Designation: A 270 03a

Standard Specification for

Seamless and Welded Austenitic and Ferritic/Austenitic

Stainless Steel Sanitary Tubing1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 270; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

2.2 ASME Standard:

B46.1 Surface Texture (Surface Roughness, Waviness, and
Lay)3
2.3 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code:
Section VIII Pressure Vessels3
2.4 Other Standard:
SAE J1086 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys
(UNS)4

1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers grades of seamless, welded,
and heavily cold worked welded austenitic and ferritic/
austenitic stainless steel sanitary tubing intended for use in the
dairy and food industry and having special surface finishes.
Pharmaceutical quality may be requested, as a supplementary
requirement.
1.2 This specification covers tubes in sizes up to and
including 12 in. (304.8 mm) in outside diameter.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard.
1.4 Optional supplementary requirements are provided, and
when one or more of these are desired, each shall be so stated
in the order.

3. Terminology
3.1 Definition:
3.1.1 roughness average, Ra, narithmetic average surface
roughness normally reported in microinches or microns; a
measurement of surface roughness usually performed by moving a stylus in a straight line along the surface, although other
methods may be used.

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
A 262 Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steels
A 480/A 480M Specification for General Requirements for
Flat-Rolled Stainless and Heat-Resisting Steel Plate,
Sheet, and Strip
A 923 Test Methods for Detecting Detrimental Intermetallic
Phase in Wrought Duplex Austenitic/Ferritic Stainless
Steels
A 967 Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments
for Stainless Steel Parts
A 1016/A 1016M Specification for General Requirements
for Ferritic Alloy Steel, Austenitic Alloy Steel, and Stainless Steel Tubes
E 527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys (UNS)

4. Ordering Information
4.1 It is the responsibility of the purchaser to specify all
requirements that are necessary for material ordered under this
specification. Such requirements may include, but are not
limited to, the following:
4.1.1 Quantity (feet, metres, or number of lengths),
4.1.2 Name of material (austenitic steel tube),
4.1.3 Process seamless (SML), welded (WLD), or heavily
cold worked (HCW),
4.1.4 Size (outside diameter and average wall thickness),
4.1.5 Length (specific or random),
4.1.6 Surface finish (Section 13),
4.1.7 Optional requirements (product analysis, see Section
9; hydrostatic or nondestructive electric test, see Section11).
4.1.8 Test report required (Certification Section of Specification A 1016/A 1016M),
4.1.9 Specification designation,
4.1.10 Special requirements, and

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.10 on Stainless and Alloy Steel Tubular Products.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally
approved in 1944. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as A 27003.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

3
Available from ASME International, Three Park Avenue, New York, NY
100165990.
4
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth
Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

*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.

A 270 03a
product analysis tolerance is not applicable to the carbon
content for material with a specified maximum carbon of
0.04 % or less.
9.2 If the original test for product analysis fails, retests of
two additional lengths of flat-rolled stock or tubes shall be
made. Both retests for the elements in question shall meet the
requirements of the specification; otherwise all remaining
material in the heat or lot (Note 1) shall be rejected or, at the
option of the producer, each length of flat-rolled stock or tube
may be individually tested for acceptance. Lengths of flat
rolled stock or tubes that do not meet the requirements of the
specification shall be rejected.

4.2 Any supplementary requirements.

5. General Requirements
5.1 Material furnished under this specification shall conform to the applicable requirements of the current edition of
Specification A 1016/A 1016M, unless otherwise provided
herein.
6. Manufacture
6.1 The tubes shall be manufactured by one of the following
processes:
6.1.1 Seamless (SML) tubes shall be made by a process that
does not involve welding at any stage.
6.1.2 Welded (WLD) tubes shall be made using an automated welding process with no addition of filler metal during
the welding process.
6.1.3 Heavily cold worked (HCW) tubes shall be made by
applying cold working of not less than 35 % reduction of
thickness of both wall and weld to a welded tube prior to the
final anneal. No filler shall be used in making the weld. Prior
to cold working, the weld shall be 100 % radiographically
inspected in accordance with the requirements of ASME Boiler
and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII, Division 1, latest
revision, Paragraph UW 51.
6.2 At the manufacturers option, tubing may be furnished
either hot finished or cold finished.

10. Mechanical Tests Required

10.1 Reverse Flattening TestFor welded tubes, one reverse flattening test shall be made on a specimen from each
1500 ft (457 m) of finished tubing.
11. Hydrostatic or Nondestructive Electric Test
11.1 Each tube shall be subjected to the nondestructive
electric test or the hydrostatic test. The type of test to be used
shall be at the option of the manufacturer, unless otherwise
specified in the purchase order.
12. Permissible Variations in Dimensions
12.1 The following variations in dimensions shall apply:
12.1.1 For tubes with a specified wall thickness of 0.049 in.
(1.24 mm) and greater, variations in outside diameter from
those specified shall not exceed the amount prescribed in Table
2. For tubes with a specified wall thickness less than 0.049 in.
(1.24 mm), the diameter tolerances shall be a matter for
agreement by the manufacturer and the purchaser.
12.1.2 When tubing >4 in. (101.6 mm) outside diameter is
ordered, additional ovality may be required for thin wall
tubing. Thin wall tubing applies when the specified wall is less
than 0.150 in. (3.81 mm). When thin wall tubing is ordered, the
maximum and minimum outside diameter at any cross section
shall deviate from the specified outside diameter by no more
than twice the permissible variation in outside diameter given
in Table 2; however, the mean diameter at that cross section
must still be within the given permissible variation.
12.1.3 The wall thickness at any point shall not vary more
than 12.5 %, from the specified wall thickness.
12.1.4 Variations in length shall meet the requirements in
Table 2 except when the Pharmaceutical Quality Tubing
(Supplementary Requirement S2) is specified.

7. Heat Treatment
7.1 All material shall be furnished in the heat-treated
condition. The heat treatment procedure, except for S31803,
S32003, S32205, S32750, N08926 and N08367, shall consist
of heating the material to a minimum temperature of 1900F
(1040C) and quenching in water or rapid cooling by other
means.
7.2 N08926 shall be heat-treated to a minimum temperature
of 2010F [1100C] followed by quenching in water or rapidly
cooling by other means. UNS N08367 should be solution
annealed from 2025F [1107C] minimum followed by rapid
quenching.
7.3 S31803 and S32205 shall be heat-treated in a temperature range of 1870F [1020C] to 2010F [1100C] followed
by quenching in water or rapidly cooling by other means.
7.4 S32750 shall be heat-treated in a temperature range of
1880F [1025C] to 2060F [1125C] followed by quenching
in water or rapidly cooling by other means.
7.5 S32003 shall be heat-treated in a temperature range of
1850F (1010C) to 2010F (1100C).

13. Surface Finishes

8. Chemical Composition
8.1 An analysis of either one length of flat-rolled stock or
one tube shall be made for each heat. The chemical composition thus determined shall conform to the requirements given in
Table 1.

13.1 The following surface finishes may be specified:

13.1.1 Mill Finish A finish without additional polishing or
operations intended to smooth the surface.
13.1.2 Mechanically Polished Surface FinishThe purchaser may specify one of the following finish numbers for a
mechanically polished surface:
13.1.2.1 Finish No. 80A ground finish produced by polishing a tube with an abrasive media impregnated with No. 80
grit.

9. Product Analysis
9.1 When requested by the purchaser, product analysis
tolerance in Specification A 480/A 480M shall apply. The
2

0.035B
2.00
0.045
0.030
1.00
8.012.0
18.020.0
...
...
...

0.045

0.030
1.00
8.011.0
18.020.0
...
...
...

S30403

S30400

UNS
DesignationA

0.08
2.00

TP 304L

TP 304

Grade

0.010
0.80
17.518.5
19.520.5
6.06.5
0.180.22
0.501.00

0.030

0.020
1.00

Composition, %

S31254

...

0.030
1.00
10.014.0
16.018.0
2.003.00
...
...

0.045

0.08
2.00

S31600

TP 316

0.030
1.00
10.014.0
16.018.0
2.003.00
...
...

0.045

0.035B
2.00

S31603

TP 316L

0.010
0.50
24.026.0
19.021.0
6.07.0
0.150.25
0.501.5

0.030

0.020
2.00

N08926

...

TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements

0.030
1.00
23.525.5
20.022.0
6.07.0
0.180.25
0.75 max

0.040

0.030
2.00

N08367

...

0.020
1.00
4.56.5
21.023.0
2.53.5
0.080.20
...

0.030

0.030
2.00

S31803

...

0.020
1.00
4.56.5
22.023.0
3.03.5
0.140.20
...

0.030

0.030
2.00

S32205

...

0.020
0.80
6.08.0
24.026.0
3.05.0
0.240.32
0.50 max

0.035

0.030
1.20

S32750

...

0.020 max
1.00 max
3.04.0
19.522.5
1.52.0
0.140.20

0.030

0.030 max
2.00 max

S32003

2003

New designation established in accordance with Practice E 527 and SAE J 1086.
For small diameter or thin walls or both, where many drawing passes are required, a carbon maximum of 0.040 % is necessary in grades TP304L and TP316L. Small outside diameter tubes are defined as those
less than 0.500 in. (12.7 mm) in outside diameter and light wall tubes as those less than 0.049 in. (1.24 mm) in average wall thickness (0.044 in. (1.12 mm) in minimum wall thickness).
C
The method of analysis for nitrogen shall be a matter of agreement between the purchaser and manufacturer.

Carbon, max
Manganese,
max
Phosphorus,
max
Sulfur, max
Silicon, max
Nickel
Chromium
Molybdenum
NitrogenC
Copper

Element

A 270 03a

A 270 03a
TABLE 2 Permissible Variations in Dimensions
Size, Outside
Diameter,
in. (mm)
1.000 (25.4) and under
Over 1 (25.4) to 2 (50.8)
Over 2 (50.8) to 3 (76.2)
Over 3 (76.2) to 4 (101.6)
Over 4 (101.6) to 5 12 (139.7), excl
5 12 (139.7) to 8 (203.2), excl
8 (203.2) to 12 (304.8)
A

Permissible Variations in Outside

Diameter, in. (mm)
Over
0.005
0.008
0.010
0.015
0.015
0.030
0.050

(0.13)
(0.20)
(0.25)
(0.38)
(0.38)
(0.76)
(1.27)

Under
0.005
0.008
0.010
0.015
0.015
0.030
0.050

(0.13)
(0.20)
(0.25)
(0.38)
(0.38)
(0.76)
(1.27)

Permissible Variations in Cut

Length, in. (mm)A
Over

Under

(3.2)
18 (3.2)
18 (3.2)
18 (3.2)
316 (4.8)
316 (4.8)
316 (4.8)

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

18

The cut tolerances do not apply to Pharmaceuitical Tubing in S2 (see paragraph S2.7).

13.1.2.2 Finish No. 120A ground finish produced by

polishing a tube with an abrasive media impregnated with No.
120 grit.
13.1.2.3 Finish No. 180A ground finish produced by
polishing a tube with an abrasive media impregnated with No.
180 grit.
13.1.2.4 Finish No. 240A ground finish produced by
polishing a tube with an abrasive media impregnated with No.
240 grit.
13.1.2.5 Other mechanically polished finishes may be
agreed upon between the purchaser and manufacturer.
13.1.3 Electropolished FinishA bright reflective finish
produced by electropolishing. The manufacturer may use other
polishing operations prior to electropolishing.
13.1.4 Maximum Roughness Average (Ra) Surface Finish
The customer may specify a maximum Ra on the inside
surface, outside surface, or both. The measurement of surface
roughness shall be in accordance with ASME B46.1.
13.1.4.1 When no agreement is made regarding Ra measurement of longitudinally polished tube, disputes shall be
resolved using measurements made in accordance with ASME
B46.1.
13.2 The manufacturer shall select a manufacturing method
to produce the specified finish. The operations may or may not
include polishing.
13.2.1 The purchaser may specify the polishing type for
either the inside surface, outside surface or both for the final
desired effect.
13.2.1.1 Longitudinally Polished Finish It is usually performed on the inside surface only.

13.2.1.2 Circumferential (Rotary) Polished FinishThis

can be performed on either the inside surface, outside surface,
or both.
13.2.1.3 When the surface is finished by circumferential
mechanical polishing, the Ra measurement shall be measured
in the longitudinal direction. Roughness measurement of a
longitudinal mechanical polished surface shall be a matter of
agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser.
13.3 Acceptance criteria for minor surface imperfections
shall be a matter for agreement by the manufacturer and the
purchaser.
13.4 Combinations of the above finishes for internal and
external surfaces may be specified. When tubes are polished on
one surface only, the other surface may be the regular mill
finish.
14. Product Marking
14.1 In addition to the marking prescribed in Specification
A 1016/A 1016M and specified in the order, the marking shall
include whether the tubing is seamless (SML), welded (WLD),
or heavily cold worked (HCW), and the surface finish.
15. Packaging
15.1 Unless otherwise specified in the order, all tubing shall
be protected for shipment by bundling, paper or burlap
wrapping, or boxing at the discretion of the manufacturer.
16. Keywords
16.1 austenitic stainless steel; duplex stainless steel; ferritic/
austenitic stainless steel; heavily cold worked tube; seamless
steel tube; stainless steel tube; steel tube; welded steel tube

A 270 03a
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
The following supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified by the purchaser in the
inquiry, contract, or order.
S1. Intergranular Corrosion Test
S1.1 When specified on the order, intergranular corrosion
tests shall be performed by the manufacturer on specimens
representative of the as-shipped condition. Tubes shall be
capable of passing corrosion tests in the as-shipped condition.
Tests shall be performed in accordance with Practice E of
Practices A 262 for austenitic stainless alloys (intergranular
corrosion test) or Practice C of Test Methods A 923 for duplex
alloys (S31803, S32205, or S32750, Intermetallic phase detection).

S2.5.1 Requirements for surface finish shall be stated on the

purchase order.
S2.6 Packaging:
S2.6.1 Unless the customer specified otherwise, all tubing
shall be end capped, plastic sleeved, and boxed.
S2.7 Permissible Variations in Dimensions:
S2.7.1 The wall thickness shall not vary from the specified
wall thickness by more than 10 %.
S2.7.2 The cut length shall not vary over the specified
length by more than 2 in. (50.8 mm) or less than 0 in. (0 mm).

S2. Pharmaceutical Quality Tubing

S2.1 Chemistry:
S2.1.1 When S31600 and S31603 are ordered, sulfur content shall be restricted to the range of 0.005 to 0.017 %.
S2.2 Tensile Requirements:
S2.2.1 The material shall conform to the tensile requirements in Table S2.1.
S2.2.2 Tensile TestOne tension test shall be made on a
specimen of lots not more than 50 tubes. Tension tests shall be
made on specimens from two tubes for lots of more than 50
tubes (see Note S2.1).
S2.3 Hardness Requirements:
S2.3.1 The hardness shall meet the requirements in Table
S2.1.
S2.3.2 Rockwell hardness tests shall be made on specimens
from two tubes from each lot (see Note S2.1).
S2.4 Manipulation Tests:
S2.4.1 One flattening test shall be made on specimens from
each end of one finished tube, not the one used for the flange
test, from each lot (see Note S2.2).
S2.4.2 One flange test shall be made on specimens from
each end of one finished tube, not the one used for the
flattening test, from each lot (see Note S2.2).
S2.5 Finish:

NOTE S2.1For tension and hardness test requirements, the term lot
applies to all tubes prior to cutting, of the same nominal diameter and wall
thickness that are produced from the same heat of steel. When final heat
treatment is in a batch-type furnace, a lot shall include only those tubes of
the same size and the same heat that are heat treated in the same furnace
charge. When the final heat treatment is in a continuous furnace, a lot shall
include all tubes of the same size and heat, annealed in the same furnace
at the same temperature, time at heat, and furnace speed.
NOTE S2.2For flattening and flange requirements, the term lot applies
to all tubes prior to cutting of the same nominal size and wall thickness
that are produced from the same heat of steel. When final heat treatment
is in a batch-type furnace, a lot shall include only those tubes of the same
size and from the same heat that are heat treated in the same furnace
charge. When the final heat treatment is in a continuous furnace, the
number of tubes of the same size and from the same heat in a lot shall be
determined from the size of the tubes as prescribed in Table S2.2.
TABLE S2.2 Number of Tubes in a Lot Heat Treated by the
Continuous Process
Size of Tube

TABLE S2.1 Tensile and Hardness Requirements

Grade

TP304
TP304L
TP316
TP316L
2205
2507
2003

UNS
Designation

Tensile
Strength
min, ksi
(MPa)

Yield
Strength
min, ksi
(MPa)

S30400
S30403
S31600
S31603
S31803
S32205
S32750
S32003

75 (515)
70 (485)
75 (515)
70 (485)
90 (620)
95 (655)
116 (800)
90 (620)

30
25
30
25
65
70
80
65

(205)
(170)
(205)
(170)
(450)
(485)
(550)
(450)

Elongation
in 2 in.
min, %

Rockwell
Hardness
Number,
max.

35
35
35
35
25
25
15
25

B90
B90
B90
B90
C30.5
C30.5
C32
C30

Size of Lot

2 in. [50.8 mm] and over in outside

diameter and 0.200 in. [5.1 mm] and
over in wall thickness

not more than 50 tubes

Less than 2 in. [50.8 mm] but over 1 in.

[25.4 mm] in outside diameter or over 1
in. [25.4 mm] in outside diameter and
under 0.200 in. [5.1 mm] in wall
thickness

not more than 75 tubes

1 in. [25.4 mm] or less in outside

diameter

not more than 125 tubes

S3. Chemical Cleaning (Passivation)

S3.1 When specified on the purchase order, the tubing shall
be chemically cleaned in accordance with a chemical treatment
listed in Specification A 967 following the final polishing
operation. When tubing is supplied in an unpolished condition,
the cleaning shall be performed after the final finishing
operation.

A 270 03a
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this specification since the last issue,
A 27003, that may impact the use of this specification. (Approved December 1, 2003).
(1) Added paragraph 7.5, annealing temperature range.
(2) Added S32003 chemistry to Table 1.
(3) Added Physical Requirements of S32003 in Table S2.1
(4) Clarified ordering requirements to include purchasers responsibility in paragraph 4.1.

(5) Revised Outside Diameter tolerances in Table 2 to include

all intermediate sizes.
(6) Removed comma after Table 2 in 12.1.4.
(7) Added heavily cold worked (HCW) processing in paragraphs 1.1, 4.1.3, 6.1.3, 14.1, and 16.1.

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this specification since the last issue, A 27002a, that may
impact the use of this specification. (Approved April 10, 2003).
(1) Changed title.
(2) Updated scope.
(3) Added Specification A 480/A 480M and Test Methods
A 923 to Referenced Documents section.
(4) Modified 7.1, added 7.3 and 7.4.
(5) Changed wording of 8.1.

(6) Added product check tolerances from Specification A 249.

(7) Added keywords.
(8) Added S31803, S32205, and S32750 to Table 1.
(9) Updated S1 and S1.1.
(10) Added Physical Requirements for S31803, S 32205, and S
32750 in Table S2.1.

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this specification since the last issue, A 27002, that may
impact the use of this specification. (Approved November 10, 2002).
(3) Elininated Table S2.3, as it is no longer required.
(4) Removed Table S2.3 from Note S2.2.

(1) Modified OD tolerances to 4 inch and less to match the

requirements of S2.
(2) Clarified wording of the thickness requirement.

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