Steel Tubes - Working Pressures
Normal maximum working pressures for steel tubes- in psi (lb/in2) and kPa (kN/m2)
The working pressures below are conservative estimates. Be aware that domestic rules may give lower limits.
| Nominal bore |
Water |
Steam / Air, screwed connections |
Steam / Air, welded connections |
| Light |
Medium |
Heavy |
Medium |
Heavy |
Medium |
Heavy |
| inches |
mm |
psi |
kPa |
psi |
kPa |
psi |
kPa |
psi |
kPa |
psi |
kPa |
psi |
kPa |
psi |
kPa |
| 1/4 |
8 |
150 |
1000 |
300 |
2000 |
350 |
2400 |
150 |
1000 |
175 |
1200 |
250 |
1750 |
300 |
2000 |
| 3/8 |
10 |
150 |
1000 |
300 |
2000 |
350 |
2400 |
150 |
1000 |
175 |
1200 |
250 |
1750 |
300 |
2000 |
| 1/2 |
15 |
150 |
1000 |
300 |
2000 |
350 |
2400 |
150 |
1000 |
175 |
1200 |
250 |
1750 |
300 |
2000 |
| 3/4 |
20 |
150 |
1000 |
300 |
2000 |
350 |
2400 |
150 |
1000 |
175 |
1200 |
250 |
1750 |
300 |
2000 |
| 1 |
25 |
150 |
1000 |
300 |
2000 |
350 |
2400 |
150 |
1000 |
175 |
1200 |
250 |
1750 |
300 |
2000 |
| 1 1/4 |
32 |
125 |
850 |
250 |
1750 |
300 |
2000 |
125 |
850 |
150 |
1000 |
200 |
1400 |
300 |
2000 |
| 1 1/2 |
40 |
125 |
850 |
250 |
1750 |
300 |
2000 |
125 |
850 |
150 |
1000 |
200 |
1400 |
300 |
2000 |
| 2 |
50 |
100 |
700 |
200 |
1400 |
250 |
1750 |
100 |
700 |
125 |
850 |
200 |
1400 |
300 |
2000 |
| 2 1/2 |
65 |
100 |
700 |
200 |
1400 |
250 |
1750 |
100 |
700 |
125 |
850 |
200 |
1400 |
300 |
2000 |
| 3 |
80 |
100 |
700 |
200 |
1400 |
250 |
1750 |
100 |
700 |
125 |
850 |
150 |
1000 |
200 |
1400 |
| 4 |
100 |
80 |
550 |
150 |
1000 |
200 |
1400 |
80 |
550 |
100 |
700 |
150 |
1000 |
200 |
1400 |
| 5 |
125 |
|
|
150 |
1000 |
200 |
1400 |
80 |
550 |
100 |
700 |
150 |
1000 |
200 |
1400 |
| 6 |
150 |
|
|
125 |
850 |
150 |
1400 |
60 |
400 |
80 |
550 |
125 |
850 |
75 |
1200 |
Note!
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