# Bends and elbows.

**Citation:** 49 CFR 192.313  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** 2026-08-18  
**Published:** Not stated

(a) Each field bend in steel pipe, other than a wrinkle bend made in accordance with § 192.315, must comply with the following:

(1) A bend must not impair the serviceability of the pipe.

(2) Each bend must have a smooth contour and be free from buckling, cracks, or any other mechanical damage.

(3

## Document text

(a) Each field bend in steel pipe, other than a wrinkle bend made in accordance with § 192.315, must comply with the following:

(1) A bend must not impair the serviceability of the pipe.

(2) Each bend must have a smooth contour and be free from buckling, cracks, or any other mechanical damage.

(3) On pipe containing a longitudinal weld, the longitudinal weld must be as near as practicable to the neutral axis of the bend unless:

(i) The bend is made with an internal bending mandrel; or

(ii) The pipe is 12 inches (305 millimeters) or less in outside diameter or has a diameter to wall thickness ratio less than 70.

(b) Each circumferential weld of steel pipe which is located where the stress during bending causes a permanent deformation in the pipe must be nondestructively tested either before or after the bending process.

(c) Wrought-steel welding elbows and transverse segments of these elbows may not be used for changes in direction on steel pipe that is 2 inches (51 millimeters) or more in diameter unless the arc length, as measured along the crotch, is at least 1 inch (25 millimeters).

(d) An operator may not install plastic pipe with a bend radius that is less than the minimum bend radius specified by the manufacturer for the diameter of the pipe being installed.

[Amdt. 192-26, 41 FR 26018, June 24, 1976, as amended by Amdt. 192-29, 42 FR 42866, Aug. 25, 1977; Amdt. 192-29, 42 FR 60148, Nov. 25, 1977; Amdt. 192-49, 50 FR 13225, Apr. 3, 1985; Amdt. 192-85, 63 FR 37503, July 13, 1998; Amdt. 192-124, 83 FR 58718, Nov. 20, 2018]

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-192.313>
- Source ID: `ecfr`
- SHA-256: `868a267e14166213a8614824c6c464b67dd1ab9650151fed45991f337204fa14`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T05:54:34.435Z
- Exported: 2026-08-21T23:37:19.792Z
- Document slug: `49-cfr-192-313`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cfrTitle": 49,
  "part": "192",
  "section": "192.313",
  "subpart": "Subpart G—General Construction Requirements for Transmission Lines and Mains",
  "corpusVersion": "2026-08-18",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```