Quick answer: ASTM B407 covers seamless nickel-iron-chromium alloy pipe and tube, ASTM B514 covers welded pipe, and ASTM B515 covers welded boiler, heat-exchanger and condenser tube. The standards also differ in grade scope. ASTM B407 includes UNS N08800, N08810 and N08811; ASTM B515 includes all three; the active ASTM B514 scope includes UNS N08800 and N08810 but does not list UNS N08811. A purchase order should therefore identify the exact UNS grade, product form, construction, dimensions, standard edition and required tests instead of writing only “Incoloy 800 series pipe.”
Why B407, B514 and B515 Are Not Interchangeable
These three ASTM specifications belong to the same broad nickel-iron-chromium alloy family, but they do not describe the same product. The main dividing lines are whether the material is seamless or welded and whether the order is for pipe or tube.
That distinction affects the manufacturing route, dimensional basis, test requirements and grade coverage. It also affects the information a supplier needs before confirming a quotation. A project specification may require an exact ASTM edition or an ASME-adopted specification, so the buyer should state the governing document rather than relying on a generic catalog description.
| Specification | Primary product form | Construction | Relevant 800-series UNS grades in the published scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM B407-22 | Pipe and tube | Cold-worked or hot-finished annealed seamless product | UNS N08800, N08810 and N08811 |
| ASTM B514-05(2019) | Pipe | Welded, cold-worked and annealed pipe | UNS N08800 and N08810; N08811 is not listed in the active scope |
| ASTM B515-22 | Boiler, heat-exchanger and condenser tube | Welded tube made from flat-rolled alloy, cold-worked after welding and finally annealed | UNS N08800, N08810 and N08811 |
The edition numbers above reflect the active ASTM pages reviewed for this article on October 29, 2026. Contract documents can cite another edition, and standards can be revised. The required edition should always be confirmed against the project specification and purchase order.
ASTM B407: Seamless Pipe and Tube
ASTM B407 is the starting point when the required product is seamless pipe or tube in the covered nickel-iron-chromium grades. Its scope includes cold-worked and hot-finished annealed seamless products. For the 800 series, it includes UNS N08800, UNS N08810 and UNS N08811.
The standard addresses more than alloy chemistry. It includes heat-treatment, grain-size and mechanical-property requirements for applicable grades, as well as hydrostatic or nondestructive eddy-current testing. The correct order still needs to state whether the item is pipe or tube, because dimension conventions and end-use expectations can differ even when one specification covers both.
ASTM B514: Welded Pipe
ASTM B514 applies to welded nickel-iron-chromium alloy pipe for general corrosive service and heat-resisting applications. The published active scope identifies welded, cold-worked and annealed pipe and lists UNS N08800 and UNS N08810 among the 800-series grades.
This creates an important procurement check: the product name “800/800H/800HT welded pipe” does not by itself prove that B514 covers every grade in the phrase. UNS N08811, commonly associated with alloy 800HT, is not listed in the active B514 scope. If a project calls for welded 800HT pipe, the responsible engineer and purchaser should identify the applicable specification and code basis rather than extending B514 by assumption.
ASTM B515: Welded Heat-Exchanger and Condenser Tube
ASTM B515 is a welded tube specification, not a general welded pipe specification. Its scope covers boiler, heat-exchanger and condenser tubes in several nickel-iron-chromium grades, including UNS N08800, N08810 and N08811.
The manufacturing description is also specific: tube is made from flat-rolled alloy by automatic welding without added filler metal, cold-worked after welding and before final annealing, and furnished with oxide removed unless bright annealing makes descaling unnecessary. The specification includes flattening and flange tests and defines nondestructive test routes for the applicable class. The purchaser should state the required class and any project-specific inspection rather than writing only “tested tube.”
Pipe vs Tube: Define the Dimensional Basis
“Pipe” and “tube” should not be used as interchangeable words in an RFQ. Pipe is commonly ordered by nominal pipe size and schedule or nominal wall, while tube is commonly ordered by outside diameter and wall thickness. The governing ASTM product specification and its referenced general requirements determine the actual dimensional and acceptance rules.
| Order field | Pipe RFQ | Tube RFQ |
|---|---|---|
| Product description | State “pipe” and whether seamless or welded | State “tube,” intended duty and whether seamless or welded |
| Dimensions | NPS and schedule or the exact dimensional basis required by the specification | Outside diameter and wall thickness, with tolerances where project-specific |
| Ends | Plain, beveled or another specified preparation | Cut condition and end finish required for fabrication or tube-sheet work |
| Service information | Design code, fluid, pressure and temperature information for engineering review | Boiler, heat-exchanger or condenser duty, plus project inspection requirements |
Grade Selection Still Comes Before the Product Standard
ASTM B407, B514 or B515 defines a product form and its requirements; it does not replace selection of the alloy grade. Incoloy alloy 800, 800H and 800HT are related nickel-iron-chromium grades, but the higher-temperature grades use tighter chemistry and heat-treatment controls to develop creep and rupture properties.
- UNS N08800: generally associated with alloy 800 and service where the project does not require the higher-temperature creep-strength controls of 800H or 800HT.
- UNS N08810: alloy 800H, with a controlled carbon range and heat treatment intended for elevated-temperature strength.
- UNS N08811: alloy 800HT, with chemistry restrictions within the 800H family and a specified high-temperature heat-treatment basis.
A buyer should not substitute 800, 800H and 800HT solely because the dimensions are the same. The grade must match the engineering specification, design temperature and code requirements.
Testing and Documentation: Write the Acceptance Route
The three product specifications do not use one universal test list. Seamless B407 product, welded B514 pipe and welded B515 tube have different manufacturing and test provisions. Referenced general-requirement specifications also matter. For example, welded tube requirements are linked to ASTM B751, while welded pipe requirements are linked to ASTM B775/B775M and seamless product requirements to ASTM B829.
The RFQ should identify the governing product standard and edition first, then add only the supplementary requirements actually needed by the project. Avoid blanket phrases such as “all NDT” or “full testing” because they do not define the method, sampling, acceptance criteria or reporting.
| RFQ item | Information to provide | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Alloy designation | UNS N08800, N08810 or N08811 | Separates 800, 800H and 800HT requirements |
| Standard | ASTM/ASME designation and required edition | Defines product scope and acceptance basis |
| Construction | Seamless or welded; pipe or tube | Determines which standard family applies |
| Dimensions | NPS/schedule or OD/wall, length and tolerance requirements | Prevents pipe and tube dimension conventions from being mixed |
| Heat treatment | Grade-specific condition required by the governing document | Critical to the intended 800H/800HT condition |
| Testing | Required standard test route plus any specified supplementary examination | Defines method, extent and acceptance basis |
| Documents | Certificate type, heat or lot traceability, test reports and third-party inspection if required | Prevents document requirements from being added after production |
| Commercial scope | Quantity, destination, packing restrictions and requested schedule | Supports a comparable quotation |
For product-form options and quotation fields, review the Incoloy 800, 800H and 800HT pipe and tube product page. Availability, dimensions, inspection and delivery details should be confirmed in the actual quotation.
Common Specification Errors
1. Writing “B407 Welded Pipe”
B407 is a seamless pipe and tube specification. A welded construction requires review against the applicable welded product specification.
2. Treating B514 and B515 as the Same Welded Product
B514 is for welded pipe; B515 is for welded boiler, heat-exchanger and condenser tube. They use different dimensional and acceptance frameworks.
3. Assuming B514 Automatically Covers 800HT
The active B514 scope lists N08800 and N08810 but not N08811. The applicable specification for welded 800HT pipe must be established by the project authority.
4. Omitting the Standard Edition
A catalog, an engineering drawing and a purchase order may refer to different editions. State the edition required by the contract.
5. Requesting “Full Test Reports” Without Defining the Tests
Identify the test method, extent, acceptance criteria and document required. Otherwise, suppliers may quote different scopes under the same wording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ASTM B407 cover both pipe and tube?
Yes. ASTM B407 covers seamless pipe and tube in the listed nickel-iron-chromium alloys. The RFQ must still state which product is required and give the correct dimensions.
Is ASTM B514 a tube specification?
No. ASTM B514 is a welded pipe specification. ASTM B515 is the welded boiler, heat-exchanger and condenser tube specification for the grades in its scope.
Can UNS N08811 be ordered to ASTM B514?
The active B514 scope reviewed for this article does not list UNS N08811. Do not assume coverage; the purchaser and responsible engineer should define the applicable product specification and code basis.
Which details are essential for a quotation?
Provide the UNS grade, standard and edition, pipe or tube, seamless or welded construction, dimensions, length, quantity, heat-treatment condition, test and certificate requirements, destination and any project-specific inspection.
Request a Standards-Based Quotation
Send the complete material designation and dimensional basis with your enquiry. SASA Alloy can review the requested product form and quotation fields, while final grade, code and acceptance requirements remain subject to the purchaser’s engineering documents and the agreed order specification.
Post time: Oct-29-2026