
By adding schedule numbers to the IPS standards, today we know a range of wall thicknesses, namely. The designation known as nominal pipe size replaced iron pipe size, and the term schedule ( SCH) was invented to specify the nominal wall thickness of pipe. In March 1927, the American Standards Association surveyed industry and created a system that designated wall thicknesses based on smaller steps between sizes. So, at the IPS time only three walltickness were in use. Note that on this website only terms XS and XXS are used. Accordingly, pipes were made with double extra strong (XXS) or double extra heavy (XXH) walls, while the standardized outside diameters are unchanged. The higher pressure requirements increased further, with thicker wall pipes. The outside diameter of the pipe was standardized.Īs the industrial requirements handling higher pressure fluids, pipes were manufactured with thicker walls, which has become known as an extra strong (XS) or extra heavy (XH). To begin, each pipe size was produced to have one thickness, which later was termed as standard (STD) or standard weight (STD.WT.). Users started to call the pipe as 2inch, 4inch, 6inch pipe and so on.

An IPS 6" pipe is one whose inside diameter is approximately 6 inches. The size represented the approximate inside diameter of the pipe in inches. That IPS system was established to designate the pipe size. The name NPS is based on the earlier "Iron Pipe Size" (IPS) system. Nominal Pipe Size ( NPS) is a North American set of standard sizes for pipes used for high or low pressures and temperatures.
