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Poly Pipe

Tee Fabrication

Poly pipe tees, Acu-Tech Piping Systems

Australian made custom fabricated poly tees.

For poly pipe systems that need reliable connections, Acu-Tech Australia specialises in custom poly tees. Our skilled team makes polyethylene (PE) tees to your exact needs. This ensures the best fit and performance in your poly pipe network.

Poly tees create branches within a pipeline. Professionals commonly call them pull tees, spigot tees, or molded tees. Other names include welded tees, CNC fabricated tees, equal tees, and reducing tees. Acu-Tech specialises in making poly tees. We keep the main sizes of PE tees in stock. We can also create tees to meet your needs.

What are the different types of tees?

Piping systems incorporate several types of tees.. Here are the main ones:

  • Forge tees: Made by forging metal.
  • Spigot tees : Have a spigot end for easy connection.
  • Moulded tees: Created by molding materials.
  • Welded tees: Made by welding parts together.
  • CNC Fabricated tees: Produced using CNC machines for precision.
  • Equal tees: Have the same diameter on all ends.
  • Reducing tees: Have different diameters on the ends.

Each type has a special role in piping systems.

Learn more about the different types of PE pipe tees below.

If your project needs special fittings, look at Acu-Tech’s custom poly tees. They provide strong and seamless poly pipe solutions.

The different types of poly pipe tees are:

Forge-Tees – Pull Tees

Manufacturers create forge, pull, reducing, and necking tees by drilling a hole in a piece of poly pipe. They pull a die through the hole to create an opening, then weld a smaller piece of poly pipe to that opening. Many people also refer to forge tees as pull tees or reducing tees. The off-take always remains smaller than the main pipe. These tees typically connect a smaller pipeline to a larger one. The photo above shows two reducing forge tees with routered edges, which Acu-Tech manufactured from PE pipe. The industry also knows pull tees as ‘pull out reducing tee fittings’ or ‘necking tees.’ Note that pressure de-rating factors apply to pulled tees. See below for more information.

Spigot Tees or Moulded Tees

A spigot tee is usually a molded fitting. It can have bends, stubs, or extra pipe on the ends. This process produces a tee that connects to a pipeline via welding or bolting. A spigot tee can be either an equal tee or a reducing tee. This choice depends on the fitting type. You can have a spigot equal tee or a spigot reducing tee. The photo above shows a reducing spigot tee. It has stubs welded on the ends and backing rings. This lets the tee be bolted to a pipeline.

Welded Tees, Segmented Tees, Mitred Tees 

CNC fabricated tees and welded tees are made by cutting and welding to create a tee shape. Fabricated tees are always equal tees. This means the offtake pipe is the same size as the original pipeline. Welded tees are made from PE pipe. The pipe is cut and butt welded to the right size. The photo above shows a fabricated tee made from Acu-Therm co-ex white PE pipe. Welded tees are also called mitred tees, segmented tees, or fabricated equal tees. Keep in mind that pressure de-rating factors apply to welded tees.

Extrusion Welded Tees 

Fabricators produce extrusion welded tees (or custom poly tees) from PE pipe. They cut and weld sections of pipe to form a specific tee shape. While these often serve as reducing tees, fabricators can also create equal tees. The photo above shows tees that Acu-Tech manufactured from Acu-Black PE pressure pipe. Keep in mind that pressure de-rating factors apply to extrusion welded tees.

HDPE Tee De-rating Information:

Information about de-rating for poly tees can be found in the PIPA Document. The document is titled “PE Fabricated Fittings For Pressure Applications: De-rating Requirements.”

For segmented tees made from pipe segments that meet AS/NZS 4130, the following de-rating rules apply for calculating the PN:

[PN] = fT x [PN] pipe

Here, fT is the de-rating factor for these tees, which has a value of 0.5.

[PN] pipe is the nominal pressure of the pipe, taken as a value.

Test results of the manufacturer may demonstrate that a de-rating factor > 0.5 may be applicable. Results of testing in accordance to ISO 4427-3 Table B.1, shall determine the applicable de-rating factor fT.

For pull-out tees, use these de-rating rules to calculate the PN:

[PN] = fT x [PN] pipe.

Here, fT is the de-rating factor for these tees, which is 0.5 (see note below).

[PN] pipe is the nominal pressure of the pipe, taken as a value.

No direct published reference exists for accepted de-rating factors for pull out tees, so a value of 0.5 from segmented tees is used. The fitting’s minimum wall thickness must meet AS/NZS 4130 standards for the pipeline’s rated nominal pressure. The tee branch outlet spigot must be straight and long enough for mechanical coupling or welding. Saddle tees are created using electrofusion welding, with PE saddle fittings attached to PE pipe segments. They come in both equal and reduced sizes, following AS/NZS 4130. They are available for pipe sizes up to DN2000. Outlets can go up to DN500. They operate at the pressure-rated SDR class without needing to be de-rated.   

Poly Tee sizes available from Acu-Tech Piping Systems:

  • 20 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 25 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 32 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 40 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 50 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 63 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 75 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 90 mm HDPE Tee – Moulded Tee.
  • 110 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee/ Moulded Tee.
  • 125 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee/ Moulded Tee.
  • 140 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee/ Moulded Tee.
  • 160 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee/ Moulded Tee.
  • 180 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee/ Moulded Tee.
  • 200 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 125 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 160 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 200 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 250 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 315 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 355 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 400 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 450 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 500 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 560 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.
  • 630 mm HDPE Tee – Fabricated Tee / Moulded Tee / Forge Tee.

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