Scope of EN 10217-1
EN 10217-1 is the first part of the EN 10217 series covering welded steel pipes for pressure purposes. It applies to non-alloy steel pipe of circular cross-section, manufactured by electric welding or submerged-arc welding, with properties specified at room temperature. The current edition is EN 10217-1:2019, which replaced the 2002 edition and tightened the link between the standard and European pressure equipment legislation.
Pipe for elevated or low temperature service, and pipe made from alloy or stainless steel, is covered by the other parts of the EN 10217 series rather than by Part 1. That boundary matters when a project specification is written, because a Part 1 pipe cannot simply be substituted where low-temperature toughness or alloy chemistry is required.
Quality Grades TR1 and TR2
| Quality grade | Intended use and testing level |
|---|---|
| TR1 | General industrial pressure piping where basic testing is sufficient |
| TR2 | Pressure equipment intended to satisfy Directive 2014/68/EU, with impact energy verified at room temperature |
TR2 is the grade normally selected for equipment that falls within the scope of the Pressure Equipment Directive, because the additional testing and traceability it carries supports conformity assessment. The clearest technical difference is the impact requirement: TR2 specifies a minimum absorbed energy of 27 J at room temperature for the applicable test pieces, which limits the risk of brittle behaviour during handling and hydrostatic testing.
Steel Grades and Chemical Requirements
EN 10217-1 covers the non-alloy pressure grades P195, P235, P265 and P275, each delivered in the TR1 or TR2 quality grade. Chemistry is restricted for carbon, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur so that the pipe stays weldable while retaining the required strength and toughness for pressure duty.
| Grade | Minimum yield strength | Tensile strength range | Delivery condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| P195 | 195 MPa | 320-440 MPa | As welded or normalised |
| P235 | 235 MPa | 360-500 MPa | As welded or normalised |
| P265 | 265 MPa | 410-570 MPa | As welded or normalised |
| P275 | 275 MPa | 410-570 MPa | As welded or normalised |
The grade designation states the minimum yield strength in megapascals, so P265 delivers at least 265 MPa of yield strength and is the most common choice for general pressure piping and boiler work.
Manufacturing Route and Mandatory Testing
Electric welded pipe is produced from hot-rolled coil by progressive forming followed by high-frequency welding, with the weld bead controlled inside and outside. Submerged-arc welded pipe is made from plate or coil with a longitudinal or helical seam, which suits larger diameters and heavier walls. Both routes finish with sizing and, where agreed, a normalising or other specified heat treatment.
Testing under EN 10217-1 includes a hydrostatic test on each length unless an agreed non-destructive test replaces it, non-destructive examination of the weld seam by ultrasonic or eddy current methods, and verification of outside diameter, wall thickness, length and straightness against the specified tolerances. Tensile and impact tests are taken from the pipe or the coil in accordance with the inspection and test plan of the ordered quality grade.
Applications and Ordering Notes
Typical applications are boilers and boiler pipework, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, steam and condensate lines and general process piping where a room-temperature specification is acceptable. For equipment inside the scope of the Pressure Equipment Directive, the material certificate, the marking and the conformity assessment route must match the quality grade ordered. TR1 pipe is normally not accepted where the design has been verified on the basis of TR2 material data, and the change from one grade to the other has to be approved through the engineering change process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is EN 10217-1?
It is the European standard for welded non-alloy steel pipes for pressure purposes with specified room-temperature properties, in its current edition EN 10217-1:2019.
Q: What is the difference between TR1 and TR2?
TR2 adds testing and verification that supports conformity with Directive 2014/68/EU, including a room-temperature impact energy of at least 27 J, while TR1 is a basic industrial quality grade.
Q: Does EN 10217-1 cover seamless pipe?
No. Part 1 covers welded pipe only. Seamless pressure pipe for room-temperature service is specified in the EN 10216 series.
Q: Can EN 10217-1 pipe be used at high temperature?
Not as a basis for design. The standard specifies room-temperature properties, and elevated-temperature service calls for the appropriate part of the EN 10217 series with high-temperature data.
Q: What welding processes does the standard cover?
Electric welded pipe, including high-frequency welded construction, and submerged-arc welded pipe with longitudinal or helical seams are both within scope.
Q: Which certificates are normally supplied?
Inspection documents are issued according to the ordered grade, typically an inspection certificate type 3.1 to EN 10204 with chemical, tensile and impact results traceable to the heat and the pipe.