A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes Manufacturer & Supplier - USA Piping Solution

Welcome to USA Piping Solution, your trusted source for high-performance A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes. As a dedicated manufacturer and supplier based in the United States, we specialize in providing exceptionally reliable Electric-Resistance-Welded (ERW) carbon steel tubes. These are engineered specifically for the critical demands of heat exchangers, condensers, and similar heat transfer systems. Our unwavering commitment ensures every tube adheres rigorously to ASTM A214 and ASME SA214 standards, contributing directly to the efficiency and longevity of your vital industrial processes. Partner with USA Piping Solution for consistent quality, in-depth technical support, and a dependable supply chain for your essential tubing.

What are A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes?

At their core, A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes represent a specific industry standard for Electric-Resistance-Welded (ERW) carbon steel tubing. Their primary role is within heat exchangers, condensers, and related heat transfer equipment. The designations ASTM A214 and ASME SA214 are functionally interchangeable; ASME adopts the ASTM standard for equipment constructed under the regulations of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

The defining manufacturing process involves forming flat-rolled steel into a tubular profile. The seam is then fused using electric-resistance welding—a technique that heats the edges to forging temperature via high-frequency current and applies pressure, creating a strong bond without any added filler material. A key attribute of these ASTM A214 Carbon Steel Tubes lies in their material: straightforward carbon steel. This choice offers good thermal conductivity, straightforward weldability, and a significant cost advantage over many alloy or stainless steel options.

Following the welding stage, these A214 Welded Carbon Tubes typically undergo a crucial heat treatment, such as annealing or normalizing. This step refines the steel's grain structure, alleviates stresses built up during welding and forming, and enhances overall ductility and toughness. Critically, this ensures the tubes can withstand fabrication processes like bending into U-shapes or being securely rolled into tubesheets. The standard precisely defines dimensions, chemical makeup, and mechanical characteristics suitable for effective heat transfer in environments where corrosion concerns are moderate. This combination makes them a proven, economical solution for a vast range of industrial cooling and heating challenges.

A214 Tubes Specifications

Fully understanding the detailed specifications for A214 / SA214 tubes is fundamental to ensuring they perfectly align with your equipment's design parameters and operational demands. At USA Piping Solution, we supply tubes that strictly conform to these established benchmarks.

Technical Specifications

• Governing Standards: ASTM A214 / A214M (Standard Specification for Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel Heat-Exchanger and Condenser Tubes) and its ASME counterpart, SA214, used for pressure vessel code applications.
• Manufacturing Process: Electric-Resistance Welding (ERW). This involves precisely forming steel strip and utilizing high-frequency electrical current to forge the edges together under pressure, yielding a seamless weld without filler metals.
• Material: Carbon Steel. While specific grades aren't designated under A214, the controlled chemical composition ensures it's a readily weldable low-carbon steel.
• Intended Scope: Explicitly designed for service in heat exchangers, condensers, economizers, and comparable heat transfer units.
• Available Sizes: Offered across a broad spectrum of outside diameters (OD) and minimum wall thicknesses (MWT). Common ODs span from 1/2 inch up to 3 inches, though variations can be accommodated based on requirements. (Consult the Size Chart section for typical dimensions).
• Length Options: Provided in specific cut lengths tailored to project needs or formed into U-tubes per customer blueprints. Standard straight lengths frequently extend to 24 feet or beyond.
• Essential Heat Treatment: Post-welding, tubes are consistently supplied in an annealed or normalized condition. This critical step ensures material uniformity, relieves welding stresses, and imparts the necessary ductility.
• Surface Condition: Tubes possess a smooth, generally scale-free surface optimized for heat transfer efficiency. A light protective oil coating is usually applied to guard against atmospheric corrosion during shipping and storage.
• End Preparation: Standard supply includes plain ends (PE), cut square and free of burrs. Beveled ends (BE) are available upon request to facilitate specific welding setups during assembly.
• Mandatory Quality Testing: Rigorous testing confirms integrity and compliance:
• Pressure Integrity Test: Each tube must pass either a Hydrostatic Test or an approved Nondestructive Electric Test (like Eddy Current or Ultrasonic) to guarantee it's leak-proof and structurally sound.
• Flattening Test: Samples from every production lot undergo this test to verify the ductility and integrity of the weld seam.
• Flange Test: Assesses the tube's capability to be flanged without exhibiting cracks or flaws.
• Hardness Test: Rockwell hardness measurements (typically HRB scale) confirm the material meets specified limits, indicating correct heat treatment and material condition.
• Reverse Flattening Test: Can be requested via supplemental requirements.
• Dimensional Verification: Precise checks ensure OD, wall thickness, and length are within specified tolerances.
• Visual Examination: Thorough inspection for any surface imperfections.

Chemical Composition and Mechanical Properties

The dependable performance of A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes hinges directly on their carefully controlled chemical composition and inherent mechanical strength. These characteristics are meticulously managed according to ASTM A214 / ASME SA214 standards.

Chemical Composition (Typical)

The specification sets clear limits for essential elements within the steel used for ASTM A214 ERW Tubes. The specific blend ensures favorable welding characteristics and robust performance properties.

Element	Maximum Content (%)	Significance in Performance
Carbon (C)	0.18 max	Promotes excellent weldability and ductility due to its low concentration.
Manganese (Mn)	0.27 - 0.63	Adds strength and hardness; helps mitigate potential issues with sulfur.
Phosphorus (P)	0.035 max	Maintained at low levels to prevent brittleness, particularly in cooler temps.
Sulfur (S)	0.035 max	Limited to enhance ductility, toughness, and overall weld quality.
Note:	Silicon (Si) is usually present but not specifically limited by A214.

This controlled chemistry yields a material that is not only easy to form and weld but also provides the necessary strength for common pressure and temperature conditions found in heat exchangers and condensers.

Mechanical Properties

Mechanical properties quantify the tube's response to physical stress and are vital for accurate engineering design and ensuring long-term structural reliability.

Property	Minimum Value	Importance in Application
Tensile Strength	47 ksi [325 MPa]	Represents the maximum pulling stress the material can endure before failing.
Yield Strength	26 ksi [180 MPa]	The stress point where permanent deformation begins; a critical design parameter.
Elongation (in 2 in)	35%	A measure of ductility, indicating how much it can stretch before breaking.
Hardness	72 HRB (Rockwell B) max.	Shows resistance to surface indentation; confirms proper annealing/normalizing.

These figures aren't just numbers; they guarantee that SA214 Heat Exchanger Tubes offer sufficient strength to manage operating pressures and temperatures, while retaining enough ductility for necessary fabrication steps like bending or tube-to-tubesheet rolling without risk of fracture. The hardness limit provides assurance of correct heat treatment.

Types and Variations of A214 Tubes

While the core A214/SA214 specification defines the base material and manufacturing, these versatile tubes can be supplied in several forms to integrate seamlessly into specific equipment designs:

1. Straight Length Tubes: The most prevalent configuration. Tubes arrive cut to precise lengths specified by the client, often up to 40 feet or potentially longer, depending on project and logistical needs. Straight tubes form the backbone of many heat exchanger designs, including numerous shell-and-tube types and air-cooled units.
2. U-Bend Tubes (U-Tubes): A key variation involves bending straight tubes into a 'U' shape. This design is common in shell-and-tube exchangers as it accommodates thermal expansion effectively and simplifies header construction. USA Piping Solution provides A214 tubes accurately bent to customer specifications. The bending process itself is meticulously controlled. Importantly, post-bend stress relieving heat treatment is often applied to the bent section, as mandated by standards (like TEMA) or specific client requirements, to mitigate risks like stress corrosion cracking and restore optimal mechanical properties. Both the straight leg lengths and the bend radius must meet tight tolerances.
3. Custom Configurations: Beyond standard offerings, we can accommodate requests for non-standard lengths cut to very specific dimensions. While plain ends are typical, we can also provide beveled ends if needed for particular welding preparations during equipment assembly.
4. Surface Enhancements (Note): It's worth noting that while A214/SA214 specifies plain ERW tubes, certain heat transfer applications might involve enhancing the tube surface (e.g., adding fins) after the initial tube manufacturing. This finning is a secondary process applied to a base A214 tube. USA Piping Solution's primary focus is supplying the high-quality plain A214/SA214 base tubes.

Selecting the appropriate type—straight or U-bend, standard or custom length—is driven entirely by the specific design of the heat exchanger or condenser. USA Piping Solution collaborates closely with clients to ensure the delivered tubes precisely match these design requirements.

Applications and Industries Served

The effective combination of good thermal conductivity, proven reliability, ease of fabrication, and economic value makes A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes indispensable across a wide array of industries and heat transfer applications:

• Heat Exchangers: This is their primary domain. SA214 Heat Exchanger Tubes are fundamental components in:
• Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers: Widely used for cooling or heating various process fluids, oils, water, and gases in refineries, chemical facilities, and power plants.
• Air Coolers / Fin Fan Coolers: Employed where water cooling isn't feasible or preferred, commonly found in refining and gas processing operations.
• Diverse Process Heaters and Coolers: Supporting numerous thermal management tasks across the chemical and petrochemical sectors.
• Condensers: Essential for efficient phase change heat transfer:
• Power Plant Surface Condensers: Condensing turbine exhaust steam is a critical function in fossil fuel, nuclear, and combined-cycle power generation.
• HVAC & Refrigeration Systems: Utilized within the condensers of large commercial air conditioning units and industrial refrigeration plants.
• Chemical Process Condensers: Integral to condensing vapors in distillation columns, reaction processes, and other chemical manufacturing steps.
• Boiler Systems (Specific Applications): While high-pressure boiler components often demand seamless tubes (like A192, A210), the cost-effectiveness and reliability of A214 Welded Carbon Tubes make them suitable for lower-pressure auxiliary roles within boiler systems, such as:
• Economizers: Efficiently preheating boiler feedwater by recovering heat from flue gases.
• Tubular Air Preheaters: Warming combustion air using waste heat from flue gases.
• General Heat Transfer Duties: Found in various other thermal management systems where the performance characteristics of carbon steel meet the operational needs.

Key Industries Relying on A214 / SA214 Tubes:

• Power Generation (Fossil, Combined Cycle, Geothermal)
• Oil & Gas (Refining, Petrochemical, Gas Processing)
• Chemical Manufacturing
• HVAC & Industrial Refrigeration
• Pulp & Paper Production
• Food & Beverage Processing (where applicable)
• Sugar Refining
• Steel Production (Equipment Cooling)

The broad utility of ASTM A214 ERW Tubes stems from their well-balanced profile, effectively meeting technical heat transfer demands while offering an economical solution for many non-corrosive or mildly corrosive service environments.

A214 Tubes Size Chart

Meeting diverse design needs requires a comprehensive range of tube sizes. USA Piping Solution offers A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes across many standard dimensions. The table below provides illustrative examples of common Outside Diameters (OD) paired with typical Wall Thicknesses (usually specified as minimum wall thickness - MWT), referenced by Birmingham Wire Gauge (BWG) and metric/imperial units.

Outside Diameter (OD)	BWG	Wall Thickness (WT)	Approx. Weight
inch	mm	inch
1/2"	12.70	22	0.028"
20	0.035"
18	0.049"
16	0.065"
5/8"	15.88	22	0.028"
20	0.035"
18	0.049"
16	0.065"
3/4"	19.05	22	0.028"
20	0.035"
18	0.049"
16	0.065"
14	0.083"
1"	25.40	20	0.035"
18	0.049"
16	0.065"
14	0.083"
12	0.109"
1 1/4"	31.75	18	0.049"
16	0.065"
14	0.083"
12	0.109"
1 1/2"	38.10	16	0.065"
14	0.083"
12	0.109"
2"	50.80	16	0.065"
14	0.083"
12	0.109"
10	0.134"

Disclaimer: This chart showcases common sizes; availability can vary. Weights are estimates. We strongly recommend contacting USA Piping Solution to confirm precise dimensions and current stock for your specific project needs.

We maintain a robust inventory of frequently requested sizes and possess the capability to source or arrange manufacturing for specific OD, wall thickness, and length combinations.

Certifications and Compliance Standards

At USA Piping Solution, rigorous quality assurance isn't just a process; it's a core principle. We ensure our A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes consistently meet, and often surpass, the stringent requirements of industry standards and client expectations.

• Full ASTM A214 / ASME SA214 Conformance: We guarantee every tube supplied adheres to the latest revisions concerning dimensions, chemistry, mechanical properties, and testing protocols stipulated by ASTM A214 and ASME SA214.
• Comprehensive Documentation (MTC/MTR): Complete traceability is standard practice. Each shipment includes a Mill Test Certificate (MTC), typically certified to EN 10204 3.1. This document meticulously details the results of chemical analysis, mechanical tests (tensile, yield, elongation, hardness), fabrication tests (flattening, flange), pressure testing (hydrostatic or NDT), and confirms the heat treatment applied. This documentation provides you with verifiable proof of compliance.
• ISO 9001:2015 Certified Operations: Our operations are governed by an ISO 9001 certified Quality Management System. This framework ensures consistency across procurement, manufacturing oversight, inspection, testing procedures, documentation handling, and final delivery, underpinning reliable product quality and customer confidence.
• Diligent In-House Quality Control: Beyond the standard requirements, we perform stringent internal quality validations. This includes meticulous dimensional checks using calibrated instruments, careful visual inspection for any surface anomalies, and a thorough review of all test reports before any tubes leave our facility.
• Third-Party Inspection (TPI) Accommodation: We readily welcome and facilitate inspections by client-designated third-party agencies (such as Lloyds, BV, DNV, TUV). This offers an additional layer of verification and complete transparency for your peace of mind.

Our steadfast commitment to these standards ensures you receive ASTM A214 Carbon Steel Tubes that are not only fit for purpose and reliable in service but are also fully documented for your essential quality records and project requirements.

Why Choose USA Piping Solution for A214 Tubes?

Selecting the ideal supplier for critical components like A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes significantly impacts project timelines, budgets, and long-term operational success. Here’s what sets USA Piping Solution apart:

1. Commitment to Quality: We don't merely aim to meet standards; we strive to exceed them. Strict adherence to ASTM/ASME specifications, fortified by our ISO 9001 certification and detailed MTCs, means you consistently receive high-caliber, fully compliant tubing.
2. Inventory Depth & Sourcing Agility: We stock a considerable range of common A214/SA214 tube sizes, enabling rapid responses to urgent needs. For unique or less common requirements, our established mill relationships and efficient sourcing network allow us to effectively fulfill your specifications.
3. In-House Technical Know-How: Our team possesses substantial expertise in material science, tubing applications, and diverse industry standards. We offer valuable technical support, assisting you in confirming the most suitable tubing solution for your specific heat transfer challenges.
4. Value-Added Customization: Do your plans call for precisely bent U-tubes? Need non-standard lengths or specific end preparations? USA Piping Solution offers services like precision U-bending (including stress relief when necessary), custom cutting, and end finishing, delivering tubes closer to their final installation state.
5. Proven Reliability & Punctual Delivery: We recognize that project schedules are critical. Our streamlined logistics and unwavering focus on customer service translate into dependable supply and on-time deliveries across the United States.
6. Competitive Market Positioning: By optimizing our sourcing network and maintaining efficient operations, we provide top-quality A214 Welded Carbon Tubes at competitive prices, ensuring excellent value for your investment.
7. Dedicated Customer Focus: Building lasting partnerships is central to our philosophy. We actively listen to your requirements, propose flexible solutions, and provide prompt, knowledgeable support throughout the entire procurement journey.

Choose USA Piping Solution for your A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes requirements and experience the tangible benefits of superior quality, technical proficiency, and dedicated service.

Related Products

Beyond A214 / SA214 ERW tubes, USA Piping Solution is equipped to supply a broad spectrum of tubing and piping products essential for various industrial sectors:

Feel free to explore our comprehensive product catalog online, or better yet, contact our team directly to discuss your specific needs for these or other piping and tubing materials.

Final Call to Action

Are you ready to source top-tier, dependable carbon steel tubes for your upcoming heat exchanger, condenser, or boiler project? USA Piping Solution is prepared to meet your needs with superior A214 Tubes / SA214 Tubes that adhere to rigorous industry standards and your precise operational requirements.

Allow USA Piping Solution to demonstrate why we are the preferred partner for ASTM A214 Carbon Steel Tubes and a wide range of other industrial piping solutions. We are eager to assist you.

Request Your A214 Tubes Quote Today!