ASME P-Numbers for Base Metals in Welding & Brazing Procedure

To reduce the number of welding and brazing procedure qualifications required base metals
have been assigned P-Numbers by the ASME BPVC. Ferrous metals which have specified
impact test requirements have been assigned Group Numbers within P-Numbers.

These assignments have been based on comparable base metal characteristics, such as:

Composition
Weldability
Brazeability
Mechanical Properties

Indiscriminant substitution of materials in a set of P-Numbers or Group Numbers may lead to

problems or potentially failures. Engineering assessment is necessary prior to a change in
materials.

When a base metal with a UNS number Designation is assigned a P-Number, then a base
metal listed in a different ASME material specification with the same UNS number shall be
considered that P-Number.

The table below is a guide and is for instructive purposes only. Anyone specifying materials or
requirements should refer directly to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code to specify
materials, P-Numbers, procedures, or other requirements and not rely on the table below.
The table below is only a rather incomplete and approximate summary of ASME data.
P-Numbers Base Metal (Typical or Example)
1 Carbon Manganese Steels (four Group Numbers)
2 Not Used
3 Half Molybdenum or half Chromium, half Molybdenum (three Group Numbers)
4 One and a quarter Chromium, half Molybdenum (two Group Numbers)
5A Two and a quarter Chromium, one Molybdenum
Five Chromium, half Molybdenum or nine Chromium, one Molybdenum (two
5B
Group Numbers)
5C Chromium, Molybdenum, Vanadium (five Group Numbers)
6 Martensitic Stainless Steels (Grade 410, 415, 429) (six Group Numbers)
7 Ferritic Stainless Steels (Grade 409, 430)

Austenitic Stainless Steels

Group 1 - Grades 304, 316, 317, 347
8 Group 2 - Grades 309, 310
Group 3 - High Manganese Grades
Group 4 - High Molybdenum Grades

9A, B, C Two to four Nickel Steels

10A, B, C, F Various low alloy steels
10H Duplex and Super Duplex Stainless Steel (Grades 31803, 32750)
10I High Chromium Stainless Steel
10J High Chromium, Molybdenum Stainless Steel
10K High Chromium, Molybdenum, Nickel Stainless Steel
11A Various high strength low alloy steels (six Group Numbers)
11B Various high strength low alloy steels (ten Group Numbers)
12 to 20 Not Used
21 High Aluminum content (1000 and 3000 series)
22 Aluminum (5000 series - 5052, 5454)
23 Aluminum (6000 series 6061, 6063)
24 Not Used
25 Aluminum (5000 series - 5083, 5086, 5456)
26 to 30 Not used
31 High Copper content
32 Brass
33 Copper Silicone
34 Copper Nickel
35 Copper Aluminum
36 to 40 Not Used
41 High Nickel content
42 Nickel, Copper - (Monel 500)
43 Nickel, Chromium, Iron - (Inconel)
44 Nickel, Molybdenum (Hastelloy B2, C22, C276, X)
45 Nickel, Chromium
46 Nickel, Chromium, Silicone
47 Nickel, Chromium, Tungsten
47 to 50 Not Used
51, 52, 53 Titanium Alloys
61, 62 Zirconium Alloys
ASME P Material Numbers

This is a general guide ASME P numbers and their equivalent EN288 groupings. Groups referred to in the Base Metal column
are ASME sub groups. EN288 material groups are included for comparison only.

P No. EN288 Base Metal

Carbon Manganese Steels, 4 Sub Groups

Group 1 up to approx 65 ksi

1 1 Group 2 Approx 70ksi
Group 3 Approx 80ksi
Group 4 ?

2 - Not Used
3 4 3 Sub Groups:- Typically half moly and half chrome half moly
4 5 2 Sub Groups:- Typically one and a quarter chrome half moly
5A 5 Typically two and a quarter chrome one moly
5B 5 2 Sub Groups:- Typically five chrome half moly and nine chrome one moly
5C 6 5 Sub Groups:- Chrome moly vanadium
6 8 6 Sub Groups:- Martensitic Stainless Steels Typically Grade 410
7 8 Ferritic Stainless Steels Typically Grade 409
Austenitic Stainless Steels, 4 Sub groups

Group1 Typically Grades 304, 316, 347

8 9 Group 2 Typically Grades 309, 310
Group 3 High manganese grades
Group 4 Typically 254 SMO type steels

9A, B, C 7 Typically two to four percent Nickel Steels

10A,B,C,F,G ? Mixed bag of low alloy steels, 10G 36 Nickel Steel
10 H 10 Duplex and Super Duplex Grades 31803, 32750
 10J ? Typically 26 Chrome one moly
11A Group 1 7 9 Nickel Steels
11 A Groups 2 to 5 ? Mixed bag of high strength low alloy steels.
11B ? 10 Sub Groups:- Mixed bag of high strength low alloy steels.
12 to 20 - Not Used
21 21 Pure Aluminium
22 22a Aluminium Magnesium Grade 5000
23 23 Aluminium Magnesium Silicone Grade 6000
24 - Not Used
25 22b Aluminium Magnesium Manganese Typically 5083, 5086
26 to 30 Not used
31 Pure Copper
32 Brass
33 Copper Silicone
34 Copper Nickel
35 Copper Aluminium
36 to 40 Not Used
41 Pure Nickel
42 Nickel Copper:- Monel 500
43 Nickel Chrome Ferrite:- Inconel
44 Nickel Moly:- Hastelloy C22, C276
45 Nickel Chrome :- Incoloy 800, 825
46 Nickel Chrome Silicone
47 Nickel Chrome Tungstone
47 to 50 Not Used
51, 52, 53 Titanium Alloys
61, 62 Zirconium Alloys