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British Standard pipe — specifications & selection

British Standards define steel pipe by specification (the BS 36xx series), dimensional series and material grade. BS 3601 covers carbon-steel pipe for pressure purposes at room temperature; BS 3602 the same for elevated temperatures; BS 3603 low-temperature service; BS 3604 alloy steels for high temperature and BS 3605 austenitic stainless. Threaded and socketed tube follows BS EN 10255 (formerly BS 1387) in Light, Medium and Heavy series, while seamless and welded pressure tube follows BS EN 10216 / 10217.

How to use this reference

  • Size & wall: read the outside diameter, wall thickness and mass per metre for a nominal bore from the dimensional tables, by series or schedule.
  • Material & grade: match the chemistry, yield and tensile strength to the duty, then check the pressure-temperature rating and PED category.
  • Components & equivalence: select BS 4504 / EN 1092 flanges and BS pipe threads, and cross-reference each BS grade against its ASME/ASTM near-equivalent.

Several legacy BS pipe standards have been withdrawn in favour of harmonised BS EN equivalents. Always confirm the current standard, the certified material and the governing design code against the project specification before procurement.