Choose a clevis hanger such as B-Line B3100 for a suspended-pipe detail that calls for its lower cradle and vertical adjustment; choose a split ring such as Sioux Chief 516 for a detail that calls for a fitted two-piece ring. Match the exact pipe outside diameter, material, rod and finish. For insulated pipe, select the hanger and insulation protection together rather than clamping through the insulation.
Plumbing Picks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
The linked examples below are different sizes and serve different jobs. They explain the hardware choices; they are not interchangeable purchases. For the connection above the rod, use our beam clamp guide alongside the approved support detail.
Clevis vs split ring at a glance
| Component | Useful example | What must match |
|---|---|---|
| Clevis hanger | B-Line B3100 family | Pipe or insulated assembly, rod size, finish and specified load arrangement |
| Split ring hanger | Sioux Chief 516 family | CTS or IPS diameter, exact coating, rod and service |
| Insulation shield | B-Line B3151 family | Pipe size, insulation thickness, shield geometry and hanger selection |
| Shield with locating tabs | B-Line B3153 family | Same assembly checks, plus tab fit and location in the hanger |
CLEVIS EXAMPLE · FOUR-INCH MODEL IN A RETAIL MULTIPACK
B-Line B3100: clevis hanger example
Choose B3100 when the support design specifies that exact clevis family. Eaton’s clevis overview (maker page: www.eaton.com/de/en-gb/catalog/support-systems/clevis-hanger.html) describes suspension of insulated and non-insulated pipe with vertical adjustment and limited movement. The lower cradle and cross-bolt arrangement leave a different working space from a close-fitting split ring.
The linked offer names B3100-4ZN in a pack of 15, and the listing model field agrees. The exact Eaton product page (maker page: www.eaton.com/us/en-us/skuPage.B3100-4ZN.html) identifies B3100-4ZN as a zinc-finish steel hanger for 4-inch pipe. Confirm the pack before ordering; a four-inch hanger is not selected simply because the pipe being carried has four inches printed on a label.
Skip this exact offer if you need another size, a documented copper-tube version, a different finish or a single item. It is also unsuitable as a guessed oversized hanger for insulation. Select the complete insulated assembly using the maker’s tables.
SPLIT-RING EXAMPLE · HALF-INCH IPS
Sioux Chief 516-2GPK2: split ring example
Choose Sioux Chief 516-2GPK2 when its 1/2-inch IPS size and galvanized version match the detail. The manufacturer’s exact product page (siouxchief.com) distinguishes it from the similarly numbered copper-tube part. The Amazon title, model and manufacturer-part fields all name 516-2GPK2.
A split ring closes around its intended pipe size and connects to the support hardware above it. Check the complete installed clearance so the screws can be reached and the hanger can be serviced. A neat fit around a scrap of pipe is not evidence that the anchor or rod is adequate.
Skip it for 1/2-inch copper tubing. Also skip it where the support detail calls for insulation protection, a different environmental finish or another movement function. Tightening it around a pipe it was not sized for does not make a compatible support.
Copper tubing needs its own sizing
CTS and IPS are different sizing systems. Sioux Chief lists 516-2CPK2 (siouxchief.com) as 1/2-inch CTS and 516-2GPK2 as 1/2-inch IPS. Its imported 516 specification sheet (no longer online) gives different outside-diameter rows for those series. Do not treat the shared nominal number as a fit guarantee.
Choose the CTS version only where its current materials and intended service suit the tube and project. Skip an IPS ring when it leaves an unintended gap around copper. Do not fix the mismatch with layers of tape, improvised rubber or extra tightening.
For copper clevis supports, Eaton lists dedicated copper-tubing and lined families. Confirm the exact family rather than assuming any plastic-coated steel-pipe hanger is a copper-tube hanger. A coating color is not a dimensional table or a complete material specification.
Insulation shields are separate components
The B-Line shield catalog (maker page: www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/support-systems/pipe-hangers/ph-20-catalog-sections/pipe-supports-guides-shields-saddles-section-pipe-hanger-catalog.pdf) identifies B3151 as an insulation protection shield and B3153 as a version with bottom locating tabs. It supplies selection tables using the pipe or tube size and insulation thickness. The shield is a component of the support assembly, not a replacement for the hanger.
Choose a shield when the specified insulation-support detail calls for it. Skip a guessed size based on bare pipe alone. Check the finished insulation diameter, shield length and inside diameter, hanger selection and any specified load-bearing insert.
The shield spreads the contact at the hanger location, but its presence does not prove soft insulation can carry the pipe load. Follow the insulation system’s approved detail, including inserts or other components where required. Keep any vapor-control layer continuous as required by that system.
A loose piece of sheet metal is not an engineered substitute for the specified shield. Select the correct part through a supplier if an exact current retail offer cannot be verified. We have not linked an unconfirmed shield listing just to add another buying button.
Adjustment and support attachment
Use the manufacturer drawing to understand adjustment and rod take-out before cutting the rod. Eaton’s hanger catalog (maker page: www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/support-systems/pipe-hangers/ph-20-catalog-sections/pipe-hangers-section-pipe-hanger-catalogs.pdf) separates these dimensions and gives different rod sizes for different B3100 hanger sizes. Do not copy the hardware from a smaller hanger onto a larger one.
Eaton also calls for a cross-bolt spacer when an oversized clevis is used. That requirement is part of selecting an oversized assembly; do not assume an enlarged cradle works safely without the specified components. Do not substitute a random sleeve because it appears to fill the gap.
Leave the adjustment needed to establish the specified pipe elevation and accommodate the intended assembly. Check that the support can be installed without forcing the pipe out of alignment. If replacing an existing support, arrange temporary support before loosening load-bearing hardware.
Spacing, loads and movement
Use the locally adopted plumbing code, the pipe manufacturer’s support instructions and the project design to set support intervals. Material, size, orientation, temperature and concentrated loads can change what is required. This page does not provide one spacing interval for every pipe.
Evaluate the whole support path: pipe, insulation detail, hanger, rod, nuts, attachment and structure. A hanger’s individual catalog load does not establish the capacity of that completed path. For overhead or uncertain supports, have a qualified designer or installer confirm the assembly before it is loaded.
Decide where the design requires support, movement, guidance or anchoring. A split ring is not automatically a riser clamp, and an adjustable clevis is not automatically seismic bracing. Do not change these functions by tightening hardware until movement stops.
For concrete attachments, our concrete anchor guide explains component choices. The substrate, edge conditions and approved detail still govern the actual attachment. Drywall, a ceiling grid or another convenient surface should not be treated as structural support merely because a fastener can enter it.
Order and receiving checklist
- Record the pipe. Identify material, actual outside diameter, service and nominal sizing system.
- Record the insulation. Include thickness, jacket and the specified support insert or shield detail.
- Match the hanger. Check complete part number, size, finish, service and adjustment.
- Match the suspension. Check rod thread, nuts, bolt components and attachment against the exact drawings.
- Verify the package. Confirm retail quantity and included hardware. A product photo may show components sold separately.
- Inspect before installation. Reject damaged threads, distorted parts or uncertain substitutions. Retain the packaging and current product data.
Have the relevant trade resolve conflicts between the drawing, delivered part and existing conditions before tightening the assembly. A support that looks straight from the floor can still contain the wrong tube size, insufficient adjustment or an unsuitable insulation detail.
Clevis hanger FAQ
What is the difference between a clevis hanger and a split ring?
A clevis has a lower cradle suspended through a cross-bolt arrangement; a split ring closes around the specified pipe size. Select the exact type required by the support detail.
Does a 1/2-inch IPS hanger fit 1/2-inch copper tube?
Do not assume so. IPS and CTS use different outside-diameter tables. Choose the exact copper-tube size and compatible construction.
Do insulated pipes need a larger hanger?
Select the complete insulated assembly from the maker’s tables. Insulation thickness, shield, support insert and any required clevis spacer affect the choice.
Is an insulation shield the same as an insulation insert?
No. Follow the specified assembly and do not assume a metal shield makes soft insulation load-bearing. Use the required insert or other support components where specified.
How far apart should clevis hangers be?
Use the locally adopted code, pipe manufacturer’s instructions and project design for the exact pipe and service. A single interval cannot cover all pipe materials and arrangements.
How we chose
This is a document-based comparison, with no claim of hands-on testing. We checked maker component tables and the two linked standard new Amazon offers on October 14, 2026; both offers showed in-stock cart availability. Sellers and packages can change. The examples illustrate different applications rather than a ranking of interchangeable products. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Eaton B3100-4ZN (maker page: www.eaton.com/us/en-us/skuPage.B3100-4ZN.html): exact size, finish and model.
- ICC 2021 South Carolina Plumbing Code, Chapter 3 (codes.iccsafe.org): jurisdiction-specific example of structural-attachment and material-dependent spacing provisions; use the edition adopted at the actual project.
- Eaton B-Line clevis overview (maker page: www.eaton.com/de/en-gb/catalog/support-systems/clevis-hanger.html): support function and oversized-clevis spacer requirement.
- Eaton pipe-hanger catalog section (maker page: www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/support-systems/pipe-hangers/ph-20-catalog-sections/pipe-hangers-section-pipe-hanger-catalogs.pdf): B3100 family dimensions, rod selection and copper variants.
- Eaton supports and shields catalog section (maker page: www.eaton.com/content/dam/eaton/products/support-systems/pipe-hangers/ph-20-catalog-sections/pipe-supports-guides-shields-saddles-section-pipe-hanger-catalog.pdf): B3151/B3153 identity and insulation selection tables.
- Sioux Chief 516-2GPK2 (siouxchief.com): exact IPS part identity.
- Sioux Chief 516-2CPK2 (siouxchief.com): distinct CTS part identity.
- Sioux Chief imported 516 specification sheet (no longer online): CTS and IPS outside-diameter tables.