FAQ
Frequently asked questions
This page invents no new question: it repeats, more briefly, questions already answered elsewhere on the site, grouped by theme. Each answer links to the page that carries the full answer.
Ordering from SPS
- What is SPS's status?
- A distributor and commercial agent. The stock that fills your orders is partner stock in Europe; larger volumes go through our four partner mills. Read more →
- Is there a minimum order quantity?
- No minimum: from one metre up, sometimes less. Under a few metres, shipping often costs more than the material itself — that's a question of economic interest, not an imposed rule. Read more →
- Can I order a non-standard length?
- Yes — it's one of the cases where SPS distribution adds the most value: non-standard lengths, small quantities, urgent needs, rare grades. Read more →
- Does the project piping package replace distribution and mill representation?
- No: it combines both levers on a single project bill of materials, routing each line item to partner stock or to the mill, whichever fits best. Read more →
Lead times and availability
- What are your actual lead times?
- 48 hours for urgent needs, 5 working days as standard on partner stock. On a quote request: same-day response for a simple request, 2 to 3 working days for a complex consultation. Read more →
- What's the lead time for a mill order?
- On the order of a few months, shipping included — the typical horizon for buying at the source, for volumes on the order of a container, sometimes less. Read more →
- Is an "on request" product slower than a stocked one?
- Generally yes: specialised forms (finned tubes, U-tubes) follow the mill horizon rather than partner stock, which covers the common references. Read more →
Grades and materials
- Do the nine families cover every existing grade?
- Yes: the nine-family classification is exhaustive. The grades listed within each family are examples, never a closed list. Read more →
- Are 304L and 316L interchangeable?
- No: 316L contains molybdenum, which gives it better resistance to pitting corrosion than 304L — a grade choice, not a simple preference. Read more →
- Why choose duplex over a reinforced austenitic grade?
- Duplex combines mechanical strength and corrosion resistance (PREN) in a two-phase structure — a trade-off austenitic alone doesn't reach at the same cost. Read more →
- Does cupronickel have a PREN?
- No: PREN measures the pitting corrosion resistance of stainless steels, a mechanism that doesn't apply to copper alloys. Read more →
- My grade isn't listed: what should I do?
- The grades listed are examples, not a closed catalogue. Describe your need in a quote request: we'll check whether it fits within one of the nine families. Read more →
Standards and certificates
- Which material certificate do you provide?
- The 3.1 certificate as standard, unless requested otherwise; the 3.2, with a third-party inspector, on request. Read more →
- What do certificates 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2 mean?
- An increasing hierarchy: 2.1 is a declaration of compliance, 2.2 adds test results, 3.1 is validated by the mill's own quality department, 3.2 adds an independent third-party inspector. Read more →
- Is the 3.1 certificate enough for an import declaration?
- It carries the necessary information, but whether it's sufficient depends on your file — that question belongs to your customs broker, not to SPS. Read more →
Import regulation
- Does SPS handle my CBAM compliance?
- No. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism applies to the importer: you are the one liable for the declaration. SPS provides the data you need (origin, process) to prepare it. Read more →
- Is stainless tube covered by Melt & Pour traceability?
- Seamless tube is explicitly named in regulation (EU) 2026/1384 from 1 October 2026; the exact scope for fittings and flanges is not confirmed as of today. Read more →
- Do safeguard quotas affect my purchases?
- Seamless tube is covered by the duty-free quota, allocated by country and by quarter; the precise volume per partner mill has not yet been verified. Read more →
- Does an anti-dumping duty apply on top of standard duties?
- Yes, cumulatively: butt-welding fittings and seamless tube originating from China (and Taiwan for fittings) carry a specific anti-dumping duty, distinct from CBAM. Read more →
Tools
- Are the calculation tools really free?
- Yes, no sign-up required. The site's twelve tools (tube weight, dimensions, PREN, equivalents…) are freely accessible. Read more →
- Is my calculation data sent to a server?
- No: every calculation runs in your browser, locally — nothing is transmitted to an SPS server. Read more →
- How do you calculate the weight of a stainless tube?
- With the formula W = k × (OD − t) × t, where k derives from the chosen grade's density. The weight calculator applies it directly, grade by grade. Read more →
- What does a grade's PREN mean?
- The pitting corrosion resistance index, calculated from the chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen in the composition. The higher it is, the better the resistance — but it's a comparative index, not a guarantee in service. Read more →