Metal Tube and Pipe Industry

Common Abbreviations/Terms

Below are few common abbreviations in the pipe and tube community.

  • AKDQ – Aluminum Killed Drawing Quality
  • ANN – Annealed
  • CDS – Cold Drawn Seamless
  • CREW – Cold Rolled Electric Weld
  • DOM – Drawn Over Mandrel
  • HFS – Hot Finish Seamless
  • HREW – Hot Rolled Electric Weld
  • HRS – Hot Rolled Seamless
  • HSS – Hollow Structural Steel
  • P&O – Pickled and Oiled
  • Q&T – Quenched and Tempered
  • SMLS – Seamless
  • SRA – Stress Relieved Annealed
  • STLS – Stainless
  • SS – Stainless Steel
  • WLD – Welded

AKDQ – Aluminum Killed Drawing Quality – this steel tube is deoxidized with aluminum before it is solidified resulting in increased ductility and performance consistency. Killed steel is frequently used in oil and gas pipelines, underground pipelines, and heat exchangers.

ANN – Annealed – Annealed steel has undergone a heat-treating process to reduce hardness creating a product that is easier to form, bend, and machine.

CDS – Cold Drawn Seamless – this tubing is HRS/HFS that is further processed by cooling at room temperature leading to uniform tolerances, better machinability, and enhanced strength and hardness. CDS is an excellent choice when tight dimensions and high surface quality are important. Boyer Steel’s CDS meets the ASTM A519 specification.

CREW – Cold Rolled Electric Weld – to form this tube, strips of steel are cut from coil and put through a series of rolls at room temperature before the edges are joined together with pressure and an electric resistance welder. This cooler rolling process makes CREW stronger, smoother, and more uniform than HREW. Our CREQ tubing meets the ASTM A513 Type 2 specification.

DOM – Drawn Over Mandrel – in this tube process, electrically-welded tubing is put through dies and over mandrels.  While this tubing is not seamless, the flash weld is removed leaving an almost invisible seam. DOM is available in a wide range of sizes with tight dimensional tolerances. This high-strength and cost-effective tubing is great for many applications, and is especially popular for mechanical and machining work. The DOM tubing offered by Boyer Steel meets the ASTM A513 Type 5 specification.

HREW – Hot Rolled Electric Weld – this is our most inexpensive tube option. Strips of steel cut from coil is put through a series of rolls at a high temperature to form a tube. The edges are joined together with pressure and an electric resistance welder. HREW more malleable, but not as strong or as uniform as cold-rolled. Our HREW tubing meets the ASTM A513 Type 1 specification.

HRS – Hot Rolled Seamless / HFS – Hot Finish Seamless – this seamless mechanical tube is formed when solid bar is heated and then pierced to produce a hollow. This tube is often used in projects where surface quality and precise dimensions are less important, but because it is cost-effective and easily machinable it can be made to meet many requirements. Boyer Steel’s HRS/HFS meets the ASTM A519 specification.

HSS – Hollow Structural Steel – this is manufactured hollow steel. ASTM A500 is the most common specification for HSS which is especially popular in the building industry. 

P&O – Pickled & Oiled – this is a treatment in which steel tube is immersed in hydrochloric acid to remove rust, carbon scale, and corrosion damage from the surface of the tube. The tube is then submerged in oil to prevent rust. 

Q & T – Quenched & Tempered – this steel is heated and then cooled quickly in a precise process which hardens the steel while making it more ductile and less brittle.  

SMLS – Seamless – this tube and pipe is formed when a cylindrical piece of steel is pierced with a mandrel and then rolled and stressed to the desired dimensions.  Seamless tube is stronger than welded, but the wall thickness can be less precise. Seamless tube and pipe is often required for oil & gas, power generation, and pharmaceutical applications.

SRA – Stress Relieved Annealed – this heat-treating process relieves stresses in tube caused by hot rolling, shearing, gas cutting, or welding. When steel is stress relieved the metal’s chemical and mechanical properties do not change. 

STLS – Stainless / SS – Stainless Steel – this steel is made of at least 10.5% to 11% chromium content with no more than 1.2% carbon with a smooth surface. While stainless steel is not completely stain proof, it is less pone to corrosion, rust, or stain than other steel. Stainless steel also has excellent heat and fire resistance, is recyclable, and is popular for its clean and easy to maintain appearance.

WLD – Welded – this tube and pipe is formed by putting flat sheets of steel through a rolling machine forming a cylinder. The edges of the sheet are melted and fused together. Although welded pipe is often considered weaker than seamless, welded pipe is more widely available, less costly, and performs very well in many applications.