Standards and material selection for ERW pipes

Production and quality standards for ERW pipes generally include the following standards:

ASTM A53: Applicable to welded and seamless steel pipes for general use, widely used in construction, structures and transportation pipelines.
ASTM A500: Applicable to welded and cold-formed steel pipes for structural use, mainly used in structural engineering.

ASTM A513: Standard specification for electric resistance welded carbon and alloy steel mechanical piping, this specification covers mechanical pipes made of hot-rolled steel or cold-rolled steel. Applicable to steel pipes used in various environmental conditions, including high temperature, high pressure, low temperature, corrosive media and vibration environments.

ASTM A252: Applicable to steel pipe piles, mainly used in deep foundations and civil engineering.
ASTM A178: Standard specification for electric resistance welded carbon steel and carbon-manganese steel boiler and superheater steel pipes. This specification covers the minimum wall thickness electric resistance welded pipes made of carbon steel and carbon-manganese steel for use as boiler tubes, boiler flues, superheater flues and safety ends.
ASTM A312: Applicable to stainless steel materials, used to specify the manufacturing requirements and mechanical properties of stainless steel seamless and welded pipes.

ASTM A691: Covers carbon steel and alloy steel pipes, made of pressure vessel quality plates with various analysis and strength levels using electric fusion welding (EFW) with added filler metal, suitable for high-pressure service at high temperatures.
ASTM A672: Covers electric fusion welded steel pipes for high pressure at moderate temperatures.

API 5L: Standard for pipeline systems for the petroleum and natural gas industry, including the transportation of fluids such as petroleum, natural gas, water and oil. ‌API 5L standards are divided into two levels, PSL1 and PSL2. The requirements of PSL1 level are relatively low, the testing requirements are not as stringent, and it is generally more cost-effective. The PSL2 level has higher technical requirements, including resistance to ductile fracture growth, sour service conditions and offshore service conditions. ‌

BS 1387: British standard, mainly used for welded steel pipes for low-pressure water and gas transportation.
EN 10217: European standard, is a series of technical standards for welded steel pipes for pressure purposes, covering a variety of types from non-alloy steel pipes to stainless steel pipes. This standard was developed by the European Organization for Standardization to unify the technical requirements and delivery conditions of welded steel pipes for pressure purposes. EN 10217-7 is about the technical conditions for stainless steel welded pipes, which are particularly suitable for important application areas such as heat exchangers, food industry equipment, mechanical construction, pharmaceutical equipment, etc.

How to choose the right ERW pipe material?

When choosing the right ERW pipe material, you can consider the following factors:

1. Corrosion resistance of the material
According to the required use environment, choose materials with good corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel, nickel alloy, etc.

2. Strength and hardness of the material
According to the pressure and load conditions of use, choose materials with sufficient strength and hardness, such as carbon steel, alloy steel, etc.

3. Weldability of the material
Consider whether the selected material can be easily welded, including the availability of welding technology and equipment, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, etc. with good welding performance.

4. Inspection and acceptance requirements
According to the required inspection and acceptance requirements, choose materials with appropriate material certificates, such as materials with certification and traceability.

5. Cost and availability
According to the budget and the market supply of materials, choose materials with reasonable cost and easy access. Click here to learn more about ERW pipe vs Seamless pipe cost.

Inspection and certification:

The following inspections are usually carried out during the production of ERW steel pipes:
1. Appearance inspection: Ensure that there are no obvious defects on the surface of the pipe.
2. Dimension inspection: Ensure that the outer diameter and wall thickness of the pipe meet the standards.
3. Mechanical property test: including tensile test, impact test, etc.
4. Nondestructive testing: Use ultrasonic or radiographic testing to ensure the quality of welds.

Application areas:

ERW steel pipes are widely used in the following fields:
1. Construction engineering: pipes and frames for structures.
2. Oil and gas: pipelines.
3. Water treatment: used for water pipes and irrigation systems.
4. Mechanical engineering: used as mechanical components and supporting structures.

Considering the above factors, you can choose the appropriate ERW pipe material to meet your needs.

Read more: SAW vs ERW and EFW Welded Steel Pipe or Carbon steel ERW pipe specification