BS EN 13600:2021

What is BS EN 13600 about?  

BS EN 13600 specifies the composition, property requirements including electrical properties, and tolerances on dimensions and form for seamless drawn copper tubes. These copper tubes are intended to be used for electrical purposes delivered in straight lengths or level wound coils. 

BS EN 13600 provides the following cross-sections and size ranges: 

• For round tubes in straight lengths with outside diameters from 3 mm up to and including 450 mm and wall thicknesses from 0.3 mm up to and including 10 mm 
• For round tubes in level wound coils with outside diameters from 3 mm up to and including 30 mm and wall thicknesses from 0.3 mm up to and including 10 mm 
• For square and rectangular tubes with major outside dimensions from 5 mm up to and including 150 mm and wall thicknesses from 0.5 mm up to and including 10 mm. 

The sampling procedures and test methods for verification of conformity to the requirements of BS EN 13600 are also specified. 

Who is BS EN 13600 for?  

BS EN 13600 on seamless copper tubes for electrical purposes is relevant to: 

• Seamless copper tube manufacturers 
• Manufacturer of electrical applications such as heating and cooling systems 
• Electrical engineers 
• Product designers 

Why should you use BS EN 13600?  

Seamless copper tubes are used in a wide range of electrical applications given its advantage of high conductivity. 

BS EN 13600 provide information on material, mechanical and electrical properties, freedom from hydrogen embrittlement, dimensions and tolerances, the surface condition required to manufacture seamless copper tubes. 

Reference standards for tests such as tensile tests, hardness tests, electrical resistivity tests, hydrogen embrittlement tests provided in BS EN 13600 that will helps you to detect defects in products and verify that the product meets the functional, performance, design, and implementation requirements. 

Complying with BS EN 13600 helps you establish an efficient electrical system as per the specific need of the application, ensuring the end-product is safe, reliable and which offers long service-life. Standardising the process will further improve the credibility of your business.  

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN 13600:2021 supersedes BS EN 13600:2013, which is withdrawn. In comparison with EN 13600:2013, the following changes were made: 

• Modification of tolerances on wall thicknesses 
• Update of normative references