -0,434 / 0

0/
+0,640

-0,434 / 0

BS EN 10226 - 1
Pipe threads where pressure tight joints are made on the threads. Taper external threads and parallel internal threads.
These threads are of Whitworth form and are used when pressure tight joints are made on the screw threads. The joints
include taper male threads with parallel female threads are found in BS EN 10226-1. The joints made up of taper male in taper
female threads are found in BS EN 10226-2. These threads are used for piping joints including piping, valves and fittings.

Thread
Size

Threads per
25,4 mm
(No.Thds/inch)

Pitch

Thds

No
Nominal Gauge
Useful
Gauge
Gauge
Length Threads
Length
Pitch
Minor
Ass'y
Length Tolerance
for
Tolerance
Diameter Diameter
Length
Ext,
Ext
basic
Int
Thd
Thread
gauge
Thread
length

Height
of
Thread

Major
Dia

D= d

D2 = d2

D1 = D1

mm

mm

mm

mm

mm

T1 /2
mm

mm

Equiv. Dia.
Tol.
Parallel
Threads

T2 /2
mm

mm

mm

mm

1/16

28

0,907

0,581

7,723

7,142

6,561

+ /-0,9

6,5

2,5

+ /- 1,1

+ /-0,071

1/8

28

0,907

0,581

9,728

9,147

8,566

+ /- 0,9

6,5

2,5

+ /- 1,1

+ /-0,071

1/4

19

1,337

0,856

13,157

12,301

11,445

+ /- 1,3

9,7

3,7

+ /- 1,7

+ /-0,104

3/8

19

1,337

0,856

16,662

15,806

14,95

6,4

+ /- 1,3

10,1

3,7

+ /- 1,7

+ /-0,104

1/2

14

1,814

1,162

20,955

19,793

18,631

8,2

+ /- 1,8

13,2

5,0

+ /- 2,3

+ /-0,104

3/4

14

1,814

1,162

26,411

25,279

24,117

9,5

+ /- 1,8

14,5

5,0

+ /- 2,3

+ /-0,104

11

2,309

1,479

33,249

31,77

30,291

10,4

+ /- 2,3

16,8

6,4

+ /- 2,9

+ /-0,180

1 1/4

11

2,309

1,479

41,91

40,431

38,952

12,7

+ /- 2,3

19,1

6,4

+ /- 2,9

+ /-0,180

1 1/2

11

2,309

1,479

47,803

46,324

44,845

12,7

+ /- 2,3

19,1

6,4

+ /- 2,9

+ /-0,180

11

2,309

1,479

59,614

58,135

56,656

15,9

+ /- 2,3

23,4

7,5

+ /- 2,9

+ /-0,180

2 1/2

11

2,309

1,479

75,184

73,705

72,226

17,5

+ /- 3,5

26,7

9,2

+ /- 3,5

+ /-0,216

11

2,309

1,479

87,884

86,405

84,926

20,6

+ /- 3,5

29,8

9,2

+ /- 3,5

+ /-0,216

11

2,309

1,479

113,03

111,551

110,072

25,4

+ /- 3,5

35,8

10,4

+ /- 3,5

+ /-0,216

11

2,309

1,479

138,43

136,951

135,472

28,6

+ /- 3,5

40,1

11,5

+ /-3,5

+ /-0,216

11

2,309

1,479

163,83

162,351

160,872

28,6

+ /- 3,5

40,1

11,5

+ /- 3,5

+ /-0,216

BS 21:1985 - Notes
Specification for pipe threads for tubes and fittings where pressure-tight joints are made on the threads (metric dimensions)
This standard is currently only relevant to pressure tight joint between taper internal and taper external threads and longscrew
threads.
The parallel external threads on a longscrew thread shall be formed such that connectors and backnuts with threads formed in
accordance with the tables above shall run on the longscrew threads with not perceptible shake... The sizes for longscrew
threads are provided in the table above for under the heading BS 10228.
The sizes for taper threads are provided in the table under heading BS 10226: The basic sizes of taper external threads are in
accordance with the dimensions for BS 10226 as shown above. The basic dimensions of taper external threads are also in
accordance with the above standard the relevant tolerance are provided in the column headed "Gauge Length Tolerance Int
Thread - T2 /2"