Designation: A  134 –  96  (Reapproved  2001)

Standard Specification for

Pipe, Steel, Electric-Fusion (Arc)-Welded (Sizes NPS 16 and
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Over)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 134; 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.

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1.  Scope Carbon Steel, Low- and Intermediate-Tensile Strength
1.1  This  specification  covers  electric-fusion  (arc)-welded A 370  Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
3
straight seam or spiral seam steel pipe NPS 16 and over in of Steel Products
diameter (inside or  outside  as  specified  by  purchaser),  with A 570/A 570M  Specification  for  Steel,  Sheet  and  Strip,
4
wall thicknesses up to   3 ⁄ 4  in. (19.0 mm), inclusive. Pipe having Carbon, Hot-Rolled, Structural Quality
other dimensions may be furnished provided such pipe com- 2.2   ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code:
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plies with all other requirements of this specification. Section IX Welding Qualifications
2.3   American National Standards Institute Standard:
N OTE  1—Acceptability for many services may be controlled by codes B 16.25  Buttwelding Ends
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or standards such as those published by the American National Standards 6

B 36.10  Welded  and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
Institute and American Society  of  Mechanical Engineers.
N OTE   2—For testing methods not specifically covered in this specifi-
3.  Ordering Information
cation, reference can be made to Test Methods and Definitions A 370, with
particular reference to Annex A 2 on Steel Tubular Products. 3.1 Orders  for  material  under  this  specification  should
N OTE   3—A comprehensive listing of standardized pipe dimensions is include  the  following,  as  required,  to  describe  the  desired
contained in ANSI B 36.10. material adequately:
1.2  The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3.1.1  Quantity (feet, meters,  or number of  lengths),
as the standard. 3.1.2  Name of material (electric-fusion-(arc) welded pipe),
3.1.3  Grade (Section 4),
N OTE   4—The dimensionless designator NPS (nominal pipe size) has
3.1.4  Size  (inside  or  outside  diameter  and  nominal  wall
been substituted in this standard for such traditional terms as “nominal
diameter”, “size”,  and  “nominal  size”. thickness),
3.1.5  Length (specified  or random),
1.3  The following precautionary caveat pertains specifically 3.1.6  Specific straightness requirements (see 12.3),
to  Section  5  of  this  specification.   This  standard  does  not  3.1.7  End finish (Section 15),
 purport to  address all of the safety  concerns, if  any, associated 
3.1.8  Hydrostatic test pressure (Section 11),
with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard 
3.1.9  ASTM designation, and
to  establish  appropriate  safety  and  health  practices  and 
3.1.10  End use of material.
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to
use. 4.  Material

2.  Referenced  Documents 4.1  The steel from which the pipe is  made shall conform to
Specifications A 283/A 283M, A 285/A 285M, A 570, or A 36/ 
2.1  ASTM Standards: A 36M or to other ASTM specifications for equally suitable
2
A 36/A 36M  Specification  for Carbon Structural  Steel weldable material, as specified: For purposes of marking and
A 283/A 283M  Specification  for  Low  and  Intermediate certification, when required, the pipe grade of material shall be
2
Tensile Strength Carbon Steel Plates established  by  the A xxx  plate specification designation  and
A 285/A 285M Specification  for  Pressure  Vessel  Plates, plate grade, when applicable.

1 3
This specification is  under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,  Annual Book  of  ASTM  Standards , Vol 01.01.
4
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee  Annual Book  of  ASTM  Standards , Vol 01.03.
5
A01.09 on Carbon Steel Tubular Products. Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 E. 47th St.
Current  edition approved  Oct. 10,  1996.  Published November 1997. Originally New York, NY 10017.
6
published as  A 134 – 31 T. Last  previous edition A 134 – 93. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd St., 13th
2
 Annual  Book  of  ASTM  Standards , Vol 01.04. Floor, New York, NY 10036.

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5.  Manufacture 9.3. Thicknesses less than   3 ⁄ 8  in. (10 mm) shall be qualified for
5.1  The longitudinal edges of  the steel shall be shaped to each wall thickness of pipe manufactured. Thicknesses  3
 ⁄ 8  to   3 ⁄ 4
give the  most satisfactory  results  by  the particular  welding in. (10 mm to 19.0 mm), inclusive, shall be qualified in  3
 ⁄ 8 -in.
process employed. The steel shall then be properly formed and (10-mm) thickness.
may be tacked preparatory to welding. The weld shall be made 9.2 Two  reduced-section  tension  specimens  (transverse
by  automatic  means  (except  tack  welds)  and  shall  be  of  weld)  made  in  accordance  with  Fig.  number  21  of  Test
reasonably uniform width and height for the entire length of the Methods and Definitions A 370, with the weld reinforcement
pipe. By agreement between the purchaser and the manufac- removed, shall show a tensile strength not less than 100 % of 
turer, manual welding by qualified procedure and welders may the minimum specified  tensile strength of  the base  material
be used as an equal alternate under this specification. used.
5.2  All  longitudinal  seams,  spiral  seams,  and  shop  girth 9.3 Two  face-bend  test  specimens  shall  be  prepared  in
seams shall be butt-welded. accordance  with  Fig.  number  2  (a)  of  Test  Methods  and
Definitions A 370 and shall withstand being bent 180° in a jig
6.  Number of Production Weld Tests substantially in accordance with Fig. 30 of Test Methods and
6.1  One weld test specimen specified in Section 8 shall be Definitions  A 370.  The  bend  test  shall  be  acceptable  if  no
made from each lot of 3000 ft (900 m) of pipe or fraction cracks  or  other defects exceeding   1 ⁄ 8   in.  (3.2  mm)  in any
thereof of each size and wall thickness. direction be present in the weld metal or between the weld and
6.2 If  any  test  specimen  shows  defective  machining  or the pipe metal after bending. Cracks that originate along the
develops  flaws  not associated  with  the welding,  it  may be edges of the specimens during testing and that are less than
discarded and another specimen substituted.
1
 ⁄ 4 in. (6.3 mm) in any direction, shall not be considered.
6.3  Each length of pipe shall be subjected to the hydrostatic
10.  Tensile Properties of Production Welds
test specified in Section 11, unless otherwise specified in 11.3.
10.1 Reduced-section  tension  test  specimens  required  in
7.  Retests Section 8 taken perpendicularly across the weld with the weld
7.1  If any  specimen tested in accordance with Section 10 reinforcement removed, shall show a tensile strength not less
fails  to  meet  the  requirements,  retests  of  two  additional than 95 % of the specified minimum strength of the steel. At
specimens from the same lot of pipe shall be made, each of  the  manufacturer’s  option,  the  test  may  be  made  without
which  shall  meet  the  requirements  specified.  If  any  of  the removing the  weld reinforcement, in  which case  the tensile
retests fail to conform to the requirements, test specimens may strength shall be not less than the specified minimum tensile
be taken from each untested pipe length at the manufacturer’s strength for the grade of steel used.
option. Each specimen shall meet the requirements specified,
11.  Hydrostatic Test  (Note 5)
or that pipe shall be rejected.
11.1  Each length of pipe shall be tested by the manufacturer
8.  Test Specimens of Production Welds to a hydrostatic pressure that will produce in the pipe wall a
8.1  The weld-test specimens for the reduced-section tension stress of 60 % of the specified minimum yield point of the steel
test shall be taken perpendicularly across the weld and from the used at room temperature. The pressure shall be determined by
end of the pipe or alternatively, from flat test pieces of material the following equation:
conforming to the requirements in the specifications used in the P 5 2 St  /  D
manufacturer of the pipe. The alternative weld-test specimens
where:
shall  be  welded with the  same  procedure and  by  the same
P   =  minimum hydrostatic test pressure, psi (Note 6) (not to
operator and equipment, and in sequence with the welding of 
exceed 2800 psi (19 MPa)),
the longitudinal joints in the pipe. The test pieces shall have the
S    =  0.60  times the minimum specified yield  point of  the
weld  approximately  in  the  middle  of  the  specimen.  The
steel used, psi (MPa),
specimens shall be  straightened  cold,  and shall be  tested  at t    =  specified wall thickness, in. (mm), and
room temperature.  D   =  specified outside diameter, in. (mm).
8.2  Reduced-section  tension-test  specimens  shall  be  pre-
pared in accordance with Fig. number 21 of Test Methods and
Definitions A 370. N OTE   5—A  hydrostatic  sizing  operation  is  not  to  be  considered a
hydrostatic test or a substitute for it.
9.  Qualification of Welding Procedure N OTE   6—When the diameter and wall thickness of pipe are such that
the capacity limits of testing equipment are exceeded by these require-
9.1  The welding procedure shall be  qualified in accordance ments,  the test  pressures  may be  reduced  by  agreement between  the
with  the American  Welding  Society  Standard  Qualification purchaser and the manufacturer.
7
Procedure or ASME Section IX of the Boiler and Pressure
11.2  Test pressure shall be held for not less than 5 s, or  for
Vessel Code as agreed to between the manufacturer and the
a longer time as agreed upon between the purchaser and the
purchaser using the tests and test values specified in 9.2 and
manufacturer.
N OTE  7—When agreed upon between the purchaser and the manufac-
turer and so stated on the order, pipe may be tested to one and one half 
times  the  specified  working  pressure,  except  that  the  maximum  tes
pressure shall not exceed 2800 psi (19 MPa) nor shall the maximum fiber 14.  Ends
stress exceed 85 % of specified minimum yield point of steel or to a fiber
14.1  Pipe shall be furnished with a  plain right-angle cut or
stress that does not exceed 85 % of the specified minimum yield point of 
the steel or 2800-psi (19-MPa) test pressure.
with bevel ends as specified. All burrs at the ends of pipe shall
be removed.
11.3  When  specified  in  the order,  pipe  may be  furnished 14.1.1  Unless  otherwise specified, pipe  with beveled ends
without hydrostatic testing and each length so furnished shall shall meet the requirements of ANSI B 16.25.
include the mandatory marking of the letters “NH”. Addition- 14.2  Unless  otherwise specified,  the  outside  circumference
ally, the certification, when required, shall state “Not Hydro- of pipe ends for a distance of not less than 4 in. (100 mm) shall
statically  Tested”  and  the  specification  number  and  material not vary more than 6 60 % of the nominal wall thickness of the
grade, as shown on the certification, shall be followed by the pipe  from  the  nominal  outside  circumference  based  on  the
letters “NH”. diameter specified, except that the tolerance shall not be less
than 6 3 ⁄ 16  in. (5 mm).
12.  Permissible Variations in Weights and Dimensions 14.3  By agreement between the  manufacturer and the  pur-
chaser the ends of the pipe may be sized within agreed-upon
12.1  Thickness and Weight  —The wall thickness and weight tolerances  if  necessary to  meet the  requirements  of  special
for welded pipe under this specification shall be governed by installations.
the requirements of the specifications to which the steel was
ordered. 15.  Finish
12.2   Circumference —The outside circumference of the pipe 15.1   Repair by Welding —The welding of injurious defects
shall not vary more than   6 0.5 % from the nominal outside in the pipe wall, provided their depth does not exceed one third
circumference based upon the diameter specified, except that the specified wall thickness, will be permitted. Defects in the
the circumference at ends shall be sized, if necessary, to meet welds, such as sweats or leaks, shall be repaired or the piece
the requirements of Section 14. rejected  at  the  option  of  the  manufacturer.  Repairs  of  this
12.3   Straightness —Finished  pipe  shall  be  commercially nature  shall  be  made  by  completely  removing  the  defect,
straight. When specific straightness requirements are desired, cleaning the cavity, and then welding.
the order should so state, and the tolerances shall be a matter of  15.2  All  repaired  pipe  shall  be  tested  hydrostatically  in
agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer. accordance with Section 11, unless otherwise specified in 11.3.
12.4   Ovality—Out-of-roundness —The  difference  between
16.  Inspection
major and minor outside diameter shall not exceed 1 %. Closer
tolerances  may  be  established  by  agreement  between  the 16.1 The  inspector representing  the purchaser  shall  have
manufacturer  and  the  purchaser.  Where  the   D/T    (outside entry at all times while work on the contract of the purchaser
diameter/wall thickness) is over 120, internal bracing should be is being performed, to all parts of the manufacturer’s works
utilized  to  achieve  sizing of  ends  and ovality  shall  be  by that  concern  the  manufacture  of  the  material  ordered.  The
agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser. manufacturer shall afford the inspector all reasonable facilities
to satisfy him that the material is being furnished in accordance
13.  Lengths with this specification. All tests and inspection shall be made at
the place of manufacture prior to shipment and unless other-
13.1  Pipe lengths shall be  supplied in accordance with the wise  specified,  shall  be  so  conducted  as  not  to  interfere
following regular practice: unnecessarily with the operation of the works. If agreed upon,
13.1.1  The lengths shall be as specified on the order with a the manufacturer shall notify the purchaser in time so that he
tolerance of    6 1 ⁄ 2 in. (13 mm), except that the shorter lengths may have his  inspector present to  witness  any part  of  the
from which test coupons have been cut may also be shipped. manufacture or tests that may be desired. The certification shall
13.1.2  When  random  lengths  are  specified,  pipe  shall  be include  reference  to  this  specification  and  the  pipe  grade
furnished in lengths having a minimum average of 29 ft (9 m) (ASTM plate specification designation and plate grade, when
with a minimum length of 20 ft (6 m), but not more than 5 % applicable).
16.2   Certification —Upon  request  of  the purchaser  in  the
may be under 25 ft (8 m).
contract or order, a manufacturer’s certification that the mate-
13.2  Pipe lengths containing circumferentially welded joints
rial  was  manufactured  and  tested  in  accordance  with  this
(Note 8) shall be permitted by agreement between the manu- specification together with a report of the chemical and tensile
facturer and the purchaser. Tests of these welded joints shall be tests shall be furnished. When hydrostatic test is omitted, the
made  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  tests  specified  in certificate shall include the letters “NH”.
Section 9 and the production weld tests specified in Section 10.
The number of production weld tests shall be one per each lot 17.  Rejection
of 100  joints or  fraction thereof, but  not less than one  for each
17.1  Each length of  pipe received  from the  manufacturer
welder or welding operator.
may be inspected by the purchaser and, if it does not meet the
N OTE   8—Joints are defined for the purpose of this specification as a requirements of this specification based on the inspection and
circumferential welded seam lying in one plane, used to join lengths of  test method as outlined in the specification, the length may be
straight pipe. rejected, and the manufacturer shall be notified. Disposition of
rejected  pipe  shall  be  a  matter of  agreement between  the the plate specification designation (year date not required) and
manufacturer and the purchaser. the plate grade (where applicable).
17.2 Pipe  found  in  fabrication  or  in  installation  to  be
unsuitable for the intended use, under the scope and require- 19.  Product Marking
ments of this specification, may be set aside and the manufac- 19.1  Each section of  pipe shall be  marked with the manu-
turer notified. Such pipe shall be subject to mutual investiga- facturer’s  distinguishing  marking,  this  specification  number
tion as to the nature and severity of the deficiency and the and the pipe grade. The marking need not include the year date
forming or installation, or both, conditions involved. Disposi- of the pipe or plate specification.
tion shall be a matter for agreement between the purchaser and 19.2   Bar Coding —In addition to the requirements in 19.1,
the manufacturer. bar  coding  is  acceptable  as  a  supplemental  identification
method. The purchaser may specify in the order a specific bar
18. Certification coding system to be used.
18.1  Upon request of  the purchaser in the  contract or order,
a manufacturer’s certification that the material was manufac- 20.  Protective  Coating
tured and tested in accordance with this specification, including 20.1  If agreed upon between the  purchaser and the manu-
year date, together with a report of the chemical and tensile facturer, the pipe shall be given a protective coating of the kind
tests shall be furnished. The pipe grade shall be identified by and in the manner specified by the purchaser.

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