Common Tubing Specifications

ASME
Spec.

ASME
Grade

ERW or
Description
Smls.

Typical uses

SA-178

ERW

Boiler tubes,
Low carbon steel - C=0.18
economizers, low
max.
temp. superheaters

SA-178

ERW

Medium carbon steel C=0.35 max.

SA-178

ERW

Carbon-manganese steel Not in common use

C=0.27 max

Smls.

Waterwalls,
Low carbon steel - C=0.18
economizers, low
max
temp. superheaters
Waterwalls,
economizers,
superheaters

SA-192

Boiler tubes,
economizers, low
temp. superheaters

SA-210

A1

Smls.

Medium carbon steel C=0.27 max.

SA-210

Smls.

Medium carbon steel C=0.35 max.

Waterwalls,
economizers,
superheaters

SA-209

T1

Smls.

Low alloy steel - low

carbon, 1/2% moly

Superheaters

SA-209

T1a

Smls.

Low alloy steel - medium

carbon, 1/2% moly

Superheaters

SA-209

T1b

Smls.

Low alloy steel - low

carbon, 1/2% moly

Superheaters

SA-213

T2

Smls.

Waterwalls,
Intermediate alloy - 1/2%
superheaters, not in
chrome, 1/2% moly
common use

SA-213

T11

Smls.

Intermediate alloy - 1
Waterwalls,
1/4% chrome, 1/2% moly superheaters

SA-213

T22

Smls.

Intermediate alloy - 2
1/4% chrome, 1% moly

Waterwalls,
superheaters

Smls.

Intermediate alloy - 5%
chrome, 1/2% moly

High temperature
superheaters, not in
common use

Smls.

Intermediate alloy - 9%
chrome, 1% moly

High temperature
superheaters, no
longer in common use

SA-213

SA-213

T5

T9

SA-213

T91

Smls.

Intermediate alloy - 9%
chrome, 1% moly, 1/4%
vanadium

High temperature
superheaters - the
latest and greatest

SA-213

Tp-304

Smls.

Stainless steel - 18%

chrome, 8% nickel

Superheaters

SA-213

Tp-304H

Smls.

Stainless steel for high

temperature service

High temperature
superheaters

SA-213

Tp-316

Smls.

Stainless steel - 16%

chrome, 11% nickel

Superheaters

SA-213

Tp-316H

Smls.

Stainless steel for high

temperature service

High temperature
superheaters

SA-213

Tp-321

Smls.

Stainless steel - 17%

chrome, 9% nickel, 0.60% Superheaters
titanium

SA-213

Tp-321H

Smls.

Stainless steel for high

temperature service

High temperature
superheaters
Superheaters
High temperature
superheaters

SA-213

Tp-347

Smls.

Stainless steel - 17%

chrome, 9% nickel,
columbium +
tantalum=1.00% max.

SA-213

Tp-347H

Smls.

Stainless steel for high

temperature service

For boiler tubes, A-178A is the most common, and most economical
choice.
Economizers are usually made from SA-178A or SA-210-A1.
Superheater materials vary widely, with SA-178A and SA-192 used most
commonly in the lower temperature ranges. SA-210-A1,
SA-213-T11, and SA-213-T22 are commonly seen in the intermediate
temperature ranges, with the stainless grades, most
frequently Tp-304H and Tp-347H, reserved for the higher temperature
superheaters, although SA-213-T91 is increasingly specified
for the highest temperatures.

This table is intended to give a "quick and dirty" comparison of American, British, German, and
Japanese Standards for common boiler tubing and boiler piping specifications. This table
must not be used for design. There is seldom an exact match between specifications in two
different Standards. Use this table only to find an approximate equivalent, then compare the
details of the specifications to determine if substitution is permissable. The best source I have
found (and it's neither completely accurate nor easy to use) is the Handbook of Comparative
World Steel Standards, published by ASTM. It's a revision of a handbook originally done by the
Japanese, and it's still half in Japanese, but it seems to be about the only thing available, short of
buying all of the individual Standards. You can buy it off the Web at www.astm.org. Click on
the Bookstore, then Technical Publications, then Steel. You may have to up the credit limit on
your plastic.
The table is divided into tubing, (which is used inside the boiler setting, as in steam generating
tubes, wall tubes, superheaters and economizers) and piping (which is used ouside the boiler
setting, as in headers, steam piping, and feedwater lines). The German (DIN) Standards don't
appear to differentiate between the two. Heat exchanger tube specs are not included here. In
general, the Japanese (JIS) specs match up pretty well with the American(ASME/ASTM), while
the British (BS) and German specs are usually more difficult to find an equivalent in.
We welcome input on any poor choices, downright errors, or blank spots in the table. Please
email your comments to steve@heckmantube.com.

ASME/ASTM BS
Tubing Specs

DIN

JIS

SA-178 A

3059 ERW 320

17177 St37.8

G 3461 STB35 E

SA-178 C

3059 ERW 440

17177 St42.8

G 3461 STB42 E

SA-178 D

G 3461 STB52 E

SA-192

3059 S1 360

17175 St35.8

G 3461 STB35 S

SA-210 A1

3059 S1 440

17175 St45.8

G 3461 STB52 S

SA-210 C
SA-209 T1

G 3461 STB42 S
3059 S1 243

17175 15Mo3

G 3462 STBA12 S

SA-209 T1a

G 3462 STBA13 S

SA-213 T2

G 3462 STBA20 S

SA-213 T11

3059 S1 620-460

SA-213 T12
SA-213 T22

17175 13CrMo4-4

G 3462 STBA23

17175 13CrMo4-4
3059 S1 622-490

17175 10CrMo9-10

G 3462 STBA24

SA-213 T23 (not

appr)
SA 213 T24 (not
appr)
SA-213 T5

17175 7CrMoVTiB10-10
G 3462 STBA25

SA-213 T9

3059 S1 629-470

SA-213 T91

3059-2 Gr. 91

SA-213 Tp-304

G 3462 STBA26
17175-X10CrMoVNb9-1 G 3462 STBA28
17456 X2CrNi1911

SA-213 Tp 304H 3059 CFS304S51

SA-213 Tp 316

G3463 SUS304HTB
17456 X5CrNiMo17122

SA-213 Tp 316H 3059 CFS316S51

SA-213 Tp 321

G3463 SUS316TB
G3463 SUS316HTB

17456 X6CrNiTi1810

SA-213 Tp 321H 3059 CFS321S51

SA-213 Tp 347

G3463 SUS304TB

G3463 SUS321TB
G3463 SUS321HTB

17456 X5CrNiNB1810

SA-213 Tp 347H 3059 CFS347S51

G3463 SUS347TB
G3463 SUS347HTB

Pipe Specs
SA-53A

3602 HFS360

17175 St35.8

G 3454 STPG38

SA-53B

3602 HFS460

17175 St45.8

G 3454 STPG42

SA-106B

3602 CFS460

17175 St45.8

G 3456 STPT42

SA-106C

3602 CFS460

SA-335-P11

3604 CFS621

17175 13CrMo44

G 3458 STPA23

SA-335-P22

3604 CFS622

17175 10CrMo910

G 3458 STPA24

SA-335-P9

3604 CFS629-470

SA-335-P91

3604-2 Gr. 91

G 3456 STPT49

G 3458 STPA26

ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM specs are generally identical to
ASME).
BS - British Standards
DIN - Deutsche Industrie Normen (German Standards)
JIS - Japanese Industrial Standards

Maximum Allowable Working Pressures for common boiler tube sizes,

SA178A or SA192, where expanded into drums or headers. From ASME Boiler & Pressure
Vessel Code, Section I, Table PWT-10. This information is copyrighted by ASME, and is
reproduced with permission. This table is presented for information only, and is not a substitute
for proper ASME design procedures.
Tube Outside Diameter, inches
Thck., BWG
inches. No.

1.250 1.500 1.750 2.000 2.250 2.500 2.750 3.000 3.250

0.065 16

350

0.075 15+ 550

430

0.085 14+ 740

590

490

410

1760 760

630

530

0.095 13

460

400

350

0.105 12- 1980 1600 1340 1150 570

500

440

390

1870 1570 1340 1170 1040 930

840

460

0.135 10+

1790 1540 1340 1190 1060 960

880

0.150 9+

2020 1740 1520 1340 1200 1090 990

0.120 11

0.165 8

1940 1690 1500 1340 1210 1100

0.180 7

1870 1660 1480 1340 1220

0.200 60.220 5

1870 1670 1520 1380

1870 1690 1540

0.240 4+

1870 1700

0.260 3+

1870

0.280 2-

2040