Standards · ASME and ASTM · ASTM A333/A333M

ASTM A333/A333M: Seamless and welded steel pipe for low-temperature service

The low-temperature pipe of the ASME world: carbon and nickel steels with guaranteed notch toughness for LNG, cold boxes, refrigeration and any line that runs below −29 °C – the point where A106 stops.

Issued by: ASTM
Edition (publisher, as of 2 October 2026): 2024
Material specification: Seamless and welded steel pipe for low-temperature service
European counterpart: EN 10216-4 (P265NL 1.0453, 12Ni14 1.5637, X10Ni9 1.5682)
Belongs with: ASME B36.10M · ASTM A420/A420M · ASTM A350/A350M · ASTM A106/A106M
At Zickwolff: we carry – from stock or to order, lead time on request

Scope: sizes, classes, grades

Grades 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, differing in nickel and manganese. Grade 6 (impact test at −45 °C / −50 °F) is the standard, Grade 3 (3.5 % Ni) is tested at −100 °C, Grade 8 (9 % Ni) at −195 °C. Seamless up to NPS 30, welded larger. Dimensions to B36.10M.

Product form

Seamless and welded pipe, normalised or quenched and tempered.

Grades and their European counterparts

ASTM A333/A333M - Grades and their European counterparts
Grade	Type	Impact test at	Tensile / yield min. (MPa)	European counterpart	Limits of the comparison	At Zickwolff
Gr. 1	low-temperature steel	−45 °C	not stated in our sources	P215NL 1.0451 · EN 10216-4	comparable low-temperature steel, impact test temperature and energy differ	on request
Gr. 3	low-temperature steel	−100 °C	not stated in our sources	12Ni14 1.5637 · EN 10216-4	comparable low-temperature steel, impact test temperature and energy differ	on request
Gr. 6	low-temperature steel	−45 °C	415 / 240	P265NL 1.0453 · EN 10216-4	comparable low-temperature steel, impact test temperature and energy differ	deliverable
Gr. 8	nickel steel	−195 °C	not stated in our sources	X10Ni9 1.5682 · EN 10216-4	comparable low-temperature steel, impact test temperature and energy differ	on request

Grade 6 is compared with P265NL, Grade 1 with P215NL, Grade 3 with 12Ni14 and Grade 8 with the 9 % nickel steel X10Ni9 – all EN 10216-4 (seamless) or EN 10217-4/-6 (welded).

Use in Europe: the Pressure Equipment Directive

Under the Pressure Equipment Directive an ASTM material has no presumption of conformity: it needs a European material approval or a particular material appraisal (PMA) by the equipment manufacturer, in categories III and IV assessed by the notified body. Comparisons with EN grades are orientation, never a one-to-one equivalence – chemistry bands, test scope and certificate differ. The impact test temperatures and energies differ between the systems (A333 Gr. 6 at −45 °C, P265NL to its own table) – what counts is the proven value on the certificate for the design temperature.

Marking on the part

Stencilled: manufacturer, A333, grade, NPS and schedule, heat number, test marks, length.

The standard family: dimensions, material, pipe

ASME B36.10M · ASTM A420/A420M · ASTM A350/A350M · ASTM A106/A106M

At Zickwolff

Low-temperature pipe A333 Gr. 6 is part of our range, Grade 3 we procure – with certificate 3.1 including the impact values, and the matching A420 WPL6 fittings and A350 LF2 flanges.

Dimensions Dimension tables for this standard are available on request – we work from manufacturer catalogues, not from copied standard tables.

Frequently asked questions about ASTM A333/A333M

Can I use this ASTM material in a pressure line under the PED?

Yes, but without presumption of conformity: the equipment manufacturer needs a European material approval or a particular material appraisal (PMA), in categories III and IV assessed by the notified body. For equipment under Article 4(3) (sound engineering practice) this does not apply. We supply the material with certificate 3.1 – the appraisal is the manufacturer's.

Must a plant with ASME parts be inspected more often?

No – the inspection interval comes from the operating law of the country, not from the code of the part. In Germany the Betriebssicherheitsverordnung (Annex 2 Section 4) sets maximum intervals, the operator fixes the interval in the risk assessment and the inspector may shorten it (TRBS 1201 Part 2) where design or manufacture give reason to. Operators often inspect more frequently anyway. This is general information, not legal advice – the legal text is binding.

Why not just A106 for −40 °C?

Because A106 is not impact tested – below −29 °C the designer needs proven toughness, and that is what A333 Grade 6 delivers at −45 °C.

Which fittings and flanges go with A333 Gr. 6?

A420 WPL6 fittings and A350 LF2 flanges – the low-temperature trio of the ASME world.

Parts to ASME and ASTM – from one source

Tell us standard, size (NPS and schedule or Class), material grade, certificate and quantity – we check what is in stock, what we procure and which European part would do the same job.

Send an inquiry

Your inquiry to Zickwolff

Send us what you have – designation, standard, quantity, date. We will clarify the rest with you.

One item or a question

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Not in stock? We procure it – single items too.

Designation, standard and quantity are enough.

Several items

Send bill of materials

200 items? One parts list is enough – we deliver complete.

Attach it as a file.

Helpful if already known: project and country, date needed, certificates, packaging and language of the packing lists. If anything is missing, we will ask.

It is urgent

Request express

When do you need it? Express delivery, to the site if required.

Tell us by when you need the material – we will tell you what is possible.

← Back to ASME and ASTM standards

Basis: the publicly accessible scopes and abstracts of ASME and ASTM (editions as of 2 October 2026), manufacturer catalogues, a trade reference catalogue DIN/EN/ASME and specialist sources for marking and impact test values – the legal statements follow Directive 2014/68/EU and the German Betriebssicherheitsverordnung. No standard text was reproduced – the current original edition is binding. Comparisons with EN grades are orientation, not equivalence. Information without guarantee, no legal advice, no prices.