EN 10217 Electric Resistance Welded (ERW) Pipe
Basic Overview
EN 10217 is a European standard that specifies technical delivery conditions for welded steel tubes for pressure purposes. It covers electric resistance welded (ERW), high-frequency welded (HFW), and submerged arc welded (SAW) pipes used in pressure applications such as boilers, pipelines, and industrial process systems .
Name Explanation
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| EN | European Norm (standard) |
| 10217 | Standard number for welded steel tubes for pressure purposes |
| Electric Resistance Welded | Manufacturing process – pipe formed from strip/plate and welded longitudinally without filler metal |
| Pressure Purposes | Designed for pressure-containing applications, not general structural use |
Key Features of EN 10217 ERW Pipe
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Material Type | Non-alloy and alloy steels (carbon and low-alloy) |
| Manufacturing | Electric Resistance Welded (ERW) or High Frequency Welded (HFW) – longitudinal weld seam present |
| Product Structure | Divided into 7 parts based on material properties and service conditions |
| Key Advantage | PED compliance – supports EU Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU requirements |
| Temperature Range | Room temperature, elevated temperature, and low temperature options depending on part/grades |
| Typical Diameters | 10.2mm to 2540mm (depending on part and manufacturing method) |
| Typical Wall Thickness | 2.3mm to 40mm |
The 7 Parts of EN 10217
EN 10217 is divided into seven parts, each covering different material types and service conditions :
| Part | Title | Key Grades | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Non-alloy tubes with specified room temperature properties | P195TR1, P195TR2, P235TR1, P235TR2, P265TR1, P265TR2 | General pressure piping at ambient temperature |
| Part 2 | Electric welded tubes of alloy and non-alloy steel with specified elevated temperature properties | P195GH, P235GH, P265GH, 16Mo3 | Boilers, steam pipelines, high-temperature service |
| Part 3 | Alloy fine grain tubes | P355N, P355NH, P460N, P275NL1, P355NL1, P460NL1 | Low-temperature and high-pressure applications |
| Part 4 | Electric welded tubes of non-alloy steel with specified low temperature properties | P215NL, P265NL | Low-temperature service |
| Part 5 | Submerged arc welded tubes of alloy and non-alloy steel with specified elevated temperature properties | P235GH, P265GH, 16Mo3 | Large-diameter SAW pipes for elevated temperature |
| Part 6 | Submerged arc welded tubes of non-alloy steel with specified low temperature properties | P215NL, P265NL | Large-diameter SAW pipes for low-temperature service |
| Part 7 | Stainless steel tubes | Austenitic and duplex stainless grades (e.g., 1.4307, 1.4404, 1.4462) | Corrosion-resistant pressure applications |
Common Grades & Mechanical Properties (Part 1 - Room Temperature)
P195, P235, P265 Series
| Grade | Yield Strength (MPa) min (t≤16mm) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Elongation % min | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P195TR1/TR2 | 195 | 320-440 | 27 | Low-pressure systems |
| P235TR1/TR2 | 235 | 360-500 | 25 | Most common – general pressure piping |
| P265TR1/TR2 | 265 | 410-570 | 21 | Higher pressure requirements |
Note: TR2 grades include mandatory impact testing and stricter inspection
Comparison Table: EN 10217 vs. Other Pressure Pipe Standards
| Aspect | EN 10217 (European) | ASTM A106/A53 (US) | API 5L (Pipeline) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Welded tubes for pressure purposes | Seamless/welded carbon steel pipe | Line pipe for oil/gas transmission |
| Grade Designation | P-prefix (P235, P265, etc.) | A, B, C grades | X42, X52, X60, etc. |
| Yield Strength (Common Grade) | P265 = 265 MPa min | Gr.B = 240 MPa min | X52 = 360 MPa min |
| PED Compliance | Yes – supports Pressure Equipment Directive | No (but may be used with assessment) | No |
| Typical Application | Pressure vessels, boilers, industrial piping | General process piping | Oil/gas transmission lines |
| Certification | Typically EN 10204 3.1 | Mill test reports | EN 10204 or API specs |
Quality Levels: TR1 vs. TR2
The "TR" designation indicates the quality level for room temperature grades :
| Aspect | TR1 | TR2 |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Testing | Not required | Mandatory (specified temperature) |
| Inspection | Non-specific inspection | Specific inspection with test certificate |
| Sulfur (S) max | 0.020% | 0.015% (tighter control) |
| PED Support | Does NOT support essential requirements of Pressure Equipment Directive | Supports essential requirements for PED Categories II, III, IV |
| Typical Use | Non-critical, non-PED applications | Pressure equipment, critical service |
Test Categories (TC1 vs. TC2)
For elevated and low-temperature grades (Parts 2-6) :
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| TC1 | Without mandatory ultrasonic testing of weld seam |
| TC2 | With mandatory ultrasonic testing of weld seam – higher integrity |
Manufacturing Process & Requirements
ERW/HFW Process
Forming: Steel strip/plate is cold-formed into cylindrical shape.
Welding: High-frequency electric resistance welding (HF-ERW) joins edges without filler metal.
Heat Treatment: Weld seam may be normalized (online heat treatment) to refine grain structure and match base metal properties .
NDT: 100% non-destructive testing of weld seam (eddy current or ultrasonic) .
Sizing/Straightening: Final dimensions and straightness achieved.
Key Process Controls
Weld seam extrusion control: ≤10% of wall thickness
Online heat treatment: induction heating to 550-600°C with slow cooling
Hydrostatic testing: ≥15 seconds hold at test pressure
Chemical Composition (Typical - Part 1 Grades)
| Element | P195TR1/TR2 (max %) | P235TR1/TR2 (max %) | P265TR1/TR2 (max %) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 0.13 | 0.16 | 0.20 |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.40 |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.70 | 1.20 | 1.40 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.025 | 0.025 | 0.025 |
| Sulfur (S) | 0.020 (TR1) / 0.015 (TR2) | Same | Same |
| Residuals (Cr+Cu+Mo+Ni) | 0.70 max | 0.70 max | 0.70 max |
Dimensional Tolerances
| Parameter | Tolerance |
|---|---|
| Outside Diameter (D ≤ 114.3mm) | ±1% or ±0.5mm (whichever greater) |
| Outside Diameter (D > 114.3mm) | ±0.75% (Class B) |
| Wall Thickness (t ≤ 5mm) | ±10% or ±0.3mm (whichever greater) |
| Wall Thickness (t > 5mm) | ±8% or ±2mm (whichever smaller) |
| Wall Thickness (Class B, t≤15mm) | +10% / -5% |
| Straightness | 0.0015 × length (max 3mm per meter) |
| Internal Weld Seam Height | 1.5mm max (after trimming) |
Testing & Inspection
| Test Type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Chemical Analysis | Per cast, verify composition limits |
| Tensile Test | Yield strength, tensile strength, elongation |
| Flattening Test | Verifies ductility and weld integrity |
| Bend Test | Checks weld quality and formability |
| Impact Test | Charpy V-notch – mandatory for TR2 and low-temp grades |
| Hydrostatic Test | Proof of leak tightness (or NDE alternative) |
| NDT of Weld Seam | 100% – eddy current (EN ISO 10893-2) or ultrasonic (EN ISO 10893-10) |
| Dimensional Inspection | Per EN 10246 series |
Certification
EN 10217 pipes are typically supplied with:
EN 10204 3.1 Certificate – Manufacturer's independent testing department certifies results from actual supplied products (most common for critical applications)
EN 10204 3.2 Certificate – Third-party witnessed testing (when specified)
Must include: chemical composition, mechanical properties, NDT results, heat treatment details
Common Applications
| Industry | Applications |
|---|---|
| Power Generation | Boiler tubes, steam pipelines, heat exchangers |
| Chemical/Petrochemical | Process piping, pressure vessels, reactors |
| Oil & Gas | Gathering lines, transmission pipelines |
| Industrial | Compressed air systems, hydraulic lines, general pressure piping |
| Utilities | Water and steam distribution |
| Construction | Pressure-containing structural elements |
Key Advantages of EN 10217
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| High Pressure Resistance | Designed for significant internal pressures |
| PED Compliance | Supports EU Pressure Equipment Directive requirements |
| Wide Grade Range | From basic carbon to alloy and stainless steels |
| Good Weldability | Controlled chemistry ensures reliable field welding |
| Uniform Properties | Consistent quality through standardized manufacturing |
| Large Size Range | Up to 2540mm diameter available |
Important Selection Notes
1. TR1 vs. TR2 Selection
TR1: Non-critical applications, no PED requirements, lower cost
TR2: Pressure equipment, critical service, PED compliance – requires impact testing and specific inspection
2. Part Selection by Temperature
Part 1: Room temperature only
Part 2: Elevated temperature (boilers, steam)
Part 3/4: Low temperature
Part 7: Corrosive environments (stainless)
3. Test Category (TC)
TC1: Lower cost, no mandatory ultrasonic weld testing
TC2: Higher integrity with ultrasonic weld examination
4. Certification Requirement
For pressure equipment applications, always specify EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certification .
International Equivalents (Approximate)
| Standard | Approximate Equivalent Grade |
|---|---|
| ASTM A53 | Gr.B ≈ P235TR1 (similar strength) |
| ASTM A106 | Gr.B ≈ P265 (yield: 240 vs 265 MPa) |
| DIN 1629 | St37.0 ≈ P235, St44 ≈ P265 |
| ISO 3183 | L245 ≈ P235, L290 ≈ P265 |
| GB/T 9711 | L245, L290 |
Final Takeaway: EN 10217 ERW Pipe is the European standard for welded pressure tubes, covering carbon, alloy, and stainless steels for applications ranging from room temperature to elevated and low-temperature service. It is divided into 7 parts based on material and service conditions, with TR2 quality and TC2 test category recommended for critical pressure equipment requiring PED compliance. Always specify the appropriate part, grade, quality level (TR1/TR2), test category (TC1/TC2), and certification (EN 10204 3.1/3.2) based on your application requirements.
