ASTM A269 VS A249 Difference Between ASTM A249 and ASTM A269

ASTM A269 and ASTM A249 are both workable for Welded Stainless Steel Tubes and Pipe.

ASTM A249 / A249M Standard Specification for Welded Austenitic Steel Boiler, Superheater, Heat-Exchanger, and Condenser Tubes.

ASTM A269 / A269M Standard Specification for Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Tubing for General Service.

ASTM A249 ASTM A269 Comparison Chart

ASTM A249 and ASTM A269 specifications are two standards for Austenitic stainless steel tubes, there are the same requirements in technical, also they have some differences.

Specification	ASTM A249	ASTM 269
Tube Manufacturing	Welded	Welded And Seamless
Application	Boiler Superheater Heat-Exchanger Condenser	General Service
Sizes	OD: maximum 304.8 mm Wall Thickness: 0.4 – 8.1 mm	Inside Diameter: minium 3.4 mm Wall Thickness: 0.51 mm
ASTM / ASME	ASTM A249 / A249M ASME SA249	ASTM A269 / A269M
Test	Flange Test	Flange Test

A249 VS A269 Scope Of Application

ASTM A249 welded tubes are for boiler, super heater, heat exchanger, condenser system, the pressure equipment is used to transfer heat. Similar to the Seamless steel tubes standard specification ASTM A213.

ASTM A269 tubing is for general service, usually, it is applied in equipment and instruments, also under low or high temperature environment, therefore, ASTM A269 tubing is also used for heat transfer equipment.

A249 VS A269 Material And Grades

ASTM A249 and ASTM A269 Specifications indicate tube material is Austenitic Stainless Steel grades, which is wide used in stainless steel families, TP304, TP304L, TP316, TP316L, TP347, TP347H, TP321, TP321H, 904L grade is ideal material for various applications, they have some advantages that other steels do not have.

However, in some cases, Ferritic Stainless Steel Grade and Duplex stainless steel tubes are produced to comply with A249 or A269 standard, Ferritic steel tubes can reduce cost, and duplex steel tubes increase strength and longevity.

Common stainless steel grades of ASTM A249, and equivalents

ASTM A249 TP304
ASTM A249 TP304L
ASTM A249 TP316/316L
ASME SA249 TP304
ASME SA249 TP316L

Common stainless steel grades of ASTM A269

ASTM A269 TP304
ASTM A269 TP304L
ASTM A269 TP316
ASTM A269 TP316L

A249 VS A269 Sizes And Dimension

Usually, ASTM A249 tubing sizes and wall thickness separately are 1/8 in (3.2 mm) in inside diameter to 12 in (304.8 mm) in outside diameter and 0.015 in to 0.32 in (0.4 – 8.1 mm). The tubing sizes and thicknesses furnished to ASTM A269 are 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) in inside diameter and larger and 0.020 in. (0.51 mm) in nominal wall-thickness and heavier.

Tube size is stated in inch or millimeter, sometimes, Tube gauge size (BWG) is specified.

A249 VS A269 Dimension Tolerances

ASTM A249 welded tube and ASTM A269 Tubing dimensional tolerance are in accordance with ASTM A1016 specification, difference as below:

Specification	Outside Diameter	Outside Diameter	Wall Thickness	Length
A249	＜25.40mm	±0.10mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A249	≥25.4mm~38.1mm	±0.15mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A249	≥38.1mm~50.8mm	±0.20mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A249	≥50.8mm~63.5mm	±0.25mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A249	≥63.5mm~76.2mm	±0.30mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A249	≥76.2mm~101.6mm	±0.38mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A249	≥101.6mm~190.5mm	+0.38mm -0.64mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A249	≥190.5mm~228.6mm	+0.38mm -1.14mm	±10.00%	OD＜50.8mm (-0, +3.0mm) OD≥50.8mm (-0, +5.0mm)
A269	＜38.1mm	±0.13mm	OD＜12.7mm ±15% OD≥12.7mm ±10%	OD＜38.1mm (-0, +3.20mm) OD≥38.1mm (-0, +4.80mm)
A269	≥38.1mm~88.9mm	±0.25mm	OD＜12.7mm ±15% OD≥12.7mm ±10%	OD＜38.1mm (-0, +3.20mm) OD≥38.1mm (-0, +4.80mm)
A269	≥88.9mm~139.7mm	±0.38mm	OD＜12.7mm ±15% OD≥12.7mm ±10%	OD＜38.1mm (-0, +3.20mm) OD≥38.1mm (-0, +4.80mm)
A269	≥139.7mm~203.7mm	±0.76mm	OD＜12.7mm ±15% OD≥12.7mm ±10%	OD＜38.1mm (-0, +3.20mm) OD≥38.1mm (-0, +4.80mm)
A269	≥203.7mm~304.8mm	±1.01mm	OD＜12.7mm ±15% OD≥12.7mm ±10%	OD＜38.1mm (-0, +3.20mm) OD≥38.1mm (-0, +4.80mm)
A269	≥304.8mm~355.6mm	±1.26mm	OD＜12.7mm ±15% OD≥12.7mm ±10%	OD＜38.1mm (-0, +3.20mm) OD≥38.1mm (-0, +4.80mm)

A249 VS A269 Tube Type ( Manufacture Process）

ASTM A249 indicate welded tubes, the tubes should be cold worked or cold drawn method, prior to final heat treatment. ASTM A269 tubes should be welded type or seamless type, which is made in cold finished or hot finished.

A249 VS A269 Testing And Quality Control

A249 VS A269 Tube Surface

Both ASTM A249 and ASTM A269 specifications, after heat treatment, tubes should be pickled free of scale, when bright annealing is used, pickling is not necessary.

A249 VS A269 Heat Treatment

All the tubes under ASTM A249 and ASTM A269 standards should be heat treated condition unless in special condition, there are different annealing temperatures for different materials.

A249 VS A269 Mechanical Properties

ASTM A249: flattening, flange and reverse bend, tensile testing and hardness.

ASTM A269: flaring test for seamless tubing, flange test for welded tube, reverse Flattening Test and hardness test.

A249 VS A269 Nondestructive Test

Each tube should be conducted to the nondestructive test or the hydrostatic test, in many cases, nondestructive test refer to eddy current test or air underwater test.

A249 VS A269 Dual Certification Standard

Users should distinguish between ASTM A249 and ASTM A269 specification, although they are typical standards for stainless steel tube technical requirement, but different.

In some cases, users require stainless steel tube conform to dual certified standard A249/A269, it means the tubes should comply to both ASTM A249 and ASTM A269, and get best value or result specified in the two specifications, the tubes will be high quality.

ASME SA249 is the same standard with ASTM A249 specification, ASME SA-249 is published by ASME, but ASME have no equivalent standard with ASTM A269.

Common Sizes Of ASTM A249 / A269 Tubing

O.D.	mm	Wall Thickness	mm	Length	Grades	Type	Specification
1/2”	12.70	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
3/4”	19.05	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
1”	25.4	0.049”	1.24	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
1”	25.4	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
11/2”	38.10	0.049”	1.24	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
11/2”	38.10	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
2”	50.80	0.049”	1.24	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
2”	50.80	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
21/2”	63.50	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
3”	76.20	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
4”	101.60	0.065”	1.65	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
4”	101.60	0.083”	2.11	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
6”	152.40	0.083”	2.11	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
6”	152.40	0.109”	2.77	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
8”	203.20	0.109”	2.77	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
10”	254.00	0.134”	3.40	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
12”	304.80	0.134”	3.40	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270
14”	355.60	0.134”	3.40	10′ – 20′	304/304L/316L	Welded	A249 / A269 / A270