| Metric or unified straight thread (such as M10 × 1 or 1/4-28 UNF) | The straight threads provide clamping force; sealing is usually made by an O-ring, gasket, or sealing washer rather than by the threads themselves. | Portable digital manometers, compact instruments, and equipment with a specified instrument port. | Compact connection and repeatable assembly when the specified seal and mating port are used. | Thread size alone does not identify the sealing method. Confirm pitch, gender, seat, and seal type before connecting. |
| NPT tapered pipe thread | Tapered threads tighten against each other; a suitable thread sealant is commonly used where permitted by the instrument and application. | Industrial pressure measurement in North American piping and process systems. | Widely used pipe connection with a mechanically tight fit when correctly assembled. | NPT is not interchangeable with BSP threads. Excessive tightening or sealant entering the pressure port can damage or obstruct an instrument. |
| BSPP parallel pipe thread (G thread) | Parallel threads typically retain the connection; sealing is made at a bonded seal, gasket, O-ring, or designated seat. | Instrumentation and pneumatic or hydraulic equipment using parallel-port connections. | Allows a defined sealing surface and can be disconnected without relying on a tapered thread seal. | Identify the required sealing face and gasket. A BSPP thread does not normally seal by thread interference alone. |
| BSPT tapered pipe thread (R thread) | Tapered threads form the joint; an appropriate sealing method is selected for the fluid, pressure, and instrument instructions. | Pipework and measurement installations that specify tapered BSP connections. | Provides a compact threaded connection for compatible ports. | Do not assume BSPT and NPT are interchangeable, even when their nominal sizes appear similar. |
| Compression tube fitting | A nut compresses a ferrule or ferrules onto tubing to create a mechanical seal. | Permanent or semi-permanent instrument tubing for gas and liquid pressure lines. | Provides a robust tubing connection without requiring a threaded pipe joint at the tubing end. | Use tubing with the specified outside diameter and material. Follow the fitting maker’s assembly instructions and avoid reusing ferrules unless approved. |
| Hose barb | A flexible hose is pushed over the ridged barb; a clamp may be required to retain the hose and improve sealing. | Low-pressure air lines, sampling hoses, and liquid-column manometer connections. | Simple to attach and suitable for flexible tubing of a compatible inside diameter. | Check hose material, temperature, pressure rating, and fit. A barb is not appropriate for every high-pressure application. |
| Flare fitting (such as 37° or 45° flare) | The flared tubing end seals against a matching cone; the threads provide clamping force rather than the seal. | Metal tubing systems where the equipment specifies a matching flare standard. | Metal-to-metal seating can provide a dependable joint when the flare geometry is matched. | Flare angles and standards must match. Do not mix 37° and 45° components or use thread sealant on the sealing face. |
| Push-to-connect tube fitting | A collet grips the tube and an internal seal seals against its outside surface. | Quick connections for compatible plastic or metal tubing in pneumatic measurement setups. | Fast installation and release without tools for many suitable tube-and-fitting combinations. | Confirm tube outside diameter, material, pressure rating, and compatibility with the fitting’s seal. Cut tubing square and keep it free of scratches. |
| Hose coupling or quick-disconnect coupling | Matching coupling halves connect through a locking mechanism and internal sealing elements. | Test benches and portable setups that require frequent connection and disconnection. | Speeds up changeovers and can reduce handling of threaded connections. | Use compatible coupling halves and verify pressure rating, flow path, and valve arrangement; some couplings can trap pressure when disconnected. |