Pipes and Tubes

Copper Tubes

Hard and half-hard copper tubes to EN 12449 / ASTM B75 for pneumatic, refrigeration and instrumentation lines — excellent thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance.

  • Held ex-stock in common sizes
  • Mill / material certificates available
  • Cut lengths and full bundles

Specifications

Size Range (Metric)6MM to 54 MM
Size Range (NB)1/4" to 4"
Design Standard for Copper TubesJIS H3300 C1220T
ASTM B88
Design Standard for Copper CoilsJIS H3300 C1220T
MaterialCopper
OriginChina

Specifications are indicative and vary by size and manufacturer. Request the full datasheet for exact dimensions, materials and certification.

Typical applications

  • Pneumatic and control lines
  • Heat-exchange and cooling
  • Instrumentation

Ordering & procurement

Ex-stock in Singapore, dispatched within 3 working days. Material / mill certificates (EN 10204 3.1) and export documentation available. Special sizes and materials sourced on request.

Request a quote

Product information

Copper Tubes and Copper Coils are made in accordance to JIS H3300 C1220T , ASTM B88 Standards. B88 Standards tubes are also called Type K copper pipes and Type L Copper pipes. JIS H3300 C1220T Copper tubes are suitable for water works and ASTM B88 copper tubes are suitable for air conditioning and refrigeration field service. Types K and L tubes are designated by ASTM nominal sizes, with the actual outside diameter (OD) 1/8 inch larger than the nominal size designation. The difference between Type K and Type L tubes are different wall thicknesses . Type K tubes has thicker walls than Type L tubes for any given diameter.

Product information

1. Specifications:
Copper Tubes
Copper Tubes

Copper tubes are manufactured based on the requirements of specifications under ASTM B88 or JIS H3300. ASTM B88 is a standard specification for seamless copper tube that is suitable for general plumbing, similar applications for the conveyance of fluids, and commonly used with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings. For JIS H3300 , it is a standard that specifies expanded copper and copper alloy seamless pipes and tubes, having a round section.

2. Copper Tube Attributes:

Under ASTM B88, the minimum tensile strength for copper tube is 250 N/mm², while for copper tube under JIS H3300 the minimum tensile strength is 315 N/mm². Chuan Kok’s copper tubes under these two standards contain a minimum 99.90% of pure copper (CU) and phosphorus (P) in the range of 0.15% to 0.40%. As there are few grades under ASTM B88 and JIS H3300, the copper tubes that Chuan Kok carries are ASTM B88 C12200 and JIS H3300 C1220T.

The above-mentioned standards are phosphorus deoxidized copper tubes. Copper tubes are deoxidized with phosphorus to clear out porosity and decrease the cuprous oxide. Deoxidization is the removal of oxygen content during the manufacturing process, and it matters because oxygen is unfavourable to the quality of the produced tubes.

These phosphorus deoxidized copper tubes are good in flaring, welding and bending, with strong corrosion resistance and good heat conductivity. The following table shows the chemical composition of copper tubes.

Atomic No.29
Atomic Weight63.546
Density8.96 at 20 °C
Valence1, 2
Melting Point1,083 °C
Boiling Point2,567 °C
Electron Configuration2-8-18-1
3. Types of Copper Tube:
Stamping on Copper Pipe
Stamping on Copper Pipe

Under ASTM B88, there are a few types of copper tube that are usually consumed: Type K, Type L, and Type M. For copper tubes under ASTM B88, the outer diameter is always 1/8" larger than the designated size. Different types of copper tube also represent a series of sizes with different wall thickness — for any outer diameter, the wall of a Type K tube is thicker than a Type L tube, and a Type L tube is thicker than a Type M tube.

Another factor that determines the type of copper tube is temper, which describes the degree of strength and hardness of the tube. In the market, drawn temper copper tubes are referred to as ‘hard’ tubes and annealed tubes as ‘soft’ tubes. Hard temper tubes are usually joined by brazing with capillary fittings or by welding, while soft temper tubes can be joined using flare-type and compression fittings.

For JIS H3300, copper tubes are available in two types: Inches and Metric, with the outer diameter measured by Inches OD or Metric OD. Copper tubes under JIS H3300 are suitable as heat exchangers and for chemical-industry and water-supply applications, and are also available in coil form, known as copper coil.

4. Outer Diameter and Tube Thickness Specifications:

Dimensions of copper tubes are according to ASTM B88 standard specifications and shown in the product literature pdf file below.

The table below illustrates the OD tolerance under standard JIS H3300.

Tube ODTolerance
4MM to 15MM± 0.10MM
16MM to 25MM± 0.11MM
26MM to 50MM± 0.14MM
5. Size Measurement and Copper Tube:

The outer diameter (OD) of copper pipes can be measured in inches (“) , nominal Bore (NB) , and metric sizes . The nominal bore and outer diameter sizes are aligned one to the other. The outer diameter value is often 1/8 inch larger than the nominal size. A 2" nominal bore copper pipe, for instance, has a 2 1/8" outer diameter. It is commonly used on these three pipe types. The diameter varies from 6 mm to 54 mm, with nominal bore sizes ranging from 1/8” to 4”.

Nominal Bore (NB)Outer Diameter (Inch OD)
1/8"1/4"
1/4"3/8"
3/8"1/2"
1/2"5/8"
5/8"3/4"
3/4"7/8"
7/8"1"
1"1 1/8"
1 1/4"1 3/8"
1 1/2"1 5/8"
2"2 1/8"
2 1/2"2 5/8"
3"3 1/8"
3 1/2"3 5/8"
4"4 1/8"
6. Wall Thickness of Type K, L, M Copper Tubes:

Under ASTM B88, Type K, L and M of copper tubes have different wall thickness. Type K pipes have thicker walls than Type L pipes, while Type L pipes have thicker walls than Type M pipes. As a result, the wall thickness of copper pipes affects the working pressure and application for each type of pipe.

Nominal Bore (NB)Outer Diameter (Inch OD)Outer Diameter (mm OD)Wall Thickness Type KWall Thickness Type LWall Thickness Type M
1/8"1/4"6.350.035"0.030"-
1/4"3/8"9.530.035"0.030"-
3/8"1/2"12.700.049"0.035"0.025"
1/2"5/8"15.880.049"0.040"0.028"
5/8"3/4"19.050.049"0.042"0.028"
3/4"7/8"22.230.065"0.045"0.032"
7/8"1"25.400.065"0.050"0.035"
1"1 1/8"28.580.065"0.050"0.035"
1 1/4"1 3/8"34.930.065"0.055"0.042"
1 1/2"1 5/8"41.280.072"0.060"0.049"
2 1/2"2 5/8"66.680.095"0.080"0.065"
3"3 1/8"79.380.109"0.090"0.072"
3 1/2"3 5/8"92.080.120"0.100"0.083"
4"4 1/8"104.780.134"0.110"0.095"
5"5 1/8"130.180.160"0.125"0.109"
6"6 1/8"155.580.192"0.140"0.122"
7. Applications:

Water supply lines and refrigerant lines in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are two of the most common applications for copper pipe in today's construction industry. While this can refer to air conditioning, many people are unaware that this copper tubing system is what keeps our refrigerators and freezers running. The table below shows the different system applications of Type K, L and M.

Copper PipeApplications
Type K Copper Pipe
  • Water Distribution
  • Fire Protection
  • Oil & LPG Gas
  • HVAC
  • Compression and flare fittings
Type L Copper Pipe
  • Interior Plumbing
  • Fire Protection
  • Some HVAC applications
  • Waterline repairing
  • Compression and flare fittings
Type M Copper Pipe
  • Flexible Form
  • Domestic Water Service
  • Vacuum systems
  • Compression and flare fittings
  • Low Pressure Steam

For more information regarding copper tubes, please refer to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_tubing .

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FAQ Of Copper Tubes

What are the differences between JIS H3300 C1220T tubes, and the ASTM B88 pipes?

JIS H3300 C1220T – The standard specifies round-sectioned extended copper and copper alloy seamless pipes and tubes.

ASTM B88 – Standard specifications for seamless copper pipes used in general plumbing, similar applications for the

conveyance of fluids, and typically used with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings.

What are the main strengths of copper pipes?

Cooper pipes are light, strong and corrosion resistant which used worldwide in piping.

What are the diameter sizes available?

The available diameter sizes range from 6 mm to 54 mm, with nominal bore sizes ranging from 1/8 inch to 4 inches.

What is the wall thickness for three types of copper pipe (Type K, L, M)?

Compared to Type L, Type K pipes have thicker walls. Meanwhile, Type L walls thickness is thicker than Type M.

What are the differences between copper pipe type K, L and M?

Different working pressure and applications for different types of pipes:

Type K: Water Distribution, Fire Protection, Oil & LPG Gas etc.

Type L: Interior Plumbing, Waterline repairing, Fire Protection etc.

Type M: Flexible Form, Domestic Water Service, Vacuum Systems etc.

Can copper pipes be bent during installation?

Yes, indeed. During the installation process, rapid bends or length changes are possible. Additionally, testing report has shown that a bent

copper pipe bursting strength is greater than the pipe before bending.

Specifications

Technical data

Size Range (Metric)6MM to 54 MM
Size Range (NB)1/4" to 4"
Design Standard for Copper TubesJIS H3300 C1220T ASTM B88
Design Standard for Copper CoilsJIS H3300 C1220T
MaterialCopper
OriginChina
Atomic No.29
Atomic Weight63.546
Density8.96 at 20 ⁰C
Valence1, 2
Melting Point1,083 ⁰C
Boiling Point2,567 ⁰C
Electron Configuration2-8-18-1
Tube ODTolerance
4MM to 15MM± 0.10MM
16MM to 25MM± 0.11MM
26MM to 50MM± 0.14MM
Nominal Bore (NB)Outer Diameter (Inch OD)
1/8"1/4"
1/4"3/8"
3/8"1/2"
1/2"5/8"
5/8"3/4"
3/4"7/8"
7/8"1"
1"1 1/8"
1 1/4"1 3/8"
1 1/2"1 5/8"
2"2 1/8"
2 1/2"2 5/8"
3"3 1/8"
3 1/2"3 5/8"
4"4 1/8"
Nominal Bore (NB)Outer Diameter (Inch OD)Outer Diameter (mm OD)Wall Thickness Type KWall Thickness Type LWall Thickness Type M
1/8"1/4"6.350.035"0.030"-
1/4"3/8"9.530.035"0.030"-
3/8"1/2"12.700.049"0.035"0.025"
1/2"5/8"15.880.049"0.040"0.028"
5/8"3/4"19.050.049"0.042"0.028"
3/4"7/8"22.230.065"0.045"0.032"
7/8"1"25.400.065"0.050"0.035"
1"1 1/8"28.580.065"0.050"0.035"
1 1/4"1 3/8"34.930.065"0.055"0.042"
1 1/2"1 5/8"41.280.072"0.060"0.049"
2 1/2"2 5/8"66.680.095"0.080"0.065"
3"3 1/8"79.380.109"0.090"0.072"
3 1/2"3 5/8"92.080.120"0.100"0.083"
4"4 1/8"104.780.134"0.110"0.095"
5"5 1/8"130.180.160"0.125"0.109"
6"6 1/8"155.580.192"0.140"0.122"
Copper PipeApplications
Type K Copper PipeWater Distribution Fire Protection Oil & LPG Gas HVAC Compression and flare fittings
Type L Copper PipeInterior Plumbing Fire Protection Some HVAC applications Waterline repairing Compression and flare fittings
Type M Copper PipeFlexible Form Domestic Water Service Vacuum systems Compression and flare fittings Low Pressure Steam

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