MS-01-82

TUBING
DATA
Swagelok® tube fittings have attained an The Swagelok tube fitting consists of four
unmatched reputation since their introduction precision components – nut, back ferrule,
in 1947. The consistency of quality of these front ferrule, and body. In fact, however, when
precision-matched components has allowed installed it becomes a five-piece connection
their use on some of the most difficult services with the addition of the tubing.
imaginable. Proper selection, handling, and installation
The two ferrule design of the Swagelok tube of tubing, when combined with proper
fitting allows compensation for many of the selection of the Swagelok tube fitting for the
variables found in the field…variables such as job at hand, are essential to reliable tubing
installation procedures, tubing tolerances, systems!
wall thickness and quality.

TUBING SELECTION ness allowable under ASTM A213 and A269. Although
The following variables should be considered when such tubing hardness is permissible and Swagelok tube
ordering tubing for use with Swagelok tube fittings: fittings will perform satisfactorily on such tubing, we sug-
1. Tubing material gest that, whenever possible, you specify HRb 80 maxi-
mum when ordering tubing. Such tubing lowers installed
2. Tubing wall thickness cost because it is more easily bent and installed. Tubing
3. Tubing surface finish installers should be particularly careful when installing
4. Tubing hardness harder tubing, to be sure that the full suggested 1 1/4 turns
Many ASTM specifications cover the above requirements, of pull-up are used and connections are checked with
but they are often not very detailed on surface finish. For Swagelok gap inspection gage. Because higher torques
example, ASTM A450, a general tubing specification are required on harder tubing, there may be a tendency to
reads: stop before full pull-up is reached. The HRb 80 hardness is
“11. Straightness and Finish a suggestion, not a restriction against the use of Swagelok
stainless steel tube fittings which may be used on stainless
11.1 Finished tubes shall be reasonably straight steel tubing having hardness of HRb 90.
and have smooth ends free of burrs. They shall have a
workmanlike finish. Surface imperfections (Note 1) TUBING HANDLING
may be removed by grinding, provided that a smooth As pointed out below, scratches on tube OD are a poten-
curved surface is maintained, and the wall thickness is tial source of problems in leak-tight tubing systems. Good
not decreased to less than that permitted by this or the handling practices can greatly reduce scratches and pro-
product specification. The outside diameter at the tect the good surface finish which reliable tube man-
point of grinding may be reduced by the amount so ufacturers try to supply.
removed. Tubing should never be dragged out of a tubing rack.
Note – An imperfection is any discontinuity or irreg- Particularly in sizes 3/4 in. and larger, the weight of the
ularity found in the tube.” length being pulled out is sufficient to gouge the OD if any
Our suggested ordering instructions are shown under each burrs are on the end of the tubes below it in the rack.
category of copper, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and Tubing should never be dragged across cement, asphalt,
alloy 400. Such requirements may be specified under gravel, or any other surface which could scratch it.
Section 4.1.9 of ASTM A269 or Section 4.1.10 of ASTM Tube cutters or hacksaws should always be sharp, and you
A213 or other applicable ASTM specifications. should not try to take too deep a cut with each turn of the
Tubing Hardness cutter or with each back and forth motion of the saw blade.
The key to proper tubing hardness for use with Swagelok Tube ends should always be deburred. This allows more
tube fittings is that the tubing must be softer than the fitting easy entrance of the tube into the fitting bore and helps to
material. By using the suggested ordering instructions assure the installer that the tubing will go all the way
under Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, you will purchase tubing through the ferrules without damage to the ferrule sealing
which should work properly with Swagelok fittings. edge.
Most misunderstandings about tubing hardness are in the
area of stainless steel tubing. Swagelok stainless steel
tube fittings have been repeatedly tested successfully with
tubing with hardness up to HRb 90, the maximum hard-
www.swagelok.com
 0
TUBING WALL THICKNESS TUBING T
On Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are shown working pressure ratings of INSTALLATION
tubing in a wide range of wall thicknesses. Allowable pressure
ratings are calculated from S values as specified by ANSI Code R
B31.3.
Swagelok tube fittings have been repeatedly tested to the burst of
the tubing in both the minimum and maximum wall thicknesses
shown. L R Radius of tubing bend as
required or minimum allowed
Swagelok tube fittings are not normally recommended for tube for specified wall thickness
and tube size as recommended
wall thicknesses outside the ranges shown in Tables 1 through 5 by tubing manufacturer.
for each size. If you plan to use tubing with lighter or heavier wall L Straight tube length required
from end of tube to beginning
than those shown, please have your Swagelok representative of bend.
send a sample to the factory for testing.
T Tube outside diameter.
GAS SERVICE
Gasses (air, hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, etc.) have very small
molecules which can escape through even the most minute
leak-path. Some surface defects on the tubing can provide such
a leak-path. As tube OD increases, so does the likelihood of a
scratch or other surface defects interfering with proper sealing.
The most successful connection for gas service will occur if all Tubing properly selected and handled, when combined with the
installation instructions are carefully followed and the heavier wall quality of Swagelok fittings, will give you leak-free systems.
thicknesses of tubing on Tables 1 through 5 are selected.
Properly installed on such tubing, Swagelok fittings will give
A heavy wall tube resists ferrule action more than a thin wall tube, reliable service under a wide variety of fluid applications.
allowing the ferrules to coin out minor surface imperfections. A
When installing fittings near tube bends, there must be a sufficient
thin wall tube will collapse, thus offering little resistance to ferrule
straight length of tubing to allow the tube to be bottomed in the
action during pull-up. This reduces the chance of coining out sur-
Swagelok fitting:
face defects, such as scratches.
For the greatest safety factor against surface defects in any gas T Tube OD, in. ¹⁄₁₆ ¹⁄₈ ³⁄₁₆ ¹⁄₄ ⁵⁄₁₆ ³⁄₈ ¹⁄₂ ⁵⁄₈ ³⁄₄ ⁷⁄₈ 1 1¹⁄₄ 1¹⁄₂ 2
system, use a wall thickness no less than the following: L
Length of
Straight ¹⁄₂ ²³⁄₃₂ ³⁄₄ ¹³⁄₁₆ ⁷⁄₈ ¹⁵⁄₁₆ 1³⁄₁₆ 1¹⁄₄ 1¹⁄₄ 1⁵⁄₁₆ 1¹⁄₂ 2 2¹³⁄₃₂ 3¹⁄₄
TUBING FOR GAS SERVICE Tube, in.
Nominal Nominal R Radius of tube bend as recommended by bender manufacturer.
Tube Minimum Wall Tube Minimum Wall Note: Dimension L represents recommended straight tube length.
OD, in. Thickness, in. OD, in. Thickness, in. For maximum assurance of reliable performance use
1/8 0.028 3/4 0.065 Swagelok tube fittings assembled in accordance with catalog
instructions, and use properly selected and handled high quality
3/16 0.028 7/8 0.083 tubing.
1/4 0.028 1 0.083 When installing steel or stainless steel Swagelok tube fittings over
5/16 0.035 1 1/4 0.109 1 in., we suggest the use of a Swagelok Hydraulic Swaging Unit.
3/8 0.035 1 1/2 0.134 This unit increases reliability and ensures proper and sufficient
1/2 0.049 2 0.180 pre-swaging of the ferrules onto the tubing for 1 1/4, 1 1/2 and
5/8 0.065 2 in. Swagelok tube fittings. Ask your Swagelok representative for
a demonstration.

SUGGESTED ALLOWABLE PRESSURE TABLES

A. All pressures are calculated from equations in ANSI Code for OD Tolerance  0.005 in. / Wall Thickness  10%
Pressure Piping ASME/ANSI B31.3 Calculations are based on a 0.505 in. OD  0.0315 in. wall tubing.
B. All calculations are based on maximum OD and minimum C. No allowance is made for corrosion or erosion.
wall thickness. D. Multiply stainless steel value by 0.94 for working
Example: 1/2 in. OD  0.035 in. wall stainless steel tubing pressure per ANSI B31.1 code.
purchased to ASTM A269:
TABLE 1 – ALUMINUM TUBING TABLE 2 – COPPER TUBING
Based on ultimate tensile strength 42 000 psi (289 400 kPa). For metal temperatures – 20° Based on ultimate tensile strength 30 000 psi (206 700 kPa). For metal temperatures –20°
to 100°F (–29° to 37°C). Allowable working pressure loads calculated from S values (14 000 to 100°F (–29° to 37°C). Allowable working pressure loads calculated from S values (6000
psi-96 500 kPa) as specified by ANSI B31.3 code. psi-41 300 kPa) as specified by ANSI B31.3 code.
Tube Tube Wall Thickness, in. Swagelok Tube Tube Wall Thickness, in. Swagelok
OD, Fitting OD, Fitting
0.035 0.049 0.065 0.083 0.095 in. 0.028 0.035 0.049 0.065 0.083 0.095 0.109 0.120 Series
in. Series
¹⁄₈ 8600 200 ¹⁄₈ 2700 3600 200
Working Pressure, psig Working Pressure, psig
³⁄₁₆ 5600 8000 NOTE: For tubing for 300 ³⁄₁₆ 1800 2300 3400 300
NOTE: For tubing for gas
¹⁄₄ 4000 5900 gas service use 400 ¹⁄₄ 1300 1600 2500 3500 service use only tube wall 400
only tube wall thick- thickness on outside of
⁵⁄₁₆ 3100 4600 ness on outside of 500 ⁵⁄₁₆ 1300 1900 2700 screened area. (See “Tubing 500
screened area. for Gas Service” above.)
³⁄₈ 2600 3700 (See “Tubing for Gas 600 ³⁄₈ 1000 1600 2200 600
¹⁄₂ 1900 2700 3700 Service” above.)
810 ¹⁄₂ 800 1100 1600 2100 810
⁵⁄₈ 1500 2100 2900 1010 ⁵⁄₈ 900 1200 1600 1900 1010
³⁄₄ 1700 2400 3100 1210 ³⁄₄ 700 1000 1300 1500 1800 1210
⁷⁄₈ 1500 2000 1410 ⁷⁄₈ 600 800 1100 1300 1500 1410
1 1300 1700 2300 2700 1610 1 500 700 900 1100 1300 1500 1610
SUGGESTED ORDERING INFORMATION SUGGESTED ORDERING INFORMATION
High quality aluminum-alloy drawn seamless tubing ASTM B210 or equivalent. (Values High quality soft annealed seamless copper tubing ASTM B75 or equivalent. Also soft
shown are for alloy 6061-T6.) annealed (Temper 0) copper water tube type K or type L to ASTM B88.
SUGGESTED ALLOWABLE PRESSURE TABLES (CONTINUED)
TABLE 3 – CARBON STEEL TUBING
Soft annealed carbon steel hydraulic tubing ASTM A179 or equivalent. Based on ultimate tensile strength 47 000 psi (323 800 kPa). For metal temperatures –20° to 100°F (–29° to 37°C).
Allowable working pressure loads calculated from S values (15 700 psi-108 200 kPa) as specified by ANSI B31.3 code.

Working Pressure, psig

⁵⁄₁₆ 3700 5500 7500 NOTE: For tubing for gas 500
service use only tube wall
³⁄₈ 3100 4500 6200 thickness on outside of 600
¹⁄₂ 2300 3200 4500 5900 screened area. (See “Tubing 810
for Gas Service” above.)
⁵⁄₈ 1800 2600 3500 4600 5300 1010
³⁄₄ 2100 2900 3700 4300 5100 1210
⁷⁄₈ 1800 2400 3200 3700 4300 1410
1 1500 2100 2700 3200 3700 4100 1610
1¹⁄₄ 1600 2100 2500 2900 3200 3600 4000 4600 5000 2000
1¹⁄₂ 1800 2000 2400 2600 2900 3300 3700 4100 5100 2400
2 1500 1700 1900 2100 2400 2700 3000 3700 3200
SUGGESTED ORDERING INFORMATION
High quality soft annealed seamless carbon steel hydraulic tubing ASTM A179 or equivalent. Hardness Rb72 [HV(VPN)130] or less.
Tubing to be free of scratches. Suitable for bending and flaring.
TABLE 4 – STAINLESS STEEL TUBING
Annealed 304 or 316 stainless steel tubing ASTM A269 or equivalent. Based on ultimate tensile strength 75 000 psi (516 700 kPa). For metal temperature from –20° to 100°F
(–29° to 37°C). Allowable working pressure loads calculated from S values (20 000 psi 137 800 kPa) as specified by ANSI B31.3 code.
FOR SEAMLESS TUBING➀
Note: For welded and drawn tubing, a derating factor must be applied for weld integrity: for double welded tubing multiply pressure rating by 0.85 –
for single welded tubing multiply pressure rating by 0.80.

Tube Tube Wall Thickness, in. Swagelok

OD, Fitting
in. 0.010 0.012 0.014 0.016 0.020 0.028 0.035 0.049 0.065 0.083 0.095 0.109 0.120 0.134 0.156 0.188 Series
¹⁄₁₆ 5600 6800 8100 9400 12 000 100
¹⁄₈ 8500 10 900 Working Pressure, psig 200
³⁄₁₆ 5400 7000 10 200 300
¹⁄₄ 4000 5100 7500 10 200 NOTE: For tubing for gas ser- 400
⁵⁄₁₆ 4000 5800 8000 vice use only tube wall thick- 500
ness on outside of
³⁄₈ 3300 4800 6500 screened area. (See “Tubing 600
¹⁄₂ 2600 3700 5100 6700 for Gas Service” above.) 810
⁵⁄₈ 2900 4000 5200 6000 1010
³⁄₄ 2400 3300 4200 4900 5800 1210
⁷⁄₈ 2000 2800 3600 4200 4800 1410
1 2400 3100 3600 4200 4700 1610
1¹⁄₄ 2400 2800 3300 3600 4100 4900 2000
1¹⁄₂ 2300 2700 3000 3400 4000 4900 2400
2 2000 2200 2500 2900 3600 3200
➀For higher pressures and heavier thicknesses wall tubing, see Fittings for Heavy Wall Tubing catalog in your Swagelok Product Binder.
SUGGESTED ORDERING INFORMATION
Fully annealed high quality (Type 304, 316, etc.) (seamless or welded and drawn) stainless steel hydraulic tubing ASTM A269 or A213, or equivalent.
Hardness Rb80 [HV(VPN)180] or less. Tubing to be free of scratches. Suitable for bending and flaring.
Note: Certain austenitic stainless tubing has an allowable ovality tolerance double the OD tolerance. Such oval tubing may not fit into Swagelok precision tube fittings.
Multiply value by 0.94 for working pressure per ANSI B31.1.
TABLE 5 – ALLOY 400 TUBING
Annealed Alloy 400 seamless tubing ASTM B165 or equivalent. Based on ultimate tensile strength 70 000 psi (482 300 kPa). For metal temperatures from –20° to 100°F (–29° to 37°C).
Allowable working pressure loads calculated from S values (18 700 psi-128 800 kPa) as specified in ANSI B31.3 code.
Tube Tube Wall Thickness, in. Swagelok
OD, Fitting
in. 0.028 0.035 0.049 0.065 0.083 0.095 0.109 0.120 Series
¹⁄₈ 7900 10 100 Working Pressure, psig NOTE: For tubing for gas service use only
200
¹⁄₄ 3700 4800 7000 9500 tube wall thickness on outside of 400
screened area. (See “Tubing for Gas
³⁄₈ 3100 4400 6100 Service” above.)
600
¹⁄₂ 2300 3200 4400 810
³⁄₄ 2200 3000 4000 4600 1210
1 2200 2900 3400 3900 4300 1610
SUGGESTED ORDERING INFORMATION
Fully annealed quality seamless Alloy 400 hydraulic tubing ASTM B165 or equivalent, hardness Rb75 maximum. Tubing to be free of scratches. Suitable for bending and flaring.

To determine allowable pressure at elevated temperatures,

TABLE 6 – Factors multiply allowable working pressure from Tables 1, 2, 3, 4,
Factors used to °F °C Aluminum Copper Steel➁ 304SS 316SS Alloy 400 or 5 by factor shown in Table 6.
determine tubings 200 93 1.00 0.80 0.95 1.00 1.00 0.87
pressure ratings 400 204 0.40 0.50 0.87 0.93 0.96 0.79 Example:
600 315 — — — 0.82 0.85 0.79 Type 316 Stainless Steel 1/2 in. OD  0.035 in. wall at
at elevated 1000°F. 2600 psi  0.76 = 1976 psi.
temperatures 800 426 — — — 0.76 0.79 0.75
1000 537 — — — 0.69 0.76 — Allowable working pressure for 1/2 in. OD  0.035 in.
1200 648 — — — 0.30 0.37 — wall type 316 stainless steel tubing is therefore 1976 psi at
1000°F.
➁ Based on 375°F max.
SUGGESTED ALLOWABLE PRESSURE TABLES (CONTINUED)
TABLE 7 – CHART OF FACTORS
For use in calculating Allowable Working Pressures of Tubing.
Allowable working pressure = Factor  Allowable Stress Value in psi. Based on ANSI B31.3-1990.
Tube Tube Wall Thickness, in. Swagelok
OD, Fitting
in. 0.010 0.012 0.014 0.016 0.020 0.028 0.035 0.049 0.065 0.083 0.095 0.109 0.120 0.134 0.148 0.156 0.180 0.188 Series
¹⁄₁₆ 0.280 0.343 0.409 0.474 0.604 100
¹⁄₈ 0.426 0.545 200
³⁄₁₆ 0.274 0.352 0.513 300
¹⁄₄ 0.201 0.257 0.375 0.513 400
⁵⁄₁₆ 0.202 0.293 0.403 500
³⁄₈ 0.167 0.240 0.329 600
¹⁄₂ 0.131 0.187 0.255 0.335 810
⁵⁄₈ 0.104 0.148 0.200 0.261 0.304 1010
³⁄₄ 0.122 0.165 0.214 0.249 0.290 1210
⁷⁄₈ 0.104 0.140 0.182 0.210 0.244 1410
1 0.090 0.122 0.158 0.182 0.211 0.235 1610
1¹⁄₄ 0.096 0.124 0.144 0.166 0.184 0.208 0.231 0.245 0.287 2000
1¹⁄₂ 0.103 0.118 0.137 0.151 0.170 0.189 0.200 0.234 0.246 2400
2 0.088 0.101 0.112 0.126 0.139 0.147 0.172 0.180 3200

Note: Factors shown above are based on minimum wall thick- Applicable codes and practices in industry should be considered.
nesses of ASTM A269. Various tubing specifications within the Swagelok Company is not responsible for the accuracy of
code have varying wall thickness tolerances. information presented in these tables.
All charts and tables are for reference only and are based on ANSI Codes are the successor to and replacement of ASA Piping
information contained in the 1990 edition of the code. No Codes.
implication is made that these figures can be used for design work.

S.I. UNITS To convert psi to bar, divide by 14.51. Thus 2775 psi equals
Under the International Organization of Standardization (ISO), 191.2 bar.
the kilopascal (kPa) has been adopted as the standard pressure
To convert kPa to bar, multiply by 0.01.
measurement.
1 bar = 14.51 psi = 100 kPa
To convert psi as shown in tables 1 thru 5 to kPa, multiply psi
1 psi = 0.069 bar = 6.89 kPa
 6.89. For example, 2775 psi equals 19 119 kPa (2775  6.89).
1 kPa = 0.01 bar = 0.1451 psi

SPECIAL ALLOY TUBING Fitting ASTM

When selecting special alloy tubing, we Material
Designator
Tube
Material
Specification
Number
Tube
Type
suggest the following to be included on
INC-000 0 Alloy 600 B167 Seamless
purchase specifications: Fully annealed
HC-000 0 Alloy C-276 B622 Only
seamless (or welded and drawn, where
C20-000 0 Alloy 20 B468 Seamless or
permitted) alloy tubing to the ASTM Welded and
TI-000 0 Titanium (Grade 2) B338
specification shown. Tubing to be free Drawn
of scratches, suitable for bending and
flaring. A limited amount of test data is available on Swagelok tube
fittings used on special alloy tubing because of restricted
availability of the tubing. Since most applications involving special
alloy tubing are severe, we recommend that a sample of the
tubing be sent to the factory for evaluation before installation.
Please include all pertinent information relating to system
parameters. Give tubing sample to your Swagelok representative
to forward to the factory.

Swagelok — TM Swagelok Company

© 1972, 1985, 1996, 1999 Swagelok Company

Printed in U.S.A., MI
September 1999, R1