-
Free shipping
On all orders over $199
-
Special offers
Regular sales and discounts
-
Easy returns
Hassle free returns policy
-
Chat facility
Talk to a real person
Sanitary ASTM A270 3 Inch Stainless Steel Pipe
- Bright Annealed Polished Sanitary Tubing ASTM A270
- Available in 316L Stainless Steel
- Stamped with Heat Lot Number
- Manufactured in accordance with 3A Standards for sanitary line process requirements
Hygienic, Corrosion-Resistant & FDA-Compliant Solutions
We design and manufacture sanitary stainless steel pipe systems for industries where hygiene and security are critical. The pipes and fittings are made from non-corrosive stainless steel (304 and 316L) with a mirror-polished face (Ra<0.8µm). These systems successfully meet high regulations for food and beverage processes, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic manufacture, brewery processes including CIP/SIP solutions for drinks like syrup, wort and carbonated beverages.
Product Overview
Eagle's sanitary stainless steel pipe in 3-inch size is made according to ASTM A270, which is the required specification for seamless piping in hygienic process. The diameter of 3 inch makes this configuration suitable for many applications, in particular for the main product transport line, the CIP lines, and tank connections. At the same time, this size is convenient enough to be manageable without demanding heavy equipment involvement. The shiny annealed surface in the inside contributes to very smooth inner surface that reduces fluid friction and prevents product attaching to the pipe. Each pipe is marked with the heat lot number so that the customer can have full traceability of the material, starting from the finished pipe and going back to the original heat. For generalized food and dairy applications it is advisable to select 304 pipe and for even higher resistance against pitting caused by chlorinated sanitizers, acids, and high temperature SIP processes, the 316L pipe should be purchased. The pipes can be manufactured in the size required by the customer with the existing piping connections being considered.
Technical Specifications
- Size: 3" OD (Other sizes available: 1/2" to 12" custom)
- Material: 304 or 316L Stainless Steel
- Standard: ASTM A270 (Sanitary Tubing)
- Surface Finish: Electropolished, Ra ≤0.8µm (32Ra)
- Wall Thickness: 0.065" (16 Gauge)
- Certification: 3A Sanitary Standards, FDA Compliant
- Traceability: Stamped with Heat Lot Number
- Connection Options: Tri-Clamp, Butt Weld, or Threaded
- Steam Sterilization: Rated for 250°F continuous steam (400°F intermittent)
Key Advantages of Our Sanitary Stainless Steel Pipe
Customer Success Stories
"Switched to these pipes for our kombucha facility — passed organic certification audits effortlessly!" – Jamie P., Production Lead, FermentCraft Co.
"Used in our lipstick base production line — zero cross-contamination since installation." – Dr. Lee, Cosmetic Chemist
Dimensions of ASTM A270
| Tube OD | Nominal Wall Thickness (inches) | Gage Number | Wt. Pounds per Ft. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ½" | 0.065 | 16 | 0.31 | |||||||
| ¾" | 0.065 | 16 | 0.49 | |||||||
| 1" | 0.065 | 16 | 0.67 | |||||||
| 1½" | 0.065 | 16 | 1.02 | |||||||
| 2" | 0.065 | 16 | 1.36 | |||||||
| 2½" | 0.065 | 16 | 1.71 | |||||||
| 3" | 0.065 | 16 | 2.06 | |||||||
| 4" | 0.083 | 14 | 3.45 | |||||||
| 6" | 0.109 | 12 | 6.92 | |||||||
Operating Pressure
304 Stainless Steel Tube (ASTM A270 Tubing)
| Tube OD Size | Nominal Wall Thickness (inches) | Pressure (PSI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| working | yield | burst | ||
| ½" | 0.065 | 4,870 | 7,800 | 19,500 |
| ¾" | 0.065 | 3,250 | 5,200 | 13,000 |
| 1" | 0.065 | 2,440 | 3,900 | 9,800 |
| 1½" | 0.065 | 1,630 | 2,600 | 6,500 |
| 2" | 0.065 | 1,220 | 2,000 | 4,900 |
| 2½" | 0.065 | 980 | 1,600 | 3,900 |
| 3" | 0.065 | 810 | 1,300 | 3,300 |
| 4" | 0.083 | 780 | 1,200 | 3,100 |
| 6" | 0.109 | 680 | 1,090 | 2,720 |
Calculated using Barlow's Formula: material 304, yield strength 30,000 PSI, tensile strength 75,000 PSI. Working Pressure = ¼ of Burst Pressure, from -20°F to 100°F.
316L Stainless Steel Tube (ASTM A270 Tubing)
| Tube OD Size | Nominal Wall Thickness (inches) | Pressure (PSI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| working | yield | burst | ||
| ½" | 0.065 | 3,250 | 6,500 | 19,500 |
| ¾" | 0.065 | 2,167 | 4,330 | 13,000 |
| 1" | 0.065 | 2,280 | 3,300 | 9,100 |
| 1½" | 0.065 | 1,520 | 2,200 | 6,100 |
| 2" | 0.065 | 1,140 | 1,600 | 4,600 |
| 2½" | 0.065 | 910 | 1,300 | 3,600 |
| 3" | 0.065 | 760 | 1,100 | 3,000 |
| 4" | 0.083 | 730 | 1,000 | 2,900 |
| 6" | 0.109 | 635 | 900 | 2,540 |
Calculated using Barlow's Formula: material 316L, yield strength 25,000 PSI, tensile strength 70,000 PSI. Working Pressure = ¼ of Burst Pressure, from -20°F to 100°F.
Note: Stainless Steel Pipe size and Tube OD size materials are not interchangeable.
Dimensional Tolerances
| Size OD | Tolerances, OD | Wall Thickness | Tolerances on Wall Thickness | Tolerances on Length | Weight Kg/M | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2" (12.7) | +/-0.005" (0.13) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 0.4571 | ||||||
| 3/4" (19.1) | +/-0.005" (0.13) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 0.7218 | ||||||
| 1" (25.4) | +/-0.005" (0.13) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 0.9824 | ||||||
| 1-1/4" (31.8) | +/-0.008" (0.20) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 1.2412 | ||||||
| 1-1/2" (38.1) | +/-0.008" (0.20) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 1.5078 | ||||||
| 2" (50.8) | +/-0.008" (0.20) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 2.0331 | ||||||
| 2-1/2" (63.5) | +/-0.010" (0.25) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 2.5585 | ||||||
| 3" (76.2) | +/-0.010" (0.25) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 3.0797 | ||||||
| 4" (101.6) | +/-0.015" (0.38) | 0.065" (1.65) | +/-10.0% | +1/8" (3.18) | 5.2628 | ||||||
| 6" (152.4) | +/-0.030" (0.76) | 0.083" (2.11) | +/-10.0% | +3/16" (4.8) | 7.9116 | ||||||
| 6" (152.4) | +/-0.030" (0.76) | 0.109" (2.77) | +/-10.0% | +3/16" (4.8) | 10.3909 | ||||||
| 8" (203.2) | +0.061" (1.55) / -0.031" (0.79) | 0.109" (2.77) | +/-10.0% | +3/16" (4.8) | 13.9166 | ||||||
Uniform wall thickness for 1/2" through 3" size measures 0.065" (16ga). In 4" size, wall thickness measures 0.083" (14ga). 6" and 8" sizes measure 0.109" (12ga).
Chemical Composition
ASTM A270 tubing in sanitary steel grades 304 and 316L is formulated for food and beverage processing environments where equipment comes into contact with acidic or alkaline solutions, salts, and cleaning agents.
| Elements | 304 (wt%) | 304L (wt%) | 316L (wt%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (C) | Carbon, Max. | 0.080 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| (Mn) | Manganese, Max. | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| (P) | Phosphorus, Max. | 0.040 | 0.040 | 0.040 |
| (S) | Sulfur, Max. | 0.030 | 0.030 | 0.030 |
| (Si) | Silicon, Max. | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| (Ni) | Nickel | 8.0–11.0 | 8.0–13.0 | 10.0–15.0 |
| (Cr) | Chromium | 18.0–20.0 | 18.0–20.0 | 16.0–18.0 |
| (Mo) | Molybdenum | N/A | N/A | 2.0–3.0 |
| (Fe) | Iron | Bal. | Bal. | Bal. |
| (Cu) | Copper | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| (N) | Nitrogen | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Applications & Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these pipes compatible with steam sterilization?
Sure. The tubing can handle as much as 250°F saturated steam continuously, although it can endure higher heat levels occasionally reaching 400°F. For steam-in-place sterilization, PTFE gaskets should be applied for the best results. However, the ability to use EPDM gaskets for temperatures of 135°C (275°F) or less makes it the preferred choice in majority of food and dairy industry applications. Thus it is wise to ensure that all system’s components, including the instrumentation, valves, fittings and gaskets, are all rated for that particular SIP temperature and time.
Can I get custom diameters for niche applications?
Absolutely! The standard size range goes from 1/2 inch to 6 inches in outside diameter, but custom sizes ranging from 1/2’ inch to 12 inches can also be ordered within a 10-day timeframe. The wall thickness and surface finish of the needed product can also be customized. If you contact our engineering department, we will communicate an analysis and the pricing of the newly ordered item based on the provided elements like outside diameter, wall thickness, length, and surface finish.
How do you ensure weld integrity for critical pharmaceutical and cosmetic lines?
We apply orbital TIG welding with 100% X-ray or dye-penetrant inspection in crucial operations. With orbital welding, a constant, smooth, and completely penetrated internal bead with no product trapping is produced. In order to ensure that the required level of sterility assurance is achieved, the boroscopic test of the weld interior is conducted in pharmaceutical lines, and the certificate of inspection is included in the documentation package. When welding pipes on-site, 308L filler wires should be used for 304 pipes, while 316L filler wires should be utilized for 316L pipes to retain corrosion properties of the welding zone.
What flow rate can I expect from a 3-inch sanitary pipe?
According to the recommended velocity of the CIP system of 5 feet per second, a 3-inch sanitary pipe is capable of handling around 110–120 gallons or around 416–454 liters per minute. This flow rate is considered adequate for main product transfer headers, CIP supply and return lines, and connections to the tanks in a plant processing a few thousand to tens of thousands of liters per batch. However, the actual flow will depend on your system pressure, the overall length of the pipe, the number of fittings, and the viscosity of the product.
Why Choose Eagle Fittings
Request Custom Quote
Contact our engineers for sizing assistance, custom diameters, or material selection guidance
GET PERSONALIZED QUOTATIONResponse within 4 hours | Custom sizes from 1/2" to 12" available | Competitive pricing with full documentation
