ASTM B88-22

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B88 − 20 B88 − 22
Standard Specification for
Seamless Copper Water Tube
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B88; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for 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 1—Annealed 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 2—Drawn 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 3—Fittings 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.
Copper Previously Used Description
UNS No. Designation
C12000 DLP Phosphorus deoxidized,
low residual phosphorus
C12200 DHP Phosphorus deoxidized,
high residual phosphorus
1.3 The assembly of copper plumbing or fire sprinkler systems by soldering is described in Practice B828.
1.4 Solders for joining copper potable water or fire sprinkler systems are covered by Specification B32. The requirements for
acceptable fluxes for these systems are covered by Specification B813.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.04 on Pipe and
Tube.
Current edition approved April 1, 2020Oct. 1, 2022. Published May 2020October 2022. Originally approved in 1932. Last previous edition approved in 20162020 as
B88-16.-20. DOI: 10.1520/B0088-20.10.1520/B0088-22.
The UNS system for copper and copper alloys (see Practice E527) is a simple expansion of the former standard designation system accomplished by the addition of a
prefix “C” and a suffix “00.” The suffix is permitted to be used to accommodate composition variations of the base alloy.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B88 − 22
1.5 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in
this standard.
1.5.1 This specification is the companion specification to SI Specification B88M; therefore, no SI equivalents are shown in this
specification.
1.5.1.1 Exception—Values given in inch-pound units are the standard except for grain size, which is stated in SI units.
1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 16, 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.7 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced herein:
2.2 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
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
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
B900 Practice for Packaging of Copper and Copper Alloy Mill Products for U.S. Government Agencies
B968/B968M Test Method for Flattening of Copper and Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tube
E8/E8M 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 (Withdrawn 2022)
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods) (Withdrawn 2010)
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)
2.3 ASME Standards:
ASME B16.18 Cast Copper Alloy Solder Joint Pressure Fittings
ASME B16.22 Wrought Copper and Copper Alloy Solder Joint Pressure Fittings
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:—For definitions of terms related to copper and copper alloys, refer to Terminology B846.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Include the following specified choices when placing orders under this specification, as applicable.
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue (for example, B88 – 03);
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME International Headquarters, Two Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
www.asme.org.
B88 − 22
4.1.2 Copper [Alloy] UNS No. (or other internationally recognized alloy) designation (not necessary unless a specific copper is
desired);
4.1.3 Nominal or standard size (Column 1 of Table 1) and whether Type K, L, or M (Sections 3 and 12);
4.1.4 Temper (Section 7);
4.1.5 Length (see 12.5);
4.1.6 How furnished: straight lengths or coils; and
4.1.7 Quantity (pieces) of each size and type.
4.1.8 If product is purchased for agencies of the U.S. Government, it shall conform to the Supplementary Requirements as defined
herein when specified in the contract or purchase order.
4.2 The following options are available and shall be specified at the time of the order, when required:
4.2.1 Expansion of chemical analysis (see 6.2);
4.2.2 Tensile test;
4.2.3 Grain size determination (Section 8);
4.2.4 Hardness test (Section 9);
4.2.5 Expansion test (10.1);
4.2.6 Flattening test (10.2);
4.2.7 Microscopical Examination for Hydrogen Embrittlement, Procedure B (10.3.1.1);
TABLE 1 Dimensions, Weights, and Tolerances in Diameter and Wall Thickness for Nominal or Standard Copper Water Tube Sizes
(All tolerances are plus and minus except as otherwise indicated)
Wall Thickness and Tolerances, in.
Average Outside
Theoretical Weight, lb/ft
Nominal or Outside A
Diameter Tolerance, in.
Type K Type L Type M
Standard Size, Diameter,
Wall Toler- Wall Toler- Wall Toler-
in. in.
Annealed Drawn Type K Type L Type M
B B B
Thickness ance Thickness ance Thickness ance
C C C
⁄4 0.375 0.002 0.001 0.035 0.0035 0.030 0.003 0.145 0.126
⁄8 0.500 0.0025 0.001 0.049 0.005 0.035 0.004 0.025 0.002 0.269 0.198 0.145
⁄2 0.625 0.0025 0.001 0.049 0.005 0.040 0.004 0.028 0.003 0.344 0.285 0.204
C C C
⁄8 0.750 0.0025 0.001 0.049 0.005 0.042 0.004 0.418 0.362
⁄4 0.875 0.003 0.001 0.065 0.006 0.045 0.004 0.032 0.003 0.641 0.455 0.328
1 1.125 0.0035 0.0015 0.065 0.006 0.050 0.005 0.035 0.004 0.839 0.655 0.465
1 ⁄4 1.375 0.004 0.0015 0.065 0.006 0.055 0.006 0.042 0.004 1.04 0.884 0.682
1 ⁄2 1.625 0.0045 0.002 0.072 0.007 0.060 0.006 0.049 0.005 1.36 1.14 0.940
2 2.125 0.005 0.002 0.083 0.008 0.070 0.007 0.058 0.006 2.06 1.75 1.46
2 ⁄2 2.625 0.005 0.002 0.095 0.010 0.080 0.008 0.065 0.006 2.93 2.48 2.03
3 3.125 0.005 0.002 0.109 0.011 0.090 0.009 0.072 0.007 4.00 3.33 2.68
3 ⁄2 3.625 0.005 0.002 0.120 0.012 0.100 0.010 0.083 0.008 5.12 4.29 3.58
4 4.125 0.005 0.002 0.134 0.013 0.110 0.011 0.095 0.010 6.51 5.38 4.66
5 5.125 0.005 0.002 0.160 0.016 0.125 0.012 0.109 0.011 9.67 7.61 6.66
6 6.125 0.005 0.002 0.192 0.019 0.140 0.014 0.122 0.012 13.9 10.2 8.92
8 8.125 0.006 + 0.002 0.271 0.027 0.200 0.020 0.170 0.017 25.9 19.3 16.5
−0.004
10 10.125 0.008 + 0.002 0.338 0.034 0.250 0.025 0.212 0.021 40.3 30.1 25.6
−0.006
12 12.125 0.008 + 0.002 0.405 0.040 0.280 0.028 0.254 0.025 57.8 40.4 36.7
−0.006
A
The average outside diameter of a tube is the average of the maximum and minimum outside diameter, as determined at any one cross section of the tube.
B
Maximum deviation at any one point.
C
Indicates that the material is not generally available or that no tolerance has been established.
B88 − 22
4.2.8 Heat identification or traceability (5.1.2);
4.2.9 Certification;
4.2.10 Mill Test Report; and
4.2.11 Product specification number to be shown on package (see 23.2).
5. Materials and Manufacture
5.1 Materials:
5.1.1 The material of manufacture shall be a form of such purity and soundness as to be suitable for processing into the products
prescribed herein.
5.1.2 When specified in the contract or purchase order that heat identification or traceability is required, the purchaser shall specify
the details desired.
NOTE 4—Because of the discontinuous nature of the processing of castings into wrought products, it is not practical to identify specific casting analysis
with a specific quantity of finished material.
5.2 Manufacturer:
5.2.1 The product shall be manufactured by such hot-working, cold-working, and annealing processes as to produce a uniform
wrought structure in the finished product.
5.2.2 The product shall be hot- or cold-worked to the finished size and subsequently annealed, when required, to meet the temper
properties specified.
5.2.3 Tube, when furnished in coils, shall be annealed after coiling.
5.2.4 Tube, when furnished in straight lengths, shall normally be in the drawn temper. Upon agreement between the manufacturer
or supplier and the purchaser, the manufacturer shall have the option to supply annealed straight length tubing.
6. Chemical Composition
6.1 The material shall conform to the chemical composition requirements in Table 2 for the copper [alloy] UNS No. designation
if specified in the ordering information.
6.2 These composition limits do not preclude the presence of other elements. By agreement between the manufacturer and the
purchaser, limits may be established and analysis required for unnamed elements.
7. Temper
7.1 The standard tempers for products described in this specification are given in Table 3.
7.1.1 Annealed tempers O60, and O50.
7.1.2 Drawn temper H58.
TABLE 2 Chemical Composition—Weight %
Element Copper UNS No.
C12000 C12200
A
Copper, min 99.90 99.9
Phosphorus 0.004–0.012 0.015–0.040
A
Copper + silver.
B88 − 22
TABLE 3 Mechanical Property Requirements
A
Tensile
Temper Designation Rockwell Hardness
Average Grain
Form Strength,
Size, mm
B
Code Name Scale Value
min, ksi
O60 Soft Anneal straight lengths/coils F 50 max 30 0.040 min
O50 Light Anneal straight lengths/coils F 55 max 30 0.040 max
H58 drawn drawn 30 T 30 min 36 .
A
Rockwell hardness tests shall be made on the inside surfaces of the tube. When suitable equipment is not available for determining the specified Rockwell hardness,
other Rockwell scales and values shall be specified subject to agreement between the purchaser and the supplier.
B
ksi = 1000 psi.
8. Grain Size for Annealed Tempers
8.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order, the annealed products furnished under this specification shall conform to the
grain requirements prescribed in Table 3.
8.2 Acceptance or rejection based upon grain size shall depend on the average grain size of a test specimen and shall be within
the limits prescribed in Table 3 when determined in accordance with Test Methods E112.
9. Mechanical Property Requirements
9.1 Tensile Strength Requirements:
9.1.1 The product furnished under this specification shall conform to the tensile requirements prescribed in Table 3, when tested
in accordance with Test Methods E8/E8M. Actual testing need not be performed unless specified at time of order placement.
Acceptance or rejection based upon mechanical properties shall depend on tensile strength.
9.2 Rockwell Hardness Requirement:
9.2.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order, the product shall conform to the Rockwell hardness requirement prescribed
in Table 3, when tested in accordance with Test Methods E18.
10. Performance Requirements
10.1 Expansion Test:
10.1.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order, tube furnished annealed (O) shall be capable of expansion in accordance
with Test Method B153 to the following extent:
Nominal or Expansion of
Standard Size, in. Outside Diameter, %
⁄8 and under 40
Over ⁄8 30
The expanded tube shall show no cracking or other defects visible to the unaided eye.
10.2 Flattening Test:
10.2.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order, the flattening test in accordance with Test Method B968/B968M shall be
performed. As an alternative to the expansion test for tube standard sizes 4 in. and over in the annealed condition, a section 4 in.
in length shall be cut from the end of one of the lengths for a flattening test. This 4 in. test specimen shall be flattened so that a
gage set at three times the wall thickness will pass over the tube freely throughout the flattened part. The tube so tested shall
develop no cracks or flaws visible to the unaided eye as a result of this test. In making the flattening test the elements shall be
slowly flattened by one stroke of the press.
10.2.1.1 During inspection, the flattened areas of the test specimen shall be free of defects, but blemishes of a nature that do not
interfere with the intended application are acceptable.
B88 − 22
10.3 Microscopical Examination for Susceptibility to Hydrogen Embrittlement:
10.3.1 Tubes furnished in Copper UNS No. C12000 shall be essentially free of cuprous oxide as determined by Procedure A of
Test Methods B577. When Copper UNS No. C12200 is supplied, examination is not required. In case of a dispute, Procedure C
of Test Methods B577 shall be used as the referee method.
10.3.1.1 Tubes furnished in all coppers shall be capable of passing the embrittlement test specified in Procedure B of Test Methods
B577. In case of a dispute, Procedure C of Test Methods B577 shall be used as the referee method.
11. Other Requirements
11.1 Nondestructive Testing Requirements:
11.1.1 Each tube up to and including 3 ⁄8 in. in outside diameter shall be subjected to an eddy-current test. Testing shall follow
the procedures of Practice E243, except for the determination of “end effect.” Tubes shall be passed through an eddy-current test
unit adjusted to provide information on the suitability of the tube for the intended application.
11.1.1.1 Notch-depth standards, rounded to the nearest 0.001 in., shall be 22 % of the wall thickness. The notch-depth tolerance
shall be 60.0005 in. Alternatively, at the option of the manufacturer using speed insensitive eddy-current units that are equipped
to select a fraction of the maximum unbalance signal, the following percent maximum unbalance signals shall be used:
Nominal or Standard Unbalance Signal
Tube Size, in. Magnitude, max %
Up to ⁄8, incl 0.2
⁄2 to 2, incl 0.3
Over 2 to 3, incl 0.4
11.1.1.2 Tubes that do not actuate the signaling device of the eddy-current testers shall be considered as conforming to the
requirements of this test. Tubes with discontinuities indicated by the testing unit shall, at the option of the manufacturer, be
reexamined or retested to determine whether the discontinuity is cause for rejection. Signals that are found to have been caused
by minor mechanical damage, soil, or moisture, shall not be cause for rejection of the tubes provided the tube dimensions are still
within prescribed limits and the tube is suitable for its intended application.
11.1.2 Tube made to this specification shall be capable of withstanding the pressure test of 11.1.2.1 or 11.1.2.2. On subsequent
testing by the purchaser, failure to meet the requirements of 11.1.2.1 or 11.1.2.2 are grounds for rejection of the material by the
purchaser.
11.1.2.1 The tube shall stand, without showing evidence of leakage, an internal hydrostatic pressure sufficient to subject the
material to a fiber stress of 6000 psi, calculated from the following equation for thin hollow cylinders under tension:
P 5 2 St/ D 2 0.8t (1)
~ !
where:
P = hydrostatic pressure, psi;
t = wall thickness, in.;
D = outside diameter of the tube, in.; and
S = allowable stress of the material, psi.
11.1.2.2 The tube shall stand an internal air pressure of 60 psig for 5 s without showing evidence of leakage. The test method used
shall permit easy visual detection of any leakage, such as by having the tube under water or by the pressure differential method.
12. Dimensions, Mass, and Permissible Variation
12.1 For the purpose of determining conformance with the dimensional requirements prescribed
...