1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers seamless copper water tube suitable for general plumbing, similar applications for the conveyance of fluids, and commonly used with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings. The type of copper water tube suitable for any particular application is determined by the internal or external fluid pressure, by the installation and service conditions, and by local requirements. Means of joining or bending are also factors which affect the selection of the type of tube to be used.

Note 1Annealed tube is suitable for use with flared or compression fittings, and with solder-type fittings, provided rounding and sizing of the tube ends is performed where needed.

Note 2Drawn temper tube is suitable for use with solder-type fittings. Types K and L tube, in the drawn temper, are suitable for use with certain types and sizes of compression fittings.

Note 3A complete metric companion to Specification B 88 has been developed-B 88M; therefore, no metric equivalents are presented in this specification.

Note 4Fittings used for soldered or brazed connections in plumbing systems are described in ASME B16.18 and ASME B16.22.

1.2 The tube shall be produced from the following coppers, and the manufacturer has the option to supply any one of them, unless otherwise specified.

1.3 The assembly of copper plumbing or fire sprinkler systems by soldering is described in Practice B 828.

1.4 Solders for joining copper potable water or fire sprinkler systems are covered by Specification B 32. The requirements for acceptable fluxes for these systems are covered by Specification B 813.

1.5 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section , of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

B32 Specification for Solder Metal

B88M Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube (Metric)

B153 Test Method for Expansion (Pin Test) of Copper and Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tubing

B577 Test Methods for Detection of Cuprous Oxide (Hydrogen Embrittlement Susceptibility) in Copper

B601 Classification for Temper Designations for Copper and Copper Alloys--Wrought and Cast

B813 Specification for Liquid and Paste Fluxes for Soldering of Copper and Copper Alloy Tube

B828 Practice for Making Capillary Joints by Soldering of Copper and Copper Alloy Tube and Fittings

E2 Methods of Preparation of Micrographs of Metals and Alloys (Including Recommended Practice for Photography As Applied to Metallography); Replaced by E 883

E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens

E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials

E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications

E53 Test Method for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed Copper by Gravimetry

E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods)

E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size

E243 Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy-Current) Examination of Copper and Copper-Alloy Tubes

E255 Practice for Sampling Copper and Copper Alloys for the Determination of Chemical Composition

E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)

ASME Standards

Keywords

copper tube; seamless; water tube; UNS No. C10200; UNS No. C12000; UNS No. C12200; Seamless Cu/Cu alloy tube--specifications; UNS C10200 (oxygen-free copper (OF)); UNS C12200--pipe/tube (seamless/welded); Water supply/distribution systems--specifications ; ICS Number Code 2200; 23.040.15 (Non-ferrous metal pipes)

DOI: 10.1520/B0088-03

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