Designation:A53/A53M–01An American National Standard Standard Specification for
Pipe,Steel,Black and Hot-Dipped,Zinc-Coated,Welded and
Seamless1
This standard is issued under thefixed designation A53/A53M;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or,in the ca of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parenthes indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for u by agencies of the Department of Defen.
1.Scope
1.1This specification2covers amless and welded black and hot-dipped galvanized steel pipe in NPS1⁄8to NPS26[DN 6to DN650](Note1),inclusive,with nominal wall thickness (Note2)as given in Table X
2.2and Table X2.
3.It shall be permissible to furnish pipe having other dimensions(Note2) provided such pipe complies with all other requirements of this specification.
N OTE1—The dimensionless designators NPS(nominal pipe size)[DN (diameter nominal)]have been substituted in this specification for such traditional terms as“nominal diameter,”“size,”and“nominal size.”
N OTE2—The term nominal wall thickness has been assigned for the purpo of convenient designation,existing in name only,and is ud to distinguish it from the actual wall thickness,which may vary over or under the nominal wall thickness.
1.2This specification covers the following types and grades:
1.2.1Type F—Furnace-butt welded,continuous welded Grade A,
1.2.2Type E—Electric-resistance welded,Grades A and B, and
1.2.3Type S—Seamless,Grades A and B.
N OTE3—See Appendix X1for definitions of types of pipe.
1.3Pipe ordered under this specification is intended for mechanical and pressure applications and is also acceptable for ordinary us in steam,water,gas,and air lines.It is suitable for welding,and suitable for forming operations involving coiling,bending,andflanging,subject to the following quali-fications:
1.3.1Type F is not intended forflanging.
1.3.2When Types S and E are required for clo coiling or cold bending,Grade A is the preferred grade.This provision is not intended to prohibit the cold bending of Grade B pipe. 1.3.3Type E is furnished either nonexpanded or cold expanded at the option of the manufacturer.
1.4The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded parately as standard.
The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,each system shall be ud independently of the other.Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.5The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion,Sections9,10,11,15,16,and17of this specification:This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,if any,associated with its u.It is the responsibility of the ur of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to u.
1.6The text of this specification contains notes or footnotes, or both,that provide explanatory material.Such notes and footnotes,excluding tho in tables andfigures,do not contain any mandatory requirements.
2.Referenced Documents
2.1ASTM Standards:
A90/A90M Test Method for Weight[Mass]of Coating on Iron and Steel Articles with Zinc or Zinc-Alloy Coatings3 A370Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products4
A530/A530M Specification for General Requirements for Specialized Carbon and Alloy Steel Pipe5
A700Practices for Packaging,Marking,and Loading Methods for Steel Products for Domestic Shipment6
A751Test Methods,Practices,and Terminology for Chemical Analysis of Steel Products4
A865Specification for Threaded Couplings,Steel,Black or Zinc-Coated(Galvanized)Welded or Seamless,for U in Steel Pipe Joints5
B6Specification for Zinc7
E29Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications8
1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01on Steel,
Stainless Steel,and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.09on Carbon Steel Tubular Products.
Current edition approved Mar.10,2001.Published May2001.Originally published as A53–15.Last previous edition A53–00.
2For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vesl Code applications,e related Specifi-cation SA-53in Section II of that code.
3Annual Book of ASTM Standards,V ol01.06.
4Annual Book of ASTM Standards,V ol01.03.
5Annual Book of ASTM Standards,V ol01.01.
6Annual Book of ASTM Standards,V ol01.05.
7Annual Book of ASTM Standards,V ol02.04.
8Annual Book of ASTM Standards,V ol14.02. 1
Copyright©ASTM,100Barr Harbor Drive,West Conshohocken,PA19428-2959,United States.
E 213Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Metal Pipe and Tubing 9
E 309Practice for Eddy-Current Examination of Steel Tu-bular Products Using Magnetic Saturation 9
E 570Practice for Flux Leakage Examination of Ferromag-netic Steel Tubular Products 9
E 1806Practice for Sampling Steel and Iron for Determi-nation of Chemical Composition 102.2ANSI Standards:ASC X1211
B1.20.1Pipe Threads,General Purpo 112.3ASME Standard:
B36.10Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe 122.4Military Standards:
MIL-STD-129Marking for Shipment and Storage 13
MIL-STD-163Steel Mill Products Preparation for Ship-ment and Storage 132.5Federal Standards:
Fed.Std.No.123Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)14Fed.Std.No 183Continuous Identification Marking of Iron and Steel Products 142.6API Standard:
5L Specification for Line Pipe 15
3.Ordering Information
3.1Information items to be considered,if appropriate,for inclusion in the purcha order are as follows:
3.1.1Specification designation (A 53or A 53M,including year of issue),
3.1.2Quantity (feet,metres,or number of lengths),3.1.3Grade (e Table 1),
3.1.4Type (e 1.2and Table 2),3.1.5Finish (black or galvanized),
3.1.6Size (either nominal (NPS)[DN]and weight class or schedule number,or both;or outside diameter and nominal wall thickness,Table X2.2and Table X2.3),
3.1.7Length (specific or random,Section 18),
3.1.8End finish (plain end or threaded,Section 13),3.1.8.1Threaded and coupled,if desired,
3.1.8.2Threads only (no couplings),if desired,3.1.8.3Plain end,if desired,
3.1.8.4Couplings power tight,if desired,
3.1.8.5Taper tapped couplings for NPS 2[DN 50]and smaller,if desired,
3.1.9Clo coiling,if required (e 8.2),
3.1.10Skelp for tension tests,if permitted (e 17.2),3.1.11Certification (e Section 22),3.1.12End u of material,
3.1.13Special requirements,and
3.1.14Selection of applicable level of prervation and packaging and level of packing required,if other than as specified or if MIL-STD-163applies (e 21.2).
4.Materials and Manufacture
4.1The steel for both amless and welded pipe shall be made by one or more of the following process:open-hearth,electric-furnace,or basic-oxygen.
4.2When steels of different grades are quentially strand cast,identification of the resultant transition material is re-quired.The producer shall remove the transition material by any established procedure that positively parates the grades.4.3The weld am of electric-resistance welded pipe in Grade B shall be heat treated after welding to a minimum of 1000°F [540°C]so that no untempered martensite remains,or otherwi procesd in such a manner that no untempered marte
nsite remains.
4.4When pipe is cold expanded,the amount of expansion shall not exceed 11⁄2%of the outside diameter pipe size.
5.Chemical Composition
5.1The steel shall conform to the requirements as to chemical composition in Table 1and the chemical analysis
9
Annual Book of ASTM Standards ,V ol 03.03.10
Annual Book of ASTM Standards ,V ol 03.06.11
Available from American National Standards Institute,11West 42nd St.,13th Floor,New York,NY 10036.12
Available from ASME International,Three Park Avenue,New York,NY 10016–5990.13
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk,Bldg.4Section D,700Robbins Ave.,Philadelphia,PA 19111-5094,Attn:NPODS.14
Available from General Services Administration,Washington,DC 20405.15
Available from American Petroleum Institute,1220L Street,Northwest,Washington,DC 20005–4070.
TABLE 1Chemical Requirements
Composition,max,%
Carbon
Mangane
Phosphorus Sulfur Copper A
Nickel A Chromium A Molybdenum A Vanadium A
Type S (amless pipe)
Open-hearth,electric-furnace or basic-oxygen:Grade A 0.250.950.050.0450.400.400.400.150.08Grade B 0.30 1.20
0.050.0450.400.400.400.150.08
Type E (electric-resistance-welded)
Open-hearth,electric-furnace or basic-oxygen:Grade A 0.250.950.050.0450.400.400.400.150.08Grade B
0.30 1.20
0.050.0450.40
0.400.400.150.08
Type F (furnace-welded pipe)
Open-hearth,electric-furnace,or basic oxygen Grade A
0.30 1.200.050.0450.400.400.400.150.08
A
The combination of the five elements shall not exceed 1.00
%.
shall be in accordance with Test Methods,Practices,and Terminology A 751.
6.Product Analysis
6.1The purchar is permitted to perform an analysis of two pipes from each lot of 500lengths,or fraction thereof.Samples for chemical analysis,except for spectrographic analysis,shall be taken in accordance with Practice E 1806.The chemical composition thus determined shall conform to the requirements specified in Table 1.
6.2If the analysis of either pipe does not conform to the requirements specified in Table 1,analys shall be made on additional pipes of double the original number from the same lot,each of which shall conform to the requirements specified.
7.Tensile Requirements
7.1The material shall conform to the requirements as to tensile properties prescribed in Table 2.
7.2The yield strength corresponding to a permanent offt of 0.2%of the gage length of the specimen or to a total extension of 0.5%of the gage length under load shall be determined.
7.3The test specimen taken across the weld shall show a tensile strength not less than the minimum tensile strength specified for the grade of pipe ordered.This test will not be required for pipe under NPS 8[DN 200].
7.4Transver tension test specimens for electric-welded pipe NPS 8[DN 200]and larger shall be taken opposite the weld.All transver test specimens shall be approximately 11⁄2in.[40mm]wide in the gage length,and shall reprent the full wall thickness of the pipe from which the specimen was cut.This test is required for NPS 8[DN 200]and larger.8.Bending Requirements
8.1For pipe NPS 2[DN 50]and under,a sufficient length of
pipe shall be capable of being bent cold through 90°around a cylindrical mandrel,the diameter of which is twelve times the outside diameter of the pipe,without developing cracks at any portion and without opening the weld.
8.2When ordered for clo coiling,the pipe shall stand being bent cold through 180°around a cylindrical mandrel,the diameter of which is eight times the outside diameter of the pipe,without failure.
8.3Double-extra-strong pipe over NPS 11⁄4[DN 32]need not be subjected to the bend test.
9.Flattening Test
9.1The flattening test shall be made on pipe over NPS 2[DN 50]with all thickness extra strong and lighter.9.2Seamless Pipe :
9.2.1For amless pipe,a test specimen at least 21⁄2in.[60mm]in length shall be flattened cold between parallel plates in two steps.During the first step,which is a test for ductility,no cracks or breaks on the inside,outside,or end surfaces,except as provided for in 9.7,shall occur until the distance between the plates is less than the value of H calculated as follows:
H 5~11e !t /~e 1t /D !
where:
H =distance between flattening plates,in.[mm](Note 4),e =deformation per unit length (constant for a
given grade of steel,0.09for Grade A,and 0.07for Grade B),
t =nominal wall thickness,in.[mm],and D =specified outside diameter,in.[mm]
9.2.2During the cond step,which is a test for soundness,the flattening shall be continued until the test specimen breaks or the opposite sides of the pipe meet.Evidence of laminated or unsound material that is revealed during the entire flattening test shall be cau for rejection.
N OTE 4—The H values have been calculated for standard and extra-heavy weight sizes from NPS 21⁄2to NPS 24[DN 65to DN 600],inclusive,and are shown in Table X2.1.
9.3Electric-Resistance-Welded Pipe —A test specimen at least 4in.[100mm]in length shall be flattened cold between parallel plates in three steps,with the weld located either 0°or 90°from the line of direction of force as required in 9.3.1or 9.3.2,whichever is applicable.During the first step,which is a test for ductility of the weld,no cracks or breaks on the inside or outside surfaces at the weld shall occur until the distance between the plates is less than two thirds of the specified diameter of the pipe.As a cond step,the flattening shall be continued as a test for ductility away from the weld.During the cond step,no cracks or breaks on the inside or outside surfaces away from the weld,except as provided for in 9.7,shall occur until the distance between the plates is less than one t
hird of the specified outside diameter of the pipe but is not less than five times the wall thickness of the pipe.During the third step,which is a test for soundness,the flattening shall be continued until the test specimen breaks or the opposite walls of the pipe meet.Evidence of laminated or unsound material or of incomplete weld that is revealed by the flattening test shall be cau for rejection.
9.3.1For pipe produced in single lengths,the flattening test
TABLE 2Tensile Requirements
Type F Types E and S
Open-Hearth,
Basic Oxygen,or Electric-Furnace,Grade A
Grade A Grade B
Tensile strength,min,psi [MPa]
48000[330]48000[330]60000[415]Yield strength,min,psi,[MPa]
30000[205]
30000[205]
35000[240]
Elongation in 2in.[50mm]
A ,B
A ,B
A ,B
A
The minimum elongation in 2in.[50mm]shall be that determined by the following equation:
e 5625000@1940#A 0.2/U 0.9where:
e =minimum elongation in 2in.[50mm]in percent rounded to the nearest
percent,
A =cross-ctional area of the tension specimen,rounded to the nearest
0.01in.2[1mm 2],bad on the specified outside diameter or the nominal specimen width and specified wall thickness.If the area calculated is equal to or greater than 0.75in.2[500mm 2],then the value 0.75in.2[500mm 2]shall be ud,and
U =specified tensile strength,psi [MPa].
B
See Table X4.1or Table X4.2,whichever is applicable,for minimum elongation values for various size tension specimens and
grades.
specified in9.3shall be made using a test specimen taken from each end of each length of pipe.The t
ests from each end shall be made alternately with the weld at0°and at90°from the line of direction of force.
9.3.2For pipe produced in multiple lengths,theflattening test specified in9.3shall be made as follows:
9.3.2.1Test specimens taken from,and reprentative of, the front end of thefirst pipe intended to be supplied from each coil,the back end of the last pipe intended to be supplied from each coil,and each side of any intermediate weld stop location shall beflattened with the weld located at90°from the line of direction of force.
9.3.2.2Test specimens taken from pipe at any two locations intermediate to the front end of thefirst pipe and the back end of the last pipe intended to be supplied from each coil shall be flattened with the weld located at0°from the line of direction of force.
9.3.3For pipe that is to be subquently reheated through-out its cross ction and hot formed by a reducing process,the manufacturer shall have the option of obtaining theflattening test specimens required by9.3.1or9.3.2,whichever is appli-cable,either prior to or after such hot reducing.
9.4Continuous-Welded Pipe—A test specimen at least4in. [100mm]in length shall beflattened cold b
etween parallel plates in three steps.The weld shall be located at90°from the line of direction of force.During thefirst step,which is a test for ductility of the weld,no cracks or breaks on the inside, outside,or end surfaces at the weld shall occur until the distance between the plates is less than three fourths of the specified diameter of the pipe.As a cond step,theflattening shall be continued as a test for ductility away from the weld. During the cond step,no cracks or breaks on the inside, outside,or end surfaces away from the weld,except as provided for in9.7,shall occur until the distance between the plates is less than60%of the specified outside diameter of the pipe.During the third step,which is a test for soundness,the flattening shall be continued until the test specimen breaks or the opposite walls of the pipe meet.Evidence of laminated or unsound material or of incomplete weld that is revealed by the flattening test shall be cau for rejection.
9.5Surface imperfections in the test specimen beforeflat-tening,but revealed during thefirst step of theflattening test, shall be judged in accordance with thefinish requirements in Section14.
9.6Superficial ruptures as a result of surface imperfections shall not be cau for rejection.
9.7When low D-to-t ratio tubulars are tested,becau the strain impod due to geometry is unreasonably high on the inside surface at the6and12o’clock locations,cracks at the locations shall not be cau for rejection if the D-to-t ratio is less than10.
10.Hydrostatic Test
10.1The hydrostatic test shall be applied,without leakage through the pipe wall,to each length of pipe except as provided in11.2for amless pipe.
10.2Each length of plain-end pipe shall be hydrostatically tested to the pressures prescribed in Table X2.2,and each threaded-and-coupled length shall be hydrostatically tested to the pressures prescribed in Table X2.3.It shall be permissible, at the discretion of the manufacturer,to perform the hydrostatic test on pipe with plain ends,with threads only,or with threads and couplings and also shall be permissible to test pipe in either single lengths or multiple lengths.
N OTE5—The hydrostatic test pressures given herein are inspection test pressures,are not intended as a basis for design,and do not have any direct relationship to working pressures.
10.3The minimum hydrostatic test pressure required to satisfy the requirements need not exceed2500psi[17200 kPa]for NPS3[DN80]and under,nor2800psi[19300kPa] for all sized over NPS3[DN80].This does not prohibit testing at a higher pressure at the manufacturer’s option.The hydro-static pressure shall be maintained for not less than5s for all sizes of amless and electric-welded pipe.
11.Nondestructive Electric Test
11.1Type E Pipe:
11.1.1The weld am of each length of ERW pipe NPS2 [DN50]and larger shall be tested with a nondestructive electric test as follows:
11.1.2Ultrasonic and Electromagnetic Inspection—Any equipment utilizing the ultrasonic or electromagnetic principles and capable of continuous and uninterrupted inspection of the weld am shall be ud.The equipment shall be checked with an applicable reference standard as described in11.1.3at least once every working turn or not more than8h to demonstrate its effectiveness and the inspection procedures.The equipment shall be adjusted to produce well-defined indications when the reference standard is scanned by the inspection unit in a manner simulating the inspection of the product.
11.1.3Reference Standards—The length of the reference standards shall be determined by the pipe manufacturer,and they shall have the same specified diameter and thickness as the product being inspected.Reference standards shall contain machined notches,one on the inside surface and one on the outside surface,or a drilled hole,as shown in Fig.1,at the option of the pipe manufacturer.The
notches shall be parallel to the weld am,and shall be parated by a distance sufficient to produce two parate and distinguishable signals.The1⁄8-in.
[3.2-mm]hole shall be drilled through the wall and perpen-dicular to the surface of the reference standard as shown in Fig.
1.Care shall be taken in the preparation of the reference standard to ensure freedom fromfins or other edge roughness, or distortion of the pipe.
N OTE6—The calibration standards defined in11.1.3are convenient standards for calibration of nondestructive testing equipment.The dimen-sions of such standards are not to be construed as the minimum sizes of imperfections detectable by such equipment.
11.1.4Acceptance Limits—Table3gives the height of acceptance limit signals in percent of the height of signals produced by reference standards.Imperfections in the weld am that produce a signal greater than the acceptance limit signal given in Table3shall be considered a defect unless the pipe manufacturer can demonstrate that the imperfection does not reduce the effective wall thickness beyond121⁄2%of the specified wall thickness.
11.2Seamless Pipe—As an alternative to the
hydrostatic
test,and when specified by the purchar,the full body of each amless pipe shall be tested with a nondestructive electric test in accordance with Practices E 213,E 309,or E 570.In this ca each length so furnished shall include the mandatory marking of the letters “NDE.”Except as provided in 11.2.6.2it is the intent of this test to reject pipe with imperfections which produce test signals equal to or greater than that of the calibration standard.
11.2.1When the nondestructive electric test is performed,the lengths shall be marked with the letters “NDE.”The certification,when required,shall state Nondestructive Electric Tested and shall indicate which of the tests was applied.Also,the letters NDE shall be appended to the product specification number and material grade shown on the certification.
11.2.2The following information is intended to facilitate the u of this specification.
11.2.2.1The calibration standards defined in 11.2.3through 11.2.5are convenient standards for calibr
ation of nondestruc-tive testing equipment.The dimensions of such standards are not to be construed as the minimum sizes of imperfections detectable by such equipment.
11.2.2.2The ultrasonic testing referred to in this specifica-tion is capable of detecting the prence and location of significant longitudinally or circumferentially oriented imper-fections;however,different techniques need to be employed for the detection of differently oriented imperfections.Ultra-sonic testing is not necessarily capable of detecting short,deep imperfections.
11.2.2.3The eddy current examination referenced in this specification has the capability of detecting significant discon-tinuities,especially of the short abrupt type.
11.2.2.4The flux leakage examination referred to in this specification is capable of detecting the prence and location of significant longitudinally or transverly oriented disconti-nuities.The provisions of this specification only require longitudinal calibration for flux leakage.Different techniques need to be employed for the detection of differently oriented imperfections.
11.2.2.5The hydrostatic test referred to in 10.2has the capability of finding imperfections of a size permitting the test fluid to leak through the tube wall and may be either visually en or detected by a loss of pressure.Hydrostatic testing is not necessarily capable of detecting very tight through-the-w
all imperfections or imperfections that extend an appreciable distance into the wall without complete penetration.
11.2.2.6A purchar interested in ascertaining the nature (type,size,location,and orientation)of imperfections that are capable of being detected in the specific application of the examinations is directed to discuss this with the manufacturer of the tubular product.
11.2.3For ultrasonic testing,the calibration reference notches shall be at the option of the producer,and shall be any one of the three common notch shapes shown in Practice E 213.The depth of notch shall not exceed 12.5%of the specified wall thickness of the pipe or 0.004in.[0.1mm],whichever is greater.
11.2.4For eddy current testing,the calibration pipe shall contain,at the option of the producer,any one of the following calibration standards to establish a minimum nsitivity level for rejection.
11.2.4.1Drilled Hole —Depending upon the pipe diameter the calibration pipe shall contain three holes spaced 120°apart or four holes spaced 90°apart and sufficiently
parated
FIG.1Calibration Standards
TABLE 3Acceptance Limits
Type Notch
Size of Hole
Acceptance
Limit Signal,%in.
mm N10,V10B.P .
1⁄8
...
100
80
