A106 Gr.B Preheat for SAW — 3/4" to 1-1/2"

SAW (Submerged Arc Welding)

SAW submerges the arc beneath granular flux for highest deposition rates, flat/horizontal only. Category B in Table 5.11.

SAW on pipe joints is limited to rotated butt welds in the flat position. For large-diameter pipe (24" and above), tandem SAW with two wires provides fill rates exceeding 25 lb/hr. The submerged arc conceals the weld pool entirely, so joint tracking relies on seam-finding sensors or pre-marked centerlines.

A106 Gr.B

ASTM A106 Grade B covers seamless carbon steel pipe for high-temperature service up to about 750°F, with 35 ksi minimum yield and 60 ksi minimum tensile strength. Produced in sizes from 1/4" through 30" NPS, it is the standard pipe material for power plants, refineries, and process piping where elevated temperature and pressure coexist. Chemistry limits (0.30% max carbon, 0.29-1.06% manganese) give it a weldability profile that matches common structural grades with Category A and B preheat requirements. A106 is exclusively seamless, which eliminates the ERW seam concern present in A53. Grade C (40 ksi yield) exists but Grade B handles the vast majority of process piping service.

Why This Preheat for A106 Gr.B with SAW

Seamless pipe rated for high-temperature service up to 750°F. With low-hydrogen SAW, this combination falls under Category B rather than Category A, reflecting the lower hydrogen potential of the consumable. The 50°F minimum preheat is lower than what non-low-hydrogen SMAW would require at the same thickness. Low-hydrogen electrodes and inherently low-hydrogen wire processes reduce the driving force for hydrogen-induced cracking in the heat-affected zone.

Typical Applications for A106 Gr.B

Used in boiler steam headers, refinery piping racks, process plant branch connections, heat exchanger nozzle welds, power plant main steam lines, petrochemical reactor feed piping, and high-temperature manifolds. A106 Gr.B butt welds in process piping require joint preparation to B31.1 (power piping) or B31.3 (process piping) depending on service classification. Socket welds on small-bore A106 drain lines and instrument take-offs are common in utility stations, typically 1/2" to 2" NPS. Typical wall thicknesses range from Schedule 40 (0.237" wall on 2" NPS) to Schedule 160 (0.500" wall on 4" NPS) in critical high-energy service. Weld procedure qualification often includes side bend tests and tensile tests specific to the pipe diameter and wall thickness being joined. Field welds at pipe-to-flange connections and valve set-on joints require portable preheating equipment when wall thickness exceeds 1/2".

Why Preheat Matters at 3/4" to 1-1/2"

Preheat climbs at this range as thicker material slows heat dissipation, trapping hydrogen at crack-susceptible grain boundaries.

Other Steels with SAW at 3/4" to 1-1/2"

A106 Gr.B with SAW

Try Different Combinations

Use the interactive preheat calculator to look up any steel, process, and thickness combination from D1.1:2025 Table 5.11.

A106 Gr.B Welding Guides