Schedule 40 Aluminum Bus Pipe Bus Pipe
ANSI Schedule 40 Bus Pipe
Overview
Schedule 40 is the standard wall thickness for aluminum seamless bus pipe used in electrical power distribution. It provides an excellent balance of current-carrying capacity, mechanical strength, and weight. Schedule 40 bus pipe is the most widely specified for substation bus conductor applications and is manufactured per ASTM B241 in 6063-T6 and 6061-T6 alloys. The wall thickness increases with nominal pipe size — for example, a 3" Schedule 40 pipe has a wall thickness of 0.216" while a 6" has 0.280".
Chemical Composition
| Element | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Alloy | 6063-T6 or 6061-T6 | — |
| Aluminum (Al) | Balance | — |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.45% | 0.90% |
| Silicon (Si) | 0.20% | 0.60% |
Alloy Designations
Mechanical Properties
Physical Properties
Typical Applications
- Substation bus conductor — standard applications
- Power distribution systems up to 230 kV
- Indoor and outdoor bus runs
- Moderate current-carrying capacity requirements
- General-purpose electrical bus
Fabrication & Joining
- Lighter wall than Schedule 80 — easier to handle and install
- Standard wall thickness per ASA specifications
- Available in 20' random lengths
- Can be welded, bolted, or compression-fit
- Bending and forming: Follow manufacturer guidelines for minimum bend radius
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