This Valterra 6101 gate valve has 1-1/2" female slip connection openings, and a white PVC (polyvinyl chloride) body and hubs for resistance to corrosion and mild chemicals. Its shaft is made of 304 stainless steel and its paddle is made of polypropylene for resistance to corrosion and chemicals. Its seals are made of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) for dimensional stability and resistance to chemicals. It has a maximum pressure rating of 45 pounds per square inch (psi), a mid-flow maximum pressure rating of 6 psi, and a maximum temperature rating of 167 degrees F (75 degrees C). This gate valve measures 8.625 x 2.875 x 3.375 inches/222 x 76 x 98mm (H x W x D) in a fully open position. (H is height, the vertical distance from bottom to top; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.) It is suitable for use with landscape and irrigation, pool and spa, aquaculture, and general purpose applications.Gate valves control flow in a piping system by lifting a gate out of the path of steam, fluids, or gases. They are designed to block or permit flow, as the vibrations and force of flow repeatedly striking a partly lowered gate can damage the gate and seats. To accommodate different flows and pressure requirements, gates come in four types: solid wedge (appropriate for almost all liquid service), flexible wedge (appropriate for steam service), split wedge (appropriate for normal temperature, non-condensing gas and liquid service, including corrosive service), and parallel disc (appropriate for high and low pressure applications). Hand wheels or levers activate the screw mechanism in the valve’s bonnet, which comes in various designs, to open and close the gate. Union bonnets are preferable for building service piping, threaded-in (or screw-in) bonnets work well for lighter-duty usage, and bolted body-bonnet connections are used primarily in iron multi-turn valves. Most gate valves have either a rising stem, which moves up and down with the gate, or a non-rising stem, which remains fixed in place. When closed, the gate and its seats form tight planar sealing surfaces, ideal for linear liquid flow. Gate valves are used in air, gas, liquid, and steam applications.Valterra Products manufactures and distributes valves, hoses, sewer systems, and pool and spa products. The company, founded in 1981, is headquartered in Mission Hills, CA.