Which edition of ASTM B819 is current?

ASTM lists B819-19 as active, last updated on 15 October 2019 (checked on 23 October 2026).

Which edition of EN 13348 is current?

EN 13348:2016. On 23 October 2026 DIN Media listed its German adoption, DIN EN 13348:2016-11, as current; it replaced DIN EN 13348:2008-11.

EN 13348 vs ASTM B819: copper tube for medical gases

Q: EN 13348 vs ASTM B819: copper tube for medical gases

EN 13348:2016, the CEN standard, covers seamless round copper tubes from 6 mm to 219 mm outside diameter for vacuum pipelines or for distributing medical gases used at operating pressures up to 2 000 kPa; ASTM B819-19 covers specially cleaned, straight lengths of seamless Types K and L copper tube for medical gas systems.

Both documents specify the tube itself. EN 13348 is a European Standard prepared by CEN/TC 133, Copper and copper alloys, and sets requirements, sampling, test methods and conditions of delivery for copper tubes. ASTM B819 is developed by ASTM Subcommittee B05.04. The editions below were checked at DIN Media and at the ASTM store on 23 October 2026.

Side by side

	EN 13348	ASTM B819
Edition in force (checked 23 October 2026)	EN 13348:2016; DIN Media lists DIN EN 13348:2016-11 as current, replacing DIN EN 13348:2008-11	ASTM B819-19, listed as active and last updated on 15 October 2019
Prepared by	CEN/TC 133, Copper and copper alloys	ASTM Subcommittee B05.04
Product	Seamless round copper tubes for pipeline systems under vacuum or distributing medical gases	Specially cleaned, straight lengths of seamless copper tube for medical gas systems
Sizes or types named in the scope	Outside diameter from 6 mm up to and including 219 mm	Two wall thickness schedules, Types K and L, defined in ASTM B88
Tests named on the publisher's page (DIN Media contents list; ASTM abstract)	Tensile, hardness, carbon content, bend and drift expansion tests, and a test for freedom from defects (eddy current, hydrostatic and pneumatic methods in a normative annex)	Tension, Rockwell hardness and eddy-current tests

The EN 13348 scope gives its range in millimetres and the operating pressures of the medical gases it covers, up to 2 000 kPa, in kilopascals. ASTM B819 states that its inch-pound values are the standard and that SI values in parentheses are conversions provided for information only; its scope and abstract on the ASTM store do not give an operating pressure.

Cleaning for oxygen service

ASTM B819 tube is specially cleaned: the abstract says the tubes shall be cleaned by one of the recommended methods, which are alkaline washing, steam solvent washing, steam detergent washing, steam washing, vapor degreasing and refrigerant degreasing. NHS England's HTM 02-01 (2026) says all pipes should be cleaned and degreased for oxygen service and be free of particulate matter and toxic residues in accordance with BS EN 13348.

Where each is called for

ASTM B819-19 states that the tube shall be installed in conformance with NFPA 99, NFPA 99C, NFPA 99B and CSA Z305.1/Z7396.1. NFPA lists the 2027 edition of NFPA 99 as current, and CSA Group lists CSA Z7396.1:22 as its newest edition.
PATH's piping FAQ (November 2024) notes that ASTM B819 is used in North and Latin America.
In England, HTM 02-01 (2026) refers to BS EN 13348 for pipe cleaning; in Portugal, the ACSS specification ET 03/2006 (v.2024) requires medical gas networks to be built in copper tube to EN 13348.

Ultra Controlo copper pipe

The Ultra Controlo product page describes its medical-grade copper pipe for hospital gas pipeline installations as manufactured to EN 13348 with internal cleanliness verification, for oxygen, nitrous oxide, compressed air and medical vacuum systems. See what copper pipe is used for medical gases.