# Piping Abacus — EZ access to piping info

> Advanced mobile piping reference database with integrated calculator. (iPhone/iPad app by Jean-Paul Lanaux.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-abacus/id421739105 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jean-Paul Lanaux](https://appshunter.io/developer/306486995)
- Category: Utilities, Reference
- Price: $9.99
- Rating: 3.90/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 77 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 5 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-02-26
- Data updated: 2026-09-02
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-abacus/id421739105/reviews.md

## What is Piping Abacus?

PipingAbacus is the most advanced and powerful mobile app for piping information; it is the modern Pipe Fitter's "Blue Book".  It is designed to be used by draftsman, designer, pipefitter (s), engineer, and construction personnel.

Piping Abacus now supports iPhone 5.

Piping Abacus is the modern Pipe Fitter's "Blue Book". Piping Abacus is a powerful piping reference database utility. Piping Abacus is unique; it is the only piping reference resource that incorporates a built in calculator to the reference data. The basic idea is: if you are referring to the data ( datum ), than you probably need to add it or subtract it. But it can also be used just as easily for a reference tool. PipingAbacus now has three interfaces (windows) to access the piping information - Catalog, Chart, and Wheels. It works the way you want it to work. For example, use the catalog if you want very detailed and specific information about a valve or fitting. If you are checking or adding takeouts, then use the easy and fast chart. Like to quickly browse pipe schedules, then use the wheel view. Use the right view to match your task.

Accurate - All data was carefully entered upon entry. It was re-checked after the program was written. The program has been regularly used for over two years in the field by piping designers and construction personnel ( fitter fabrication ). 

Complete - All common Buttweld, SocketWeld, Threaded, welding, and Flanged Fittings and Valve (s) are presented in the "catalog" section of the app ANSI, ASME, etc.  The user can easily add o'all lengths, weights, 1/2 OD's etc. Sizes include 1/8" through 60" (DIN and Imperial). Flange ratings 150 through 2500. Schedules: 10 - XXS.  The menu system was designed to provide the user with graphical pipe fitting images that are large enough to provide details that are commonly found in manufacturer catalogs. All fitting properties are displayed in a scrolling table below the image with a clear description, value and a add/sub button.

Versatile - Use the catalog section for detailed information. Use the chart or wheels for quick and easy reference. Output and input - imperial metric, fraction, decimals - you decide.

Educational - What is the difference between a gate and a globe? What ASTM or ANSI does a particular fitting conform to? This information is now at your fingertips.

Easy and intuitive - Uses common symbology.

Useful - Other apps or programs simply present partial fitting dimensions to the user. PipingAbacus presents all catalog information. If a computation is required (how common it is to have add multiple fittings together)? The abacus part of the catalog adds fitting dimensions on the fly. But there's more versatility: units include: decimal, inch, ft-in input. You owe it to yourself: check out the you-tube videos through the web site.

Compare our app against others. Their app may be good, but our app is BETTER! Go to our website www.jplanaux.com to learn more or search "PipingAbacus" at you-tube before you buy any other piping info app. PipingAbacus is easier to use, is regularly updated, has tons of information, is more versatile, and loads fast. Piping Abacus is a work in progress, and it keeps getting more xtreme through your comments and email contact. We are the best most advanced and powerful Piping Mobile iPhone App!"

The best piping iPhone app keeps adding more information - for free. Most recent additional information includes: Orifice Flanges, Bolt Torque, Series A and Series B Flanges, wrench sizes for bolting, pipe spacing, malleable iron, and butt-weld valves and a "fitting chart" which includes built in calc buttons. Added tutorial links and email support link.
 
Not quite sure that this is the right app for you? Visit our web site by clicking on the support link to find out more info about our app.

## Key features

- Comprehensive piping reference database
- Integrated calculator for on-the-fly computations
- Catalog, Chart, and Wheels interfaces
- Detailed fitting and valve information
- Support for various units (Imperial/Metric, Decimal/Fraction)
- Educational information on fitting types and standards

## Chart rankings

- #184 in Top Paid · Utilities (US App Store)

## What do users think of Piping Abacus?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Wealth of information
- 🚀 Quick access to data
- 👍 Eliminates need for books/charts
- 👍 Useful calculator
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Accurate
- 👍 Saves time
- 👍 Well-designed
- 👍 Professional tool
- 👍 Good for field and office
- 👍 Continually improving
- 👍 Good value for price
- 👍 Integrates components well
- 👍 Handy for takeoffs/calculations
- 👍 Top-notch calculator
- 👍 Well-thought-out features
- 👍 Eliminates binders
- 👍 Smooth operation
- 👍 Great for designers
- 👍 Works on iPhone/iPad
- 👍 Good for backchecking calcs
- 👍 Switchable fraction calculator
- 👍 Good for layout
- 👍 Great tool of the trade
- 👍 Big book in small package
- 👍 All-inclusive information
- 👍 Awesome design/engineering reference
- 👍 Efficient and useful information
- 👍 Money well spent
- 👍 Brilliant application
- 👍 Single source for piping info
- 👍 User friendly
- 👍 Well designed
- 👍 Fast and easy fitting chart
- 👍 Can add fittings
- 👍 Output customization
- 👍 Built-in ft-in calculator
- 👍 More info and fittings
- 👍 Works better on newer iPhones

**Cons**

- 👎 Lacks some information
- 👎 Some data not in database
- 👎 Some items in free apps also
- 👎 Calculator store/recall not working
- 👎 Clear button clears everything
- 👎 Notes display truncated data
- 👎 Calculator can be glitchy
- 👎 Background grid lines too visible
- 👎 Difficult to use
- 👎 Pricey for designers
- 👎 Calculator needs improvement
- 👎 Only in 4" size (older review)
- 👎 Need more detail on saddle layout
- 👎 Need more formula related stuff
- 👎 Need rolling offset chart/saddle layout
- 👎 Calculator difficult to figure out
- 👎 Have issues finding diff size fittings
- 👎 Need 150lb TH fittings data
- 👎 Need plug valve data
- 👎 Need weights for various pipe metals
- 👎 Need U-BOLT DIMENSIONS
- 👎 Some info can be accessed on computer

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Calculator store and recall functions not working
- Clear button clears everything instead of last input
- Notes display truncated data ('...')
- Background grid lines too visible after update
- Calculator can be glitchy
- Application bugged/not working on iPhone
- Issues with finding different size fittings and changing thickness

**Most requested features**

- Remove background grid lines
- Update app to remove background grid lines
- Add rolling offset chart
- Add saddle layout
- Add U-BOLT DIMENSIONS
- Add offset calculations
- Add double 45, 45 off 90, 45 off tee and other 45 offset measurements
- Add bolt size and wrench info for flanges
- Add weights for various pipe metals
- Add plug valve data
- Add 150lb TH fittings data
- Add more detail like saddle layout for big pipe
- Add more formula related stuff like rolling offsets
- Improve calculator functions (store, recall, clear)
- Clear button should only clear last input mistake
- Add dark mode option
- Add advanced analytics dashboard
- Add relief valves
- Add inside/outside measurements for cutting elbows to any angle

## Recent user reviews (10 of 77)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-abacus/id421739105/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Not good.

*2024-08-23*

First pipe fitting app. I pay for. Looked great. Appearances are deceiving though,, the items i do need the info on. It says that they are not on the DATABASE. The ones that are available. They are also on the free apps. This was a total waste of my hard earned money.

### 5/5 — Great for quick info to 24”

*2023-11-15*

Most info u need is readily avail. Been using for years. Not everything is there but app was free and takes a bit to learn but I find highly functional even 7 years later.

### 4/5 — Great little piping app

*2017-09-20*

After a week of use while checking a job, I love the way the calculator works integrating piping components and being able to continue a dimension string from catalog to calculator back and forth. This is so handy compared to spinning the old piping wheel! The calculator itself needs some attention with the store and recall functions not working like a real calculator. Clear button also needs to clear only the last input mistake, not everything!  Frustrating when making a mistake along a string of dimensions and having to start over.  I recommend to pipers trusting the app will continue evolving.

June 2017 update improved the app more!

### 4/5 — Please update app to remove background grid lines.

*2017-06-28*

Great app and super helpful. After the most recent update, background grid lines are too visible. Make it hard to read dimensions and other text. Please update! This is on an iPhone 7 plus. Will give deserved 5 stars when grid lines go back to how they used to be.

### 1/5 — beware: abandoned - not updating anymore

*2015-07-08*

lacks information.  Some notes have … displayed, meaning it was not adjusted to fit, so you can’t read all the data. Ex.  dim includes ring joint fa….  What was that? Thumbs down.

### 5/5 — Smooth as fine sand in a box !!!!!!!!

*2014-03-01*

This is by far the best Pipe-fitter application in the App Store period .
useful , everything you will ever need to layout & do piping takeoffs & calculations . 
The calculator is top notch ! 
So full of information you will need daily , buy it now & decrease the amount of time you spend on the floor on your knees with a tape measure . 
Valuable time saving information about pipe & fittings!
The charts , the wheels ,everything is well thought out , I could go on & on but honestly .........the first sentence says it all !

### 5/5 — Foreman

*2014-02-18, version 2.0.9*

Great app. Use it daily. It eliminated the 3 ring binders in my back seat. Accurate. Easy. Fast.

### 5/5 — Great app

*2013-09-06, version 2.0.9*

I use it constantly, is accurate and very easy to use

### 5/5 — Great app

*2013-08-26*

I used a Jobber and piping wheel for years until I found this app. It is great and worth the price. There is a good foot and inch calculator on it (metric too) as well as charts showing dimensions of fittings, pipe spacing in pipe rack and lots more!  No more pipe wheel and three ring binders with spacing charts, Taylor Forge charts etc. this app has it all! Only issue I had is, since it is on my phone, my boss thought I was constantly texting someone. LoL! He now has the app!

### 5/5 — Very good

*2013-08-25, version 2.0.9*

This app is very nice and help in any job. Personally it's professional

## Frequently asked questions about Piping Abacus

### What does the Piping Abacus app do?

Piping Abacus is a mobile application designed to provide extensive piping information for professionals. It functions as a modern "Blue Book" for pipe fitters, offering a comprehensive reference database with an integrated calculator for performing calculations directly with the data.

### What are the key features of Piping Abacus?

Key features include a detailed catalog of common fittings and valves, a built-in calculator for on-the-fly computations, and three distinct interfaces (Catalog, Chart, and Wheels) for accessing information in different ways. It supports both Imperial and Metric units and provides educational content on piping standards.

### Who is the target audience for this app?

This app is intended for professionals involved in piping, including draftsmen, designers, pipefitters, engineers, and construction personnel. It aims to provide them with quick and accurate access to essential piping data and calculation tools.

### What kind of piping information is available?

The app offers complete catalog information for common Buttweld, SocketWeld, Threaded, welding, and Flanged Fittings and Valves, conforming to standards like ANSI and ASME. It includes details such as overall lengths, weights, and dimensions for sizes ranging from 1/8" through 60", with flange ratings from 150 through 2500 and schedules from 10 to XXS.

### Is Piping Abacus compatible with different devices?

The application is designed for mobile use and has been updated to support devices like the iPhone 5. It offers versatility in input and output units, allowing users to choose between Imperial and Metric, and fractions or decimals to suit their needs.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.0.1 — 2020-11-06

Updated

### 4.0.0 — 2018-11-27

updated for most recent iPhone versions

### 3.0.3 — 2018-02-24

Revised Graphics for iPhoneX

### 3.0.2 — 2018-02-05

Revised blueprint background problem reported by some iPhone users

### 3.0.1 — 2017-06-02

Fixed bug in the Wheel View for butt weld fittings

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## More apps by Jean-Paul Lanaux

- [Piping Offset Calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-offset-calculator/id483337421)
- [Piping Support Selector](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-support-selector/id497652271)
- [Pipe Saddle Layout Calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pipe-saddle-layout-calculator/id524302215)
- [Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-base-elbow-layout-calc/id537390779)
- [Tangential Nozzle](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tangential-nozzle/id1440414408)

All apps by Jean-Paul Lanaux: https://appshunter.io/developer/306486995

## Related topics

[piping abacus](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/piping-abacus) · [piping and flange handbook](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/piping-and-flange-handbook) · [pipefitter pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pipefitter-pro)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-02.*