ASTM B88M

This specification covers seamless copper alloy water tubes for general plumbing and similar applications in fluid conveyance. These water tubes made from UNS C10200, C12000, and C12200 copper alloys are commonly used with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings. The materials should be cold-drawn to size and the tubes finished by cold working and annealing to produce the required temper and surface finish. When tubes are furnished in coils, annealing is done after coiling, while those furnished in straight lengths should be in the drawn temper. The numerical values in this specification are not presented in inch-pound units, but rather, in metric or SI units only.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

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 that 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 A and B tube, in the drawn temper, are suitable for use with certain types and sizes of compression fittings.

Note 3—This specification is the metric companion of Specification B 88.

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

ASTM Standards
B153 Test Method for Expansion (Pin Test) of Copper and Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tubing
B32 Specification for Solder Metal
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 Applications of Copper and Copper Alloy Tube
B828 Practice for Making Capillary Joints by Soldering of Copper and Copper Alloy Tube and Fittings
B88 Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube
E112 Test Methods for Determining the Average Grain Size
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
E2 Methods of Preparation of Micrographs of Metals and Alloys
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
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E3 Practice for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys (UNS)
E53 Test Methods for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed Copper by Gravimetry
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods)
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

Index Terms

copper tube; seamless; water tube; UNS No. C10200; UNS No. C12000; UNS No. C; ICS Number Code 2200

Citing ASTM Standards

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