The ASTM A53 standard have three types, ASTM A53 type F/ E/ S, it is one of the most extensively used carbon steel pipe material standards in the oil & gas, structures, constructions, low-pressure plumbing, conveyor rollers, and other process sectors.
ASTM A53 is one of the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials. The various types of finishes available for the ASTM A53 steel pipes are black and Hot-dipped, Zinc-coated, Welded, and Seamless.
TYPES OF ASTM A53 PIPES
ASTM A53 seamless and welded steel pipe is a general, all-purpose pipe. Designed for coiling, bending, and flanging, ASTM A53 carbon steel pipe is suitable for welding.
- ASTM A53 Type F
Furnace-butt welded continuous Welded Pipe
The Type F Grade A pipe is produced from a continuous coil, and the longitudinal junction is welded by forge welding. Sets of rollers are employed in this procedure to apply mechanical pressure to the heated ends of the coil.
Electric Resistance Welded Pipe
Type E Garde A and Garde B pipes are composed of the continuous coil, and the longitudinal junction is welded by heat generated by electric resistance between the pipe’s opposite ends. A set of rollers is also employed in this operation to unite heated ends. After welding, the weld seam of Grade pipes is heat-treated to a minimum of 540°C.
The size range for the pipes is from NPS 1/8” to NPS 26”.Different pipe sizes, click right to find out.
- ASTM A53 Type S
Seamless Pipe
The extrusion process is used to create Type S pipes.The raw steel needed to make pipes is generated using an open-hearth furnace, an electric furnace, or a basic-oxygen process.
（tuspipe production process）
To learn more about the production process of tuspipe, you can check out our official social media account.
Differences in ASTM A53 Type E/ F/ S Pipe
| Dimension of Comparison | Type S (Seamless Pipe) | Type E (Electric Resistance Welded Pipe) | Type F (Furnace Butt Welded Pipe) |
| Manufacturing Process | Produced via hot-rolling or cold-drawing without longitudinal seams | Formed using electric resistance welding (high-frequency current) with longitudinal welds | Fabricated via furnace butt welding (forge welding) with longitudinal seams |
| Grade Support | Supports both Grade A and Grade B (Grade B is commonly used) | Supports both Grade A and Grade B (Grade B is commonly used) | Limited to Grade A only (lowest strength) |
| Typical Mechanical Properties | Grade B: Tensile strength ≥415 MPa, Yield strength ≥240 MPa | Identical to Type S for equivalent grades | Grade A: Tensile strength ≥330 MPa, Yield strength ≥205 MPa |
| Application Scenarios | High-pressure fluid transport, mechanical structural components, and pressure-bearing systems | Low-pressure fluid conveyance (e.g., water, gas) and general structural support | Low-pressure non-critical uses (e.g., drainage), largely obsolete |
| Weld Requirements | No welds; uniform integrity throughout | Post-weld heat treatment required for stress relief, with nondestructive testing of seams | Lower weld strength and reliability |
| Prevalence | Dominant for high-end applications; widely adopted | Extensively used in mid-to-low-pressure settings | Phased out; rarely specified in new projects |
A&Q
ASTM A53 type E/ F/ S How to Select Steel Grade
Type F-Furnace-butt welded, continuous welded Grade A,
Type E-Electric-resistance welded, Grades A and B, and
Type S-Seamless, Grades A and B.
When Types S and E are required for close coiling or cold bending, Grade A is the preferred grade.
This provision is not intended to prohibit the cold bending of Grade B pipe.
Type E is furnished either nonexpanded or cold expanded at the option of the manufacturer.
What is the difference between A53 Type E and Type F?
Type F, Furnace-Butt-Welded Pipe, Continuous-Welded-Pipe produced in continuous lengths from coiled skelp and subsequently cut into individual lengths, having its longitudinal butt joint forge welded by the mechanical pressure developed in rolling the hot-formed skelp through a set of round passwelding rolls.
Type E, Electric-Resistance-Welded Pipe pro-duced in individual lengths or in continuous lengths from coiled skelp and subsequently cut into individual lengths,having a longitudinal butt joint wherein coalescence is pro-duced by the heat obtained from resistance of the pipe to the flow of electric current in a circuit of which the pipe is a part, and by the application of pressure.
And repair welding of Type F pipe and the weld seam of Type E is prohibited.
