What type of tubing should I use for industrial gases?

Argon, Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Propane: Industrial gases that are indispensable in many workshops, laboratories, and manufacturing environments. But as soon as you want to distribute gas from the source to the point of use, a question arises that is surprisingly often overlooked: what type of piping is most suitable?

Gas distribution is complex and not without risks. Choosing the right piping prevents pressure loss, leaks, contamination, and unnecessary maintenance. In this blog, we’ll list the most commonly used piping materials.

1) Stainless steel tubing
If you’re looking for a type of tubing that’s reliable in many situations, you’ll quickly find that stainless steel (often 316L) is the best choice. This is especially true in environments where stability, cleanliness, and durability are important.

Choose stainless steel, for example, when:
• you have higher purity requirements (instrumentation, lab, analysis)
• you’re dealing with an environment where corrosion resistance is important

Stainless steel is easy to clean and helps minimize contamination in the system. This is an important advantage for sensitive processes and measuring equipment.

2) Copper piping
Copper tubing is used in many industrial applications, especially where high purity levels are less important but robust, reliable distribution is essential.

For example, choose copper when:
• you want to distribute welding gases or propane
• you need to make a brazed joint
• depending on steel prices, it may be cheaper than an aluminum or stainless steel piping system

3) Aluminum piping systems
In addition to stainless steel, copper, and steel, aluminum is increasingly being used as a modular piping system in industrial environments. Aluminum systems are best known for compressed air and vacuum networks, but in some situations they are also used for technical gas distribution, provided that the system and the sealing materials are explicitly suitable for the gas, its purity, and the pressure.

Choose aluminum, for example, when:
• you want to install it quickly and easily expand or modify it later
• you want a corrosion-resistant system
• you want to use different colors for different types of gas

In short: Aluminum is often an excellent choice for a flexible and scalable distribution network, but it is not suitable for every type of gas.

What should you consider when making the best choice?

1. Gas type (e.g., nitrogen, argon, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, breathing air)
2. Purity
3. Workload
4. Flow (continuous or peak consumption)
5. Surroundings

Based on that, you can determine not only the right piping material, but also the appropriate components—such as pressure regulators, valves, measuring equipment, and couplings—to ensure a safe and manageable gas distribution system.

Need help making a decision?
Would you like us to help you figure it out? At Kuil Nicos , we Kuil Nicos everything there is to know aboutgas distribution. With a quick assessment, we can often tell you which pipe option makes the most sense and what you need to keep in mind during the design and installation phases.