ASTM A213 Equivalent Materials: EN, JIS and GB Grades Explained
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What ASTM A213 Covers, and How SA 213 Relates to It
ASTM A213/A213M is the standard specification for seamless ferritic and austenitic alloy-steel and stainless steel tubes intended for boilers, superheaters, heat exchangers and condensers. Tubes are produced to tight wall-thickness tolerances because they carry high-temperature, high-pressure fluids. Two material families sit under the same specification: austenitic stainless grades such as TP304, TP304L, TP316, TP316L, TP321 and TP347, and ferritic alloy grades such as T5, T9, T11 and T22. Higher-alloy austenitic options include TP310S and TP317L.
SA 213 is the ASME version of the same specification, published for use under the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Composition and mechanical requirements are the same; the difference is administrative and quality-related. Material certified to SA 213 carries the ASME designation and may require additional documentation, traceability or testing depending on the code section governing the installation. For internationally traded material, A213 supplied with a full mill test certificate covering the ASME-equivalent requirements is generally accepted, but the purchase order should still state which designation the project requires.
Grade Equivalents in EN, JIS and GB
| ASTM A213 grade | EN equivalent | JIS | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP304 | 1.4301 / X5CrNi18-10 | SUS304 | 06Cr19Ni10 |
| TP316 | 1.4401 / X5CrNiMo17-12-2 | SUS316 | 06Cr17Ni12Mo2 |
| TP316L | 1.4404 / X2CrNiMo17-12-2 | SUS316L | 022Cr17Ni12Mo2 |
| T22 | 10CrMo9-10 per EN 10216-2 | STBA23 | 12Cr2Mo1 |
These equivalents identify the nearest standard grade rather than an automatic substitution. A designer should confirm that the EN, JIS or GB grade meets the room-temperature and elevated-temperature properties, the dimensional tolerances and the testing regime demanded by the original A213 order.
Chemical Composition of the Common A213 Grades
A213 controls chemistry tightly because the elevated-temperature properties depend on it. Specified ranges for the main grades are set out below; values are percentages by weight and the balance is iron.
| Grade | C max. | Mn max. | Si max. | Cr | Ni | Mo | Stabiliser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP304 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 0.75 | 18.0 - 20.0 | 8.0 - 11.0 | - | - |
| TP304L | 0.035 | 2.00 | 0.75 | 18.0 - 20.0 | 8.0 - 13.0 | - | - |
| TP316 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 0.75 | 16.0 - 18.0 | 10.0 - 14.0 | 2.00 - 3.00 | - |
| TP316L | 0.035 | 2.00 | 0.75 | 16.0 - 18.0 | 10.0 - 14.0 | 2.00 - 3.00 | - |
| TP321 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 0.75 | 17.0 - 19.0 | 9.0 - 12.0 | - | Ti 5 x C min. |
| TP347 | 0.08 | 2.00 | 0.75 | 17.0 - 19.0 | 9.0 - 13.0 | - | Nb + Ta 10 x C min. |
| T11 | 0.15 | 0.60 | 0.50 - 1.00 | 1.00 - 1.50 | - | 0.44 - 0.65 | - |
| T22 | 0.15 | 0.60 | 0.50 | 1.90 - 2.60 | - | 0.87 - 1.13 | - |
Phosphorus is normally limited to 0.045% and sulfur to 0.030% in the austenitic grades, while the ferritic grades are tighter on both; the exact limits should be read from the edition of the standard named on the purchase order. Carbon is the key differentiator between a standard grade and its low-carbon companion, and titanium or niobium plus tantalum is what makes TP321 and TP347 resistant to sensitisation in welded high-temperature service.
ASTM A213 Compared With ASTM A269
Product form: A213 covers seamless tubes only; A269 covers seamless or welded tubes.
Intended use: A213 tubes serve heat exchangers, boilers and superheaters; A269 tubing serves general-purpose, low to moderate pressure duty.
Pressure and temperature basis: A213 is written for high-temperature, high-pressure service; A269 is aimed at non-critical, lower-temperature applications.
Surface finish: A213 is an industrial finish and is not always polished; A269 tubing is often supplied bright or polished.
Testing: A213 requires hydrostatic and non-destructive testing; A269 relies on eddy current or ultrasonic testing, typically at the buyer's option.
The practical consequence is that A269 material cannot simply be substituted for A213 material in a boiler or heat exchanger, because the testing regime and the pressure-temperature basis are different.
ASTM A213 Compared With ASTM A335
Product type: A213 covers tubes for heat transfer; A335 covers pipes for pressure piping.
Material types: A213 spans ferritic alloy and austenitic stainless steels; A335 covers ferritic alloy steels only.
Applications: A213 tubes go into boilers and heat exchangers; A335 pipes go into power piping and pressure systems.
Common grades: A213 uses T5, T11, TP316 and TP321; A335 uses P5, P9, P11, P22 and P91.
Typical duty: A213 handles internal fluid transport and heat transfer; A335 handles external piping under pressure.
A213 and A335 are frequently confused because the ferritic alloy chemistry overlaps, for example T22 tube against P22 pipe. The distinction is the product form and the design basis: tubes are sized by outside diameter and wall for heat transfer duty, while pipes follow the piping dimensional system and are selected for pressure containment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the equivalent material of ASTM A213 TP304?
TP304 is equivalent to 1.4301 or X5CrNi18-10 in the European system, SUS304 in JIS, and 06Cr19Ni10 in GB.
Q: Is ASTM A213 the same as ASME SA 213?
The technical requirements are the same. SA 213 is the ASME designation used for boiler and pressure vessel code applications, and it may carry additional documentation or testing requirements.
Q: What is the difference between A213 and A269 tubing?
A213 covers seamless tubes for high-temperature, high-pressure heat transfer service with mandatory hydrostatic and non-destructive testing. A269 covers seamless or welded general-purpose tubing with optional non-destructive testing.
Q: Can ASTM A335 pipe be used instead of ASTM A213 tube?
Not as a direct substitute. The grades overlap in chemistry, for example T22 and P22, but the product form, dimensional system and application basis differ, so any substitution must be approved by the design engineer.
Q: Which A213 grades are used at high temperature?
The stabilised austenitic grades TP321 and TP347 are used for high-temperature service, along with the ferritic alloy grades T5, T9, T11 and T22. TP310S and TP317L cover more demanding oxidation and corrosion conditions.
Q: What does 10CrMo9-10 mean in the T22 column?
10CrMo9-10 is the EN 10216-2 designation for the low-alloy chromium-molybdenum steel corresponding to A213 T22, with nominally 2.25% chromium and 1% molybdenum. JIS STBA23 and GB 12Cr2Mo1 belong to the same family.
