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Reference · Closures
Most container complaints are actually fitting complaints.
A tote that weeps at the outlet, will not connect to a pump, or collapses inward overnight is almost never a bad container. It is a hardened gasket, a mismatched thread or a solid cap where a vented one belonged. This page covers the standards, the adapters and the elastomer choice so you can specify it correctly the first time.
Short answer
Standard outlet is 2" butterfly on an S60x6 buttress thread; fill cap is 6" coarse thread. Match gasket material to chemistry: EPDM general, Viton for hydrocarbons, silicone for food.
- Outlet
- 2" standard
- Thread
- S60x6
- Fill cap
- 6"
- Gaskets
- 4 materials
Form 01 · Spec request
Not sure what you have?
Describe the fitting in the message field and mention that you can send a photo. Thread identification from photographs is a free service and takes us about ten minutes.
Standards
Threads, valves and closures.
| Designation | Nominal | Approx. OD | Where you find it | Adapter availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S60x6 | 2 inch | 2.36 in / 60 mm | The large majority of composite IBCs | Excellent |
| S100x8 | 3 inch | 3.94 in / 100 mm | Larger and older units, oversize containers | Good |
| NPS 2 coarse | 2 inch | 2.38 in | Some North American designs | Good |
| Camlock 2 in | 2 inch | Cam and groove | Fitted as an adapter, not a native thread | Excellent |
| Tri-clamp 2 in | 2 inch | Sanitary ferrule | Food, beverage and stainless vessels | Good |
| Type | Bore | Best for | Cleanability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly | Restricted by disc | General industrial fluids | Moderate | The standard fit on most totes |
| Ball, full port | Unrestricted | Viscous product, slurries, food | Good | Preferred where flow matters |
| Plug | Restricted | Legacy units | Poor | Usually replaced during reconditioning |
| Sanitary ball | Unrestricted | Food, beverage, CIP lines | Excellent | Tri-clamp connection typical |
| Material | Good with | Poor with | Temperature | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPDM | Water, alkalis, glycols, many acids, brine | Hydrocarbons, oils, aromatics | Up to ~120 C | The general-purpose default |
| Viton (FKM) | Hydrocarbons, oils, fuels, aromatics, solvents | Ketones, hot water, steam | Up to ~200 C | Fuel, lubricant and solvent duty |
| Silicone | Food, potable water, high temperature | Steam, most solvents, abrasion | Up to ~200 C | Food and beverage service |
| PTFE-lined | Almost everything, including aggressive acids | High compression cycling | Wide range | Unknown or severe chemistry |
Identify
Working out what you have
- Measure the outside diameter across the thread crests, not the nominal bore
- Count the pitch: S60x6 has a 6 mm pitch, S100x8 has 8 mm
- Check whether the thread is buttress (asymmetric, sawtooth profile) or standard V
- Photograph the outlet face-on and at an angle — we identify threads from photos daily
- Note whether there is an existing adapter fitted; many totes arrive already stepped down
Specify
What to tell us when ordering
- The fluid, so we can select the gasket material correctly
- Your connection: camlock type, NPT, hose thread, tri-clamp or bare buttress
- Whether you need a vented or solid fill cap
- Whether the valve needs a full bore for viscosity or solids
- Any temperature the fitting will see, in service or during cleaning
Questions
Valves and fittings, answered.
01What thread is on an IBC outlet?
The most common is a coarse buttress thread designated S60x6 — roughly 2.4 inches across the crest, six-millimetre pitch. Larger units use S100x8. Some North American units use an NPS coarse thread instead. Measure the outside diameter across the threads and count the pitch rather than assuming from the nominal size.
02How do I connect a garden hose to an IBC?
With a buttress-to-garden-hose adapter, typically S60x6 to three-quarter-inch GHT. It threads onto the outlet cap fitting after the valve. Do not force a hose fitting directly onto the valve body.
03Butterfly or ball valve?
Butterfly is the standard fit and is fine for most fluids. Ball valves give a full unrestricted bore, which matters for viscous product, slurries and anything that will not flow past a disc. Ball valves are also easier to clean.
04Which gasket material should I use?
EPDM for water, alkalis, glycols and many acids. Viton for hydrocarbons, oils and aromatics. Silicone for food and high temperature. PTFE-lined when the chemistry is aggressive or unknown. Getting this wrong is the most common cause of a weeping tote.
05Are fill caps interchangeable?
Mostly. Six-inch coarse-thread caps fit the large majority of composite IBCs. Some legacy units use a nine-inch opening. Vented caps have a one-way valve to prevent bottle collapse as warm contents cool; solid caps are used for transport.
Identification
Working out what you have, without a thread gauge.
A tape measure and a phone answer the question about ninety-five percent of the time.
| # | Step | How | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Remove the outlet cap | The thread on the outlet is what matters, not the cap | You are measuring the right thing |
| 02 | Measure across the crests | Tape laid on the thread tops at the widest point | Outside diameter |
| 03 | Count the pitch | Mark a crest, count ten turns, measure and divide | Pitch in mm |
| 04 | Look at the profile | Silhouette against the light at 30 degrees | Buttress (sawtooth) or V (triangle) |
| 05 | Check for multiple starts | Look for threads beginning at different points | Single or multi-start |
| 06 | Photograph both angles | Square on and at 30 degrees | Enough for us to identify it |
| You need to connect to | Adapter | Typical material | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camlock hose line | Buttress to camlock, type A–F | Aluminium, poly or stainless | Type letter is the common ordering error |
| Garden hose | Buttress to 3/4 in GHT | Poly | Rain and irrigation systems |
| Threaded pipe | Buttress to NPT | Poly or stainless | Specify male or female |
| Sanitary line | Buttress to tri-clamp | Stainless 316 | Food, beverage, CIP |
| Another IBC | Buttress to buttress link | Poly | Bottom-link at the outlets |
| A pump inlet | Depends on the pump | Match the pump | Send us the pump connection |
| Nothing — sealing only | Outlet cap with gasket | Poly | Plus a dust cap for transport |
| Type | Bore | Flow | Cleanability | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly | Restricted by the disc | Good | Moderate | General industrial fluids | The standard fit |
| Ball, full port | Unrestricted | Best | Good | Viscous product, slurries | Preferred where flow matters |
| Sanitary ball | Unrestricted | Best | Excellent | Food, beverage, CIP | Tri-clamp connection typical |
| Plug | Restricted | Poor | Poor | Legacy units only | Replaced during reconditioning |
Extended FAQ · 7 questions
More questions, answered
01What thread is on an IBC outlet?
Most commonly a coarse buttress thread designated S60x6 — roughly 60 mm across the crests with a 6 mm pitch. Larger units use S100x8, and some North American designs use an NPS coarse thread. Measure rather than assume.
02How do I connect a garden hose?
With a buttress-to-garden-hose adapter, typically S60x6 to three-quarter-inch GHT, threaded onto the outlet fitting after the valve. Do not force a hose fitting directly onto the valve body.
03Butterfly or ball valve?
Butterfly is the standard fit and fine for most fluids. Ball valves give a full unrestricted bore, which matters for viscous product, slurries and anything that will not flow past a disc. Ball valves are also easier to clean.
04Which gasket material should I use?
EPDM for water, alkalis, glycols and brines. Viton for hydrocarbons, oils and aromatics. Silicone for food and high temperature. PTFE-lined when the chemistry is aggressive or unknown. Getting this wrong is the most common cause of a weeping container.
05Are fill caps interchangeable?
Mostly. Six-inch coarse-thread caps fit the large majority of composite IBCs, though some legacy units use a nine-inch opening. Vented caps have a one-way valve to prevent bottle collapse as warm contents cool; solid caps are used for transport.
06What is a camlock type letter?
It describes the configuration — A is a male adapter with a female thread, B a female coupler with a male thread, C a female coupler with a hose shank, D a female coupler with a female thread, E a male adapter with a hose shank, F a male adapter with a male thread. Getting the letter wrong is the most common ordering error.
07Can I stack adapters?
You can, and you should not. Each junction is a potential leak, a restriction and something to lose. A single adapter from the container thread straight to your connection is nearly always available.
Next step
Send a photo of the fitting.
Ten minutes of our time saves you a returned adapter and a week of delay. Attach a description in the message field and we will identify it.