Ductile Iron Mechanical Joint Fitting do not work with PVC Pipe

09 Jun.,2025

 

Ductile Iron Mechanical Joint Fitting do not work with PVC Pipe

I am running Civil 3D , which comes with several .SQLite files as pressure network catalogs. I selected the Imperial_AWWA_PVC.sqlite, which comes with PVC pipe, PVC fittings and Mechanical Joint Ductile Iron Fittings. I inserted all the PVC pipes into my parts list + all the PVC Fittings. I can create pipe networks flawlessly. If I now delete the PVC Fittings from my parts list and add the Ductile Iron Fittings out of the same Imperial_AWWA_PVC.sqlite file, I can not create a pipe network. What happens is that I click for the first point of the pipe and than the second point but nothing happens. No Fittings is inserted. The problem seems to be that the ID Material in the SQLite file are different. If I go and change the ID Material of either fittings or pipe to match each other. it works. Does anybody have an idea of what to do here. Is there a check or something somewhere I can use to fix that?

MIDAS contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Why are you deleting the old PVC fittings? Do you still run into the issue if you simply add the new ductile iron fittings? 

If you still run into the same issues, maybe there is an issue with the way you're adding the new fittings. Take a look at the article below for a good guide that includes screenshots:

Civil 3D: How to add new pipes to a pressure pipe catalog



Michael Hurtado
Designated Support Specialist

Hello Mike,

thanks for your response. I had previously studied the mentioned article but did not find a solution for my problem.

I deleted the PVC Fittings out of my parts list, after I added the ductile iron (mechanical joint) fittings out of the mentioned PVC SQLite, in order to force Civil 3D to use the ductile iron fittings instead of the PVC fittings.

I just wanted to show that the PVC pipe will work with the PVC fittings just fine when creating a pressure pipe network with "Pipes & Bends". After I took the PVC fittings away and left only the ductile iron fittings in the parts list, the software seems not to be able to use the ductile iron fittings in combination with PVC pipe. As soon as I go in the content catalog and change only the ID material of the 4in pipe to ductile iron as well, I am able to create a pressure pipe network with "pipes & fittings" when using the 4in pipe. When I select a different pipe size (where I have not matched the material of fitting and pipes) it does not work.

The same happens when I use a different content catalog. Lets say the original "Imperial_AWWA_PushOn.sqlite" file. It comes with Ductile Iron Fittings and Ductile Iron Pipes and works wonderful for all pipe sizes. To keep the changes minimal, I changed only the ID Material of 6in Pipe from Ductile Iron to PVC. Now the software was not able to use that 6in Pipe with any fitting. This makes me believe that for what ever reason Civil 3D thinks the material of fitting and pipe has to match or it will not be able to use a fittings with the pipe. Am I wrong to think it should work because C-900 PVC pipe is used all the time in combination with Mechanical Joint Ductile Iron Fittings in the field?????

I think I may know what's going on. I tried to do the same thing that you mentioned and set the ductile iron pipe in the "Imperial_AWWA_PushOn.sqlite" part catalog to PVC. Once that happened, I was unable to use the Pipes and Bends option in the Layout Ribbon when creating Pressure Network Plan Layouts.

I believe the reason for this is mentioned in the following how-to:

To Create a Pressure Network That Contains Pipes and Bends

Specifically step 5: "On the Layout panel on the ribbon, specify the size and material for the pressure pipes. The pipes and bends will share the same material and nominal diameter."

From this it looks like the Pipes and Bends option is limited to pipes and fittings of the same material. I do think it is a great idea so I'd suggest submitting this to the Civil 3D IdeaStation (HERE).

I did manage to get the fittings to work if I did it manually (add pipe and then add a fitting) but this would be really time consuming for large networks...

Something that may be worth looking into is the Swap Pressure Network Parts in the v1 Enhancements (Info)



Michael Hurtado
Designated Support Specialist

Thank you Mike for your help and research.

Even though it does not really fix my problem, it confirms my assumption that currently pipe and fitting have to be of the same material.

Number 5 in the by you provided link (To Create a Pressure Network That Contains Pipes and Bends) and even more point 6 specifically states that "After you select two points to insert the first pressure pipe, the compass appears and displays the angles of bends in the parts list that match the selected size and material." to 

Since connecting Ductile Iron-, PVC-, or even HDPE- pipes via Ductile Iron Mechanical Joint Fittings is a daily thing in my business I have to find a solution.

1. Idea:  I Create Pipes of each Material and create the Fittings in each Material (Downside: this would require every fitting to be present in the catalog at least 3 times to satisfy all three materials. And there are already a lot of fittings)"

2. Idea: In Contend  Catalog Editor, I create all Pipes in all  needed materials with respective measurements and simply name them for example 8" PVC , 8" HDPE, and 8" Ductile Iron, while the assigned ID Material is always Ductile Iron in order to match the Ductile Iron Fittings. This works good but the downside is that in the Pressure Network Tools Ribbon, Layout Panel the listed Pipes under Select a size and material are not nicely grouped into each pipe material anymore. They now are all listed under Ductile Iron. It works but takes some extra effort and attention to select the correct pipe material and size.

Flanged Fittings - American-USA.com

Flange Details

ANSI/AWWA C110/A21.10, C111/A21.11 or C153/A21.53

The flanges shown are adequate for water service of 250 psi working pressure and should not be confused with class 250 flanges per ANSI B16.1. The bolt circle and the bolt holes match those of ANSI B16.1 class 125. If flanges are required to be made in accordance with other ratings or other standards, this must be specified on the purchase order. 24" and smaller flanges are rated equal to the fittings to which they are attached and are adequate for water service of greater than 350 psi only with the use of AMERICAN’s Toruseal gaskets.

We recommend that AMERICAN Toruseal gaskets be used for normal water service.

Facing: Flanges are plain faced and are finished smooth or with shallow serrations (AMERICAN’s option).

Back Facing: Flanges may be back faced or spot faced (AMERICAN’s option), for compliance with the flange thickness tolerance.

Drilling: Drilling of flanges can be rotated when required; for those sizes with an even number of bolt holes in each quadrant, the fitting can be rotated 45° with standard drilling.

1.) The dimensions of 64" flange correspond with applicable dimensions of 66" Class E in ANSI/AWWA C207, and 64" ductile iron flanges can be connected to those flanges.

Flanged Fitting Dimensions and Designation of Outlets

ANSI/AWWA C110/A21.10, C153/A21.53, or AMERICAN Standard

See the table below for dimensions for the above fittings. Some of the above fittings are not listed in AWWA C110, but do meet applicable requirements of AWWA C110.

The largest opening establishes the basic size of a reducing fitting. The largest opening is named first, except for bull-head tees and for double-branch bends where both branches are reducing; in these two cases the largest opening is named last.

In the designation of the openings of reducing fittings, they should be read in the order indicated by the sequence of the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 as shown.

In describing tees reducing on the branch only, the first size applies to both outlets on the run. Similarly, for crosses with the same size for both run outlets and the same size for both branch outlets, it is necessary to indicate only two sizes. For example: for an 8 × 6 tee or wye – it is not necessary to show 8 × 8 × 6; for an 8 × 6 cross – it is not necessary to show 8 × 8 × 6 x 6.

Size
(in.)

Dimensions2 in Inches

Reducing Tees
and Crosses

Reducing Wyes3

A

B

C

D2

E2

F

R

S
(Dia.)

T

U

Size of Branches and Smaller5

H

J

Size of Branches and Smaller

M

N

P

3

5.5

7.75

3.0

10.0

3.0

6

4.88

5.00

0.56

0.50

-

see6

see6

-

see7

see7

see7

4

6.5

9.00

4.0

12.0

3.0

7

5.50

6.00

0.62

0.50

-

see6

see6

-

see7

see7

see7

6

8.0

11.50

5.0

14.5

3.5

9

7.00

7.00

0.69

0.62

-

see6

see6

-

see7

see7

see7

8

9.0

14.00

5.5

17.5

4.5

11

8.38

9.00

0.94

0.88

-

see6

see6

-

see7

see7

see7

10

11.0

16.50

6.5

20.5

5.0

12

9.75

9.00

0.94

0.88

-

see6

see6

-

see7

see7

see7

12

12.0

19.00

7.5

24.5

5.5

14

11.25

11.00

1.00

1.00

-

see6

see6

-

see7

see7

see7

14

14.0

21.50

7.5

27.0

6.0

16

12.50

11.00

1.00

1.00

-

see6

see6

-

see7

see7

see7

16

15.0

24.00

8.0

30.0

6.5

18

13.75

11.00

1.00

1.00

-

see6

see6

-

For more di pipe fittingsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

see7

see7

see7

18

16.5

26.50

8.5

32.0

7.0

19

15.00

13.50

1.12

1.12

12

13

15.5

8

25.0

1.00

27.5

20

18.0

29.00

9.5

35.0

8.0

20

16.00

13.50

1.12

1.12

14

14

17.0

10

27.0

1.00

29.5

24

22.0

34.00

11.0

40.5

9.0

24

18.50

13.50

1.12

1.12

16

15

19.0

12

40.5

9.0

40.5

30

25.0

41.50

15.0

see4

see4

30

23.00

16.00

1.19

1.15

20

18

23.0

-

see4

see4

see4

36

28.0

49.00

18.0

see4

see4

36

26.00

19.00

1.25

1.15

24

20

26.0

-

see4

see4

see4

42

31.0

56.50

21.0

see4

see4

42

30.00

23.50

1.44

1.28

24

23

30.0

-

see4

see4

see4

48

34.0

64.00

24.0

see4

see4

48

34.00

25.00

1.56

1.42

30

26

34.0

-

see4

see4

see4

54

39.0

-

20.5

-

-

see8

38.00

27.50

1.69

1.55

see9

see9

see9

-

-

-

-

60

43.0

-

23.5

-

-

see8

42.00

32.00

1.88

1.75

see9

see9

see9

-

-

-

-

64

48.0

-

25.0

-

-

see8

44.00

38.75

2.12

1.75

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see9

see9

-

-

-

-

2.) See flanged 90° bends for “K” dimensions.

3.) AWWA C110 and C153 do not include data on wyes of any size.

4.) Wyes are special. Substituting a pipe with a lateral welded-on outlet may be more economical and offer quicker shipment. A tee with a 45° bend may also offer quicker shipment.

5.) For larger branches, use “A” dimensions.

6.) For these smaller-diameter reducing tees and crosses, the “A” dimension applies as shown in “cut” of standard tee and cross.

7.) For these smaller-diameter reducing wyes, the “D” and “E” dimensions apply as shown in “cut” of standard wye.

8.) “F” dimensions for 54"-64" reducers vary with diameters of reduction.

9.) “H” and “J” dimensions for 54"-64" tees and crosses vary with diameters of reduction.

Method of Designating Location of Tapped Holes and Sequence of Openings

AMERICAN Standard

Taps are made directly into the wall of the flanged fitting. However, if the wall thickness is insufficient for the required size and angle of tap, a tapping boss is provided on the fitting.

Positions “G” and “M” are approximately in the center of the fitting. All other tap locations vary with size and foundry practice. Exact tap locations cannot usually be provided.

In the designation of the openings of reducing fittings, they should be read in the order indicated by the sequence of the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 as shown. Maximum tap diameter depends on the fitting wall thickness.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Ductile Iron Pipe Fitting.