Is nominal pipe size equal to the actual wall thickness?

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Multiple Choice

Is nominal pipe size equal to the actual wall thickness?

Nominal pipe size is a designation used to identify and match piping and fittings, not to indicate the actual wall thickness. The wall thickness is defined by the pipe’s schedule (such as Schedule 40 or Schedule 80) and can differ for the same nominal size. The outside diameter for a given nominal size stays essentially the same across schedules, while the interior diameter changes with wall thickness. So you can’t deduce the wall thickness from the nominal size alone; you must look at the schedule to know the exact thickness.

Nominal pipe size is a designation used to identify and match piping and fittings, not to indicate the actual wall thickness. The wall thickness is defined by the pipe’s schedule (such as Schedule 40 or Schedule 80) and can differ for the same nominal size. The outside diameter for a given nominal size stays essentially the same across schedules, while the interior diameter changes with wall thickness. So you can’t deduce the wall thickness from the nominal size alone; you must look at the schedule to know the exact thickness.

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