# EN 13348: copper tubes for medical gases and vacuum

EN 13348 is the European product standard for the seamless, round copper tubes used in medical gas and vacuum pipelines; the edition in force is EN 13348:2016, which covers tubes from 6 mm to 219 mm outside diameter for operating pressures up to 2,000 kPa.

## Scope

EN 13348 deals with the tube itself, not with the pipeline system. It applies to seamless round copper tubes with an outside diameter from 6 mm up to and including 219 mm, intended for medical gas or vacuum pipelines working at operating pressures up to 2,000 kPa. The design, installation, testing and commissioning of the whole pipeline are covered by [ISO 7396-1](https://library.ultracontrolo.com/standards/iso-7396-1/), published in Europe as EN ISO 7396-1.

## Edition and status

The edition in force is EN 13348:2016. On 22 October 2026 DIN Media listed its German adoption, DIN EN 13348:2016-11, as current. National adoptions carry a national prefix: NHS England guidance, for example, cites it as BS EN 13348.

## What it means for hospitals and designers

- England: HTM 02-01 (2026 edition) calls for pipes cleaned and degreased for oxygen service and free of particulate matter and toxic residues in accordance with BS EN 13348.
- Portugal: the ACSS specification for medical gases, ET 03/2006 (v.2024), requires networks to be built in copper tube to EN 13348 and brazed with a solder containing at least 40% silver.
- Sizing is a separate task. EN 13348 gives the tube range; flow and pressure drop follow the pipeline standard and national guidance. For sizing, general note II in the annex of the Portuguese ACSS ET 03/2006 asks for one of FD S 90-155, HTM 2022, AS 2896-1998 or SIS HB 370 to be applied; the HTM 2022 named there has since been superseded by the 2026 HTM 02-01, and section 16 of the same specification lists AS 2896-2011.

## Related standards

- [ISO 7396-1](https://library.ultracontrolo.com/standards/iso-7396-1/): medical gas and vacuum pipeline systems; in Europe, EN ISO 7396-1:2016 + A1:2019.
- HTM 02-01: NHS England guidance for medical gas pipeline systems, 2026 edition.
- [FD S90-155](https://library.ultracontrolo.com/standards/fd-s90-155/): French informative guidance for the design and acceptance of medical gas networks.
- ACSS ET 03/2006 (v.2024): Portuguese specification for medical gases and vacuum in hospital buildings.

### Does EN 13348 cover stainless steel pipe?

No. EN 13348 applies only to seamless round copper tubes for medical gases or vacuum.

### What is the largest tube covered by EN 13348?

The standard applies up to and including 219 mm outside diameter.

## Sources

- [DIN EN 13348:2016-11 (EN 13348:2016), DIN Media](https://www.dinmedia.de/en/standard/din-en-13348/253294458)
- [NHS England, HTM 02-01 Part A (2026)](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/health-technical-memorandum-02-01-medical-gas-pipeline-systems-part-a-design-installation-validation-verification-aug-2026.pdf)
- [ACSS ET 03/2006 v.2024, Gases medicinais e aspiração, section 16 and annex general note II](https://www.acss.min-saude.pt/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ET-03_2006_v2024-Gases-medicinais_VF.pdf)
- [DIN EN ISO 7396-1:2019-06 (EN ISO 7396-1:2016 + A1:2019), DIN Media](https://www.dinmedia.de/en/standard/din-en-iso-7396-1/279624021)

Reviewed: 2026-10-22. Ultra Controlo engineering. https://library.ultracontrolo.com/standards/en-13348/