Type L vs. Type M Copper Pipes: What’s the Difference?

Copper Pipe and Tube:

Copper Pipes have long been the standard hard pipe in the plumbing industry, and they are also used in healthcare to transport medicinal gases. Copper Pipes have proven to be extremely long-lasting. Copper Pipe and Tube are popular due to their ability to withstand extreme cold and heat. Copper pipes are recyclable and can be installed outdoors. Copper Pipes are highly flexible and can extend long distances throughout the home. Copper Pipe is extremely durable, it does not require any additional support materials to meet your specifications. Copper tube is frequently used in HVAC systems to deliver hot and cold tap water as well as a refrigerant line. The two main types of copper tubing are soft copper tubing and rigid copper tubing. To join copper tubing, a flared attachment, compression connection, or solder is used.

Manibhadra Fittings is one of the leading Copper Tubes manufacturers in India. Copper has a high resistance to corrosion, but it is becoming increasingly expensive. There are two types of copper tubes: rigid copper and soft copper. Copper tubes are most often used to supply cold or hot tap water, but they can also be used in HVAC systems as a refrigerant thread. Type L, Type DWV, Type K, and Type M are the most common thicknesses available for tubes made of copper in the United States and Canada.

The Distinctions Between Copper Types L and M

  • The primary distinction between types L and M is their pressure rating and wall thickness. The most common sizes of copper pipe are 12 and 34 inches.
  • Type M ½ inch has a wall thickness of 0.028” and type L ½ inch has a wall thickness of 0.04”. The wall thickness of type M ¾ inch is 0.032”, while type L ¾ inch is 0.045”.
  • In general, type L is more expensive than type M. The reason for the price difference is that type L has thicker walls and thus weighs more.
  • As a result, type l needs more copper to produce, resulting in a higher production cost than type M. Since type L weighs more than type M, the cost of transportation is also higher.
  • Copper pipes of similar size and type have the same external diameter, making them suitable for making plumbing connections with the same fitting.
  • Because of the different wall thicknesses, the interior diameter varies depending on the form. Form M ½  inch, for example, has a diameter of 0.569” and type L ½  inch has a diameter of 0.545”.

Copper Pipe and Tube: Types, Standards, Applications, Lengths

Manibhadra Fittings is a well-known Copper Tube Manufacturer in India. We provide copper tubes with a full range of outer diameter and wall thickness combinations, designed to exact specifications to meet the highest standards of performance as demanded by the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.

Tube type Colour code Standard Applications Commercially available lengths
Nominal or standard sizes Drawn Annealed
Type K Green ASTM B 88 3 – Domestic water service and distribution

– Fire protection

– Solar

– Fuel/fuel oil

– HVAC

– Snow melting

– Compressed air

– Natural gas

– Liquified petroleum (LP) gas

– Vacuum

Straight lengths:
1/4 inch to 8 inch 20 ft. 20 ft.
10 inch 18 ft. 18 ft.
12 inch 12 ft. 12 ft.
Coils:
1/4 inch to 1 inch 60 ft.
100 ft.
1-1/4 inch and 1-1/2 inch 60 ft.
2 inch 40 ft.
45 ft.
Type L Blue ASTM B 88 – Domestic water service and distribution

– Fire protection

– Solar

– Fuel/fuel oil

– Natural gas

– Liquified petroleum (LP) gas

– HVAC

– Snow melting

– Compressed air

– Vacuum

Straight lengths:
1/4 inch to 10 inch 20 ft. 20 ft.
12 inch 18 ft. 18 ft.
Coils:
1/4 to 1 inch 60 ft.
100 ft.
1-1/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch 60 ft.
2 inch 40 ft.
45 ft.
Type M Red ASTM B 88 – Domestic water service and distribution

– Fire protection

– Solar

– Fuel/fuel oil

– HVAC

– Snow melting

– Vacuum

Straight lengths:
1/4 inch to 12 inch 20 ft. N/A
DWV Yellow ASTM B 306 – Drain, waste, vent

– HVAC

– Solar

Straight lengths:
1-1/4 inch to 8 inch 20 ft. N/A
ACR Blue ASTM B 280 – Air conditioning

– Refrigeration

– Natural gas

– Liquefied petroleum (LP) gas

– Compressed air

Straight lengths:
1/4 inch to 4-1/8 inch 20 ft. 4
Coils:
1/8 inch to 1-5/8 inch 50 ft.
OXY, MED

OXY/MED

OXY/ACR

ACR/MED

(K) Green

(L) Blue

ASTM B 819 – Medical gas

– Compressed medical air

– Vacuum

Straight lengths:
1/4 inch to 8 inch 20 ft. N/A

1 There are many other copper and copper alloy tubes and pipes available for specialized applications. For information on these products, contact the Manibhadra Fittings.

2 Individual manufacturers may have commercially available lengths in addition to those shown in this table.

3 Tube made to other ASTM standards is also intended for plumbing applications, although ASTM B 88 is by far the most widely used. ASTM Standard Classifications B 698 lists six plumbing tube standards including B 88.

4 Available as special order only.

Copper Pipe and Tube Standard Specification and Size Range

Copper Tubes are available at Manibhadra Fittings in different dimensions. We also supply and export 15mm Copper Pipes & Tubes as per the drawings or client requirements. Our specialization in Copper Tubes has made us a household name in India. With a happy clientele Copper tube, we are proudly able to say that we are one of the top dealers of Copper Tubes.

BS ISO EN DESCRIPTION
C101 Cu-ETP CW004A Electrolytic, tough pitch, high conductive copper
C103 Cu-OF CW008A Oxygen-free high conductivity copper
C111 Cu-S CW114C Sulphur copper (free machining)
C109 Cu-TEP CW118C Tellurium copper (free cutting)
C101 Cu-Ag-2 CW011A Silver-bearing Copper
C101 Cu-Ag-3 CW012A Silver-bearing Copper
C101 Cu-Ag-4 CW013A Silver-bearing Copper
CC102 CuCr1Zr CW106C Copper Chrome Zirconium

 

Size Actual

outer diameter,

inches

Type
K L M
Actual inner diameter, inches
3/8 1/2 0.402 0.430 0.450
1/2 5/8 0.528 0.545 0.569
5/8 3/4 0.652 0.668 0.690
3/4 7/8 0.745 0.785 0.811
1 1 1/8 0.995 1.025 1.055
1 3/8 1.245 1.265 1.291
1 5/8 1.481 1.505 1.527
2 2 1/8 1.959 1.985 2.009
available

in these forms

drawn temper 20-foot

lengths

20-foot

lengths

20-foot

lengths

annealed temper 60-foot, 100-foot,

and 200-foot coils

60-foot, 100-foot,

and 200-foot coils

not made

 

Item Copper Pipe, Copper Tube, Copper Coil Tubing
Material
  • T1, T2, C10100, C10200, C10300, C10400, C10500, C10700, C10800, C10910,C10920, TP1, TP2, C10930, C11000, C11300, C11400, C11500, C11600, C12000,C12200, C12300, TU1, TU2, C12500, C14200, C14420, C14500, C14510, C14520, C14530, C17200, C19200, C21000, C23000, C26000, C27000, C27400, C28000, C33000, C33200, C37000, C44300, C44400, C44500, C60800, C63020, C68700, C70400, C70600, C70620, C71000, C71500, C71520, C71640, CZ109 CZ107 CZ106 CZ103etc
Standard ASTM B75M-02 ASTM B42-02 ASTM B111M-04 JIS G3300-2006
Hardness 1/6 hard, 1/8 hard, 3/8 hard, 1/4 hard, 1/2 hard, full hard, soft, etc
Specification OD:2mm~914mm, WT:0.2mm~120mm
Outer Diameter 2mm~914mm
Thickness 0.2mm~120mm
Length 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 6m, or as required, 1m, 2m, 3m, or as required
Alloy Or Not Non-alloy
Copper Tubing Sizes 3.35 mm OD To 101.6 mm OD, 15 NB to 150 NB IN
Wall Thickness 0.2mm~120mm
Swg & Bwg 10 Swg., 12 Swg., 14 Swg., 16 Swg., 18 Swg., 20 Swg.
Copper tube Length Single Random, Double Random, Standard & Cut a length
Copper Tube Finish Polished, AP (Annealed & Pickled), BA (Bright & Annealed), MF
Copper tube Form Round, Coil, Square, Rectangular, Boiler, Hydraulic, Straight or ‘U’ bent Tubes, Hollow, LSAW Tubes Etc.
Copper Tube Type Seamless, ERW, EFW, Welded, Fabricated

  • ACR & HVAC Copper Tubing
  • Finned Copper Tube
  • Flexible Copper Tubing
  • Hard Copper Tubing
  • Type K Copper Tubing
  • Type L Copper Tubing
  • Type M Copper Tubing
  • Type DWV Copper Tubing
  • Copper Water Tubing
  • Flexible Copper Tubing
  • Soft Copper Tubing
Colour Golden
End Plain End, Beveled End, Treaded
Marking All Copper tubes are marked as follows: Standard, Grade, OD, Thickness, Length, Heat No. (Or according to the customer’s request.)
Application Oil Tube, Gas Tube, Fluid Tube, Boiler and Heat exchanger
Value Added Service Draw & Expansion as per required Size & Length, Polish (Electro & Commercial) Annealed & Pickled Bending, Machining Etc.
Surface mill, polished, bright, hairline, mirror, brush, sandblast, etc
Specialize in Copper Capillary Tube & Other Odd Size

Copper Heat Exchanger & Condenser Tubes

Export to Ireland, Singapore, Indonesia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Canada, USA, Brazil, Thailand, Korea, Iran, Russia, Chile, India, Egypt, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, VietNam, England, Holland, Mexico, Peru, Malaysia, Italy, Nigeria, etc
Supply Ability 3000 Metric Ton/Metric Tons per Month Standard size in stock
Container Size 20ft GP: 5898mm (Length) x 2352mm (Width) x 2393mm (High)

40ft GP: 12032mm (Length) x 2352mm (Width) x 2393mm (High)

40ft HC: 12032mm (Length) x 2352mm (Width) x 2698mm (High)

Test Certificate Manufacturer Test Certificate

Laboratory Test Certificate from Govt. Approved Lab.

Under Third Party Inspection

We can also cut, thread, and groove Copper Tubes to meet your specifications

 

Copper Tubes Manufacturer in India

Copper Tubes Supplier in India

Features of Copper Pipes and Tube

  1. High strength
  2. Excellent finish
  3. Chemical resistance
  4. Thermal resistance
  5. Dimensional accuracy
  6. Leakproof and Durable
  7. High energy absorption.
  8. Good workability and weldability.
  9. Good sulfide stress corrosion resistance
  10. High resistance to pitting, crevice corrosion resistance
  11. High resistance to stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, and erosion
  12. Low thermal expansion and higher heat conductivity than authenticate steels

Dimensions and Physical Characteristics of Copper Tube: Type K

Nominal or standard size, inches Nominal dimensions, inches Calculated values (based on nominal dimensions)
Outside diameter Inside diameter Wall thickness The cross-sectional area of the bore, sq. inches Weight of tube only, pounds per linear ft. Weight of tube & water, pounds per linear ft. Volume of the tube, per linear ft.
Cu ft. Gal.
14 .375 .305 .035 .073 .145 .177 .00051 .00379
38 .500 .402 .049 .127 .269 .324 .00088 .00660
12 .625 .527 .049 .218 .344 .438 .00151 .0113
58 .750 .652 .049 .334 .418 .562 .00232 .0174
34 .875 .745 .065 .436 .641 .829 .00303 .0227
1 1.125 .995 .065 .778 .839 1.18 .00540 .0404
114 1.375 1.245 .065 1.22 1.04 1.57 .00847 .0634
112 1.625 1.481 .072 1.72 1.36 2.10 .0119 .0894
2 2.125 1.959 .083 3.01 2.06 3.36 .0209 .156
212 2.625 2.435 .095 4.66 2.93 4.94 .0324 .242
3 3.125 2.907 .109 6.64 4.00 6.87 .0461 .345
312 3.625 3.385 .120 9.00 5.12 9.01 .0625 .468
4 4.125 3.857 .134 11.7 6.51 11.6 .0813 .608
5 5.125 4.805 .160 18.1 9.67 17.5 .126 .940
6 6.125 5.741 .192 25.9 13.9 25.1 .180 1.35
8 8.125 7.583 .271 45.2 25.9 45.4 .314 2.35
10 10.125 9.449 .338 70.1 40.3 70.6 .487 3.64
12 12.125 11.315 .405 101 57.8 101 .701 5.25

Related Types of Copper Pipes / Tubes

Dimensions and Physical Characteristics of Copper Tube: ACR (Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Field Service)

Nominal or Standard Size, inches Nominal dimensions, inches Calculated values (based on nominal dimensions)
Outside diameter Inside diameter Wall thickness The cross-sectional area of the bore, sq. inches External surface, sq. ft. per linear ft. Internal surface, sq. ft. per linear ft. Weight of tube only, pounds per linear ft. Volume of the tube, cu. ft. per linear ft.
18 A .125 .065 .030 .00332 .0327 .0170 .0347 .00002
316 A .187 .128 .030 .0129 .0492 .0335 .0575 .00009
14 A .250 .190 .030 .0284 .0655 .0497 .0804 .00020
D .250 .200 .025 .0314 .0655 .0524 .0680 .00022
516 A .312 .248 .032 .0483 .0817 .0649 .109 .00034
38 A .375 .311 .032 .076 .0982 .0814 .134 .00053
D .375 .315 .030 .078 .0982 .0821 .126 .00054
12 A .500 .436 .032 .149 .131 .114 .182 .00103
D .500 .430 .035 .145 .131 .113 .198 .00101
58 A .625 .555 .035 .242 .164 .145 .251 .00168
D .625 .545 .040 .233 .164 .143 .285 .00162
34 A .750 .680 .035 .363 .196 .178 .305 .00252
D .750 .666 .042 .348 .196 .174 .362 .00242
78 A .875 .785 .045 .484 .229 .206 .455 .00336
D .875 .785 .045 .484 .229 .206 .455 .00336
118 A 1.125 1.025 .050 .825 .294 .268 .655 .00573
D 1.125 1.025 .050 .825 .294 .268 .655 .00573
138 A 1.375 1.265 .055 1.26 .360 .331 .884 .00875
D 1.375 1.265 .055 1.26 .360 .331 .884 .00875
158 A 1.625 1.505 .060 1.78 .425 .394 1.14 .0124
D 1.625 1.505 .060 1.78 .425 .394 1.14 .0124
218 D 2.125 1.985 .070 3.09 .556 .520 1.75 .0215
258 D 2.625 2.465 .080 4.77 .687 .645 2.48 .0331
318 D 3.125 2.945 .090 6.81 .818 .771 3.33 .0473
358 D 3.625 3.425 .100 9.21 .949 .897 4.29 .0640
418 D 4.125 3.905 .110 12.0 1.08 1.02 5.38 .0833
A = Annealed Temper, D = Drawn Temper

Calculated Rated Internal Working Pressures for Copper Tube: Type K

Nominal or standard size, in inches Annealed Drawn
S= 6,000 psi 100F S= 5,100 psi 150F S= 4,900 psi 200F S= 4,800 psi 250F S= 4,700 psi 300F S= 4,000 psi 350F S= 3,000 psi 400F S= 10,300 psi 100F S= 10,300 psi 150F S= 10,300 psi 200F S= 10,300 psi 250F S= 10,000 psi 300F S= 9,700 psi 350F S= 9,400 psi 400F
14 1074 913 877 860 842 716 537 1850 1850 1850 1850 1796 1742 1688
38 1130 960 923 904 885 753 565 1946 1946 1946 1946 1889 1833 1776
12 891 758 728 713 698 594 446 1534 1534 1534 1534 1490 1445 1400
58 736 626 601 589 577 491 368 1266 1266 1266 1266 1229 1193 1156
34 852 724 696 682 668 568 426 1466 1466 1466 1466 1424 1381 1338
1 655 557 535 524 513 437 327 1126 1126 1126 1126 1093 1061 1028
114 532 452 434 425 416 354 266 914 914 914 914 888 861 834
112 494 420 404 396 387 330 247 850 850 850 850 825 801 776
2 435 370 355 348 341 290 217 747 747 747 747 726 704 682
212 398 338 325 319 312 265 199 684 684 684 684 664 644 624
3 385 328 315 308 302 257 193 662 662 662 662 643 624 604
312 366 311 299 293 286 244 183 628 628 628 628 610 592 573
4 360 306 294 288 282 240 180 618 618 618 618 600 582 564
5 345 293 281 276 270 230 172 592 592 592 592 575 557 540
6 346 295 283 277 271 231 173 595 595 595 595 578 560 543
8 369 314 301 295 289 246 184 634 634 634 634 615 597 578
10 369 314 301 295 289 246 184 634 634 634 634 615 597 578
12 370 314 302 296 290 247 185 635 635 635 635 617 598 580