Copper Water Tube-Calculated Bursting Pressure*

Nominal
Tube
Size,
Inches
1/4
3/8
1/2
5/8

Outside
Dia. (In.)
Types
K-L
.375
.500
.625
.750

Inside Diameter
Inches
Type
Type
K
L
.305
.315
.402
.430
.527
.545
.652
.666

Wall Thickness
Inches
Type
Type
K
L
.035
.030
.049
.035
.049
.040
.049
.042

Sizes of
Copper Tube

Bursting Pressure Lb. per Sq. Inc.

Type K
Type L
Hard
Soft
Hard
Soft
(Drawn) (Annealed) (Drawn) (Annealed)
6,700
5,600
5,800
4,800
7,100
5,900
5,000
4,200
5,600
4,700
4,600
3,800
4,700
3,900
4,000
3,400

3/4
1
1 1/4
1 1/2
2

.875
1.125
1.375
1.625
2.125

.745
.995
1.245
1.481
1.959

.785
1.025
1.265
1.505
1.985

.065
.065
.065
.072
.083

.045
.050
.055
.060
.070

5,300
4,200
3,400
3,200
2,800

4,500
3,500
2,800
2,700
2,300

3,700
3,200
2,900
2,700
2,400

3,100
2,700
2,400
2,200
2,000

2 1/2
3
3 1/2
4
5

2.625
3.125
3.625
4.125
5.125

2.435
2.907
3.385
3.857
4.805

2.465
2.945
3.425
3.905
4.875

.095
.109
.120
.134
.160

.080
.090
.100
.110
.125

2,600
2,500
2,400
2,300
2,200

2,200
2,100
2,000
1,900
1,900

2,200
2,100
2,000
1,900
1,800

1,800
1,700
1,700
1,600
1,500

6.125

5.741

5.845

.192

.140

2,300

1,900

1,600

1,400

8.125

7.583

7.725

.271

.200

2,400

2,000

1,800

1,500

OD
Size
1/8
3/16
1/4
5/16
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
7/8
1
1 1/8
1 1/4
1 3/8
1 5/8
2 1/8
2 5/8
3 1/8
3 5/8
4 1/8
5 1/8
6 1/8
8 1/8

*Bursting Pressures are calculated from the following formula for thin, hollow cylinders under tension.
where P = Bursting Press, Lb. per Sq. In.
t = Wall Thickness, Inches
P=2tS
D
D = Outside Tube Diameter, Inches
S = Tensile Strength (36,000 Lb. per Sq. In. for hard tubes and 30,000 for soft tubes)

Nominal
Size
1/8
1/4
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
7/8
1
1 1/8
1 1/4
1 1/2
2
2 1/2
3
3 1/2
4
5
6
8

Copper Water Tube - Standard Dimensions and Weights

Nominal
Tube
Size,
Inches
1/4
3/8
1/2
5/8

Outside
Dia. (In.)
Types
K-L-M
DWV
.375
.500
.625
.750

Type
K

Inside Diameter
Inches
Type
Type
L
M

Type
DWV

Type
K

Wall Thickness
Inches
Type
Type
L
M

** Pounds per Linear Foot

Type
K

Type
DWV

Type
L

Type
M

Type
DWV

.305
.402
.527
.652

.315
.430
.545
.666

.035
.049
.049
.049

.030
.035
.040
.042

.025
.025
.028
.030

.145
.269
.344
.418

.126
.198
.285
.362

.106
.145
.204
2.63

3/4
1
1 1/4
1 1/2
2

.875
1.125
1.375
1.625
2.125

.745
.995
1.245
1.481
1.959

.785
1.025
1.265
1.505
1.985

1.291
1.527
2.009

1.295
1.541
2.041

.065
.065
.065
.072
.083

.045
.050
.055
.060
.070

.032
.035
.042
.049
.058

.040
.042
.042

.641
.839
1.04
1.36
2.06

.455
.655
.884
1.14
1.75

.328
.465
.682
.940
1.46

.650
.809
1.07

2 1/2
3
3 1/2
4
5

2.625
3.125
3.625
4.125
5.125

2.435
2.907
3.385
3.857
4.805

2.465
2.945
3.425
3.905
4.875

2.495
2.981
3.459
3.935
4.907

3.035
4.009
4.981

.095
.109
.120
.134
.160

.080
.090
.100
.110
.125

.065
.072
.083
.095
.109

.045
.058
.072

2.93
4.00
5.12
6.51
9.67

2.48
3.33
4.29
5.38
7.61

2.03
2.68
3.58
4.66
6.66

1.69
2.87
4.43

6.125

5.741

5.845

5.881

5.959

.192

.140

.122

.083

13.9

10.2

8.9

6.10

8.125

7.583

7.725

7.785

.271

.200

.170

25.9

19.3

16.5

** Slight variations from these weights must be expected in practice.