Steel Pipe Packaging Requirements: Bundling and Protection

General Requirements for Steel Pipe Packaging

Steel pipe packaging requirements cover protection against damage, bundling and packing methods, packaging and protective materials, and thread and pipe end protection. The sections below apply to seamless pipe(SMLS pipe) and welded steel pipes.

Packaging should prevent seamless and welded steel pipes from loosening, deformation and damage during normal handling, transportation and storage. If the buyer has special requirements for packaging materials and methods, they should be stated in the contract. If the contract does not specify them, the supplier selects the packaging materials and methods.

Steel Pipe Packaging Materials

Packaging materials should comply with relevant standards. Materials not covered by the standard should be of a quality suitable for the intended use. Their design and use should consider reuse and recycling, and they may change with technological and economic developments. The main material groups are:

• Bundling materials: steel belts, steel wires, wire rods or non-metallic flexible materials.
• Protective materials between pipes and binding materials: at the buyer’s request, wood, metal, fiberboard, plastic or other suitable materials can be placed between pipes, and between pipes and binding materials, to prevent damage.
• Surface protection: if the buyer has requirements for cleaning the surface of the steel pipe, protective packaging materials can be used, commonly kraft paper, vapor phase anti-rust paper, greaseproof paper, plastic film, sackcloth, plastic sheeting and plastic sealing caps.
• Protective coating: at the buyer’s request, the pipe surface can be coated with an anti-corrosion pipe coating. Where needed, the coating method, coating thickness and ease of removal should be considered. If the contract does not specify the coating, the supplier selects the material.

Steel Pipe Bundling and Packaging Requirements

Bulk or bundled delivery. Steel pipes with an outer diameter greater than 159 mm, or special-shaped steel pipes with a cross-sectional circumference greater than 500 mm, can be delivered in bulk. Other steel pipes are recommended to be delivered in bundles, tightly bundled with binding materials.

Grouping. Each bundle should contain steel pipes of the same batch number, except where the product standard approves otherwise. Pipes delivered in fixed length or multiple lengths should be bundled separately from pipes delivered in non-fixed length or multiple lengths. Short-length pipes should be bundled individually.

Bundle forms and bundling lanes. Bundled packaging can be general, rectangular, frame or hexagonal. The bundling lanes should be 300 mm to 500 mm from both ends of the pipe and evenly distributed. Other bundled forms can be used after negotiation between supplier and buyer.

Bundle weight. The weight of each bundle of polished steel pipes, precision steel pipes and cold-drawn (rolled) stainless steel pipes should not exceed 2500 kg. The weight of each bundle of other steel pipes should not exceed 5000 kg. By agreement between supplier and buyer and stated in the contract, other bundle weight regulations may be adopted.

Number of bundling lanes and length difference. The minimum number of bundling lanes depends on the length of the steel pipes in the bundle:

Length difference of steel pipes in each bundle	Minimum number of bundling lanes	Length difference of steel pipes in each bundle
≤3	2
>3–4.5	3
>4.5–7	4	≤1.0
>7–10	5
>10	6	≤1.5

One end of each bundle should be flush. The difference between the longest and shortest pipe at the other end should comply with the table. When bundling with steel wire, each lane should be twisted into at least 2 strands, and the number of strands per lane should increase with the outer diameter of the pipe and the weight of the bundle.

Polished and precision steel pipes. Before bundling, coat the inner and outer surfaces with anti-rust oil or another anti-rust agent. Then wrap the pipes in moisture-proof paper and sackcloth (or woven tape, plastic cloth), in that order.

Container Packaging and Load Securing

Container packaging here means sturdy packing boxes such as iron boxes and wooden boxes. After negotiation between supplier and buyer and as stated in the contract, the following can be packed this way:

• cold-drawn or cold-rolled seamless steel pipes with a wall thickness not greater than 1.5 mm;
• electric welded steel pipes with a wall thickness not greater than 1 mm;
• surface-polished hot-rolled stainless steel pipes;
• precision steel pipes with surface roughness Ra not greater than 3.2 μm.

For packaging details specific to seamless pipes, see our guide to seamless steel pipe packaging requirements.

When loading pipes into containers:

• The weight of pipes per container should comply with the standards, and it can be increased by negotiation between supplier and buyer.
• The inner wall of the container should be lined with plastic sheeting or other moisture-proof material.
• Pipes should not be loose inside the container, to prevent surface damage from collision and friction during hoisting and transportation. Bundling, brackets or similar means can be used to fix them.
• The outside of the container should be firmly tied with steel belts, double-stranded steel wires or other methods.
• Pipe joints shipped separately should be packed in containers, and each container should not exceed 250 kg.

Packaging Considerations for Stainless Steel Pipes

Stainless steel pipes follow the bundling and container requirements above. The points below are specific to their surface and wall thickness:

• Polished surfaces should be wrapped or separated individually, in addition to the requirements for polished and precision steel pipes above.
• Thin-wall and large-diameter pipes may deform during transportation, loading and unloading. Supports or container packing should be considered according to size, wall thickness and transportation conditions.
• For other stainless steel pipes, the packaging method depends on pipe type, final process, size, transportation method and customer requirements.

For more detail, see our guide to packaging and transportation precautions for 304 stainless steel pipes.

Thread and Pipe End Protection

Steel pipe end protection depends on the pipe end form, product requirements and contract terms.

• Steel pipes with threaded ends should be fitted with thread protectors. Threaded welded steel pipes for low-pressure fluid transportation with a nominal diameter below 65 mm do not need them.
• If the buyer requires it and states it in the contract, threaded pipes can be delivered with a pipe joint screwed onto one end.
• The threads and machined surfaces of threaded pipes and their joints should be coated with thread grease, anti-rust oil or another anti-rust agent.
• At the buyer’s request, pipe end protectors can be added to both ends of pipes with beveled ends.

Related article: 

How are Steel Pipes Packed for Export?