Warehouse Item Code Guide

Item codes are typically split into three main parts. 

C1902H3 

The first is the typically the material that the item is made from.  The above example is Copper. 

The second is the type of fitting.  The above example is a 90-degree elbow. 

The third is the size of the fitting.  See the chart to the left for a chart of the various sizes. 

Sometimes fittings have more than one size associated with them. 

C1T2JIH3 

We have 3 sizes listed in the above example.  The first, J, is the largest size of the fitting.  In the case of a Tee, the next size will be the side opposite of the first side.  The final size is the branch of the tee.  Almost all fittings with multiple sizes follow this pattern. 

Some materials have sizes that don’t correspond with a designation on the left or are otherwise typed as a number rather than a letter for some reason. 

CSUP1122 

The above example is a 12” long Closet Supply.  In this case the first part of the item code isn’t the material because the material isn’t important here.  Instead, it’s the ‘type’ of fitting – Closet Supply.  The size in this case is the length of the supply.  Since sometimes supplies can get longer than 18”, to keep things consistent between supplies, the length in inches is typed out as a number. 

LSUP1CD2303 

This is a 30” long lav supply with 3/8” and ½” connections.  We have 3 sizes to track here; the two ends of the supply (C and D) and the length (30).  As before, the length is typed out in inches at the end of the code.   

Other Code Components or Lingo You Might See 

• CTS (C) or IPS/Galvanized (G) – Usually refers to hangers or clamps.  As a general rule of thumb, if it’s for water piping, you’re going to use CTS clamps and for waste and vent or gas piping you’ll use IPS/galvanized fittings.  One exception is that Brass fittings, which are used for water, will use IPS sized hangers because brass has the same diameter of pipe as black iron whereas copper is measured slightly differently. 

• Fluid Measurements – Some things like Flux can come in different sized tubs (eg. FLUX1.7OZ vs FLUX8OZ) 

• Adapters – Many materials can use an adapter to go to a different material or thread type. 

• Female Adapters (eg. CFAD)– Goes from the original material (such as Copper or PVC) to a female thread (internal thread) 

• Male Adapters (eg. PROPMAJ) – Goes from the original material to a male thread (external thread) 

• Sweat Adapters (eg. UPMAD) – Goes from the original material to copper (sweat refers to the process of soldering the copper joints) 

• Fitting / Street – Both of these terms refer to the same concept.  These terms can get kind of confusing.  Any elbow, coupling, adapter, or anything else along those lines which connects lengths of pipe together are called fittings.  The confusing part is that ‘fitting’ can also mean that one end of the fitting fits inside of another fitting rather than slipping on the outside of the pipe like a standard fitting.  Street also means that one end of the fitting will fit inside of another fitting rather than on the outside of the pipe.  ‘Fitting’ is usually reserved for fittings that are straight (they don’t bend at all) and street usually refers to fittings that bend (90s, 45s, 22s, etc…).  For example, a ½” Copper Fitting Female Adapter means that one end is a female thread (the female adapter portion) and the other end is a copper connection that will fit inside a standard fitting.  Another example would be a 1-1/2” x 1” Copper Fitting Reducer.  This means that the 1-1/2” side is a standard copper connection that fits on the outside of 1-1/2” copper pipe, but the 1” side will fit inside a standard 1” fitting rather than on the outside of a 1” pipe.