Pipe Schedule / Schedule Numbers

The main function of the pipes is to carry fluid (liquid, gas, fluidized solids, slurry, mixed phase products
etc) under pressure (internal, external or both), therefore to sustain the fluid pressure the pipe has to be
strong enough to perform its intended duty without failure. Obviously, for pipes containing pressurised
fluids the wall thickness, and by implication the pipes strength, is the most important parameter. Wall
thickness is expressed by schedules or Schedule numbers, referred to as pipe schedules.
Pipe Schedule or Schedule number is a dimensionless number. Schedule Numbers for pipe size/wall
thickness combinations are approximated to get a uniform relationship equal to 1000 times the
P/S (P=Design Pressure and S=Allowable Stress) expression contained in the modified Barlow formula
for pipe wall thickness. The pipe schedule is abbreviated as SCH.
For a given size and schedule the thickness of the pipe is fixed and defined in the applicable ASME
standard (B 36.10/B 36.19). Even though Pipe thickness can also be specified in mm or inches to the
value corresponding to that specified in the ASME standard, The Schedule Numbers are strictly used as a
convenient designation system while ordering piping item.
For any given pipe size and varying schedule numbers or thicknesses its Outside Diameter (OD) remains
constant and Internal Diameter (ID) varies. With increase in thickness the strength increases but its ID
decreases. OD is kept constant to help the support hardware design so that the same support hardware can
be used for same pipe size (varying thicknesses).
Governing Standards:
In the oil and gas and related downstream industries the most common standards are

ASME B 36.10 Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe, and

ASME B36.19 Stainless Steel Pipe

Nominal Pipe Size:

The size of all pipe is identified by the nominal pipe size. The manufacture of pipe NPS 18 (DN 6) to
NPS 12 (DN 300), inclusive, is based on a standardized outside diameter (OD). This OD was originally
selected so that pipe with a standard OD and having a wall thickness that was typical of the period would
have an inside diameter (ID) approximately equal to the nominal size. Although there is no such relation
between the existing standard thickness OD and nominal size these nominal sizes and standard ODs
continue in use as standard.
The manufacture of pipe NPS 14 (DN 350) and larger proceeds on the basis of an OD corresponding to
the nominal size. So the OD in mm of a pipe NPS 14 or higher can easily be calculated by simply
multiplying the NPS (here 14) by 25.4. But for lower sizes the OD calculation is not so easy.
Pipe Schedule vs Pipe Size:
As For all pipe sizes the outside diameter remains constant. Therefore any variation in schedule i.e. wall
thickness, affects only the inside diameter. As the schedule number increases, the wall thickness
increases, and the actual bore is reduced.

Standard (STD) is identical to SCH 40 up to NPS 10. All larger sizes of Standard have 9.53 mm wall
thicknesses.

Extra-Strong (XS) is identical to SCH 80 up to NPS 8. All larger sizes of Extra-Strong have 12.70
mm wall thicknesses.

Double Extra Strong (XXS) wall is thicker than SCH 160 from NPS 1/8 to NPS 6, and SCH 160 is
thicker than XXS wall for NPS 8 and larger.
Pipe of sizes and wall thicknesses other than those of Standard, Extra-Strong, and Double Extra-Strong,
and Schedule Number were adopted from API Specification 5L.

Wall thickness Calculation:

The calculation of wall thickness varies depending on usage of code. All codes (B 31.3, B 31.1, IBR, B
31.4, B 31.8, nuclear code etc.) provide equations for calculating the minimum wall thickness based on
pressure which the pipe has to withstand. The major parameters involved for thickness calculation are
Design pressure, Pipe OD and Allowable Stress at design temperature. After calculation of minimum wall
thickness, corrosion and mechanical allowances need to be added with that. After that the actual pipe
thickness is selected (immediate higher size thickness of the calculated value) from ASME code tables
depending on pipe material (CS or SS)
Pipe Dimension Charts/Tables:
The wall thickness associated with a particular schedule depends on the pipe size. Dimensions (OD, ID,
Thickness, and Schedule Number) and Weights of CS and SS pipes are given in ASME standards
mentioned above. The tables in the respective codes are dimensionally complete for all sizes and wall
thicknesses within its scope, but some of the larger, heavier wall sections are beyond the capability of
seamless mill production and must be obtained from forged and bored billets or other sources.
Stainless steel pipe is more often available in standard weight sizes (noted by the S designation, for
example NPS SCH 10S). However stainless steel pipe can also be available in other schedules.
Abbreviations used: DN-Nominal Diameter, NPS- Nominal Pipe Size, NB Nominal bore, STD
Standard, XS Extra Strong, XXS Double Extra Strong, ASME-American Society of Mechanical
Engineers, CS-Carbon Steel, SS-Stainless Steel.