Nominal Pipe Size

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Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) is a North American set of standard sizes for pipes used for high or
low pressures and temperatures.[1] Pipe size is specified with two non-dimensional numbers: a
nominal pipe size (NPS) for diameter based on inches, and a schedule (Sched. or Sch.) for wall
thickness. NPS is often incorrectly called National Pipe Size, due to confusion with national pipe
thread (NPT). The European designation equivalent to NPS is DN (diamtre nominal/nominal
diameter), in which sizes are measured in millimetres.[2] The term NB (nominal bore) is also
frequently used interchangeably with NPS.

Contents
[hide]

1 History
2 Application
3 NPS tables for selected sizes
o 3.1 NPS to NPS 3
o 3.2 NPS 4 to NPS 9
o 3.3 NPS 10 to NPS 24
o 3.4 NPS 26 to NPS 36
o 3.5 Additional sizes (NPS)
4 See also
5 Notes
6 References
o 6.1 Bibliography
7 External links

[edit] History
In March 1927, the American Standards Association authorized a committee to standardize the
dimensions of wrought steel and wrought iron pipe and tubing. At that time only a small
selection of wall thicknesses were in use: standard weight (STD), extra-strong (XS), and double
extra-strong (XXS), based on the iron pipe size (IPS) system of the day. However these three
sizes did not fit all applications. The committee surveyed the industry and created a system of
schedule numbers that designated wall thicknesses based on smaller steps between sizes,[3]
although IPS and NPS numbers remain equivalent.
The original intent was that each schedule would relate to a given pressure rating, however the
numbers deviated so far from wall thicknesses in common use that this original intent could not

be accomplished.[3][note 1] Also, in 1939, it was hoped that the designations of STD, XS, and XXS
would be phased out by schedule numbers, however those original terms are still in common use
today (although sometimes referred to as standard, extra-heavy (XH), and double extra-heavy
(XXH), respectively). Since the original schedules were created, there have been many revisions
and additions to the tables of pipe sizes based on industry use and on standards from API,
ASTM, and others.[3]
Stainless steel pipes, which were coming into more common use in the mid 20th century,
permitted the use of thinner pipe walls with much less risk of failure due to corrosion. By 1949
thinner schedules 5S and 10S, which were based on the pressure requirements modified to the
nearest BWG number, had been created, and other "S" sizes followed later. Due to their thin
walls, the smaller "S" sizes can not be threaded together according to ASME code, but must be
fusion welded.[4]

[edit] Application
Based on the NPS and schedule of a pipe, the pipe outside diameter (OD) and wall thickness can
be obtained from reference tables such as those below, which are based on ASME standards
B36.10M and B36.19M. For example, NPS 14 Sch 40 has an OD of 14 inches and a wall
thickness of 0.437 inches. However the NPS and OD values are not always equal, which can
create confusion.

For NPS to 12 inches, the NPS and OD values are different. For example, the OD of an
NPS 12 pipe is actually 12.75 inches. To find the actual OD for each NPS value, refer to the
tables below. (Note that for tubing, the size is always the actual OD.)
For NPS 14 inches and up, the NPS and OD values are equal. In other words, an NPS 14
pipe is actually 14 inches OD.

The reason for the discrepancy for NPS to 12 inches is that these NPS values were originally
set to give the same inside diameter (ID) based on wall thicknesses standard at the time.
However, as the set of available wall thicknesses evolved, the ID changed and NPS became only
indirectly related to ID and OD.
For a given NPS, the OD stays fixed and the wall thickness increases with schedule. For a given
schedule, the OD increases with NPS while the wall thickness stays constant or increases. Using
equations and rules in ASME B31.3 Process Piping, it can be shown that pressure rating
decreases with increasing NPS and constant schedule.[note 1]
Some specifications use pipe schedules called standard wall (STD), extra strong (XS), and
double extra strong (XXS), although these actually belong to an older system called iron pipe
size (IPS). The IPS number is the same as the NPS number. STD is identical to SCH 40S, and
40S is identical to 40 for NPS 1/8 to NPS 10, inclusive. XS is identical to SCH 80S, and 80S is
identical to 80 for NPS 1/8 to NPS 8, inclusive. XXS wall is thicker than schedule 160 from NPS
1/8" to NPS 6" inclusive, and schedule 160 is thicker than XXS wall for NPS 8" and larger.

The "S" designation, for example "NPS Sch 10S", most often indicates stainless steel pipes.
However some stainless steel pipes are available in steel designations, so strictly speaking the
"S" designation only differentiates B36.19M pipe from B36.10M pipe.[1]
Both polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVC) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipe (CPVC) are made in
NPS sizes.

[edit] NPS tables for selected sizes

[edit] NPS to NPS 3

NPS[5]

DN
[2]

10

15

20

25

32

40

50

65

80

90

OD
[in
(mm)]

SCH 5

0.405
(10.29)
0.540
(13.72)
0.675
(17.15)
0.840
(21.34)
1.050
(26.67)
1.315
(33.40)
1.660
(42.16)
1.900
(48.26)
2.375
(60.33)
2.875
(73.02)
3.500
(88.90)
4.000
(101.60)

0.035
(0.889)
0.049
(1.245)
0.049
(1.245)
0.065
(1.651)
0.065
(1.651)
0.065
(1.651)
0.065
(1.651)
0.065
(1.651)
0.065
(1.651)
0.083
(2.108)
0.083
(2.108)
0.083
(2.108)

[edit] NPS 4 to NPS 9

SCH
SCH 30
10s/10
0.049
(1.245)
0.065
(1.651)
0.065
(1.651)
0.083
(2.108)
0.083
(2.108)
0.109
(2.769)
0.109
(2.769)
0.109
(2.769)
0.109
(2.769)
0.120
(3.048)
0.120
(3.048)
0.120
(3.048)

0.057
(1.448)
0.073
(1.854)
0.073
(1.854)
0.095
(2.413)
0.095
(2.413)
0.114
(2.896)
0.117
(2.972)
0.125
(3.175)
0.125
(3.175)
0.188
(4.775)
0.188
(4.775)
0.188
(4.775)

Wall thickness
[in (mm)]
SCH
SCH
SCH
40s/40 80s/80
120
/STD
/XS
0.068 0.095

(1.727) (2.413)
0.088 0.119

(2.235) (3.023)
0.091 0.126

(2.311) (3.200)
0.109 0.147

(2.769) (3.734)
0.113 0.154

(2.870) (3.912)
0.133 0.179

(3.378) (4.547)
0.140 0.191

(3.556) (4.851)
0.145 0.200

(3.683) (5.080)
0.154 0.218 0.250
(3.912) (5.537) (6.350)
0.203 0.276 0.300
(5.156) (7.010) (7.620)
0.216 0.300 0.350
(5.486) (7.620) (8.890)
0.226 0.318

(5.740) (8.077)

SCH 160

XXS

0.188
(4.775)
0.219
(5.563)
0.250
(6.350)
0.250
(6.350)
0.281
(7.137)
0.343
(8.712)
0.375
(9.525)
0.438
(11.125)

0.294
(7.468)
0.308
(7.823)
0.358
(9.093)
0.382
(9.703)
0.400
(10.160)
0.436
(11.074)
0.552
(14.021)
0.600
(15.240)
0.636
(16.154)

NPS
[5]

D
N

[2]

OD
[in
(mm) SCH
]
5

0.08
4.500
3
10
(114.3
(2.10
0
0)
8)

5.000
11
(127.0
4
5
0)

0.10
5.563
9
12
(141.3
(2.76
5
0)
9)
0.10
6.625
9
15
(168.2
(2.76
0
7)
9)

7.625
7[5] (193.6
8)

0.10
8.625
9
20
(219.0
(2.76
0
8)
9)

9.625
9[5] (244.4
8)

Wall thickness
[in (mm)]
SCH
SCH
SCH
SCH SCH 40s/4 SCH 80s/8 SCH SCH
10s/1
20 30
0
60
0
100 120
0
/STD
/XS
0.12
0.18 0.23
0.281 0.337
0.437
0
8
7

(7.137 (8.560
(11.10
(3.04
(4.77 (6.02
)
)
0)
8)
5)
0)
0.24
0.355
7

(9.017

(6.27
)
4)
0.13
0.25
0.375
0.500
4
8

(9.525
(12.70
(3.40
(6.55
)
0)
4)
3)
0.13
0.28
0.432
0.562
4
0

(10.97
(14.27
(3.40
(7.11
3)
5)
4)
2)
0.30
0.500
1

(12.70

(7.64
0)
5)
0.14 0.25 0.27 0.32
0.406 0.500 0.593 0.718
8
0
7
2
(10.31 (12.70 (15.06 (18.23
(3.75 (6.35 (7.03 (8.17
2)
0)
2)
7)
9)
0)
6)
9)
0.34
0.500
2

(12.70

(8.68
0)
7)

SCH SCH XXS[5

]
140 160

0.531 0.674
(13.48 (17.12
7)
0)

0.710
(18.03
4)

0.625 0.750
(15.87 (19.05
5)
0)

0.718 0.864
(18.23 (21.94
7)
6)

0.875
(22.22
5)

0.812 0.906 0.875

(20.62 (23.01 (22.22
5)
2)
5)

[edit] NPS 10 to NPS 24

NPS[5]

10

DN
[2]

250

OD
[in (mm)]
10.75
(273.05)

Wall thickness
[in (mm)]
SCH 5s
0.134
(3.404)

SCH 5
0.134
(3.404)

SCH
richs
0.165
(4.191)

SCH 10 SCH 20
0.165
(4.191)

0.250
(6.350)

SCH 30
0.307
(7.798)

SCH
40s/STD
0.365
(9.271)

12
14
16
18
20
24

12.75
(323.85)
14.00
350
(355.60)
16.00
400
(406.40)
18.00
450
(457.20)
20.00
500
(508.00)
24.00
600
(609.60)
300

0.156
(3.962)
0.156
(3.962)
0.165
(4.191)
0.165
(4.191)
0.188
(4.775)
0.218
(5.537)

SCH 40

12
14
16
18
20
24

0.180
(4.572)
0.188
(4.775)
0.188
(4.775)
0.188
(4.775)
0.218
(5.537)
0.250
(6.350)

0.180
(4.572)
0.250
(6.350)
0.250
(6.350)
0.250
(6.350)
0.250
(6.350)
0.250
(6.350)

0.250
(6.350)
0.312
(7.925)
0.312
(7.925)
0.312
(7.925)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)

0.330
(8.382)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)
0.437
(11.100)
0.500
(12.700)
0.562
(14.275)

0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)

Wall thickness
[in (mm)]

NPS[5]

10

0.165
(4.191)
0.156
(3.962)
0.165
(4.191)
0.165
(4.191)
0.188
(4.775)
0.218
(5.537)

0.365
(9.271)
0.406
(10.312)
0.437
(11.100)
0.500
(12.700)
0.562
(14.275)
0.593
(15.062)
0.687
(17.450)

SCH 60
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)
0.593
(15.062)
0.656
(16.662)
0.750
(19.050)
0.812
(20.625)
0.968
(24.587)

SCH
80s/XS
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)

SCH 80 SCH 100 SCH 120 SCH 140 SCH 160

0.593
(15.062)
0.687
(17.450)
0.750
(19.050)
0.843
(21.412)
0.937
(23.800)
1.031
(26.187)
1.218
(30.937)

0.718
(18.237)
0.843
(21.412)
0.937
(23.800)
1.031
(26.187)
1.156
(29.362)
1.280
(32.512)
1.531
(38.887)

0.843
(21.412)
1.000
(25.400)
1.093
(27.762)
1.218
(30.937)
1.375
(34.925)
1.500
(38.100)
1.812
(46.025)

1.000
(25.400)
1.125
(28.575)
1.250
(31.750)
1.437
(36.500)
1.562
(39.675)
1.750
(44.450)
2.062
(52.375)

1.125
(28.575)
1.312
(33.325)
1.406
(35.712)
1.593
(40.462)
1.781
(45.237)
1.968
(49.987)
2.343
(59.512)

[edit] NPS 26 to NPS 36

NPS[5]

26
28
30

OD
[in (mm)] SCH SCH
5s
10s
26.000

650
(660.400)
28.000

700
(711.200)
0.250 0.312
750 30.000

Wall thickness
[in (mm)]

DN
[2]

SCH
10
0.312
(7.925)
0.312
(7.925)
0.312

SCH
SCH
SCH 40
40s/STD
80s/XS
0.500
0.375
0.500

(12.700) (9.525)
(12.700)
0.500
0.625
0.375

(12.700) (15.875) (9.525)

0.500
0.625
0.375

0.500
SCH 20 SCH 30

32
34
36

(762.000)
32.000
800
(812.800)
34.000
850
(863.600)
36.000
900
(914.400)

(6.350) (7.925) (7.925)

0.312

(7.925)
0.312

(7.925)
0.312

(7.925)

(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)
0.500
(12.700)

(15.875)
0.625
(15.875)
0.625
(15.875)
0.625
(15.875)

(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)
0.375
(9.525)

(12.700)
0.688
0.500
(17.475) (12.700)
0.688
(17.475)
0.750
0.500
(19.050) (12.700)

[edit] Additional sizes (NPS)

NPS
22
40
42
44
48
52
56
60
64
68
72
76
80
88

DN

OD
Wall thickness [in (mm)]
[in (mm)]
550 22.000 (558.800) ?
1000 40.000 (1,016.000) ?
1050 42.000 (1,066.800) 42.000
1100 44.000 (1,117.600) ?
1200 48.000 (1,219.200) 48.000
1300 52.000 (1,320.800) ?
1400 56.000 (1,422.400) ?
1500 60.000 (1,524.000) ?
1600 64.000 (1,625.600) ?
1700 68.000 (1,727.200) ?
1800 72.000 (1,828.800) ?
1900 76.000 (1,930.400) ?
2000 80.000 (2,032.000) ?
2200 88.000 (2,235.200) ?
[2]

[edit] See also

British standard pipe thread sizes

Copper tubing sizes
National pipe thread sizes
Pipe (fluid conveyance)
Pipe thread sizes

[edit] Notes
1. ^ a b This is contrary to the McGraw Hill Piping Handbook, which says that the schedule number
can be converted to pressure by dividing the schedule by 1000 and multiplying by the allowable
stress of the material. [Nayyar and Mohinder, 2000.]

[edit] References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

^ a b ASME B36.10M-2004, p. 1
^ a b c d e f NPS - "Nominal Pipe Size" and DN - "Diamtre Nominale", EngineeringToolbox.com
^ a b c ASME B36.10M-2004, p. iv
^ ASME Standard 36.19M-2004, p. iv
^ a b c d e f g h Table of Pipe Schedules from EngineersEdge.com.

[edit] Bibliography

Nayyar, P.E., Mohinder L. (2000). "A1". In Mohinder L. Nayyar, P.E.. Piping Handbook
(7th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-047106-1.
ASME B36.10M - Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe.
ANSI/ASME Standard 36.19M - Stainless Steel Pipe.

[edit] External links

Notes on Pipe -- PVC Pipe weights and max PSI

Quick calculator to determine standard pipe dimensions For Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel
pipes as per ANSI.
[1] - Online Pipe Schedule Calculator

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominal_Pipe_Size"

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