What is ASTM A53 pipe?
ASTM A53 covers black and hot-dip galvanized steel pipe for mechanical and pressure applications and for ordinary steam, water, gas and air lines — the general-purpose carbon-steel pipe of the American system, dimensioned to ASME B36.10M in nominal pipe sizes (NPS) and schedules. It is made in three types: Type F (furnace butt-welded, Grade A only, rarely exported), Type E (electric-resistance welded, Grades A and B) and Type S (seamless, Grades A and B); Grade B, with 240 MPa (35 ksi) yield and 415 MPa tensile, is what projects specify, and Type E is the volume product from Turkish ERW mills, Type S coming from seamless mills. The standard requires a hydrostatic test on every length (or NDE for Type E), a flattening test, bend tests on small sizes, and — for Type E — a weld seam heat-treated to at least 540 °C (or NDE per supplementary requirement) so that the seam is not a hard, untempered line; galvanized pipe is hot-dipped to a minimum 550 g/m² (1.8 oz/ft²) of zinc. Ends are plain, bevelled 30° for welding, or threaded NPT and coupled (T&C) for screwed plumbing and fire-fighting systems. A53 sits beside its cousins: A106 is the seamless-only pipe for high-temperature service (the same sizes, tighter chemistry, silicon-killed), A500 the structural tube, A795 the sprinkler pipe, and API 5L the line pipe — an A53 Grade B Type S pipe is very often dual-certified A53/A106 B/API 5L B, and A53 Type E is frequently dual-marked with EN 10255 or EN 10219 in Turkish production. The applications are those of the ordinary steel pipe: fire-fighting and sprinkler mains (with A795), plumbing and HVAC, compressed air and low-pressure steam, structural columns, handrails and sleeves, and mechanical parts. We supply Type E sch 40 and 80 in ½"–24" and Type S in ½"–12" from Turkish and EU mills with the A53 mill test report.
ERW pipe — NPS, OD, wall and weight
ASME B36.10M sizes; sch 40 = STD, sch 80 = XS up to 10". A53 walls are identical to the EN sizes listed; check the schedule column.
| NPS | OD (mm) | Wall (mm) | kg/m | kg per 6 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½" | 21.3 | 1.5 | 0.73 | 4.39 |
| ½" | 21.3 | 1.9 | 0.91 | 5.45 |
| ½" | 21.3 | 2 | 0.95 | 5.71 |
| ½" | 21.3 | 2.5 | 1.16 | 6.95 |
| ¾" | 26.9 | 1.5 | 0.94 | 5.64 |
| ¾" | 26.9 | 1.9 | 1.17 | 7.03 |
| ¾" | 26.9 | 2 | 1.23 | 7.37 |
| ¾" | 26.9 | 2.4 | 1.45 | 8.7 |
| ¾" | 26.9 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 9.02 |
| ¾" | 26.9 | 3 | 1.77 | 10.61 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 1.5 | 1.19 | 7.15 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 1.9 | 1.49 | 8.94 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 2 | 1.56 | 9.38 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 2.4 | 1.85 | 11.11 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 2.5 | 1.92 | 11.54 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 3 | 2.27 | 13.63 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 3.2 | 2.41 | 14.44 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 3.6 | 2.67 | 16.03 |
| 1" | 33.7 | 4 | 2.93 | 17.58 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 1.4 | 1.42 | 8.49 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 1.5 | 1.51 | 9.08 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 11.39 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 2 | 1.99 | 11.96 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 2.5 | 2.46 | 14.76 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 3 | 2.92 | 17.49 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 3.2 | 3.09 | 18.56 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 3.6 | 3.45 | 20.67 |
| 1¼" | 42.4 | 4 | 3.79 | 22.73 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 1.4 | 1.62 | 9.71 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 1.5 | 1.73 | 10.39 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 1.9 | 2.17 | 13.04 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 2 | 2.28 | 13.7 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 2.4 | 2.72 | 16.3 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 2.5 | 2.82 | 16.94 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 3 | 3.35 | 20.11 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 3.2 | 3.56 | 21.35 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 3.6 | 3.97 | 23.81 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 4 | 4.37 | 26.22 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 5 | 5.34 | 32.03 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 1.5 | 2.18 | 13.05 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 1.9 | 2.74 | 16.42 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 2 | 2.88 | 17.25 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 2.4 | 3.43 | 20.56 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 2.5 | 3.56 | 21.38 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 2.9 | 4.11 | 24.63 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 3 | 4.24 | 25.43 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 3.2 | 4.51 | 27.04 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 3.6 | 5.03 | 30.2 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 4 | 5.55 | 33.32 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 5 | 6.82 | 40.91 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 1.5 | 2.76 | 16.55 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 2 | 3.66 | 21.93 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 2.4 | 4.36 | 26.17 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 2.5 | 4.54 | 27.22 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 2.9 | 5.24 | 31.41 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 3 | 5.41 | 32.45 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 3.2 | 5.75 | 34.52 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 3.6 | 6.44 | 38.62 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 4 | 7.11 | 42.67 |
| 2½" | 76.1 | 5 | 8.77 | 52.6 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 1.5 | 3.23 | 19.4 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 2 | 4.29 | 25.72 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 2.5 | 5.33 | 31.96 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 2.9 | 6.15 | 36.9 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 3 | 6.36 | 38.13 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 3.6 | 7.57 | 45.44 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 4 | 8.38 | 50.25 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 5 | 10.35 | 62.07 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 6 | 12.27 | 73.6 |
| 3½" | 101.6 | 2 | 4.91 | 29.47 |
| 3½" | 101.6 | 2.5 | 6.11 | 36.66 |
| 3½" | 101.6 | 3 | 7.29 | 43.76 |
| 3½" | 101.6 | 3.6 | 8.7 | 52.2 |
| 3½" | 101.6 | 4 | 9.63 | 57.76 |
| 3½" | 101.6 | 5 | 11.91 | 71.47 |
| 3½" | 101.6 | 6 | 14.15 | 84.87 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 2 | 5.54 | 33.23 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 2.5 | 6.89 | 41.35 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 3 | 8.23 | 49.4 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 3.6 | 9.83 | 58.97 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 4 | 10.88 | 65.28 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 5 | 13.48 | 80.86 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 6 | 16.02 | 96.14 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 6.3 | 16.78 | 100.67 |
| 5" | 139.7 | 2.5 | 8.46 | 50.75 |
| 5" | 139.7 | 3 | 10.11 | 60.68 |
| 5" | 139.7 | 4 | 13.39 | 80.31 |
| 5" | 139.7 | 5 | 16.61 | 99.65 |
| 5" | 139.7 | 6 | 19.78 | 118.69 |
| 5" | 139.7 | 8 | 25.98 | 155.89 |
| 6" | 168.3 | 3 | 12.23 | 73.37 |
| 6" | 168.3 | 4 | 16.21 | 97.24 |
| 6" | 168.3 | 5 | 20.14 | 120.81 |
| 6" | 168.3 | 6 | 24.01 | 144.08 |
| 6" | 168.3 | 8 | 31.62 | 189.74 |
| 8" | 219.1 | 3 | 15.99 | 95.92 |
| 8" | 219.1 | 4 | 21.22 | 127.3 |
| 8" | 219.1 | 5 | 26.4 | 158.39 |
| 8" | 219.1 | 6 | 31.53 | 189.18 |
| 8" | 219.1 | 8 | 41.65 | 249.88 |
| 10" | 273 | 4 | 26.53 | 159.2 |
| 10" | 273 | 5 | 33.04 | 198.26 |
| 10" | 273 | 6 | 39.51 | 237.03 |
| 10" | 273 | 8 | 52.28 | 313.67 |
| 10" | 273 | 10 | 64.86 | 389.14 |
| 12" | 323.3 | 5 | 39.25 | 235.48 |
| 12" | 323.3 | 6 | 46.95 | 281.69 |
| 12" | 323.3 | 8 | 62.2 | 373.21 |
EN 10219 / EN 10255 / ASTM A53 dimensions; plain or bevelled ends; 6 m standard, 12 m on request.
Grades, standards and tolerances
| Grade / standard | Yield (MPa) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A53 Grade B (Type E / S) | 240 (35 ksi) | the specified grade; tensile ≥ 415 MPa |
| A53 Grade A | 205 (30 ksi) | lighter duty, Type F / E |
| A106 Grade B (seamless) | 240 | high-temperature service; often dual-certified with A53 B Type S |
| API 5L Grade B | 241 | line pipe; dual-certified on seamless |
| EN 10255 S195T / EN 10219 S235JRH | 195 / 235 | European equivalents in the same sizes |
A53 Grade B chemistry: C ≤ 0.30, Mn ≤ 1.20, P ≤ 0.05, S ≤ 0.045 (plus Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, V limits). Design per ASME B31.1 / B31.3 / B31.9.
A53 vs A106 vs EN 10255 / EN 10219
| Standard | Process | Grade / yield | Service | Ends | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM A53 Gr B Type E | ERW, seam heat-treated | 240 MPa | general: water, air, steam, gas, structural | plain / bevel / T&C | the volume product |
| ASTM A53 Gr B Type S | seamless | 240 MPa | as above + higher pressure | plain / bevel | often dual A106 B |
| ASTM A106 Gr B | seamless only | 240 MPa | high temperature (to 425 °C+) | plain / bevel | Si ≥ 0.10, killed |
| ASTM A795 | ERW / seamless | 205–240 MPa | fire-protection sprinkler | grooved / threaded | sch 10 / 40 |
| API 5L Gr B | ERW / seamless | 241 MPa | oil and gas lines | bevel | PSL1 / PSL2 |
| EN 10255 M / H | ERW / seamless | 195 MPa | water, gas (threading) | plain / threaded | European equivalent |
| EN 10219 S235JRH | ERW | 235 MPa | structural | plain | not for pressure |
Same NPS × schedule dimensions across the ASTM standards (ASME B36.10M); EN sizes are OD × wall and coincide with most schedules.
Sch 40 and sch 80 dimensions and weights
| NPS | OD (mm) | Sch 40 wall (mm) | Sch 40 kg/m | Sch 80 wall (mm) | Sch 80 kg/m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½" | 21.3 | 2.77 | 1.27 | 3.73 | 1.62 |
| ¾" | 26.7 | 2.87 | 1.69 | 3.91 | 2.20 |
| 1" | 33.4 | 3.38 | 2.50 | 4.55 | 3.24 |
| 1½" | 48.3 | 3.68 | 4.05 | 5.08 | 5.41 |
| 2" | 60.3 | 3.91 | 5.44 | 5.54 | 7.48 |
| 3" | 88.9 | 5.49 | 11.29 | 7.62 | 15.27 |
| 4" | 114.3 | 6.02 | 16.07 | 8.56 | 22.32 |
| 6" | 168.3 | 7.11 | 28.26 | 10.97 | 42.56 |
| 8" | 219.1 | 8.18 | 42.55 | 12.70 | 64.64 |
| 10" | 273.1 | 9.27 | 60.31 | 12.70 | 81.55 |
| 12" | 323.9 | 10.31 | 79.73 | 12.70 | 97.46 |
Sch 40 = STD and sch 80 = XS up to 10"; above 12" STD is 9.53 mm and XS 12.70 mm regardless of schedule.
Lengths and stock
A53 Grade B Type E sch 40 in ½"–8", black, plain or bevelled ends, is available from Turkish mill stock within 1–2 weeks; galvanized T&C ½"–4", sch 80, Type S and 10"–24" are mill runs of 3–6 weeks. Lengths 6 m (single random 4.9–6.7 m) or 12 m; threaded pipe supplied with couplings and thread protectors.
Threading, grooving, welding and galvanizing
Thread NPT per ASME B1.20.1 (we supply T&C with couplings), roll-groove for Victaulic-type couplings on sch 40 pipe, bevel 30° ± 5° for butt welding; weld with E6010 / E7018 or G3Si1 — no preheat — and per ASME B31 procedures on pressure systems. Hot-dip galvanize after fabrication to A123 or order galvanized pipe (A53 zinc 550 g/m² min); cut ends of galvanized pipe are touched up with zinc-rich paint. Bend cold to 6 × OD on sch 40.
Where it is used
- Fire-fighting mains, hydrant and sprinkler systems (with A795)
- Plumbing, HVAC chilled-water and heating pipework
- Compressed-air and low-pressure steam lines
- Structural columns, sleeves, handrails and bollards
- Mechanical and machinery pipe
- Oil, gas and utility pipework where US specs apply
A53 vs ERW (EN) pipe vs seamless
Our standard ERW pipe to EN 10219 / 10255 is the same tube in European clothes and is often dual-marked — where the spec allows either, it is the cheaper route. Seamless pipe (A106 B / P235GH) takes over for high temperature and pressure; galvanized pipe to EN 10255 is the European counterpart of A53 galvanized.
Price
A53 Grade B is priced per ton on the ERW pipe list with a certification premium (about 40 USD/t) for the A53 mill test report and seam heat treatment; galvanized adds the zinc; Type S follows the seamless list. The bands below are indicative FOB Istanbul for black and galvanized sch 40 in the common sizes.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
A53 pipe ships in hexagonal bundles of 1–2 t strapped with edge protection, bevelled ends capped and threaded ends protected, galvanized pipe with separators, every bundle tagged with heat, size, schedule, type and grade and every pipe stencilled per A53 §19; 20 t per 20', 24 t per 40' HC in 6 m, 12 m on flat-rack from Derince. HS 7306.30 (welded), 7304.39 (seamless), 7306.30 / 7304.39 galvanized by finish.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 5 t per size; 20 t for a mill run |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau |
| Lead time | Type E sch 40 ½"–8" black: 1–2 weeks; galvanized, sch 80, Type S, > 8": 3–6 weeks |
| Packing | Hexagonal bundles 1–2 t, strapped, end caps on bevelled pipe, thread protectors on T&C; galvanized with separators |
| Container / truck | 20' ≈ 20 t; 40' HC ≈ 24 t of 6 m pipe; 12 m on flat-rack |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, A53 mill test report (EN 10204 3.1), certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP / third-party inspection on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight above 100 t |
Certificates
Each heat ships with the A53 mill test report — chemistry, tensile, flattening and bend results, hydrostatic test pressure, seam heat-treatment or NDE statement, zinc mass for galvanized — issued as EN 10204 3.1; third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TÜV), SASO / SONCAP and dual certification with A106 B / API 5L B are arranged at order.
How to order
Specify A53 Grade B, Type E or S, NPS × schedule, black or galvanized, ends (plain / bevelled / T&C NPT), length, quantity in tons or pieces, and any supplementary requirements (NDE, hydrotest witnessing, third-party inspection, dual certification with A106 / API 5L).
Standards
- ASTM A53 / A53M — pipe, steel, black and hot-dipped, zinc-coated, welded and seamless
- ASME B36.10M dimensions; ASME B1.20.1 NPT threads
- ASTM A123 / A53 zinc coating; ASTM A733 nipples
- EN 10204 3.1 (A53 mill test report)
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: A53 Grade B · A106 Grade B · S235JR
Frequently asked questions
What is ASTM A53 pipe?
The US standard for general-purpose black and hot-dip galvanized carbon-steel pipe — welded (Type E) or seamless (Type S), Grades A and B — in NPS sizes and schedules for water, air, steam, gas, structural and mechanical use.
What is the difference between A53 and A106?
A106 is seamless only, silicon-killed and specified for high-temperature service; A53 covers welded and seamless general-purpose pipe. Seamless A53 Grade B is often dual-certified as A106 Grade B.
A53 Type E or Type S?
Type E (ERW) is the standard and cheaper product for water, air, fire-fighting and structure; Type S (seamless) is chosen for higher pressure, temperature or when the spec says seamless.
What is the weight of 4" sch 40 A53 pipe?
16.07 kg/m (OD 114.3 mm, wall 6.02 mm); 4" sch 80 is 22.32 kg/m — see the table above.
Can A53 pipe be galvanized?
Yes — A53 covers hot-dip galvanized pipe with a minimum 550 g/m² zinc coating, usually supplied threaded and coupled for plumbing and fire systems.
Is A53 the same as EN 10255?
They are counterparts, not identical: same sizes largely, but A53 Grade B has higher yield (240 vs 195 MPa) and different testing. Turkish mills often dual-certify.