ABS Pipe

ABS pipe and fitting are made from a plastic resin called Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene and is used commonly in residential plumbing drainage systems, or in commercial drainage that does not have to have fire protection. ABS pipe and fittings are toxic when burned, so if a building has a chance of burning and then poisoning people ABS can not be used. ABS pipe comes in two forms one being solid ABS, the other having a cellular core sometimes called foam core. The foam core pipe is lighter, easy and faster to cut, and cost less than solid ABS. Watch your local codes on where foam core can be used.

ABS pipe and fittings are black in color, and range in sizes from 1 ¼, 1 ½, 2, 3, 4 inches. Even though code says that a basin only needs a 1 ¼ inch pipe you will find that many times this will be 1 ½ inches simply because 1 ½ inches is more common and supply and demand will cause 1 ¼ inch pipe to cost more. My wholesalers do not even carry 1 ¼ inch ABS pipe or fittings. The only time 1 ¼ ABS is during renovations and not very much at that. You will need to check around to different hardware stores to find it or use an adapter and increase to 1 ½ inch ABS.

ABS pipe is joined to the fittings using a solvent cement. This cement is yellow in color and comes in four different types that I am aware of. These different types of ABS glue range from fast drying to slow drying cement. Careful though because even the slow drying cement will dry very fast and once your fittings are stuck together there is no ungluing them without cutting them apart.

To hang ABS on the horizontal the code says you must have supports every four feet and at every joint or change of direction. Check your local codes to ensure that your supports are correct. To support the pipe you can use galvanized strap or clevice hangers.

To join ABS pipe to PVC you will need to use transition cement and a sleeve. To join ABS pipe to cast iron you will need to use a fernco ( a rubber sleeve with two gear clamps)

The other plastic pipe is PVC. Click here for information on PVC.