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Boiler Retubing: What to Send for a Tube Replacement Quote

A Purchaser's Checklist for Boiler Retubing Enquiries

When a boiler is retubed, the tube order is usually on the critical path of a planned outage. Incomplete enquiries lead to wrong-spec quotes, re-quotes and late deliveries. This checklist lists the information Dinesh Tube India needs to quote boiler tubes for a retubing job accurately and quickly: which tube specification, which sizes, how many, which documents and by when.


Table of Contents


Who This Checklist Is For

This page is for maintenance engineers, purchase teams and repair contractors collecting information for a tube supply quote. It is not boiler design or repair advice. The tube specification, wall thickness and any change of material must come from the boiler maker's drawings, the plant's engineers and the applicable boiler code and inspection authority. We quote and supply tubes to the specification you give us.

1. Boiler and Duty Data

  •   Boiler type and maker: for example water-tube, fire-tube, waste-heat or HRSG; boiler maker and year.
  •   Design code: IBR (India), ASME Section I, EN 12952 or other. This decides the certificates and inspection we need to provide.
  •   Section being retubed: water-wall, generating bank, economiser, superheater or reheater.
  •   Design pressure and temperature: for that section, so we can check the specification you send is consistent.

2. Tube Specification and Grade

Send the specification and grade exactly as shown on the original drawing, data sheet or mill certificate. Common boiler-tube specifications include:

SpecificationProductTypical boiler section
ASTM A192 / ASME SA192Seamless carbon steelWater-walls, generating banks, economisers
ASME SA210 Grade A1 / CSeamless medium-carbon steelWater-walls, economisers, low-temperature superheaters
ASME SA178 Grade A / CERW carbon steelLower-pressure boilers and economisers
ASME SA213 T11 / T22 / T91Seamless alloy steelSuperheaters and reheaters

Important: replacement tubes should match the original specification and grade. A substitute (for example SA210 A1 in place of SA192) should only be quoted when the boiler designer or inspecting authority has approved it. Tell us if an approved alternative exists.

3. Dimensions, Lengths and Bends

  •   Outside diameter (OD): in mm or inches, exactly as on the drawing.
  •   Wall thickness: minimum or average? Boiler tubes to SA192, SA210 and SA213 are normally ordered by minimum wall. A 3.2 mm minimum-wall tube is thicker on average than a 3.2 mm average-wall tube, so state which one applies.
  •   Lengths: exact cut lengths, or random lengths with an allowance for cutting on site.
  •   Bends and U-bends: send a bend drawing with radii, angles and tangent lengths if bent tubes are needed.
  •   Ends: plain, bevelled (state angle), swaged or prepared for expansion into the drum or header.

4. Quantities and Spares

  •   Number of tubes per circuit or panel, and number of circuits being replaced.
  •   Total quantity in pieces and metres for each size.
  •   Spares for cutting loss, rejected welds or tubes found damaged during the outage (many plants order an extra 5–10%).

5. Documents, Certification and Inspection

  •   Mill certificate: EN 10204 3.1 as standard, or 3.2 with third-party witnessing.
  •   Code certification: certification required by the boiler code or inspecting authority (for example IBR documentation for boilers registered in India).
  •   Inspection: name of the third-party agency, if any, and stages to be witnessed.
  •   Extra tests: any testing beyond the specification, such as additional NDT, hardness or PMI.

6. Delivery and Outage Planning

  •   Required-on-site date and the outage start date.
  •   Delivery address and unloading constraints at site.
  •   Packing: bundles, end caps, export or sea-worthy packing.
  •   Part-shipments: whether priority sizes should be shipped first.

Printable Boiler Retubing Enquiry Checklist

Print this checklist and fill it in, or copy the items into your enquiry email.

AreaInformation to sendYour details
BoilerBoiler type, maker, year, design code (IBR / ASME Section I / other)
BoilerDesign pressure and temperature of the affected section
BoilerSection / zone: water-wall, generating bank, economiser, superheater, reheater
TubeSpecification and grade from the original drawing or certificate
TubeSeamless or ERW; any approved substitute grade (with designer approval)
SizeOutside diameter (mm / inch)
SizeWall thickness, stating minimum wall or average wall
SizeStraight lengths, or bend drawing (radii, angles, U-bends)
EndsPlain, bevelled, swaged or expanded ends; end preparation detail
QuantityNumber of tubes per circuit / panel, total metres, spares
DocumentsEN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 certificate; IBR or other code certification if required
InspectionThird-party inspection agency; hydro / NDT / extra tests
DeliveryRequired-on-site date, outage window, delivery address
PackingBundling, end caps, export packing, part-shipments
ContactName, company, phone, email; drawings and photos attached

Ready to send your enquiry? Email the completed checklist, drawings and photos to kamlesh@dineshtube-india.com or call +91 83559 10913. You can also send an enquiry.

Boiler Retubing Enquiry: FAQs

What information is needed to quote boiler tubes for retubing?

The tube specification and grade, outside diameter, wall thickness (stating minimum or average wall), lengths or bend drawing, end preparation, quantity per circuit plus spares, required certificates and inspection, and the date the tubes must be on site.

Should I order boiler tubes by minimum wall or average wall?

Boiler tubes to ASME SA192, SA210 and SA213 are normally ordered by minimum wall thickness. Always state which basis your drawing uses, because a minimum-wall tube is thicker on average than an average-wall tube of the same nominal size.

Can SA210 tubes replace SA192 tubes?

Only if the boiler designer or inspecting authority approves the substitution. SA210 A1 has higher strength than SA192, but replacement tubes should normally match the original specification shown on the boiler drawings.

Do you supply boiler tubes with IBR or third-party inspection?

Tubes can be supplied with EN 10204 3.1 certificates as standard, and with 3.2 certificates, code documentation required by the boiler's inspecting authority, or third-party inspection on request. State these requirements in your enquiry.

How early should I send a boiler retubing enquiry?

As early as possible before the planned outage, ideally as soon as the scope is known. Common sizes may be available from stock, but special grades, long lengths, bends and third-party inspection add lead time.

Does Dinesh Tube India provide boiler retubing design or installation?

No. We supply boiler tubes to the specification you provide. Tube selection, repair design and installation are the responsibility of the boiler maker, plant engineers and repair contractor under the applicable boiler code.