ASTM vs ASME Steel Standards: What Is the Difference?

25/ Aug, 2026

When selecting steel tubes or pipes for industrial applications, specifications can become overwhelming. You may notice ASTM and ASME steel standards for pipes and tubes on purchase orders and material certificates, sometimes making it seem like these codes refer to the same criteria. They don't.

ASTM vs ASME Steel Standards: What Is the Difference?
ASTM vs ASME Steel Standards: What Is the Difference?

ASTM and ASME offer value in their respective roles and their specifications, which work together at times.

Identifying their differing roles can guide engineers, purchasing representatives, and manufacturers toward proper material specification.

“A standard is useful only when everyone involved understands exactly what it requires.”

What Are ASTM Steel Standards?

ASTM stands for American Society for Testing and Materials, formerly ASTM. ASTM is an international standards, developing organization that develops voluntary consensus standards within various fields of engineering and most other technical matters of business significance and services for various interest groups.

What Do ASTM Steel Standards Cover?

ASTM steel standards commonly define requirements for:

  • Chemical composition
  • Mechanical properties
  • Dimensions and tolerances
  • Manufacturing requirements
  • Heat treatment
  • Testing and inspection
  • Product quality

For instance ASTM A106 / A106M designation concerns pipes made of seamless carbon steel intended to be used at elevated temperatures that details testing and ability of pipe bending , flanging and welding.

For anyone comparing stainless steel grades and composition , ASTM specifications can also be useful because they establish requirements for particular grades and product forms.

What Are ASME Steel Standards?

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Compared to ASTM- This American organization's design, fabrication, inspection, and operation standards are a little more specific than ASTM. If they are involved in creating codes or standards, then that would involve mechanical components and their functions.

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is likely their flagship publication, although they do have others for things like power piping, i.e., ASME B31.1.

What Do ASME Steel Standards Cover?

Depending on the relevant code or standard, ASME steel standards can address:

  • Material requirements
  • Design conditions
  • Fabrication
  • Welding
  • Examination and inspection
  • Testing
  • Pressure and temperature considerations
  • Construction and operational requirements

Take ASME's BPVC Section II, Part A, for instance; ferrous material specifications included in it carry SA numbers. They can be the same as or similar to specifications listed by ASTM or other relevant organizations.

ASTM vs ASME Steel Standards: Key Differences

Aspect ASTM ASME
Focus Develops standards for materials, products, testing methods and manufacturing requirements. Develops engineering codes and standards for the design, construction, inspection and operation of equipment and systems.
Standards Specifies requirements such as chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensions, heat treatment and testing for particular materials or products. Provides requirements for engineering applications, including design conditions, fabrication, welding, inspection, testing and safe operation.
Scope Covers a broad range of materials and products across industries, including carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel and other engineering materials. Covers engineering systems and equipment such as pressure vessels, boilers, power piping and process piping.
Examples ASTM A106 for seamless carbon steel pipe for high-temperature service and ASTM A312 for stainless steel pipe. ASME Section VIII for pressure vessels and ASME B31.1 for power piping.
Compliance Helps manufacturers and purchasers establish whether a material or product meets the specified technical requirements. Helps engineers, manufacturers and inspectors ensure that applicable equipment or piping systems meet the requirements of the governing ASME code or standard.

Material Specifications of ASTM vs ASME: Why Are They Sometimes Similar?

This is where many of the issues begin. There may be references to something like ASTM A106 and ASME SA106. This refers to closely related material specifications, but the designation varies depending on which system the specification is being referenced in.

It is often found that ASME (in their BPVC Section II) specifications include SA/SB material specifications that exactly match or closely match specifications found in ASTM and other recognized organizations.

Therefore, the appearance of references to both ASTM and ASME on a project does not necessarily mean that there are two distinct and unrelated materials specified. The edition, requirements, supplementary requirements, and project code must still be verified.

Why Are ASTM and ASME Standards Essential?

Piping in industry operates in some environments where engineering control and material integrity are paramount.

Standards are a common technical language understood by the manufacturer, designer, end-user, inspector, and purchaser.

They help establish:

  • What material is required
  • Which tests need to be performed
  • What mechanical properties must be achieved
  • Which manufacturing requirements apply
  • What documentation is expected

An ASTM standard is a specification, test method, classification, guide, or practice that is developed by technical consensus.

An ASME code, on the other hand, typically gives standardized requirements on how to engineer something, especially in matters of safety and reliability.

Applications of ASTM and ASME Standards

Both organizations' standards appear across industries, but their use depends on the product and application.

Common ASTM Applications

ASTM specifications are widely used for:

  • Carbon steel pipes
  • Stainless steel pipes
  • Alloy steel tubes
  • Structural steel
  • Fasteners
  • Material testing

ASTM steel standards cover a wide range of metals and products used across industrial applications.

Common ASME Applications

ASME standards and codes are widely associated with:

  • Power piping
  • Process and pressure systems
  • Boilers
  • Pressure vessels
  • Nuclear components
  • Welding qualifications
  • Mechanical equipment

For example, ASME B31.1 provides requirements for power piping systems, while the BPVC provides extensive requirements for boilers and pressure vessels.

How ASTM and ASME Standards Work Together?

They’re rarely an option for a given industrial project. ASTM and ASME often are mutually beneficial.

A project could require a certain material via anASTM-based specification, while it could require the entire piping system itself to meet a certain ASME code.

This becomes critical in pressure situations. You’d want to make sure a material meets its spec, just as you’d expect a system to meet the pertinent engineering, fabrication, and testing rules.

“The material specification tells you what you are buying; the engineering code helps determine how that material can be used safely.”

Whether this will apply is up to project specification and what code/authority the device is governed by. A buyer/manufacturer must ensure that they are complying with the current specification and code.

ASTM vs ASME: Which Standard Should You Choose?

It depends on what you need. If you are working on steel tube selection or specifying material and product requirements for a steel tube or pipe, ASTM could be the right place to find the relevant specifications.

If it is for a product being built for either equipment or piping in which you are following the ASME code, you would want the ASME code also. Many times it is not this or that; you would have to follow both.

Why ASTM and ASME Standards Matter in Steel Selection?

But it’s no good just flipping to the catalogue for the nearest steel-Grade. The material must suit the application's pressure, temperature, corrosives, method of construction, and how it operates.

This is particularly important when comparing stainless steel grades in India or selecting carbon, alloy, or stainless steel tubes for demanding industrial systems.

Using the correct standard helps ensure that everyone, from the designer to the manufacturer and inspector, is working to the same technical requirements.

Why Choose Heavy Metal & Tubes for Steel Tubes and Pipes in India?

Heavy Metal & Tubes manufactures stainless steel, carbon steel, and alloy steel tubes and pipes for aggressive industrial applications.

The company owns manufacturing facilities in Gujarat and makes the products as per applicable national and international standards and as per customer's requirement.

The company manufactures stainless steel seamless and welded tubes and pipes and carbon and alloy steel tubes. This facility enables customers to procure a diverse range of tubular products based on their material needs, dimensional requirements, and applications.

For projects for which ASTM or ASME specifications are part of the purchase, the crucial factor is a manufacturer's capability to understand the specification, control the process, and produce the products with the necessary testing and certification.

ASTM vs ASME Steel Standards: What Is the Difference? CTA image

Conclusion

The difference between ASTM and ASME is not simply that one is for steel and the other is for something else.

ASTM produces standards for materials, products, and testing covering various industries. ASME produces codes for mechanical design, primarily related to pressure vessels and mechanical piping design and construction. This allows engineers to use the same material to produce several different components that meet the design.

Two standards from these organizations could potentially refer to the same product or material and therefore be compatible for the same application; it depends.

This is a difficult scenario. It’s important to refer to the relevant standard/code edition and also the application when looking to make these decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The ASME SA106 is similar in material properties. ASME is permitted to reference/closely match ASTM specifications within its material specifications, where ASME uses SA followed by the ASTM specification number for that standard within the ASME system. It is critical that the applicable edition and requirements of the specific project be confirmed.

No, ASTM and ASME are distinct standards bodies, with their respective areas of primary expertise. ASTM covers materials, product, and testing standards, whereas ASME covers engineering codes and standards. Both sets of standards may overlap and co-exist within the same project.

An example is ASTM A106 for seamless carbon steel pipe with elevated temperature service. It refers to various ASTM standards for different pipe grades/types and/or service conditions, select the right standard according to your need.

Not necessarily. Material specifications can be written to include or refer to specifications that are the same as or identical to ASTM specifications. The SA designations for ferrous material specifications in ASME BPVC Section II, Part A, contain materials that are identical to or substantially the same as specifications from ASTM or another standards organization.

Begin with the service, material grade, pressure, temperature, manufacturing process, and project governing code. From the application and material grade, identify the material specification and governing code or standard. If the project is critical, the material specification should be finalized by the project engineer or the specified governing code.

Verification of material test certificate and product data sheet matches the proper specification, grade, issue, size, chemistry and metallurgy as required, and all specified testing. Where applicable, ensure that all applicable ASME code and related required certification/inspection documentation as well is provided as required by the ASME code.