This specification covers carbon and low alloy steel tubes. Steel samples shall be melt processed and shall either be ingot cast or strand cast. Heat and product analyses shall be performed on the steel materials. Steel specimens shall also undergo tensile tests and shall conform to required values of yield strength and elongation. Flattening test, reverse flattening test, flaring test, flange test, hardness test, hydrostatic test, air underwater pressure test, and nondestructive tests shall be performed on the steel materials.

1.1 This specification2 covers a group of requirements which, with the exceptions of 6.3 and Sections 7, 8, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, are mandatory requirements to the following ASTM tubular product specifications:3

Title of Specification

ASTM Designation^A

Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel and Carbon-Manganese Steel Boiler Tubes

A178/A178M

Seamless Cold-Drawn Low-Carbon Steel Heat-Exchanger and Condenser Tubes

A179/A179M

Seamless Carbon Steel Boiler Tubes for High-Pressure Service

A192/A192M

Seamless Medium-Carbon Steel Boiler and Superheater Tubes

A210/A210M

Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel Heat-Exchanger and Condenser Tubes

A214/A214M

Seamless and Electric-Welded Low-Alloy Steel Tubes

A423/A423M

Specification for Seamless and Welded Carbon Steel Heat-Exchanger Tubes with Integral Fins

A498/A498M

Seamless Cold-Drawn Carbon Steel Feedwater Heater Tubes

A556/A556M

Seamless, Cold-Drawn Carbon Steel Tubing for Hydraulic System Service

A822/A822M

1.2 One or more of Sections 6.3, 7, 8, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22.1, 24, and 25 apply when the product specification or purchase order has a requirement for the test or analysis described by these sections.

1.3 In case of conflict between a requirement of the product specification and a requirement of this general requirement specification only the requirement of the product specification need be satisfied.

1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. The inch-pound units shall apply unless the “M” designation (SI) of the product specification is specified in the order.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.