The maximum unsupported length on the end of a branch line with a 1 inch Schedule 40 steel pipe is ______

The maximum unsupported length on the end of a branch line with a 1 inch Schedule 40 steel pipe is ______

• A. 24 inches
• B. 30 inches
• C. 36 inches
• D. 48 inches

Answer: (C)

Understanding how far a branch line can extend without support helps you prevent pipe sag and misalignment under weight and pressure. For horizontal runs, codes specify a maximum unbraced length from the last support to the end of the pipe. This keeps deflection and bending within what the hangers and fittings can handle during hydrostatic testing and service. For a 1 inch Schedule 40 steel branch line, that maximum unbraced length is three feet. In other words, the end of the branch must be supported within three feet (36 inches) of the end. Shorter end lengths, like twenty-four or thirty inches, would still be acceptable but aren’t the maximum. A longer span, such as forty-eight inches, would exceed the allowable unbraced length and require an additional support.

Understanding how far a branch line can extend without support helps you prevent pipe sag and misalignment under weight and pressure. For horizontal runs, codes specify a maximum unbraced length from the last support to the end of the pipe. This keeps deflection and bending within what the hangers and fittings can handle during hydrostatic testing and service.

For a 1 inch Schedule 40 steel branch line, that maximum unbraced length is three feet. In other words, the end of the branch must be supported within three feet (36 inches) of the end. Shorter end lengths, like twenty-four or thirty inches, would still be acceptable but aren’t the maximum. A longer span, such as forty-eight inches, would exceed the allowable unbraced length and require an additional support.