ASTM F1387: Performance Standard for Mechanically Attached Tube Fittings
> In one line: ASTM F1387 is the ASTM International Standard Specification for Performance of Piping and Tubing Mechanically Attached Fittings, it defines the performance tests a tube or pipe fitting joined without welding, brazing, or threading must pass to be qualified. Crestflo's compression tube fittings are tested per ASTM F1387, in stainless, high-nickel alloy and titanium, single or double ferrule, up to 2" (50 mm) OD, the objective, performance-based basis for drop-in interchange, delivered in 6–8 weeks.
Scope note: ASTM F1387 applies to mechanically attached tube fittings, compression/flareless, flared and bite-type, not to welded, brazed or threaded pipe joints, and not to electrical wire ferrules. It qualifies fitting performance, not tube manufacture (ASTM A269 / A213) or pipe (ASTM A312). Instrumentation valves qualify to their own standards, ASME B16.34 / API, not to F1387.
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Also known as: ASTM F1387 designations & related terms
Engineers and specifications write this standard many ways. Every designation below points to the same performance spec for mechanically attached fittings.
| Category | Terms covered |
|---|---|
| Primary designation | ASTM F1387, F1387, ASTM F 1387 (spaced form), ASTM-F1387 |
| Edition call-outs | ASTM F1387-23, F1387-23, ASTM F1387-19, F1387-99 (historical) |
| Full title | "Standard Specification for Performance of Piping and Tubing Mechanically Attached Fittings" |
| Synonyms | mechanically attached fittings standard, MAF standard, tube fitting performance standard, tube fitting qualification standard, gaugeable tube fitting standard, flareless fitting performance standard, compression fitting standard, flared fitting standard |
| Origin phrasings | Navy tube fitting standard, shipboard tube fitting standard, naval mechanically attached fitting standard, MIL-spec tube fitting standard |
| Common phrasings | F1387 standard, F1387 specification, F1387 scope, F1387 requirements, F1387 test, ASTM F1387 compliant fittings, ASTM F1387 tested fittings |
Standard at a glance: ASTM F1387 attributes
| Attribute | Value (standard published reference) |
|---|---|
| Designation | ASTM F1387 (also written ASTM F 1387, F1387) |
| Full title | "Standard Specification for Performance of Piping and Tubing Mechanically Attached Fittings" |
| Issuing body | ASTM International |
| Standard class | Performance / qualification specification, not a dimensional or chemical material spec |
| Current edition | ASTM F1387-23 is the current published edition (earlier editions include F1387-19 and the historical F1387-99); cite the edition your project specification requires |
| What it covers (scope) | Performance qualification of mechanically attached fittings (MAFs) used to join piping and tubing without welding, brazing or threading |
| Connection families | Compression / flareless, flared, bite-type and other mechanically attached designs |
| Classification basis | By attachment method, permanent versus detachable (reusable) fittings, per the current edition |
| Qualification tests | Proof (hydrostatic + pneumatic), hydrostatic burst, impulse, flexure fatigue, rotary flex, vibration, thermal cycling and tensile/pull-out, grouped as proof, endurance and structural tests |
| Origin / domain | Naval / shipboard piping practice for mechanically attached fittings qualified without welding or brazing |
| Related standards | Tube: A269 / A213 · Pipe: A312 · Forged fittings: A182 · Valves: ASME B16.34 / API · Sour service: NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 · Traceability: EN 10204 |
The standard keeps its exact numeric acceptance criteria (pressures, cycle counts) and detailed classification definitions under copyright, tied to the current edition. This page just summarizes scope, test families, and qualification logic; it doesn't reproduce the document itself. Values follow the applicable standard and can be customized to requirement.
What is ASTM F1387?
ASTM F1387 is the ASTM International standard specification titled "Standard Specification for Performance of Piping and Tubing Mechanically Attached Fittings." ASTM International publishes it. The standard lays out the battery of performance tests a mechanically attached fitting (MAF) must pass before it can be considered qualified for pressurized tube and pipe service.
A "mechanically attached fitting" seals and grips the tube by mechanical action alone: a compression ferrule, a flare, or a bite ring. No welding. No brazing. No threading the joint. F1387 doesn't dictate the fitting's dimensions or the tube's chemistry. It's a performance standard. That means it spells out how the fitting gets tested and what it has to survive, and leaves the design open as long as it passes.
The naval and shipboard piping world is where this standard got its start. Mechanically attached fittings let crews assemble and maintain systems without hot work, and that practice carried forward. Today, F1387 serves as the recognized, third-party-defined benchmark for whether a tube fitting truly holds up under pressure, vibration and thermal cycling without leaking. That's precisely why credible interchange claims rest on it.
Who publishes ASTM F1387, and is it current?
ASTM International publishes and maintains F1387. ASTM revises and re-approves its standards on a periodic cycle. ASTM F1387-23 is the current published edition, with F1387-19 and the historical F1387-99 standing as prior editions. Cite whichever edition your specification calls for, because contract references vary.
Where can I get the ASTM F1387 PDF?
ASTM International owns the copyright on the full standard and sells it through its official webstore. This page summarizes F1387's scope, test regime and qualification logic for engineering reference, but it doesn't reproduce or distribute the copyrighted document itself. If you're doing compliance work, buy the current official edition. Don't rely on unofficial "free download" copies; they may be outdated.
ASTM F1387 scope: what it governs and what it does not
F1387 governs the fitting's performance and stays out of the neighboring specifications on purpose.
- In scope, the mechanically attached fitting itself: how it grips, seals and survives pressure, cyclic loading, vibration and thermal excursion. Applies to compression/flareless, flared and bite-type designs.
- Not in scope, the tube's manufacture and chemistry (governed by ASTM A269 / A213), stainless pipe (ASTM A312), forged pipe fittings (ASTM A182), and any welded, brazed or threaded joint. Electrical wire ferrules are unrelated.
Two fittings can share the same dimensions and material and still behave differently once impulse or vibration enters the picture, that's the disambiguation that matters. F1387 is what separates a fitting that looks right from one that's proven. It gives a specifier something solid to stand on when accepting an equivalent.
ASTM F1387 fitting classification: mechanically attached types
Crestflo builds fittings that fall squarely within the families F1387 defines. The standard covers mechanically attached fittings and sorts them by how they connect to the tube, mainly whether the joint is permanent or detachable and reusable.
| Fitting family | How it attaches | Typical attachment | Crestflo form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression / flareless (ferrule) | Ferrule(s) grip and seal on the tube OD as the nut is pulled up | Detachable / reusable | Compression tube fittings (single & double ferrule) |
| Flared | Tube end is flared to a cone and clamped between fitting and nut | Detachable / reusable | 37° flare fittings |
| Bite-type | A hardened cutting ring bites into the tube OD under compression | Detachable / reusable | DIN 2353 bite-type fittings |
| Permanently attached designs | Radially or axially forged/swaged onto the tube, or a shape-memory-alloy (SMA) design, for a permanent joint | Permanent | Made-to-order on request |
The classification designations and their per-type acceptance requirements come straight from the current edition of the standard. Check the specific type designation against that edition before relying on it. Values follow the applicable standard and can be adjusted as needed.
The ASTM F1387 qualification test regime
Crestflo runs a testing program that lines up with F1387's test regime, the sequence at the core of the standard. It puts a fitting through pressure, cyclic loading and environmental stress. Three families of tests make up that regime. Proof testing asks whether the fitting holds rated pressure. Endurance testing checks whether it survives repeated cycles. And structural testing pushes it toward ultimate load to see what it can resist.
| Test | Group | What it proves | Crestflo capability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrostatic proof | Proof | Holds rated pressure without leak or permanent deformation | In-house hydraulic proof test |
| Pneumatic (gas) test | Proof | Seals against gas, which finds leaks liquids mask | In-house pneumatic test |
| Hydrostatic burst | Structural | Ultimate pressure margin above rating | In-house hydraulic burst test |
| Impulse (pressure cycling) | Endurance | Survives repeated pressure spikes without fatigue failure | In-house hydraulic impulse test |
| Flexure fatigue | Endurance | Withstands bending cycles at the connection | In-house flexure fatigue test |
| Rotary flex | Endurance | Resists rotating-bending fatigue | In-house rotary flex test |
| Vibration | Endurance | Stays sealed under sustained vibration | In-house vibration test |
| Thermal cycling | Endurance | Holds seal through temperature excursions | In-house thermal cycling test |
| Tensile / pull-out | Structural | Grip strength, the tube does not pull out under axial load | In-house pull-out test |
Beyond this regime, Crestflo adds PMI (positive material identification) and in-house NDT. Destructive testing goes out to labs accredited under ISO/IEC 17025, and third-party inspection is available on request. See testing & inspection for the full program.
Naval and project specifications that cite F1387 sometimes bring in a fire test (fire-endurance) requirement on top of the mechanical regime. Where your spec calls one out, check the acceptance criteria against that document and the current edition of the standard.
Numeric acceptance values, pressures and cycle counts, come from the current edition of the standard and the applicable rating; they aren't reproduced here. Values follow the applicable standard and can be adjusted to requirement.
ASTM F1387 revisions & current edition
ASTM revises F1387 on a periodic cycle, re-approving or updating the text as practice evolves. The latest revision is ASTM F1387-23.
| Edition | Status |
|---|---|
| ASTM F1387-23 | Current published edition |
| ASTM F1387-19 | Prior edition (superseded) |
| ASTM F1387-99 | Historical edition (superseded) |
For compliance purposes, cite the edition named in your project specification, then check it against the current ASTM catalog. Contract references vary from one edition to the next, so it pays to confirm.
How ASTM F1387 underpins drop-in interchange
F1387's commercial value lies in turning "interchange" from a claim into a qualification. A drop-in or equivalent fitting has to match on two counts: dimensional parity, meaning it fits the same tube, nut and gauge, and performance parity, meaning it survives the same tests. F1387 gives the objective, third-party-defined basis for the second one. A fitting tested per ASTM F1387, then, is an equivalent you can defend to a specifier. It isn't just one that looks the same.
Crestflo publishes the interchange narrative on its cross-reference pages and offers brand-by-brand matching on request. For the interchange framework, see the master interchange, along with the Swagelok cross-reference and Swagelok vs Crestflo comparisons. There's no fixed part-number table here. Instead, request your Swagelok®/Parker® cross-reference from our engineering team, and we'll confirm the equivalents for your line. (Swagelok® and Parker® are trademarks of their respective owners; references are for identification only.)
Request your part-number cross-reference →
Are Crestflo fittings tested to ASTM F1387?
Crestflo compression tube fittings are tested per ASTM F1387, yes. They're built in stainless, high-nickel alloy and titanium, in single and double ferrule designs, with end connections up to 2" (50 mm) OD, covering both imperial and metric sizes. They're also NACE compliant for sour service.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Product family | Compression tube fittings (mechanically attached) |
| F1387 conformance | Tested per ASTM F1387 |
| Materials | Stainless (304/316), high-nickel alloy and titanium, see the materials range |
| Ferrule configuration | Single and double ferrule; hardened and non-hardened options |
| Size range | End connections up to 2" (50 mm) OD; imperial and metric |
| Sour service | NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 compliant on request |
| Traceability | EN 10204 3.1 MTC standard (3.2 on request); heat/lot number on every part |
Crestflo's fitting lines rely on F1387 because that standard governs fittings specifically. Instrumentation valves are a different matter: those instrumentation valves qualify under the applicable valve standards, ASME B16.34 and API, not F1387. Certificates and traceability documents sit in quality. Datasheets and CAD models, meanwhile, go out to customers on request.
Request the F1387 test summary →
Related standards for tube fittings & instrumentation
F1387 sits alongside the material, pipe, valve and traceability standards a full specification usually references.
| Standard | Covers | Reference page |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM F1387 | Performance of mechanically attached tube/pipe fittings | This page |
| ASTM A269 / A213 | Seamless & welded austenitic instrumentation and boiler tube | A269 · A213 |
| ASTM A312 | Seamless & welded stainless pipe | ASTM A312 |
| ASTM A182 | Forged / wrought stainless pipe fittings and flanges | ASTM A182 |
| ASME B16.34 / API | Valve pressure-temperature design and testing | ASME B16.34 · API 6D |
| NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 | Sour-service metallurgy | NACE MR0175 · ISO 15156 |
| EN 10204 | Material test certificates (MTC 3.1 / 3.2) | EN 10204 MTC |
Note the mix-up buyers run into constantly: the ASTM standard for mechanically attached tube fittings is F1387; for forged and wrought stainless pipe fittings, the material spec is A182; and for stainless pipe itself, it's A312. Browse the full standards hub for the rest.
Why Crestflo for ASTM F1387-tested fittings
- The proof is published, not buried. Crestflo tests its compression tube fittings to ASTM F1387, and the full test regime sits right here as HTML-native data. Most competitors lock that same proof away in gated PDFs.
- A drop-in replacement, and we can prove it. Dimensions and performance both match Swagelok, Parker, Hoke, Hy-Lok, and Fitok lines. Request your cross-reference and we'll confirm the equivalents.
- Traceability on every part. Every part ships with an EN 10204 3.1 MTC (3.2 on request) and its own heat number, exactly what a QA reviewer wants to see.
- Lead times that don't stall projects. Standard items ship from stock, specials are made to order, and delivery runs 6–8 weeks. Compare that to the 20+ weeks common among the majors.
- Honest about origin. Parts are of Indian origin, with US or European melt available on request and full material traceability. See the origin & TAA position for details.
- Small MOQ and private label, both imperial and metric, customizable to requirement.
- Certified quality system: ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 & PED certified.
Crestflo is the instrumentation division of a four-decade-old export house recognized by the Government of India, with a long delivery record across the Middle East. That manufacturing pedigree sits behind a brand built specifically for US-based instrumentation buyers, including PED-relevant work. We Engineer Confidence.
Request the ASTM F1387 test summary
Send your requirement, fitting type, material/grade, tube OD, sizes and quantity, plus any sour-service (NACE) or interchange target, and the Crestflo Engineering Team will confirm the F1387-tested fitting and documentation for your line.
RFQ, tell us what you need:
- Name
- Company name
- Phone
- Requirement description (fitting type, material, size, quantity, service conditions)
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Secondary paths: request your cross-reference · become a distributor · master distributor program · contact Crestflo.
US contact: sales@crestflousa.com · +1 346 594 9005 · Houston, TX.
Frequently asked questions
What is ASTM F1387?
ASTM F1387 is ASTM International's "Standard Specification for Performance of Piping and Tubing Mechanically Attached Fittings." It spells out the performance tests a mechanically attached tube fitting must pass to be qualified, one joined without welding, brazing or threading. It's a performance standard, not a dimensional or material specification.
What does ASTM F1387 test?
Proof (hydrostatic and pneumatic), hydrostatic burst, impulse (pressure cycling), flexure fatigue, rotary flex, vibration, thermal cycling and tensile/pull-out fall into three groups: proof, endurance and structural tests. Together they show that a fitting can hold rated pressure, survive repeated cycles and take ultimate load without leaking.
What is the current revision of ASTM F1387?
ASTM F1387-23 is the current published edition. Earlier versions include F1387-19 and the older F1387-99. Check your project specification for the edition it calls for, then verify that against the current ASTM catalog.
What is the ASTM standard for stainless steel pipe fittings?
Mechanically attached tube and pipe fittings get qualified for performance under ASTM F1387. Forged or wrought stainless pipe fittings and flanges are a different animal: the governing material specification there is ASTM A182 (see the A182 page).
What is the ASTM standard for stainless steel pipe and tube?
Stainless pipe is ASTM A312; seamless and welded austenitic tubing is ASTM A269 / A213. ASTM F1387 covers the fitting's performance, not how the tube or pipe itself is made.
What are common standards for tube and pipe fittings?
ASTM F1387 covers mechanically attached fitting performance. Forged pipe fittings fall under ASME B16.11 and material spec ASTM A182, while NPT threads fall under ASME B1.20.1. For the full family of standards, see the standards hub.
Does ASTM F1387 make fittings interchangeable with Swagelok or Parker?
F1387 gives an objective, performance-based basis for interchange and equivalent claims. It's about dimensional and performance parity, not just similar appearance. It doesn't make any brand's parts "genuine" or affiliated with another. Crestflo confirms brand-by-brand equivalents on request through its cross-reference pages.
Are Crestflo fittings tested to ASTM F1387?
Crestflo compression tube fittings are tested per ASTM F1387. Yes, stainless, high-nickel alloy, and titanium, in single or double ferrule, up to 2" (50 mm) OD. They're also NACE compliant for sour service.
Who performs ASTM F1387 testing at Crestflo?
Crestflo handles hydraulic proof, burst and impulse, pneumatic, flexure fatigue, rotary flex, vibration, thermal cycling and pull-out tests in-house, along with PMI and NDT. Destructive testing goes out to laboratories accredited under ISO/IEC 17025, and third-party inspection can be arranged on request.
Is ASTM F1387 the same as a material certificate?
No. F1387 covers performance testing for the fitting. Material traceability gets documented separately, through an EN 10204 MTC (3.1 standard, 3.2 on request) and a heat number stamped on every part, see traceability.
Does ASTM F1387 apply to valves?
No. F1387 is a performance standard for mechanically attached fittings. Instrumentation valves are a different animal; they qualify against their own standards, namely ASME B16.34 and the applicable API test standards, not F1387.
Where can I download the ASTM F1387 PDF?
The full standard carries a copyright and ASTM International sells it through its official webstore. This page pulls together F1387's scope, tests and revisions for engineering reference, but it doesn't reproduce or distribute the document itself.
Explore related standards, products & interchange
Standards: Standards hub · ASTM A269 · ASTM A213 · ASTM A312 · ASTM A182 · ASME B16.34 · NACE MR0175 · ISO 15156 · EN 10204 MTC
Products: Tube fittings · Single-ferrule fittings · DIN 2353 bite-type · 37° flare fittings · Instrumentation valves
Interchange: Cross-reference hub · Master interchange · Swagelok cross-reference · Swagelok vs Crestflo
Guides: Single vs double ferrule · Testing & inspection