History[edit]

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 Nayyar and Mohinder, 2000. 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]

Application[edit]
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 indicates actual dimensions, not nominal.)
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.
Blockage or Ball Test: When a pipe is welded or bent the most common method to inspect
blockages, misalignment, ovality, and weld bead dimensional conformity is to pass a round ball
through the pipe coil or circuit. If the inner pipe dimension is to be measured then you should
subtract the weld bead, if welding is applicable. Typically, the clearance tolerance for the ball
must not exceed 1mm. Allowable ovality of any pipe is measured on the inside dimension of
the pipe, normally 5% to 10% ovality can be accepted. If no other test is conducted to verify
ovality, or blockages, this test must be seen as a standard requirement. A flow test can not
be used in lieu of a Blockage or Ball Test. See pipe dimensional table, Specification ASME
B36.10M or B36.19M for pipe dimensions per schedule.
Stainless steel pipe is most often available in standard weight sizes (noted by the "S"
designation, for example "NPS Sch 10S"). However stainless steel pipe can also be available
in other schedules.