Category: Pipe

Definition of “Pipe” and Distinction from “Tube”
Within the international ASME standard system, the term Pipe (identified in the corporate coding system by the acronym PIP) specifically defines cylindrical tubular products intended for fluid conveyance and engineered for integration into pipelines and industrial piping systems.

A Pipe is strictly distinguished from a Tube (structural or instrumentation tubing) based on fundamental geometric criteria:
– NPS 12 and smaller: All pipes with a nominal size of NPS 12 and below feature an actual outside diameter (OD) that is numerically larger than the nominal size number (e.g., a 2″ pipe has an OD of 60.32 mm).
– Tubes: In contrast, tubes maintain an outside diameter that is perfectly identical to the nominal size value across all dimensions (e.g., a 2″ tube measures exactly 50.80 mm OD).