ASTM B338 Titanium Tube Inspection Checklist

A titanium tube can have the correct grade on a quotation and still create installation or acceptance problems if the purchaser does not control material identity, dimensions, surface condition, tube integrity, test records and traceability. For ASTM B338 heat-exchanger and condenser tubing, inspection requirements also depend on whether the product is welded, seamless or welded/cold worked. A good purchase order therefore defines both the governing standard and the project-specific inspection package before production begins.

ASTM B338 inspection requirements: construction route matters

ASTM B338 covers titanium and titanium-alloy tubing intended for surface condensers, evaporators and heat exchangers. The current ASTM listing is B338-17(2026). Its published abstract distinguishes testing by tube construction.

This overview does not replace the full purchased standard. The exact edition stated in the contract controls detailed acceptance criteria, sampling and supplementary requirements.

For specification planning before inspection, see ASTM B338 Titanium Tube RFQ Guide.

1. Verify titanium grade, standard and construction

Start with the purchase-order identity rather than surface appearance. Confirm the material grade, UNS designation where applicable, ASTM B338 or ASME SB-338 basis, purchased edition, seamless/welded/welded-cold-worked construction, heat or lot number and PO line item.

2. Review the MTC / MTR before release

The material certificate should be checked against the purchase order, not merely collected as a PDF. Typical review points include grade, standard, heat or lot identity, chemistry, mechanical properties, ordered condition and any agreed test references.

3. Dimensional inspection: OD, wall thickness and finished length

Heat exchanger tubes are assembly components. Dimensional errors can affect tube-sheet fit-up, rolling, welding, bundle installation and final tube count. The inspection plan should identify OD, wall thickness, finished length, applicable tolerances, ovality if controlled, straightness where project-specific and tube-end condition.

4. Wall-thickness inspection for thin-wall tubes

Many condenser and exchanger projects use thin-wall titanium tubing. As wall thickness decreases, measurement method and tolerance control become more important. If minimum wall at any point is critical, write that requirement clearly rather than relying on nominal wall alone.

5. Visual inspection: define what acceptable means

A useful visual inspection checks for cracks, folds, dents, deep scratches, handling damage, tube-end damage, oxidation, contamination, dirt, oil, marking legibility and packing damage. Acceptance should follow the standard and project specification, not subjective descriptions such as “premium surface.”

6. Eddy current / electromagnetic testing

The current ASTM B338 abstract states that welded tubing is tested using a nondestructive electromagnetic method in addition to ultrasonic testing. For seamless tubing, the abstract lists an electromagnetic or hydrostatic or pneumatic route in addition to ultrasonic testing.

Before placing the order, define the applicable test method, reference standard, coverage, calibration/reference standard, acceptance criteria, report requirement and any TPI witness point.

7. Ultrasonic testing

The current ASTM B338 abstract identifies ultrasonic testing for welded tubing and for seamless and welded/cold-worked tubing. Avoid writing only “100% UT” without an acceptance basis. The PO or ITP should identify the applicable method, coverage, calibration basis and reporting requirement.

8. Hydrostatic or pneumatic testing

Pressure or leak testing verifies a different aspect of tube integrity from UT or electromagnetic inspection. The current ASTM B338 abstract states that welded tubing is tested with a hydrostatic or pneumatic method, while seamless tubing includes electromagnetic or hydrostatic or pneumatic routes in addition to the applicable UT requirement.

Confirm the selected method, pressure basis, hold requirement if applicable, acceptance criterion, recording requirement and cleaning/drying requirement after hydrostatic testing.

Do not use “1.5× design pressure” as a universal titanium tube requirement unless the governing standard, code or purchaser specification actually calls for it.

9. Flattening and reverse-flattening tests

ASTM B338 includes forming-related mechanical tests. The current ASTM abstract notes flattening requirements for tubing and a reverse-flattening test for welded tube. Buyers should verify that required test results are represented in the manufacturing and certification package according to the purchased standard.

10. Surface condition and cleanliness

For heat exchanger applications, surface condition can affect expansion, welding, cleaning and incoming inspection. State requirements for pickled or cleaned surface, internal cleanliness, degreasing, roughness if project-specific, tube-end protection and protection from carbon-steel contamination.

11. PMI: useful, but not a substitute for certification

PMI can be useful for multi-alloy projects, first orders or critical applications. If required, define the sampling scope, instrument/method where controlled, identification criteria, report format and TPI involvement. For commercially pure titanium grades, understand the limitations of the selected PMI technology before using it as the sole grade-verification method.

12. Heat-number and lot traceability

If this chain breaks, a buyer may have technically good tubes but insufficient evidence to release them into an EPC or regulated project.

13. When should buyers use third-party inspection?

TPI is not necessary for every order. It becomes more useful for first orders with a new supplier, large condenser quantities, EPC or owner-mandated projects, fixed-length tubes, critical NDT witness points, complex documentation packages or pre-shipment packing release.

14. Build the ITP before production

15. Pre-shipment packing inspection

Long thin-wall titanium tubes can pass production inspection and still be damaged during export handling. Before shipment, verify tube count, bundle identification, heat/lot marking, end protection, cleanliness, crate or bundle condition, waterproofing if specified, lifting arrangement, packing-list consistency and shipping marks.

16. Final document package

Depending on the PO, buyers may require the commercial invoice, packing list, MTC/MTR, chemistry and mechanical results, NDT reports, pressure-test report, dimensional report, final inspection record, PMI report if ordered, TPI release note and project-specific shipping documents.

ASTM B338 pre-shipment inspection checklist

Example RFQ inspection wording

Common inspection mistakes

• requesting “100% inspection” without identifying the methods;
• using different ASTM editions in the PO and ITP;
• forgetting to state seamless or welded construction;
• accepting an MTC without checking heat-number traceability;
• adding hold points after production is complete;
• copying arbitrary ECT or UT limits from another supplier;
• checking OD and length but not wall thickness;
• ignoring tube-end and packing damage;
• treating PMI as a replacement for material certification;
• not defining the document package before shipment.

Related titanium tube procurement guides

Titanium Tube Supplier & Product Hub →

• Titanium Heat Exchanger Tube
• Titanium Heat Exchanger Tubes Buyer Guide
• ASTM B338 Titanium Tube RFQ Guide
• How to Specify a Titanium Tube RFQ
• Titanium Tube Supplier Selection Guide
• Titanium Seamless vs Welded Tube
• Grade 2 Titanium Tube for Heat Exchangers

Frequently asked questions

Reference source

Primary standard reference: ASTM B338-17(2026) — Standard Specification for Seamless and Welded Titanium and Titanium Alloy Tubes for Condensers and Heat Exchangers. The full purchased standard and project documents remain controlling for inspection and acceptance.