An American National Standard

Designation: A 254 97 (Reapproved 2002)

Standard Specification for

Copper-Brazed Steel Tubing1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 254; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers double-wall, copper-brazed
steel tubing suitable for general engineering uses, particularly
in the automotive, refrigeration, and stove industries for fuel
lines, brake lines, oil lines, heating and cooling units, and the
like.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard.

Single-Strip Type

3.1.7 External coating, where required (see Section 7 and

Supplementary Requirement S2), and
3.1.8 Special or supplementary requirements or exceptions
to specification.

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
of Steel Products2
E 30 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Steel, Cast
Iron, Open-Hearth Iron, and Wrought Iron3
E 59 Practice for Sampling Steel and Iron for Determination
of Chemical Composition4
2.2 Society of Automotive Engineers Standard:
J 533 Flares for Tubing5

4. Manufacture
4.1 The steel may be made by any process.
4.2 If a specific type of melting is required by the purchaser,
it shall be as stated on the purchase order.
4.3 The primary melting may incorporate separate degassing or refining and may be followed by secondary melting,
such as electroslag remelting or vacuum-arc remelting. If
secondary melting is employed, the heat shall be defined as all
of the ingots remelted from a single primary heat.
4.4 Steel may be cast in ingots or may be strand cast. When
steel of different grades is sequentially strand cast, identification of the resultant transition material is required. The
producer shall remove the transition material by an established
procedure that positively separates the grades.
4.5 The tubing shall be made by rolling steel strip into the
form of tubing and subsequently copper brazing in a reducing
atmosphere.
4.6 Tubing shall be constructed as shown in Fig. 1.
4.7 Tubing shall be suitably tested after brazing by the
manufacturer to ensure freedom from leaks and detrimental
flaws.

3. Ordering Information
3.1 Orders for material under this specification should
include the following, as required to describe the desired
material adequately:
3.1.1 Quantity (feet, metres),
3.1.2 Name of material (copper-brazed steel tubing),
3.1.3 Type, where necessary (see Fig. 1) (normally the type
is not specified),
3.1.4 Size (outside diameter and wall thickness; normally
inside diameter should not be specified),
3.1.5 Length (specific or random),
3.1.6 Inside surface cleanliness where required (see Section
8),

5. Chemical Composition
5.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements as to
chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
5.2 Heat AnalysisAn analysis of each heat of steel shall
be made by the steel manufacturer to determine the percentages
of the elements specified. If secondary melting processes are
employed, the heat analysis shall be obtained from one
remelted ingot or the product of one remelted ingot of each
primary melt. The chemical composition thus determined, or

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.09 on Carbon Steel Tubular Products.
Current edition approved Mar. 10, 1997. Published November 1997. Originally
published as A 254 44. Last previous edition A 254 94.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.
3
Discontinued 1995; see 1994 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.
4
Discontinued 1996; see 1995 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.
Replaced by E 1806 (Vol 03.06).
5
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. 400 Commonwealth Dr.,
Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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Double-Strip Type

FIG. 1 Brazed Tubing, Double-Wall, 360-deg Brazed Construction

A 254
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Element
Carbon
Manganese
Phosphorus, max
Sulfur, max

cracking or otherwise showing flaws. (Prior to the expansion

test, tubing shall be cut off square, edge crowned, and
deburred. It shall be held firmly and squarely in the die, and
punch must be guided on the axis of the tubing.)
6.4 Bend TestThe finished tubing shall stand bending on a
centerline radius equal to three times the tubing outside
diameter without kinking, cracking, or developing other flaws
where proper bending fixtures are used.
6.5 Pressure Proof TestsEach tube shall be capable of
withstanding, without bursting or leaking, either of the following proof tests:
6.5.1 An internal hydrostatic pressure sufficient to subject
the material to a minimum fiber stress of 16 000 psi (110
MPa). Hydrostatic pressure shall be determined by the following formula:

Composition, %
0.05 to 0.15
0.27 to 0.63
0.035
0.035

that determined from a product analysis made by the tubular

product manufacturer shall conform to the requirements specified.
5.3 Product AnalysisTubing of this quality is commonly
produced in rimmed or capped steel which is characterized by
a lack of uniformity in its chemical composition. For this
reason, rejection for product analysis is not appropriate unless
misapplication is clearly indicated.
5.4 Methods of AnalysisMethods described in Test Methods E 30 shall be used for referee purposes. Due allowance
shall be made for the presence of copper brazing metal.
5.5 Samples for Product AnalysisExcept for spectrographic analysis, samples shall be taken in accordance with
Practice E 59.

P 5 2St/D

where:
P = hydrostatic pressure, psi (or MPa),
S = allowable fiber stress, 16 000 psi (110 MPa),
t = actual wall thickness of tubing, in. (or mm), and
D = actual outside diameter of tubing, in. (or mm).

6. Mechanical Requirements
6.1 Tension TestTensile properties of tubing as manufactured (prior to cold working) shall conform to the requirements
specified in Table 2.
6.1.1 The specimens and tension tests required shall be
made in accordance with Test Methods and Definitions A 370.
6.1.2 Specimens shall be tested at room temperature.
6.1.3 Test specimens shall be taken from the ends of
finished tubes prior to upsetting, swaging, expanding, or other
forming operations, or being cut to length. They shall be
smooth on the ends and free from burrs and flaws.
6.1.4 If any test specimen shows flaws or defective machining, it may be discarded and another specimen substituted.
6.1.5 The yield strength shall be determined as that corresponding to a permanent offset of 0.2 % of the gage length of
the specimen, or a total extension of 0.5 % of the gage length
under load.
6.1.6 If the percentage of elongation of any test specimen is
less than that specified and any part of the fracture is more than
34 in. (19.0 mm) from the center of the gage length, as
indicated by scribe marks on the specimen before testing, a
retest shall be allowed.
6.2 Flattening TestA section of tubing, not less than 212
in. (64 mm) in length, shall stand being flattened between
parallel plates until the inside walls are in contact without
cracking or otherwise showing flaws.
6.3 Expansion TestA section of tubing approximately 4
in. (100 mm) in length shall stand being expanded over a
tapered mandrel having a slope of 1 in 10 until the outside
diameter at the expanded end is increased 20 % without

6.5.2 An underwater air pressure between 225 and 250 psi

(1.55 and 1.73 MPa).
7. Coating
7.1 Tubing may be furnished with a copper coating on the
inside and outside surfaces, at the option of the manufacturer.
8. Inside Surface Cleanliness
8.1 When inside surface cleanliness is specified by the
purchaser, tubing for certain uses, such as refrigeration condensers, shall conform to the following requirement for internal cleanliness:
8.1.1 When a length of tubing is washed internally with
redistilled chloroform or redistilled 1,1,1-trichloroethane, the
residue remaining upon evaporation of the solvent shall not
exceed 1.25 3 104 g/in.2(0.194 g/m2) of internal surface. To
perform the test, pour 100 mL of solvent through the tubing
and collect. The total length of tubing tested should not be less
than 40 ft (12 m), although this total length may be obtained by
washing several separate lengths and pouring the same solvent
through each in succession. Evaporate the solvent in a steam or
hot water bath, and dry at 110C (230F) until the vapors are
completely removed.
8.2 To maintain this level of cleanliness in shipping, handling, and storage, the purchaser may request that the manufacturer seal the tube ends with caps or closures.
9. Dimensional Tolerances
9.1 The tubing shall conform to the permissible variations in
Table 3, Table 4, and Table 5.

TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements

Property
Tensile strength, min, psi (MPa)
Yield strength, min, psi (MPa)
Elongation in 2 in. (50.8 mm) min, %

10. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance

10.1 Finished tubing shall be clean, smooth and round, both
inside and outside, and shall be free of rust, scale, and defects
that impair processing and serviceability. Finished tubes shall
be reasonably straight.

Requirement
42 000 (290)
25 000 (172)
25

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A 254
TABLE 3 Outside Diameter Requirements
Specified Outside Diameter, in. (mm)

manufacturer shall afford the inspector all reasonable facilities

to satisfy him that the material is being furnished in accordance
with this specification. All required tests and inspection shall
be made at the place of manufacture prior to shipment, unless
otherwise specified, and shall be conducted so as not to
interfere unnecessarily with the operation of the works.

Variations, in. (mm)

Plus or Minus

Under (4.76)
316 (4.76) through 38 (9.53)
716 (11.1) through 58 (15.9)

0.002 (0.051)
0.003 (0.076)
0.004 (0.102)

3 16

14. Rejection
14.1 Each length of tubing received from the manufacturer
may be inspected by the purchaser and, if it does not meet the
requirements of the specification based on the inspection and
test method as outlined in the specification, the tubing may be
rejected and the manufacturer shall be notified. Disposition of
rejected tubing shall be a matter of agreement between the
manufacturer and the purchaser.
14.2 Material that fails in any of the forming operations or
in the process of installation and is found to be defective shall
be set aside, and the manufacturer shall be notified for mutual
evaluation of the materials suitability. Disposition of such
material shall be a matter for agreement.

TABLE 4 Wall Thickness Requirements

Specified Wall Thickness, in. (mm)

Variations, in. (mm)

Plus or Minus

0.020 (0.51) through 0.030 (0.76)

0.031 (0.79) through 0.049 (1.24)

0.003 (0.08)
0.0035 (0.09)

TABLE 5 Length Requirements

Specified Cut Length, in. (m)
18 (0.46) and under
Over 18 (0.46) through 40 (1.02)
Over 40 (1.02) through 80 (2.03)
Over 80 (2.03) through 120 (3.05)
Over 120 (3.05)

Variations, in. (mm)

60.03 (60.76)
60.06 (61.52)
60.12 (63.05)
60.25 (66.35)
+1.00 (+25.4), 0.0

15. Certification
15.1 When requested on the purchasers order, a test report,
signed by an authorized employee or representative of the
manufacturer, shall be furnished to the purchaser to indicate the
specification and year date and grade, the results of the
chemical analysis, hardness, and tension tests, when specified,
and other tests as may be specified in writing by the purchaser.

11. Retests
11.1 If the results of the mechanical tests of any group or lot
do not conform to the requirements specified in the individual
specification, retests may be made on additional tubes of
double the original number from the same group or lot, each of
which shall conform to the requirements specified.

16. Product Marking

16.1 The specification number (the marking need not include the year date of the specification), the name or brand of
the manufacturer and the size of tubing or the part number shall
be marked on a tag or label securely attached to the bundles or
boxes in which the tubes are shipped.
16.2 Bar CodingIn addition to the requirements in 16.1
bar coding is acceptable as a supplemental identification
method. The purchaser may specify in the order a specific bar
coding system to be used.

12. Retreatment
12.1 If the individual tubes or the tubes selected to represent
any group or lot fail to conform to the test requirements, the
individual tubes or the group or lot represented may be
retreated and resubmitted for test. Not more than two reheat
treatments shall be permitted.
13. Inspection
13.1 The inspector representing the purchaser shall have
entry at all times while work on the contract of the purchaser
is being performed, to all parts of the manufacturers works
that concern the manufacture of the material ordered. The

17. Keywords
17.1 steel tube

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
One or more of the following supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified by the
purchaser in the inquiry, contract, or order. Details of these supplementary requirements shall be
agreed upon by the manufacturer and the purchaser.
thickness only. Seam separation is not permitted in the following areas:
S1.1.1 Area B (the flare seat, defined as the surface within
the 90 included angle); conical surface shall be smooth and
free from cracks or other irregularities that could cause leaks
after assembly.
S1.1.2 Area C (the surface beyond the length of the double

S1. Flare Test

S1.1 Brazed tubing shall stand being double flared to
dimensions shown in SAE Standard J 533, without splitting
through the wall at the major diameter of the flare. A separation
of the outer lap joint is permissible on the flared end of the tube
only in Area A (see Fig. 2). This separation shall not exceed
0.12 in. (3.0 mm) in length and shall be confined to the outer

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A 254
resulting from flaring tooling deterioration or adhesion of chips
or dirt to the flaring tooling are permissible. In the event that
the physical appearance of the flare seat is questioned, the
criterion for final judgment is whether or not the flare seat will
seal when subjected to a pressure test at the prescribed torque
level.
S2. External Coating
S2.1 The outside surface of the tubing shall be coated with
a hot-dipped, lead-tin alloy coating. Weight and composition of
coating shall be agreed upon between the manufacturer and
purchaser.

FIG. 2 Double-Flare Test

thickness created by the flare).

S1.2 The flare seat may contain superficial random radial
marks or indentations which are not detrimental to the sealability of the flare. No indentations of a repetitive nature

S3. End Finish

S3.1 Finished tubing shall have smooth ends free of burrs.

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