ASTM A106
/glossary/astm-a106American standard for seamless carbon steel pipe for high-temperature service.
ASTM A106 is the seamless carbon-steel pipe specification for high-temperature service, ordered by NPS and schedule. The ASTM store listing covers NPS 1/8 to NPS 48 (DN 6 to DN 1200) with nominal wall per ASME B36.10M. Kanpur fabricators enquire for Grade B in Sch 40 or Sch 80, but the design must set grade and wall. Quotes from RP Sales are ex-warehouse Kanpur, GST 18% extra as the budgeting basis; the tax invoice applies the rate in force.
In detail
ASTM A106/A106M specifies seamless carbon steel pipe for high-temperature service in NPS 1/8 to NPS 48. It covers three grades (A, B, and C) with rising minimum tensile strength of 330, 415, and 450 MPa. Mechanical testing on the ASTM abstract includes tensile, bending, flattening, hydrostatic, and nondestructive electric tests. Grade, wall, condition, and inspection must follow the approved design and purchased edition; the designation alone is not a pressure or temperature approval.
What ASTM A106 is, and what it is not
ASTM A106 is a seamless carbon steel pipe specification for high-temperature service. It is a pipe standard ordered by NPS and schedule or wall, not a boiler-tube standard ordered by OD and minimum wall.
Scope 1.1 of the A106/A106M-26 store abstract covers seamless pipe from NPS 1/8 to NPS 48 (DN 6 to DN 1200) with nominal (average) wall thickness per ASME B36.10M. Pipe with other dimensions is permissible when it meets the rest of the specification.
A106 is not ASTM A53: A53 allows welded Type E and galvanized finish, while A106 is seamless only. A106 is not SA192 boiler tube, and it is not IS 1239 class pipe for water lines.
ASTM publishes A106; ASME cross-references the same material as SA-106 in Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section II. Do not treat the two designations as automatically interchangeable; use the exact designation and edition the design states.
Who should specify A106, and who should stay on welded pipe
Specify A106 only when the approved piping class, drawing, or purchase specification names it. Grade B is frequently encountered, but Grade A, B, or C must come from the governing code material line and design calculation.
Do not buy A106 as a cheap substitute for IS 1239 water pipe. Seamless high-temperature pipe costs more and uses schedule walls, not Light, Medium, or Heavy class.
Do not use A53 Type E welded pipe where the drawing says A106, and do not use IS 1239 ERW on an IBR steam line. Where the item is a boiler generating-bank tube, the drawing likely wants SA192 or SA210 instead.
Where the approved boiler design names SA-106 for a steam pipe, repeat that exact designation. Ask the competent authority to confirm Form III-A and the supporting set before allocation.
ASTM A106 grade comparison
Grades differ in chemistry caps and minimum strength. The table repeats the site standards page; the governing design selects the grade, not frequency or price.
| Grade | Carbon max (%) | Manganese (%) | Yield min (MPa) | Tensile min (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A | 0.25 | 0.27-0.93 | 205 | 330 |
| Grade B | 0.30 | 0.29-1.06 | 240 | 415 |
| Grade C | 0.35 | 0.29-1.06 | 275 | 450 |
Phosphorus and sulphur sit at 0.035% max on every grade, with copper, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium restricted to 0.40% total max. Elongation is 30% min in 50 mm on a straight specimen and 20% min on strip.
How to specify A106 on an RFQ
A106 RFQs fail when they say seamless pipe Grade B and omit edition, wall, condition, end finish, tests, and the statutory route.
- Standard and revision: ASTM A106 or ASME SA-106, plus the revision on the drawing.
- Grade A, B, or C exactly as the governing design and code calculation select.
- Size: NPS and schedule, or OD by wall in mm. Sch 40, 80, 160, and XXS are the common walls.
- Length: SRL 4.5-7 m or DRL 7-14 m, or cut-to-length with tolerance.
- End finish: plain end, beveled for welding, or threaded and coupled on small sizes.
- Finish: black as-rolled, or normalized where the grade or order requires it.
- Documents: the inspection certificate and test reports the project states; for an IBR steam pipe, Form III-A with the approved authority route.
- Inspection: mill inspection, or named TPI where the PO requires EN 10204 3.2.
- Tests: hydrotest per ASTM A106 Section 5, plus supplementary S1-S7 extras where ordered.
- Delivery: quantity in metres or MT, destination, ex-works Kanpur or delivered.
Worked example: forty 6 m lengths of 4 inch Sch 40
The site schedule chart gives 4 inch NPS as OD 114.3 mm with Sch 40 wall 6.02 mm. W = (114.3 − 6.02) × 6.02 × 0.02466 = 16.07 kg/m, so one 6 m length is 16.07 × 6 = 96.42 kg.
Forty lengths are 40 × 96.42 = 3,856.8 kg, about 3.86 MT. Sch 80 at the same NPS is 8.56 mm wall and a heavier metre; the two walls are not interchangeable on one isometric.
The seamless band for 4 inch Sch 40 is ₹76-94 per kg ex-warehouse Kanpur as of 24 May 2026. The steel line is 3,856.8 × 76 = ₹293,117 (about ₹2.93 lakh) to 3,856.8 × 94 = ₹362,539 (about ₹3.63 lakh), before GST and freight.
State NPS, schedule, grade, and MTC type on the RFQ so the offer matches the drawing.
Common mistakes on A106 procurement
In practice, buyers select or substitute a grade from price or availability. The match must be the drawing and engineering set, not a stock or cost assumption.
A53 Type E arrives quoted as Grade B pipe. Grade B exists on both standards, yet only Type S seamless A53 is even in the same family, and it is still not A106 high-temperature pipe.
A third mistake raises the regulatory route only after stock is allocated. Put the approved designation, component classification, Form III-A where applicable, tests, traceability, and authority scope on the enquiry first.
A fourth mistake omits schedule, so Sch 40 arrives against a Sch 80 isometric. Both look alike on the rack at 2 inch, but 3.91 mm and 5.54 mm walls are not interchangeable.
A fifth mistake assumes SRL when the plot needs DRL, or cut-to-length without a written tolerance and commercial basis. State the length and ask the quotation to name any processing charge.
Standards and compliance for A106
The material specification is ASTM A106 or ASME SA-106. Dimensional walls come from ASME B36.10M, which the site pipe schedule chart follows.
The ASTM abstract requires tensile, bending, flattening, hydrostatic, and nondestructive electric tests, all at room temperature. Hydrotest follows ASTM A106 Section 5, and supplementary S1 to S7 cover buyers who need extra tests.
Design codes ASME B31.1 and B31.3 determine the required wall and allowable pressure for the project. A schedule number alone fixes no pressure rating; size, wall, allowable stress, and code do.
For IBR steam pipe, the DPIIT forms index assigns Form III-A to steam pipes. An EN 10204 inspection document is distinct evidence and does not itself establish statutory acceptance.
Do not treat IS 1239 as an A106 equivalent. The A106 vs IS 1239 comparison is the buyer check before any cross-standard substitution.
Buying A106 pipe in Kanpur
Kanpur enquiries come from process and equipment fabricators around Panki and Dada Nagar, plus contractors procuring line pipe for projects beyond the city. A sugar-mill steam line can sit next to a PWD water BOQ on the same RFQ list, so keep the A106 lines separate from the IS 1239 lines.
The Kanpur seamless hub lists boiler feed-water lines in Panki, hydrocarbon fuel transport in oil terminals, chemical process piping in Jajmau, and high-pressure hydraulic lines in Dada Nagar. Each duty still needs the design code and service on the RFQ.
RP Sales dispatches A106 pipe daily out of the Bartan Bazar / Basanti Nagar (208014) yard, ex-warehouse Kanpur, GST 18% extra. RFQs receive a response within 4 working hours.
See seamless pipes in Kanpur, the seamless pipe price list, the pipe schedule chart, and the Kanpur steel market. Outstation buyers in Lucknow, Agra, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Bareilly, and Patna state the city route and PIN beside the quantity.
Seamless price bands for A106 budgeting
Bands below are indicative, ex-warehouse Kanpur, as of 24 May 2026, covering ASTM A106 Grade B and A53. Tax and transport sit outside the band; a current proforma states grade, size, wall, source, quantity, tests, documents, and delivery basis.
| Size (NPS) | OD (mm) | Sch 40 (₹/kg) | Sch 80 (₹/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 inch | 60.3 | 80-98 | 95-118 |
| 4 inch | 114.3 | 76-94 | 91-113 |
| 6 inch | 168.3 | 75-92 | 90-110 |
The full seamless band is ₹74-165 per kg across Sch 40, 80, and 160. At 2 inch, Sch 80 per-kg endpoints sit about 19-20% above Sch 40. A 6 m length costs about 63-66% more once the heavier mass joins the higher rate, so recalculate for the actual size and current quote.
MTC, marking, and goods-receipt checks
Pipe marking, heat number, and MTC must point to one material. An A106 certificate does not support a bundle marked to another standard, and a generic test sheet supplies no component-specific IBR form.
Minimum wall at any point shall not fall more than 12.5% under the nominal wall stated. Gauge the wall at receipt; 2 inch Sch 40 and Sch 80 look alike on the rack.
A106 cannot replace an A335 grade without an approved design change. Check bevel condition and end protection against the PO before the lot leaves for fabrication.
Arrange TPI hold points before release when the PO requires witnessing or endorsement. RP Sales issues an EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate with each dispatch; a 3.2 certificate or TPI release must be ordered on the RFQ.
Lead time and delivery basis from Kanpur
Stock clears in 3-7 days and mill-direct standard grades in 14-21 days, as listed on the glossary lead-time entry. The quotation confirms the date and states any inspection hold that moves it.
Use ex-warehouse Kanpur when the buyer arranges transport and the delivered PIN when the supplier arranges freight. Lucknow is 80 km via NH-27 and Unnao 18 km on the first-party city pages, so nearby drops can ride part-load or pickup.
A small lot may still move as part-load even when it fits stock. A combined order can reach a full-truckload band and change freight per MT without changing the specification.
Send NPS, schedule, grade, quantity, and inspection scope on the RFQ. RP Sales responds within 4 working hours with a technical and commercial offer.
Where you'll meet this in procurement
You will meet ASTM A106 when a buyer, consultant, or mill quote names a governing specification. Confirm which revision applies, what tests the standard requires, and whether the grade on the MTC actually matches the ASTM A106 call-out on the RFQ before you lock commercial terms.
Related terms
Related resources
Key points
- A106 is seamless-only carbon steel pipe for high-temperature service, NPS 1/8 to NPS 48 on the ASTM store listing.
- Grades A, B, and C differ in chemistry and minimum strength, with tensile minima of 330, 415, and 450 MPa.
- Order by NPS and schedule with B36.10M walls; 4 inch Sch 40 is 6.02 mm wall and 16.07 kg/m.
- A53 welded pipe, IS 1239 ERW, and SA192 tube are not A106 substitutes.
- Quotes are ex-warehouse Kanpur, GST 18% extra; IBR steam pipe needs Form III-A confirmed with the competent authority.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- ASTM A106/A106M-26. Standard Specification for Seamless Carbon Steel Pipe for High-Temperature Service (scope 1.1-1.2, abstract tests; store page fetched 2026-09-05) (ASTM International)
- ASME B36.10M. Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe; dimensional reference used by the site pipe schedule chart (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
- ASME BPVC Section II Part A. SA-106: Seamless Carbon Steel Pipe for High-Temperature Service (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
- Indian Boiler Regulations, 1950. Forms index: III-A steam pipes, III-B tubes, III-C boiler mountings and fittings (Central Boilers Board, Government of India)