ASTM B68, ASTM B75, ASTM B88, ASTM B111, ASTM B280, AS 1571, AS 1572 Copper Tube

Q1: What is the difference between ASTM B68, ASTM B75, and ASTM B88 copper tube?
A: ASTM B68 covers annealed seamless copper tube for refrigerators, oil lines, and gasoline lines where absolute freedom from scale is required. ASTM B75 covers seamless copper tube for general engineering purposes (round, rectangular, square). ASTM B88 covers seamless copper water tube (Types K, L, M) for plumbing, gas distribution, and fire sprinklers. All three can use C12200 material.

Q2: What is the difference between ASTM B88 and ASTM B280 copper tube?
A: ASTM B88 is for plumbing water and gas lines (Types K, L, M). ASTM B280 is specifically for air conditioning and refrigeration field service. Both use C12200 material, but B280 requires the tube to be cleaned, capped, and dehydrated. B280 tubes are also called ACR (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) tubes. For refrigerant lines, always use B280.

Q3: What is ASTM B111 copper tube used for?
A: ASTM B111 covers seamless tube for surface condensers, evaporators, and heat exchangers. It is available in multiple copper alloys including C12200 (copper), C44300 (admiralty brass), C68700 (aluminum brass), C70600 (90/10 Cu-Ni), and C71500 (70/30 Cu-Ni). Maximum diameter is 2 inches (50.8mm). This is the standard for heat exchanger tubing.

Q4: What is the difference between AS 1571 and AS 1572 copper tube?
A: AS 1571 is the Australian standard for seamless copper tubes for air conditioning and refrigeration (similar to ASTM B280). AS 1572 is for seamless copper tubes for general engineering purposes (similar to ASTM B75). Both use C12200 material. AS 1571 requires internal cleanliness and capping; AS 1572 does not have the same cleanliness requirements.

Q5: What is EN 1057 copper tube?
A: EN 1057 is the European standard for seamless round copper tubes for water and gas in sanitary and heating applications. It replaced BS 2871 Part 1. EN 1057 tubes are compatible with existing British Standard tube and fittings – there are no dimensional changes. The material is Cu-DHP (CW024A), which is equivalent to C12200. Tubes are available in annealed and half-hard tempers.

Q6: What is the difference between C12200 and CW024A?
A: C12200 is the UNS designation (USA). CW024A is the European EN designation for the same material – phosphorus-deoxidized copper (Cu-DHP). Both require 0.015-0.040% phosphorus and minimum 99.90% copper. CW024A is also called Cu-DHP. They are fully interchangeable. The only difference is the marking on the tube and the certifying standard.

Q7: What is JIS H3300 C1220 copper tube?
A: JIS H3300 is the Japanese standard for copper and copper alloy seamless pipes and tubes. Grade C1220 is the Japanese equivalent of ASTM C12200 (phosphorus-deoxidized copper). It is used for plumbing, air conditioning, and general engineering. C1220 tubes are available in annealed (O), half-hard (1/2H), and hard (H) tempers.

Q8: What is ASTM B819 copper tube used for?
A: ASTM B819 covers seamless copper tube for medical gas systems (oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, vacuum). It requires C12200 material that is cleaned, capped, and dehydrated to very high standards. The tube is marked with a green stripe for identification. It complies with HTM02-01 (UK medical gas pipeline standard) and NFPA 99 (US). Fittings are covered by EN 1254.

Q9: What is the difference between ASTM B88 Type K, L, and M?
A: Type K has the thickest wall – used for underground water mains and high-pressure systems. Type L has medium wall – the standard for residential and commercial interior plumbing. Type M has the thinnest wall – for low-pressure residential applications where local codes permit. Color codes: Type K = green, Type L = blue, Type M = red. DWV (drainage) = yellow (ASTM B306).

Q10: What testing is required for copper tubes?
A: Common tests include: eddy current test (ASTM B1971 / EN 1971) for defects, flattening test, expansion test, residual stress test (ammonia test per EN 14977), combustion test for carbon content (EN 723) for medical gas tubes, hydrostatic test, and grain size examination. Medical gas tubes require stricter cleanliness testing.

Q11: What is EN 12735 copper tube?
A: EN 12735 is the European standard for seamless round copper tubes for air conditioning and refrigeration. Part 1 covers tubes for piping systems (field installation). Part 2 covers tubes for equipment (factory-made coils and components). The material is Cu-DHP (CW024A/C12200). Tubes are cleaned, dehydrated, and capped. This is the European equivalent of ASTM B280.

Poor packaging destroys even the best copper heat exchanger tube. As a professional copper heat exchanger tube factory serving copper heat exchanger tube USA, Europe, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India, we follow military-grade export packaging standards to ensure zero damage during sea or air freight.

Our Standard Packaging Process:

For U-Bundle Orders: U tube heat exchanger and U tube bundle heat exchanger are placed in dedicated steel jigs inside the crate to prevent bending radius distortion.

Our Certifications & Compliance:

ASTM B111 pdf and ASME SB111 pdf full traceability.

ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.

Third-party inspection accepted: SGS, BV, Lloyds, or TUV.

Copper heat exchanger tube life expectancy testing reports available upon request.

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