BPE Technical Data

G.S. Steribore tube and fittings technical data

Steribore BPE high purity ASTM A270 316L
Stainless steel tubes
Steribore is ideal for Bioprocessing and Pharmaceutical applications requiring mechanically polished
surface finishes to 20 Ra min (0.5 Ra mm) ID maximum and 32 Ra min (0.8Ra mm) OD maximum.
Steribore Tubes exceed the requirements of the ASME BPE specification on dimensions and tolerances
and fully meet the BPE specification for OD and ID surface finishes
Steribore Tubes are marked with specification, size, grade and heat number and BPE surface finish
designation.
Tubes are supplied in 20ft / 6M lengths with ends prepared for orbital welding and capped.
Steribore tubing is available from stock with ID cleaned for oxygen service.
Steribore: Other ID cleaning procedures are available including thermocouple cleaning per ASTM A632
or
Nitric Acid & DI Water Rinse. The DI water systems used guarantees 50 PPB with an average of 10 PPB
and a restivity of
17.98 to 18.03. Ultra High Purity 99.9999% pure Nitrogen is also utilized which is filtered to 0.003
micron at the point of use.
Cleaning and packaging is performed in a Class 100 clean room.
NOMINAL NOMINAL
comparison of Steribore - dimensional tolerances WITH BPE specifications
O.D. tube WAllThickness
Sizes
O.D. specification
Wall Thickness specification
length
BPE actual
spec.

Steribore
BPE actual spec
typical spec.

Steribore
typical spec.

Steribore length

mm

in

in

In

In

" 12.7 0.065

1.65

0.005 0.13 0.005 0.13 +0.005/- +0.13/- 0.002

0.008
0.20

0.05 +0.12/- +3.18/-0

0

" 19.05 0.065

1.65

0.005 0.13 0.005 0.13 +0.005/- +0.13/- 0.002

0.008
0.20

0.05 +0.12/- +3.18/-0

0

1"

25.4 0.065

1.65

0.005 0.13 0.005 0.13 +0.005/- +0.13/- 0.002

0.008
0.20

0.05 +0.12/- +3.18/-0

0

1.5" 38.1 0.065

1.65

0.008 0.20 0.005 0.13 +0.005/- +0.13/- 0.002

0.008
0.20

0.05 +0.12/- +3.18/-0

0

2"

50.8 0.065

1.65

0.008 0.20 0.005 0.13 +0.005/- +0.13/- 0.002

0.008
0.20

0.05 +0.12/- +3.18/-0

0

2.5" 63.5 0.065

1.65

0.010 0.25 0.005 0.13 +0.005/- +0.13/- 0.002

0.008
0.20

0.05 +0.12/- +3.18/-0

0

3"

76.2 0.065

1.65

0.010 0.25 0.005 0.13 +0.005/- +0.13/- 0.002

0.008
0.20

0.05 +0.12/- +3.18/-0

0

4"

101.6 0.083

2.11

0.015 0.38 0.005 0.13 +0.008/- +0.20/- 0.0025 0.06 +0.12/- +3.18/-0
0.010
0.25
0

in

Mm

in

mm

mm

In

mm

mm

mm

Mechanical Tests: Full mechanical testing is conducted according to ASME SA249 and ASTM A270/
A249/ A450. This includes reverse bends, flattening and flange testing, eddy current (non-destructive)
electric testing. All material is 100% bore-scoped inspected prior to mechanical polishing. Hydrostatic
and other tests available on request.
Chemical composition - 316L
Other alloys available on request
Elements

BPE spec.

Steribore - typical

(C) Carbon, max

0.035%

0.020%

(Cr) Chromium

16.0-18.0%

16.40%

(Mn) Manganese, max

2.0%

1.70%

(Mo) Molybdenum

2.0-3.0%

2.10%

(Ni) Nickel

10.0-15.0%

10.20%

(P) Phosphorus, max

0.040%

0.029%

(Si) Silicon, max

0.75%

0.50%

(S) Sulfur, max

0.005-0.017%
0.013%
Sterilex 10 is Steribore tube electropolished to 10 Ra min (0.2 mm) ID. The ID of the tube is bright
reflective and chromium enriched and receives 100% inspection.
Cleaning is accomplished with High Purity Low toC Deionized water and Electronic grade High Purity
Nitrogen.
Steribore and Sterilex 10 tubes are packaged using protective 0.6mm poly-sleeving along with air-tight
end caps.Tubing is placed in wooden boxes for maximum protection during shipment.
Technical data
ASME BPE bioporcessing equipment
acceptance criteria for interior surface finishes of TUBING
Anomoly or indication

acceptance criteria

Demarcation

If area is less than the tube dia. and Ra increases <50%.

Grit Lines

If Ra is met.

Longitudinal welds

If polished smooth, blended, and Ra is met.

Nicks

If dia. <0.25", any depthIf dia. >0.25" and depth <0.003".

Oxides

If not visible

Pits (per tube length)

Up to 6, if dia. <0.020" and bottom is shiny (Note 1).

Scatches (Note 2)

If depth <0.003".

Star burst

If < 75% of the width of the weld bead.

Surface cracks

None accepted

Surface inclusions

If Ra is met.

Surface residuals

None accepted

Surface roughness (Ra)

See Table SF-2

Water stains

If no deposits

Weld dross (per tube

length)

Up to 3, if <75% of the width of the weld bead.

Weld porosity

If no liquid penetrant indication.

Notes:
1. Black bottom pit of any depth is not acceptable.
2. After electropolishing, 12" of cumulative length per tube length.
Ra readings for tubing
As Drawn and / or Mechanically Polished
Ra Average (Note 1)

Ra Max

Surface
Designation

m-in.

m-m

m-in.

m-m

SFT1

20

0.5

30

0.75

SFT2

25

0.625

35

0.875

SFT3

30

0.75

45

1.125

Mechanically Polished and Electropolished, or

Electropolished
Ra Average (Note 1)

Ra Max

m-in.

m-m

m-in.

m-m

SFT4

10

0.25

15

0.375

SFT5

15

0.375

25

0.625

SFT6
20
0.5
30
GENERAL NOTE: All Ra reading are taken across the lay.

0.75

NOTE:
1. The average Ra is derived from readings taken at four cross sections approximately 90 apart.
2. No single reading exceeding Ra max.
BPE Bio-Tech & pharmaceutical fittings
H.S.S. supplies Bio-Tech and Pharmaceutical Fittings which are designed for use with Automatic
Welding Equipment.
Long tangents are provided to accommodate all types of Orbital Welding Heads and each Fitting is
fabricated
to meet the special tolerances required for ovality, wall thickness and squareness.
All GS BPE Fittings comply with the strict requirements of ASME BPE Bioprocessing Equipment
Standard.
Material identification and traceability:
All GS BPE Fittings are permanently marked with the material heat number, size, grade and the
surface finish designation,
or material identification number, depending on the size of the fitting.
These numbers allow complete traceability of all component material back to the original material
supplier.
Material Test Reports (MTR) will be supplied on request. Please specify at time of order if Material
Test Reports (MTR) are required.
Packaging: All GS BPE Fittings have colour-coded end caps and are packed in sealed transparent
plastic bags

with a full part designation label attached.

Surface finishes
Polish
Internal (ID) surface
combination
code
MAX.
surface finish
surface
roughness*
m- m-m
in.

External (OD) surface

>MAX.
surface
surface
finish
roughness*
min.

m-m

ASME BPE
surface
designation

3/PC

20 0.5

Mechanical
polish

Unpolished SFF1

7/PL

20 0.5

Mechanical
polish

32

0.8

Mechanical SFF1
polish

3/PD

15 0.375 Mechanical
polish &
Electropolish

Unpolished SFF4

7/PM

15 0.375 Mechanical
32
0.8 Mechanical SFF4
polish &
polish
Electropolish
Electropolished fittings: All GS BPE Fittings are available electropolished.
conversion of surface finishes:
conversion chart

Standard grit

Ra

RMS

m-in.

m-m

m-in.

m-m

150grit

27-32

0.68-0.80

30-35

0.76-0.89

180grit

18-23

0.46-0.58

20-25

0.51-0.64

240grit

14-18

0.34-0.46

15-20

0.38-0.51

320grit
8-10
0.21-0.25
9-11
0.23-0.28
Grit: Measures the number of scratches per linear inch of abrasive pad. Higher numbers indicate a
smoother finish.
RMS: Defined as Root Mean Square roughness, the method measures a sample for peaks and valleys.
Lower numbers indicate a smoother finish.
Ra: Known as the Arithmetic Mean, this measurement represents the average value of all peaks and
valleys. Lower numbers indicate a smoother finish.
To convert to RMS multiply by 1.11.
Technical data
ASME BPE bioprocessing equipment
acceptance criteria for interior surface finishes of fittings
Anomoly or
indication

Acceptance criteria

Cluster of pits

None accepted

Demarcation

If <5% of the total area when visually inspected and Ra is met.

Grit Lines

If Ra is met.

Longitudinal welds

If polished smooth, blended, and Ra is met.

Nicks

None accepted.

Pits

If dia. <0.020" and bottom is shine.

Scratches

If length <0.25", depth <0.003", and Ra is met.

Star burst

None accepted

Surface cracks

None accepted

Surface inclusions

If Ra is met and there is no liquid penetrant indication.

Surface residuals

None accepted.

Surface roughness
(Ra)

See Table SF-4.

Water stains

If no deposits

Weld dross

None accepted

Weld porosity
None accepted
Ra readings for fittings
Mechanically Polished
Ra Average (Note 1)

Ra Max

Surface Designation

m-in.

m-m

m-in.

m-m

SFF1

15

0.375

20

0.5

SFF2

20

0.5

25

0.625

SFF3

25

0.625

30

0.75

Mechanically Polished and Electropolished

Ra Average (Note 1)

Ra Max

m-in.

m-m

m-in.

m-m

SFF4

10

0.25

15

0.375

SFF5

15

0.375

20

0.5

SFF6
20
0.5
25
GENERAL NOTE: All Ra readings are taken across the lay.

0.625

NOTE:
(1) The average Ra is derived from readings taken at four cross sections approximately 90 apart.
Other Ra readings are available if agreed upon between vendor and owner / user. No single reading
exceeding Ra max.