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IS 2501:1963 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for copper tubes for general engineering purposes. This standard specifies the requirements for solid drawn copper tubes intended for general engineering purposes. It details the required chemical composition, mechanical properties (in various tempers), dimensional tolerances, and mandatory testing procedures such as flattening, drifting, and hydraulic tests.
Specified requirements for copper tubes used in general engineering applications before specific standards were developed.
Overview
Status
Withdrawn — superseded by IS 12444:1993, IS 15450:2004 (partially)
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Materials Science — Aluminium and Non-Ferrous Metals
! Ensure the correct temper (annealed, half-hard, or hard) is specified based on the required bending or machining operations during fabrication.
! This standard is for general engineering; do not use it for specialized applications like refrigeration (IS 10773) or dedicated electrical purposes unless specified.
! Always verify the hydraulic test pressure requirements with the manufacturer if the tubes are intended for pressurized fluid transport.
BS EN 12449:2016+A1:2019BSI (British Standards Institution), UK / CEN (European Committee for Standardization)
HighCurrent
Copper and copper alloys. Seamless, round tubes for general purposes
Specifies requirements for seamless round copper tubes for general engineering applications.
ASTM B75/B75M-20ASTM International, USA
HighCurrent
Standard Specification for Seamless Copper Tube
Covers seamless copper, round and rectangular including square tube, suitable for general engineering.
JIS H 3300:2023JSA (Japanese Standards Association), Japan
HighCurrent
Copper and copper alloy seamless pipes and tubes
Specifies requirements for seamless copper and copper alloy tubes for various applications including general engineering.
AS/NZS 1572:1995Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand
MediumCurrent
Copper and copper alloys - Seamless tubes for engineering purposes
Specifies requirements for seamless tubes of copper and copper alloys for general engineering purposes.
Key Differences
≠IS 2501:1963 is a withdrawn standard, superseded by IS 14810:2000. The equivalent international standards like EN 12449 and ASTM B75 are current and regularly updated.
≠Modern international standards use harmonized material designations (e.g., UNS C12200 in ASTM or CW024A in EN), whereas IS 2501 used older local designations like 'DHP Copper' or 'ETP Copper'.
≠Dimensional and form tolerances (e.g., for wall thickness, diameter, straightness) are generally specified with greater precision and often tighter limits in current EN and ASTM standards compared to the 1963 Indian standard.
≠Mandatory non-destructive testing (like Eddy Current) is standard practice in ASTM B75 and EN 12449, while in IS 2501:1963 it was typically subject to agreement between the purchaser and manufacturer.
Key Similarities
≈All standards cover the production of seamless copper tubes primarily through extrusion and subsequent cold drawing processes.
≈The fundamental material specified is high-purity copper, with similar requirements for deoxidized high-phosphorus (DHP) copper across the standards.
≈All standards define requirements for different temper conditions, such as annealed (soft), half-hard, and hard-drawn, with specified limits for mechanical properties like tensile strength and elongation.
≈The types of mechanical tests required are consistent, including tensile tests to determine strength and ductility, and often expansion or drift tests to assess formability.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Standard Status
Withdrawn — superseded by IS 14810:2000
Current
BS EN 12449:2016+A1:2019
Chemical Composition (DHP Copper - Phosphorus)
0.015 - 0.040 % (as per referenced IS 191)
0.015 - 0.040 %
ASTM B75/B75M (UNS C12200)
Chemical Composition (DHP Copper - Copper Content)
99.85 % min (as per referenced IS 191)
99.90 % min (Cu+Ag)
ASTM B75/B75M (UNS C12200)
Tensile Strength (Annealed/Soft Temper)
21.5 kgf/mm² min (approx. 211 MPa)
205 MPa min
EN 12449 (Temper R220)
Tensile Strength (Hard-Drawn Temper)
30.0 kgf/mm² min (approx. 294 MPa)
290 MPa min
EN 12449 (Temper R290)
Elongation (Annealed/Soft Temper)
40% min
40% min
EN 12449 (Temper R220)
Wall Thickness Tolerance (e.g., 25mm OD x 1.6mm Wall)
±10%
±0.13 mm (approx. ±8.1%)
ASTM B251 (referenced by B75)
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
minimum copper content99.85% (for standard grades)
tensile strength annealedMin 20 kgf/mm²
tensile strength half hardMin 25 kgf/mm²
elongation annealedMin 40%
hydraulic test pressureTypically 1.5 times the working pressure