An Overview of ASTM A53 – Standard Specification for Pipes
ASTM A53 is a standard specification developed by ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) for carbon steel pipe. It covers seamless and welded black and hot-dipped galvanized steel pipe.
These pipes are intended for:
Mechanical purposes
Pressure applications
Ordinary uses in steam, water, gas, and air lines
Key Highlights:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Scope | Seamless and welded (ERW – Electric Resistance Welded) carbon steel pipes |
| Grades | Grade A and Grade B |
| Types | Type F (Furnace-butt welded), Type E (Electric-resistance welded), Type S (Seamless) |
| Sizes | NPS 1/8″ to NPS 26″ (Nominal Pipe Size), with nominal (not exact) wall thickness |
| Ends | Plain end, threaded, or beveled ends |
| Surface Coating | Bare, black-painted, or hot-dip galvanized |
| Applications | Conveying fluids (water, gas, air, steam), structural purposes, and mechanical systems |
| Testing Required | Hydrostatic testing, nondestructive electric testing, tensile and bend tests |
Types and Grades Explained:
Type F – Furnace-butt welded, available only in Grade A.
Type E – Electric-resistance welded; available in both Grade A and Grade B.
Type S – Seamless; available in both Grade A and Grade B.
| Property | Grade A | Grade B |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Yield Strength | ~30,000 psi (205 MPa) | ~35,000 psi (240 MPa) |
| Minimum Tensile Strength | ~48,000 psi (330 MPa) | ~60,000 psi (415 MPa) |
| Typical Usage | Lighter duty applications | Higher pressure and strength needs |
Common Applications:
Water lines
Steam pipelines
Gas transmission
Air lines
Fire protection piping
Structural steel fabrication
Important Notes:
ASTM A53 is not designed for very high-temperature or corrosive environments unless proper coatings or lining is applied.
Grade B seamless pipes are commonly used for higher pressure and higher temperature applications than Grade A.
It is different from ASTM A106, which is more focused on seamless pipes for high-temperature services.
ASTM A53 Steel Pipe Dimensions
All dimensions in inches (millimeters) | Weights in kg/m (lb/ft)
| Pipe Size (in) |
Schedule | Outside Diameter (in/mm) |
Inside Diameter (in/mm) |
Wall Thickness (in/mm) |
Weight (kg/m) |
Weight (lb/ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½ | 40 (STD) | 0.840 (21.34) | 0.622 (15.80) | 0.109 (2.77) | 1.27 | 0.85 |
| 80 (XS) | 0.840 (21.34) | 0.546 (13.87) | 0.147 (3.73) | 1.62 | 1.09 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 0.840 (21.34) | 0.464 (11.79) | 0.188 (4.78) | 1.95 | 1.31 | |
| ¾ | 40 (STD) | 1.050 (26.67) | 0.824 (20.93) | 0.113 (2.87) | 1.68 | 1.13 |
| 80 (XS) | 1.050 (26.67) | 0.742 (18.85) | 0.154 (3.91) | 2.19 | 1.47 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 1.050 (26.67) | 0.612 (15.54) | 0.219 (5.56) | 2.89 | 1.94 | |
| 1 | 40 (STD) | 1.315 (33.40) | 1.049 (26.64) | 0.133 (3.38) | 2.50 | 1.68 |
| 80 (XS) | 1.315 (33.40) | 0.957 (24.31) | 0.179 (4.55) | 3.23 | 2.17 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 1.315 (33.40) | 0.815 (20.70) | 0.250 (6.35) | 4.23 | 2.84 | |
| 1½ | 40 (STD) | 1.900 (48.26) | 1.610 (40.89) | 0.145 (3.68) | 4.05 | 2.72 |
| 80 (XS) | 1.900 (48.26) | 1.500 (38.10) | 0.200 (5.08) | 5.40 | 3.63 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 1.900 (48.26) | 1.338 (33.99) | 0.281 (7.14) | 7.24 | 4.86 | |
| 2 | 40 (STD) | 2.375 (60.33) | 2.067 (52.50) | 0.154 (3.91) | 5.44 | 3.65 |
| 80 (XS) | 2.375 (60.33) | 1.939 (49.25) | 0.218 (5.54) | 7.47 | 5.02 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 2.375 (60.33) | 1.689 (42.90) | 0.343 (8.71) | 11.12 | 7.47 | |
| 3 | 40 (STD) | 3.500 (88.90) | 3.068 (77.93) | 0.216 (5.49) | 11.28 | 7.58 |
| 80 (XS) | 3.500 (88.90) | 2.900 (73.66) | 0.300 (7.62) | 15.26 | 10.25 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 3.500 (88.90) | 2.624 (66.65) | 0.438 (11.13) | 21.32 | 14.32 | |
| 4 | 40 (STD) | 4.500 (114.30) | 4.026 (102.26) | 0.237 (6.02) | 16.06 | 10.79 |
| 80 (XS) | 4.500 (114.30) | 3.826 (97.18) | 0.337 (8.56) | 22.33 | 15.00 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 4.500 (114.30) | 3.438 (87.33) | 0.531 (13.49) | 33.51 | 22.51 | |
| 6 | 40 (STD) | 6.625 (168.28) | 6.065 (154.05) | 0.280 (7.11) | 28.24 | 18.97 |
| 80 (XS) | 6.625 (168.28) | 5.761 (146.33) | 0.432 (10.97) | 42.53 | 28.57 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 6.625 (168.28) | 5.501 (139.73) | 0.562 (14.27) | 54.16 | 36.39 | |
| 8 | 40 (STD) | 8.625 (219.08) | 7.981 (202.72) | 0.322 (8.18) | 42.55 | 28.55 |
| 80 (XS) | 8.625 (219.08) | 7.625 (193.68) | 0.500 (12.70) | 64.61 | 43.39 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 8.625 (219.08) | 7.189 (182.60) | 0.718 (18.24) | 89.08 | 59.81 | |
| 10 | 40 (STD) | 10.750 (273.05) | 10.020 (254.51) | 0.365 (9.27) | 60.26 | 40.48 |
| 80 (XS) | 10.750 (273.05) | 9.750 (247.65) | 0.500 (12.70) | 81.50 | 54.74 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 10.750 (273.05) | 9.062 (230.17) | 0.844 (21.44) | 131.95 | 88.63 | |
| 12 | 40 (STD) | 12.750 (323.85) | 12.000 (304.80) | 0.375 (9.53) | 73.76 | 49.56 |
| 80 (XS) | 12.750 (323.85) | 11.750 (298.45) | 0.500 (12.70) | 97.38 | 65.42 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 12.750 (323.85) | 10.750 (273.05) | 1.000 (25.40) | 185.72 | 124.77 | |
| 14 | 40 (STD) | 14.000 (355.60) | 13.250 (336.55) | 0.375 (9.53) | 81.07 | 54.57 |
| 80 (XS) | 14.000 (355.60) | 13.000 (330.20) | 0.500 (12.70) | 107.15 | 72.09 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 14.000 (355.60) | 12.000 (304.80) | 1.000 (25.40) | 204.12 | 137.11 | |
| 16 | 40 (STD) | 16.000 (406.40) | 15.250 (387.35) | 0.375 (9.53) | 92.76 | 62.58 |
| 80 (XS) | 16.000 (406.40) | 15.000 (381.00) | 0.500 (12.70) | 122.65 | 82.77 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 16.000 (406.40) | 14.000 (355.60) | 1.000 (25.40) | 233.53 | 156.81 | |
| 18 | 40 (STD) | 18.000 (457.20) | 17.250 (438.15) | 0.375 (9.53) | 104.45 | 70.59 |
| 80 (XS) | 18.000 (457.20) | 17.000 (431.80) | 0.500 (12.70) | 138.15 | 93.45 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 18.000 (457.20) | 16.000 (406.40) | 1.000 (25.40) | 262.94 | 177.51 | |
| 20 | 40 (STD) | 20.000 (508.00) | 19.250 (488.95) | 0.375 (9.53) | 116.14 | 78.60 |
| 80 (XS) | 20.000 (508.00) | 19.000 (482.60) | 0.500 (12.70) | 153.65 | 104.13 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 20.000 (508.00) | 18.000 (457.20) | 1.000 (25.40) | 292.35 | 198.21 | |
| 24 | 40 (STD) | 24.000 (609.60) | 23.250 (590.55) | 0.375 (9.53) | 139.52 | 94.62 |
| 80 (XS) | 24.000 (609.60) | 23.000 (584.20) | 0.500 (12.70) | 184.65 | 125.91 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 24.000 (609.60) | 22.000 (558.80) | 1.000 (25.40) | 351.17 | 239.91 | |
| 30 | 40 (STD) | 30.000 (762.00) | 29.250 (742.95) | 0.375 (9.53) | 174.40 | 118.78 |
| 80 (XS) | 30.000 (762.00) | 29.000 (736.60) | 0.500 (12.70) | 230.65 | 158.64 | |
| 160 (XXS) | 30.000 (762.00) | 28.000 (711.20) | 1.000 (25.40) | 438.99 | 302.61 |
Notes:
- Pipe Size (NPS): Nominal size ≠ ID (e.g., 12" NPS has 12.75" OD)
- Wall Thickness:
- Schedule 40 (STD): Standard thickness
- Schedule 80 (XS): Extra Strong (thicker than STD)
- Schedule 160 (XXS): Double Extra Strong (thickest common option)
- Weights: Calculated using steel density (7,850 kg/m³ or 490 lb/ft³)
- Tolerances: ±12.5% for seamless, ±10% for welded pipes
Data source: Based on ASTM A53 - Standard Specification for Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless