American-Made Brass PEX Fittings: Quality, Compliance, and Bulk Solutions
The Brass Warehouse is a leading U.S. supplier of brass plumbing components, offering a full line of made-in USA PEX parts for professionals. Every Water Armor® brass fitting – including adapters, couplings, elbows, tees, drop-ears, and crimp rings – is manufactured from high-grade, lead-free ECO BRASS® alloy in Ohio. These American-made parts are engineered for durability (outstanding dezincification resistance) and precision. All Water Armor® fittings are certified for potable water use: they meet NSF/ANSI 61 (health effects) and NSF/ANSI 372 (0.25% lead-free) requirements and comply with ASTM standards for PEX systems. The Brass Warehouse explicitly states that “all of our made-in-the-USA brass parts are compatible with PEX tubing”.
Standards and Certifications – NSF/ANSI 61 & 372, ASTM
F877/F1807/F2159/F2098
Plumbing fittings must meet strict health and safety codes. NSF/ANSI 61 is the key standard for drinking-water system components, setting limits on chemical contaminants that can leach into potable water. A fitting certified to NSF/ANSI 61 gives assurance that the material won’t degrade water quality. In practice, most U.S. plumbing codes require fittings in contact with drinking water to be NSF/ANSI 61 certified. The Brass Warehouse’s products carry NSF certification (per Water Armor’s spec sheets) and fully comply with NSF/ANSI 61.
Likewise, NSF/ANSI 372 is the standard for “lead-free” plumbing materials. It enforces the 2011 Safe Drinking Water Act requirement that wetted brass have no more than a 0.25% weighted average lead content. All Water Armor® brass parts are made from certified ECO BRASS® silicon bronze (essentially 100% lead-free) and meet the NSF/ANSI 372 limit. (In fact, their literature notes compliance with “lead content requirements for ‘lead free’ plumbing as defined by… the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act”.) Put simply, these fittings exceed federal lead-free standards for potable water systems, a must for any trusted plumbing supplier.
On the dimensional side, The Brass Warehouse confirms its brass PEX fittings meet the relevant ASTM standards. For crimp-style brass fittings, the governing standard is ASTM F1807 – the “Standard Specification for Metal Insert Fittings Utilizing a Copper Crimp Ring for SDR9 Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX) Tubing”. Water Armor® brass adapters, couplings, elbows, and tees are all designed to the F1807 specification. (By contrast, PPSU/polymer PEX fittings are made to ASTM F2159.) Likewise, the stainless-steel pinch (cinch) clamps used with these fittings are made to ASTM F2098, which covers clamp connections up to 180°F as an alternative to copper crimp rings. In summary: The Brass Warehouse’s crimp-style fittings are fully compatible with ASTM F1807 copper-rings and F2098 clamps, and thus work with all PEX-A, B, and C tubing using those methods.
(It’s worth noting that The Brass Warehouse deliberately excludes expansion-style fittings. Expansion systems require PEX-A tubing and special expander tools (per ASTM F1960/F2080). In contrast, Water Armor® products are optimized for the common crimp or cinch methods – giving plumbers the flexibility to work with any PEX brand or type in their inventory. As one industry reference confirms, brass crimp fittings (ASTM F1807) “are compatible with all types (A, B, C) of PEX tubing” and may be installed by either crimp or cinch.)
Figure 1: A Water Armor® lead-free brass PEX coupling (ECO BRASS® alloy) for crimp-ring connections. These couplings and other fittings are made in the USA and meet or exceed plumbing codes. For example, Water Armor® PEX couplings (shown) are third-party certified by NSF to comply with the Uniform Plumbing Code and International Plumbing Code, as well as NSF/ANSI 14 (plastic plumbing products) and NSF/ANSI/CAN 61. The material “complies with NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 health effects requirements…” and is certified to NSF/ANSI 372 (lead-free). These brass PEX couplings are built to ASTM F1807 (metal-insert crimp fittings) and ASTM F877 (crosslinked polyethylene systems). In short, Water Armor® couplings are lead-free, safe for potable water, and made to the ASTM F1807 crimp-ring standard – just what professional plumbers expect for reliable PEX installations.
Product Line – Adapters, Elbows, Tees, and Crimp Rings
The Brass Warehouse stocks a comprehensive range of brass PEX parts. Plumbers can order straight and elbow adapters (male/female, sweat or thread), in-line couplings, drop-ears, 45° and 90° elbows, tees (including reducing tees), and garden-hose-thread (GHT) fittings – all made in high-grade lead-free brass. Every fitting is machined in the USA and stamped (often “Water Armor” and size markings) to denote its compliance. For example, “Water Armor® PEX” is stenciled on each copper crimp ring to identify it as the matching component for these fittings.
Each crimp ring is marked to meet lead-free requirements (Safe Drinking Water Act) and is sold in bulk packs. All rings comply with the 0.25% lead content rule. The Brass Warehouse also sells compatible crimp tools and cinch tools, completing the offering for crimp/clamp systems. In short, plumbers can get every part of a PEX crimp-connection from one American source – fittings plus rings – all certified and ready for use in potable systems.
High-performance copper crimp rings for PEX connections
These USA-made rings install with a standard crimp tool or stainless clamp. Plumbers also need crimp rings or cinch clamps to complete PEX joins. The Brass Warehouse supplies only high-quality copper rings and SS clamps – all forged in the USA. The copper rings (made from C12200 oxygen-free copper) slide over PEX tubing and compress evenly with a crimp tool. The Braze-Pak® stainless pinch clamps (ASTM F2098) are engineered for the ½″–1″ PEX sizes to be used instead of rings. Importantly, Water Armor® crimp rings are fully compatible with PEX-A, -B, or -C tubing – and can be used with either crimp or cinch installation. (They are not expansion fittings.) As the company notes, “Water Armor crimp fittings are compatible with PEX tubing and with the use of a crimping tool or cinch clamp will ensure the fittings in place onto the tubing.”
PEX System Compatibility
Because The Brass Warehouse focuses on crimp-style brass fittings, its products work with all PEX tubing types and brands. As noted above, ASTM F1807 crimp fittings (and F2098 clamps) are “compatible with all types (A, B, C)” of PEX. This means a single Water Armor® brass coupling or elbow can be used whether the installer has PEX-A (e.g. made by Uponor/Wirsbo), PEX-B (common manufacturing method), or PEX-C pipe. The key is using the correct joining method (copper ring + crimp tool, or SS clamp).
By contrast, expansion fittings (ASTM F1960/F2080) only work with PEX-A and require proprietary expansion tools. The Brass Warehouse explicitly does not sell those expansion sleeves/fittings – it sticks to universal crimp/clamp technology. This avoids confusion and ensures plumbers never have to worry about tubing compatibility. In short, “all of our made-in-USA brass parts are compatible with PEX tubing” and install via the industry-standard crimp or pinch methods.
Bulk Buying Benefits for Contractors and Distributors
Plumbers, contractors, and wholesale distributors especially benefit from The Brass Warehouse’s bulk ordering options. Buying in bulk often means significant cost savings: volume discounts on large orders (1,000+ pieces) lower the per-item price compared to retail or small-quantity sales. The Brass Warehouse explicitly offers special pricing for bulk and wholesale accounts. Moreover, by stocking up on 1,000+ units of common fittings (e.g. couplings, elbows, tees), a contractor can eliminate multiple purchase orders and ensure a steady supply on the job site. As one industry analyst notes, “bulk purchasing leads to cost savings and ensures a consistent supply of parts on hand,” which is ideal for ongoing construction or maintenance needs.
Other perks of large-quantity sourcing include dedicated support and account services. Registered pro and distributor customers get access to an online portal with negotiated pricing and quick reorder capabilities. The Brass Warehouse employs knowledgeable staff who understand plumbing systems; they can advise on product selection and help spec out large orders (e.g. a mix of adapters, couplings, clamps for a commercial project). Building a relationship with an American supplier also brings loyalty incentives: larger, repeat customers may receive priority treatment, loyalty discounts, and tailored inventory planning. In practice, distributors appreciate that TBW’s warehouse will “make sure you have the stock your contractors and plumbers need” – eliminating the last-minute rushes and stockouts common with overseas supply.
Pricing, Lead Times, and Support
Pricing at The Brass Warehouse is transparent for account holders. Beyond published list prices, volume breaks are automatically applied for bulk orders. For example, a contract plumber ordering 1,000 Water Armor® couplings or 1,000 crimp rings will pay substantially less per unit than for a 10-pack. While exact discount schedules aren’t public, TBW advertises “special pricing on individual orders and on bulk quantity orders” for registered accounts. (Customers can register online to see tiered pricing.) In addition, TBW offers free shipping on PEX plumbing part orders over $550, effectively lowering costs for large orders. In fact, domestic shipping is simplified: The Brass Warehouse’s blog highlights a “low free-freight cost of just $550,” meaning any order above that ships at no extra cost.
Equally important is TBW’s rapid fulfillment. Because all products are stocked and shipped from Ohio, lead times are extremely short compared to imported fittings. The Brass Warehouse guarantees that orders are processed within 24 hours – often the same day – from its 100,000 sq. ft. U.S. facility. As a result, fittings and crimp rings typically arrive by ground freight within days of ordering. In practice TBW reports a 99%+ on-time delivery rate (“fittings arrive in the same week they are ordered”). This domestic supply chain means no weeks long ocean delays or customs hold-ups. For the bulk buyer, it translates to reliable inventory: the supplier “owns its supply chain” and can restock critical items in days, not months.
In summary, large-volume customers gain both better pricing and service. They pay less per unit and benefit from account-based discounts. They also enjoy fast turnaround (24h processing, same-week delivery) that keeps projects on schedule. Plus, priority treatment (bulk orders get “first priority on reorders”) and free shipping thresholds (>$550) further sweeten the deal. All these factors – pricing, availability, and support – make The Brass Warehouse a strong partner for anyone buying 1,000+ brass PEX fittings at a time.
Supplier Comparison: The Brass Warehouse vs. Imported Fittings
To put these advantages in context, consider how The Brass Warehouse stacks up against a typical imported brass fitting supplier:
Feature The Brass Warehouse (Water Armor) Typical Imported Source
| Feature | The Brass Warehouse (Water Armor) | Typical Imported Source |
| Manufacturing Origin | All parts made in USA (Ohio) | Often sourced from overseas factories (e.g. China) |
| Material Alloy | Lead-free ECO BRASS® (silicon bronze), no arsenic/bismuth |
Varies; some imports use alloys with arsenic/bismuth additives |
| Certifications | NSF/ANSI 61 & 372 and ASTM F1807/F2159 certified (full compliance) |
May lack full NSF certification; testing may be inconsistent |
| PEX ComLead Time (US)patibility |
Crimp/clamp fittings for PEX-A/B/C (ASTM F1807/F2098) |
Possibly similar crimp fittings, but quality may vary; sometimes limited to PEX-A only (expansion types) |
| Lead Time (US) | Days – domestic stock ships within week | Weeks+ – long transit and customs delays (often 4–8+ weeks) |
| Bulk Pricing | Special volume pricing on 1,000+ orders | Depends on distributor; often less flexible volume deals |
| Free Shipping | Yes – over $550 on plumbing orders | Rarely; import orders typically pay freight and duties |
| Quality Consistency | High – controlled U.S. production, same alloys each batch |
Variable – multiple factories, spotty QC, risk of inconsistent threads or alloy quality |