The 401-288 is a 2-1/2" × 2-1/2" × 3/4" PVC Schedule 40 Reducing Tee with three slip (socket) ends — a full-size 2-1/2" through-run and a reduced 3/4" branch outlet. All three connections are made with solvent cement, producing a rigid, leak-free joint assembly suited for commercial plumbing, irrigation distribution, and industrial process lines where a main line must supply a significantly smaller branch without introducing a threaded connection point or additional reducer fitting.
Manufactured from white PVC Schedule 40 compound, this tee complies with ASTM D2466 and carries NSF/ANSI 61 certification for potable water contact. The integral reducing branch eliminates the need for a separate reducing bushing or reducer coupling at the branch takeoff, simplifying the bill of materials and reducing the number of solvent joints in the assembly — both of which lower installation time and potential leak points in the finished system.
The significant size differential between the 2-1/2" run and the 3/4" branch makes this fitting particularly well suited for zoned distribution systems: a large-diameter supply main feeds multiple smaller-diameter service branches across a run, with each branch sized to match the downstream fixture or zone demand. Irrigation headers, mechanical room distribution manifolds, and multi-zone commercial plumbing systems are common applications where this geometry appears.
Solvent cement installation follows standard Schedule 40 procedures across all three socket ends — clean, prime, and cement each mating surface using a compatible PVC cement per ASTM D2564. The governing pressure rating for the assembled fitting is determined by the smallest socket end (the 3/4" branch); consult Charlotte Pipe's published technical data for this reducing combination before specifying to a system working pressure.
Specifications
| Attribute |
Detail |
| Part Number |
401-288 |
| Manufacturer |
Various manufacturers |
| Run Size |
2-1/2" × 2-1/2" |
| Branch Size |
3/4" |
| Connection Type |
Slip × Slip × Slip (Socket — All Ends) |
| Schedule / Class |
Schedule 40 |
| Material |
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) |
| Color |
White |
| Standard |
ASTM D2466 |
| Potable Water Listed |
NSF/ANSI 61 |
| Joining Method |
Solvent Cement (ASTM D2564) — All Ends |
| Governing Pressure End |
3/4" Branch (verify PSI from Charlotte Pipe TDS) |
| Size Configuration |
Reducing — Run Full Size, Branch Reduced |
Industries & Applications
- Commercial Plumbing — Main supply line branch takeoffs in multi-story buildings, warehouses, and large commercial facilities where a 2-1/2" supply main feeds 3/4" service lines to individual fixtures or zones
- Irrigation & Agriculture — Header distribution runs where a 2-1/2" irrigation main supplies 3/4" lateral branches for individual irrigation zones, valve stations, or drip manifolds
- Industrial Process Piping — Process water and utility water mains requiring reduced-branch sample points, auxiliary feeds, or instrument supply taps without introducing threaded connections
- HVAC & Mechanical Systems — Cooling tower makeup water and chilled water distribution mains feeding 3/4" equipment connections or auxiliary fill lines
- Municipal & Civil Water Distribution — Service lateral branch connections off larger distribution mains in low-to-medium pressure municipal applications
- Fire Suppression Support Lines — Auxiliary supply branching in non-FM-rated wet system support piping
