A tubing specification works when a supplier can quote it without a follow-up question. Write the product family and model, the ID × OD with tolerance, the length per roll and total quantity, the medium, the working pressure with its temperature, the color and marking, and the documents you need. This guide gives a copy-and-fill template and a worked example using real model rows.
Quick answer. One line per item, always with units: family and model · ID × OD (mm) · tolerance · roll length and quantity · medium · working pressure at a stated temperature · color and marking · documents. Naming the model code is what turns a size into a specification.
The specification block
Use this block in an inquiry, a purchase order or a drawing note. The example column is a real model from the PA6 model table.
| Line | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Family and model | Material family and the model code | PA6 nylon tubing, YN-PA6 0640 |
| Size | ID × OD in the order shown, with units | 4.0 × 6.0 mm |
| Tolerance | Tolerance as listed for the model | ±0.10 mm |
| Length and quantity | Length per roll and total quantity | 200 m rolls, 2,000 m total |
| Medium | What flows through the tube, including oil or additives | Dry compressed air |
| Working pressure | Pressure with unit and the temperature it applies at | 35 bar (512 psi) at 23°C |
| Temperature range | Lowest and highest ambient and medium temperature | −10°C to +60°C |
| Routing | Fixed or moving, tightest bend | Fixed, 80 mm bend (model minimum 35 mm) |
| Hardness (only if required) | Scale, value or range, and test standard | Shore A, range from the fitting maker’s chart, ASTM D2240 |
| Color and marking | Color name and any marking or length print | Blue, standard marking |
| Packaging and delivery | Reel or coil, destination, target date | Standard roll packing, port of destination, target date |
| Documents | Data sheet, test reports or certificates required | Technical data sheet |
The pressure, temperature and bend values in the example are inputs from the buyer; only the model, size, tolerance, roll length and 35 bar working pressure come from the table. Replace them with your own line conditions.
One size, three specifications
An 8 mm OD tube with a 6 mm ID exists in several materials, and the numbers differ. These three rows come straight from the model tables, all at 23°C:
| Model | Material | Size (mm) | Working pressure | Burst pressure | Bend radius (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YN-PU 0860 | PU | 6.0 × 8.0 | 5 bar (75 psi) | 15 bar (227 psi) | 25 |
| YN-PUR 0860 | Polyether PU | 6.0 × 8.0 | 8 bar (116 psi) | 24 bar (348 psi) | 40 |
| YN-FEP 0860 | FEP | 6.0 × 8.0 | 13 bar (182 psi) | 40 bar (580 psi) | 70 |
The same size fits the same push-in fitting, yet the working pressure ranges from 5 to 13 bar and the bend radius from 25 to 70 mm. A line that says only “6 × 8 tube” leaves all three open; a line that names the model closes it.
Write it this way
- Write the model code and the material family, not just the tube type.
- Write ID × OD with units; add the tolerance shown in the model row.
- Write pressure with its unit and temperature, such as 35 bar at 23°C.
- Write working pressure as the operating value and keep burst pressure as a separate figure.
- Write the color and marking by name.
- Write the roll length and total quantity.
- List the documents you need with the order.
- Write hardness only when a fitting or application requires it: the scale (for example Shore A), the value or range, and the test standard. Do not convert between Shore scales; see tubing Shore hardness for the values on our data sheets.
Where to find each value
- Model code, size, tolerance, pressures and bend radius: the model table on each product page, or the tubing size chart.
- Temperature range and media: the technical data sheet on the data sheet download page.
- How ID, OD and wall thickness relate: tubing ID, OD and wall thickness.
- How pressure and temperature combine: working pressure and temperature.
- Static control or several channels in one piece: antistatic PU tubing and multi-lumen tubing are made to order, so write the resistance range and test method, or the number and size of channels, into the specification.
- Comparing quotations once the specification is written: how to choose a tubing supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions: Writing a Tubing Specification
Is tubing specified by ID or OD?
Both, written as ID × OD. Push-in pneumatic fittings match the OD, so OD is the fit dimension; the ID sets flow. Model tables list both for every row.
Do I need the model code if I already give the size?
Yes. A size can exist in several materials with different pressure and bend values, as the 6.0 × 8.0 mm table above shows. The model code fixes the material and the ratings.
What tolerance should I write?
Write the tolerance shown in the model row of the table for your model, with its unit. Each row states it, so the specification and the data match.
Should I specify Shore hardness?
Only if your fitting or application calls for it. Shore A is read on a 0–100 scale under ASTM D2240, and readings on different Shore scales cannot be converted into each other. Hardness alone does not set how flexible a tube is, because wall thickness and construction also matter, so give the bend radius too. Fitting grip is best checked against the fitting maker’s tubing and fitting compatibility chart; for example, the Parker Series U catalog lists 90–95 Shore A for its polyurethane tube and refers to such a chart.
Which documents can I request with the specification?
The technical data sheet for the family, and the certificates and reports published on the certificates page. Name them in the specification so they ship with the order.
Next step. Fill the template with your line conditions and send it through the contact form; the inquiry checklist covers the remaining details. For non-standard sizes or colors, see OEM and custom tubing.
Sources and scope
- PA6 Nylon Tubing — English data sheet (v4-20261020)
- PA12 Nylon Tubing — English data sheet (v5-20261020)
- Polyether Tubing — English data sheet (v2-20261020)
- FEP Tubing — English data sheet (v6-20261020)
Use these documents for the identified product models and stated test conditions. General material comparisons and selection checklists do not establish a different grade’s rating, fitting compatibility or project approval. Confirm the exact model, medium, temperature, pressure and required evidence before ordering.
Content review: zhangkexin · Marketing
Review scope: market information and document references.
