Engineering task and calculation objective
This module delivers the dimensions and mass per unit length of seamless steel pipes to DIN EN 10220. The standard specifies the standardized combinations of outside diameter and wall thickness in three dimension series and defines the calculation of the pipe mass per metre. Starting from material, delivery standard, series, outside diameter, and actual wall thickness, the module determines the inside diameter, the mass per unit length, and — with the pipe length — the total mass.
In practice, these values are needed constantly: for parts lists and weight calculations in piping engineering, for material procurement to delivery standards such as DIN EN 10216 (seamless pipes for pressure purposes), for pipe support and transport calculations, and as geometric input for wall thickness and pressure drop calculations. The mass per metre is calculated with the standardized density of 7.85 kg/dm³ for unalloyed and low-alloy steels; for other materials such as stainless steels, the density can be adjusted.
Anyone who wants to calculate the pipe weight to DIN EN 10220 or quickly determine the inside diameter of a diameter-wall thickness combination avoids looking things up with this table module and eliminates transcription errors from the extensive dimension tables.
Standard and calculation basis: DIN EN 10220:2003-03
Calculation workflow
- Select material and delivery standard: First, the material and the associated delivery standard (specification) are defined; from these follows the density to be applied for the mass calculation.
- Select dimension series and size: From series 1 to 3 of DIN EN 10220, the outside diameter and actual wall thickness are chosen; series 1 contains the preferred dimensions of European piping engineering.
- Calculate the inside diameter: From the outside diameter and wall thickness, the inside diameter follows as the difference between the outside diameter and twice the wall thickness — the basis for the flow cross-section and further calculations.
- Determine the mass per unit length: The mass per metre is calculated with the standard formula from outside diameter, wall thickness, and density; with the pipe length, the total mass follows for parts lists, transport, and erection.
Input quantities
| Quantity | Symbol | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Material | - | - |
| Specification number | - | - |
| Row | Reihe | - |
| Pipe EN 10220 | - * | mm |
| Inside diameter | di | mm |
| Pipe EN 10220 | s | mm |
| Pipe length | l | m |
| Length scaled mass | m | kg/m |
| Total mass | M | kg |
| Density | ρ | kg/dm³ |
| smin | Smin ≤ ≤ = Smax | mm |
| smax | Smin ≤ ≤ = Smax | mm |
| Rohrauswahl | Rohrauswahl | – |
Worked example
For a seamless pipe 168.3 × 4.5 mm made of P235GH (delivery standard DIN EN 10216-2), the inside diameter, the mass per unit length, and the total mass of a 6 m pipe length are to be determined — a worked example of a pipe weight calculation to DIN EN 10220.
Given values
| Outside diameter D | 168.3 mm |
| Wall thickness T | 4.5 mm |
| Density ρ | 7.85 kg/dm³ |
| Pipe length L | 6 m |
Solution
Inside diameter
di = D − 2 · T = 168.3 mm − 2 · 4.5 mm = 159.3 mm
Mass per unit length to DIN EN 10220
For steel with ρ = 7.85 kg/dm³, the standard gives the formula:
M = 0.0246615 · (D − T) · T = 0.0246615 · (168.3 − 4.5) · 4.5
M = 0.0246615 · 163.8 · 4.5 ≈ 18.18 kg/m
Check via the cross-sectional area: A = π/4 · (168.3² − 159.3²) mm² ≈ 2,316 mm²; with ρ = 7,850 kg/m³ this likewise yields 18.18 kg/m.
Total mass
mges = M · L = 18.18 kg/m · 6 m ≈ 109.1 kg
Result
| Inside diameter di | 159.3 mm |
| Mass per unit length M | 18.18 kg/m |
| Total mass (6 m) | ≈ 109.1 kg |
All values are illustrative. The applicable standard and project-specific boundary conditions remain authoritative.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DIN EN 10220 and delivery standards such as DIN EN 10216?
DIN EN 10220 is a pure dimensional standard: it specifies outside diameters, wall thicknesses, and the mass calculation. The technical delivery conditions — materials, mechanical properties, testing — are covered by the delivery standards, for example DIN EN 10216 for seamless pipes for pressure purposes. An order always combines the delivery standard, the material, and the dimensions to EN 10220.
Why does the weighed pipe weight deviate from the table value?
The mass per metre is a nominal value, calculated with nominal dimensions and the standardized density of 7.85 kg/dm³. Real pipes have wall thickness and diameter tolerances per the delivery standard, so the actual weight varies within the tolerance bands. For invoicing and design purposes, the calculated nominal value applies.
Does the mass formula also apply to stainless steels?
The geometric formula yes, the standardized density no: 7.85 kg/dm³ applies to unalloyed and low-alloy steels. Austenitic stainless steels have around 7.9 to 8.0 kg/dm³; the mass per metre must then be calculated with the material-specific density, which the module accounts for via the density input.
What is the meaning of series 1 to 3?
The series rank the outside diameters by frequency of use: series 1 contains the preferred diameters, which correspond to the common nominal sizes of piping engineering and are most readily available; series 2 and 3 add less frequently used dimensions. New designs should stay within series 1 wherever possible.