Bri-Steel Seamless Pipe Manufacturer

Seamless Carbon Steel Pipe
( ASTM A53 / ASME SA53 )

ASTM Scope:
This specification covers steel pipe in NPS 1/8 to NPS 26, inclusive, with nominal wall thickness as given in Table X2.2 and Table X2.3. It shall be permissible to furnish pipe having other dimensions provided that such pipe complies with all other requirements of this specification. Supplementary requirements of an optional nature are provided and shall apply only when specified by the purchaser.

Product Knowledge:
Common uses include structural applications (piles, beams, pillars, fencing, etc.) and low pressure uses (piping for water, air or steam, etc.)

This ASTM specification is written so that the end user and the manufacturer can agree upon, and clearly understand, the properties and capabilities of the piping product being supplied. In contrast with national codes (like API, ASME or CSA), ASTM A53 is rarely stipulated by national or state-level legal requirements.

Rather than “re-invent the wheel”, ASME has recognized the widespread use of this product, and has adopted the A53 standard for use in pressure vessel (BPVC) and pressure piping (B31.X) applications. The details of this can be found in ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Section IIA, and is identified as SA53. Note that there may be minor exceptions in the SA version of ASTM standards, and the engineers, end users, purchasers and Manufacturer must comply. Note also that there is often a 5 to 10 year lag between the approved ASTM edition and the approved ASME edition. This means that there can be minor differences between the two specifications. Most engineers who spec SA53 product will also prefer to follow the requirements of the more recent ASTM version (which is usually also more strict), resulting in the common notation ASTM/ASME A/SA53 Seamless Pipe on the product documentation.

Though there is no lower limit on manganese (Mn) in ASTM A53, this product will commonly have a Mn/C ratio of 2 to 4 depending on the production method. For this reason, ASME B31.3 limits the low temp application of SA53 Grade B products to above -20F (-29C). That being said, many engineers may choose to spec higher quality products (such as SA106 or SA333) for these applications.

Though A53 has its own table for product dimensions, the table is vastly identical to that of ASME B36.10, especially as they refer to normal schedules of pipe (STD, XS, XXS, and numbered schedules). Therefore, A53 pipe products are often multi-certified to similar ASTM A106 and API 5L grades, where the requirements of all these specifications are met.

Note that for welding SA53 products, ASME BPVC Section IX considers SA53 to be in the P1G1 alloy grouping (along with SA106 GrB, SA333 Gr6).

For seamless pipe only, non-destructive testing can be performed in lieu of hydrotesting, provided that the NDT was determined to be capable of full-thickness inspection (i.e., it must have been volumetric NDT).

Basic Product Properties:
A53 GrA:
30 ksi (205 MPa) min. YS
48 ksi (330 MPa) min. UTS
Not Impact Tested


A53 GrB: 35 ksi (240 MPa) min. YS
60 ksi (415 MPa) min. UTS
Not Impact Tested

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