ASTM B88-20

Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube

ABSTRACT
This specification covers seamless copper alloy water tubes for general plumbing and similar applications in fluid conveyance. These water tubes made from UNS C10200, C12000, and C12200 copper alloys are commonly used with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings. The materials should be cold-drawn to size and the tubes finished by cold working and annealing to produce the required temper and surface finish. When tubes are furnished in coils, annealing is done after coiling, while those furnished in straight lengths should be in the drawn temper. The numerical values in this specification are not presented in inch-pound units, but rather, in metric or SI units only.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
17.1 For purposes of determining compliance with the specified limits for requirements of the properties listed in Table 7, an observed value or calculated value shall be rounded as indicated in accordance with the rounding method of Practice E29.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for seamless copper water tube suitable for general plumbing, similar applications for the conveyance of fluids, and commonly used with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings. The type of copper water tube suitable for any particular application is determined by the internal or external fluid pressure, by the installation and service conditions, and by local requirements. Means of joining or bending are also factors which affect the selection of the type of tube to be used.2
Note 1: Annealed tube is suitable for use with flared or compression fittings, and with solder-type fittings, provided rounding and sizing of the tube ends is performed where needed.
Note 2: Drawn temper tube is suitable for use with solder-type fittings. Types K and L tube, in the drawn temper, are suitable for use with certain types and sizes of compression fittings.
Note 3: Fittings used for soldered or brazed connections in plumbing systems are described in ASME B16.18 and ASME B16.22.  
1.2 The tube shall be produced from the following coppers, and the manufacturer has the option to supply any one of them, unless otherwise specified.    
Copper
UNS No.  
Previously Used
Designation  
Description  
C12000  
DLP  
Phosphorus deoxidized,
low residual phosphorus  
C12200  
DHP  
Phosphorus deoxidized,
high residual phosphorus  
1.3 The assembly of copper plumbing or fire sprinkler systems by soldering is described in Practice B828.  
1.4 Solders for joining copper potable water or fire sprinkler systems are covered by Specification B32. The requirements for acceptable fluxes for these systems are covered by Specification B813.  
1.5 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.5.1 This specification is the companion specification to SI Specification B88M; therefore, no SI equivalents are shown in this specification.  
1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 16, of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2020
• ICS: 23.040.15 - Non-ferrous metal pipes
• Technical Committee: B05 - Copper and Copper Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B05.04 - Pipe and Tube

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:B88 −20
Standard Specification for
1
Seamless Copper Water Tube
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B88; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.5 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are
1.1 Thisspecificationestablishestherequirementsforseam-
included in this standard.
less copper water tube suitable for general plumbing, similar
1.5.1 This specification is the companion specification to SI
applications for the conveyance of fluids, and commonly used
Specification B88M; therefore, no SI equivalents are shown in
with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings. The type of
this specification.
copper water tube suitable for any particular application is
1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
determined by the internal or external fluid pressure, by the
test methods portion, Section 16, of this specification: This
installation and service conditions, and by local requirements.
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
Means of joining or bending are also factors which affect the
2
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
selection of the type of tube to be used.
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and
NOTE 1—Annealed tube is suitable for use with flared or compression
environmental practices and determine the applicability of
fittings, and with solder-type fittings, provided rounding and sizing of the
regulatory limitations prior to use.
tube ends is performed where needed.
NOTE2—Drawntempertubeissuitableforusewithsolder-typefittings. 1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
Types K and Ltube, in the drawn temper, are suitable for use with certain
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
types and sizes of compression fittings.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
NOTE 3—Fittings used for soldered or brazed connections in plumbing
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
systems are described in ASME B16.18 and ASME B16.22.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.2 The tube shall be produced from the following coppers,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and the manufacturer has the option to supply any one of them,
unless otherwise specified.
2. Referenced Documents
Copper Previously Used Description
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date
UNS No. Designation
of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
C12000 DLP Phosphorus deoxidized,
extent referenced herein:
low residual phosphorus
3
C12200 DHP Phosphorus deoxidized,
2.2 ASTM Standards:
high residual phosphorus
B32 Specification for Solder Metal
1.3 The assembly of copper plumbing or fire sprinkler
B88M Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube (Met-
systems by soldering is described in Practice B828.
ric)
B153 Test Method for Expansion (Pin Test) of Copper and
1.4 Soldersforjoiningcopperpotablewaterorfiresprinkler
Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tubing
systems are covered by Specification B32. The requirements
B577 Test Methods for Detection of Cuprous Oxide (Hydro-
for acceptable fluxes for these systems are covered by Speci-
gen Embrittlement Susceptibility) in Copper
fication B813.
B813 Specification for Liquid and Paste Fluxes for Solder-
ing of Copper and Copper Alloy Tube
1
B828 Practice for Making Capillary Joints by Soldering of
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB05onCopper
and CopperAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.04 on Pipe
Copper and Copper Alloy Tube and Fittings
and Tube.
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
Current edition approved April 1, 2020. Published May 2020. Originally
approved in 1932. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as B88-16. DOI:
10.1520/B0088-20.
2 3
The UNS system for copper and copper alloys (see Practice E527) is a simple For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
expansion of the former standard designation system accomplished by the addition contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
of a prefix “C” and a suffix “00.”The suffix is permitted to be used to accommodate Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
composition variations of the base alloy. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Ba
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B88 − 16 B88 − 20
Standard Specification for
1
Seamless Copper Water Tube
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B88; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for seamless copper water tube suitable for general plumbing, similar
applications for the conveyance of fluids, and commonly used with solder, flared, or compression-type fittings. The type of copper
water tube suitable for any particular application is determined by the internal or external fluid pressure, by the installation and
service conditions, and by local requirements. Means of joining or bending are also factors which affect the selection of the type
2
of tube to be used.
NOTE 1—Annealed tube is suitable for use with flared or compression fittings, and with solder-type fittings, provided rounding and sizing of the tube
ends is performed where needed.
NOTE 2—Drawn temper tube is suitable for use with solder-type fittings. Types K and L tube, in the drawn temper, are suitable for use with certain
types and sizes of compression fittings.
NOTE 3—Fittings used for soldered or brazed connections in plumbing systems are described in ASME B16.18 and ASME B16.22.
1.2 The tube shall be produced from the following coppers, and the manufacturer has the option to supply any one of them,
unless otherwise specified.
Copper Previously Used Description
UNS No. Designation
C12000 DLP Phosphorus deoxidized,
low residual phosphorus
C12200 DHP Phosphorus deoxidized,
high residual phosphorus
1.3 The assembly of copper plumbing or fire sprinkler systems by soldering is described in Practice B828.
1.4 Solders for joining copper potable water or fire sprinkler systems are covered by Specification B32. The requirements for
acceptable fluxes for these systems are covered by Specification B813.
1.5 Units—This specification is the companion specification to SI SpecificationThe values stated in inch-pound units are to be
regarded B88M; therefore, no SI equivalents are shown in this specification.as standard. No other units of measurement are
included in this standard.
1.5.1 This specification is the companion specification to SI Specification B88M; therefore, no SI equivalents are shown in this
specification.
1.6 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 16, of this specification: This standard
does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.04 on Pipe and
Tube.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2016April 1, 2020. Published November 2016May 2020. Originally approved in 1932. Last previous edition approved in 20142016 as
B88 – 14.B88-16. DOI: 10.1520/B0088-16.10.1520/B0088-20.
2
The UNS system for copper and copper alloys (see Practice E527) is a simple expansion of the former standard designation system accomplished by the addition of a
prefix “C” and a suffix “00.” The suffix is permitted to be used to accommodate composition variations of the base alloy.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B88 − 20
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced herein:
3
2.2 ASTM Standards:
B32 Specification for Solder Metal
B88M Specification for Seamless Copper Water Tube (Metric)
B153
...