When calculating the travel length of a 45 degree offset, which factor should you multiply by?

When calculating the travel length of a 45-degree offset, the correct factor to multiply by is 0.707. This value corresponds to the relationship between the angle of the offset and the actual lengths of the pipes involved.

In the case of a 45-degree offset, the effective travel length is derived from the geometry of a right triangle, where the legs represent the horizontal and vertical offsets. The hypotenuse (the travel length of the pipe) can be calculated using trigonometric principles. The sine or cosine of 45 degrees is equal to 0.707, which means that for every unit of measurement along the travel length, you only achieve 0.707 units of offset in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

Using this factor allows you to accurately determine how much actual length of pipe is needed to accommodate the 45-degree offset while ensuring the fitting remains effective and structurally sound. This method is essential for maintaining precise alignments and ensuring the integrity of the piping system during installation.