Tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings, of nickel

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to factory-made tubes, pipes, and wrought tube or pipe fittings whose declared material is nickel or a nickel alloy and that leave the manufacturing site as accepted saleable products. It covers seamless and welded tube or pipe routes and wrought fitting routes. The foreground boundary begins with prepared nickel or nickel-alloy feedstock at the manufacturing site and ends with accepted product at the factory gate.

Cast fittings, hose assemblies, valves, fabricated piping systems, installation, use, maintenance, and end-of-life are excluded. Stainless-steel products are excluded unless the declared product is marketed and classified as a nickel-alloy product. Upstream mining, refining, alloy production, and manufacture of purchased feedstock remain in linked background datasets rather than the foreground gate-to-gate inventory.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.tubes-pipes-and-tube-or-pipe-fittings-of-nickel
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 41524, exact classification context
covered_products	Seamless or welded nickel and nickel-alloy tubes and pipes; factory-made wrought nickel and nickel-alloy tube or pipe fittings, including elbows, bends, caps, tees, reducers, couplings, sleeves, and stub ends when sold as fittings
excluded_products	Cast fittings; stainless-steel tubes, pipes, or fittings not declared as nickel-alloy products; hoses; valves; complete fabricated piping systems; installed piping service
representative_product	One accepted factory-gate lot of a declared nickel or nickel-alloy tube, pipe, or wrought fitting
production_route	Declared seamless tube or pipe, welded tube or pipe, or wrought fitting route, including the actual forming, heat-treatment, descaling, finishing, and testing operations used
market_state	Finished, inspected product at factory gate in the declared grade, dimensions, heat-treatment condition, surface condition, and test condition

ASTM B161-25 identifies cold-worked seamless nickel pipe and tube and associated test conditions. ASTM B619/B619M-19(2023) identifies welded nickel-alloy pipe made from flat-rolled alloy, with welding, optional cold work, solution annealing, descaling, and testing. ASTM B366/B366M-25 identifies factory-made wrought nickel and nickel-alloy fittings, excludes cast fittings, and describes eligible feedstock forms and shaping routes.

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Provide an accepted nickel or nickel-alloy tube, pipe, or wrought tube or pipe fitting in the declared grade, geometry, and manufacturing condition at the factory gate
How much	1,000 kg accepted product
How well	Conforms to the declared material, dimensional, heat-treatment, surface-condition, and inspection or test specification
How long or cycle	One production lot at the factory gate; no use-stage service duration is represented
reference_flow_link	The reference flow is the measured accepted-product mass normalized to 1,000 kg after rejects and fabrication scrap have been separated

Field	Value
Reference amount	1,000 kg
Reference product flow	Tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings, of nickel
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	product form; nickel or nickel-alloy grade and material standard; seamless, welded, or wrought-fitting route; nominal dimensions and wall thickness; heat-treatment condition; surface and descaling condition; inspection or test standard; manufacturing geography; production technology; feedstock recycled-content claim; production period; accepted-product yield

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass	reference product and all solid nickel-bearing inputs or outputs	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Determine mass from calibrated scales or traceable shipment and production records. Normalize all inventory amounts to 1,000 kg accepted product; do not substitute nominal length, piece count, or theoretical mass without a documented conversion and reconciliation to accepted mass.
gas_volume_conditions	gaseous natural gas and industrial argon	Volume 93a60a56-a3c8-22da-a746-0800200c9a66	m3	State pressure, temperature, and dry/wet basis for gas volumes and convert all records to one declared reference condition before aggregation.
electricity_energy	purchased or on-site electrical energy crossing the foreground boundary	Net calorific value 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	MJ	Preserve the metered energy basis and document the conversion used when source records are in kWh; 1 kWh equals 3.6 MJ. Do not include upstream generation emissions as direct foreground emissions.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Prepared nickel or nickel-alloy billet, flat-rolled material, forging stock, or another individually identified feedstock is received at the manufacturing site with grade, form, mass, recycled-content claim, supplier, and upstream dataset recorded
starting_condition_role	Purchased product input to gate-to-gate tube, pipe, or fitting manufacture
product_classification_scope	Factory-made nickel and nickel-alloy tubes, pipes, and wrought tube or pipe fittings represented by the reviewed semantic boundary; CPC 3.0 code 41524 is classification context only
recursive_input_rule	A tube, pipe, or fitting from the same product category used as fitting feedstock is recorded once as an individually identified product input with its upstream dataset; its manufacture is not recursively expanded inside the foreground process
upstream_dataset_requirement	Every purchased nickel-bearing feedstock, utility, and ancillary product input must link to a geography-, technology-, and grade-appropriate upstream dataset or disclose the proxy and its limitation
disclosure	Declare product form, grade, route, feedstock forms, heat-treatment and descaling operations, testing method, site geography, technology, allocation, recycled-content accounting, exclusions, and any unlisted actual exchange added to the foreground inventory

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_factory_gate	foreground system	Include receipt and preparation of declared feedstock, forming or shaping, welding where used, heat treatment, descaling or surface finishing, inspection or testing, internal handling, and management of generated scrap and process wastewater through the factory gate. Exclude upstream feedstock production, product installation, use, and end-of-life; link required upstream product inputs to background datasets.	astm-b161-25; astm-b619-b619m-19r23; astm-b366-b366m-25
boundary_route_disclosure	route selection	Model only the declared seamless, welded, or wrought-fitting route and the actual operations performed. Record controlled-atmosphere heat treatment, cold working, chemical or mechanical descaling, and hydrostatic or nondestructive testing as performed rather than assuming every route uses every operation.	astm-b161-25; astm-b619-b619m-19r23; astm-b366-b366m-25
boundary_atomic_completeness	foreground exchanges	Add every actual unlisted material, gas, chemical, lubricant, waste, and elementary emission as a separate chemically or physically specific exchange. Do not replace atomic exchanges with utility, chemical, packaging, waste, or emission groups.

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	Integrated nickel tube, pipe, or fitting manufacture	required		Foreground receipt, forming or shaping, route-specific welding, heat treatment, descaling, finishing, testing, and acceptance	1,000 kg accepted product

The single integrated process prevents route variants from multiplying common utilities. Route-conditional rows remain atomic, and the data producer adds any actual exchange not represented below as another atomic row.

Process: Integrated nickel tube, pipe, or fitting manufacture (integrated_nickel_product_manufacture)

Inputs

Product flows

Seamless-route billet feedstock (nickel_alloy_billet)

Record the mass of nickel or nickel-alloy billet that physically enters the process when the declared product follows a seamless extrusion, piercing, or drawing route.

• Selected flow: Nickel-alloy billet
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured received mass consumed by the declared seamless production lot; use not_applicable only when the selected route does not use billet
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_mass_records
• Sources:

Welded-route flat-rolled feedstock (flat_rolled_nickel_material)

Record the mass of flat-rolled nickel material that is formed and welded when the declared product follows a welded tube or pipe route.

• Selected flow: Flat-rolled nickel material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured flat-rolled feedstock mass consumed by the declared welded production lot; use not_applicable only when the selected route does not use flat-rolled feedstock
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_mass_records
• Sources:

Fitting-route forging feedstock (nickel_alloy_forging)

Record the mass of nickel-alloy forging stock that is shaped into a wrought fitting when this feedstock form is used. Other actual fitting feedstock forms must be added as their own atomic rows.

• Selected flow: Nickel-alloy forging
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured forging mass consumed by the declared fitting production lot; use not_applicable only when the selected route does not use forging stock
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Route-specific (route_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_material_mass_records
• Sources:

Electrical energy (electricity)

Record metered electrical energy consumed by forming, welding, heat treatment, finishing, testing, ventilation, and directly attributable auxiliary equipment within the foreground boundary.

• Selected flow: Electricity 890a70b7-b677-4e2a-8a1b-7d017e0a10ae
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered electricity allocated to the declared production lot and converted to MJ
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_electricity_records
• Sources:

Gaseous natural gas (natural_gas)

Record natural gas combusted on site for furnaces or other directly attributable heating. Use not_applicable when no natural gas crosses the foreground boundary.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered or purchase-reconciled gas volume at the declared reference conditions
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_natural_gas_records
• Sources:

Process water (process_water)

Record net process water supplied for cooling, rinsing, descaling, cleaning, or hydrostatic testing when it crosses the foreground boundary. Exclude recirculated water that does not cross the boundary.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured make-up water mass, or measured volume converted with documented density, less separately metered return leaving as product water
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_process_water_records
• Sources:

Argon shielding gas (industrial_argon)

Record industrial argon supplied to welding or protected-atmosphere operations when it physically crosses the foreground boundary. Do not combine it with carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen, or another gas.

• Selected flow: Industrial argon
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered, cylinder-stock-reconciled, or supplier-invoiced argon volume at the declared reference conditions; use not_applicable when argon is not used
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_argon_records
• Sources:

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Accepted reference product (reference_product)

Record only product that has passed the declared dimensional, condition, and inspection or test requirements at the factory gate. Rejects and offcuts are not included in this output.

• Selected flow: Tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings, of nickel
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted-product mass normalized to exactly 1,000 kg
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg accepted reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_accepted_product_records
• Sources:

Waste flows

Segregated nickel-alloy fabrication scrap (nickel_alloy_fabrication_scrap)

Record offcuts, chips, trimmings, rejected pieces, and other metallic fabrication scrap only when they are segregated as one nickel-alloy scrap stream with the declared grade family. Smelter slag is not this flow.

• Selected flow: Nickel-alloy fabrication scrap
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass leaving the foreground process as segregated nickel-alloy fabrication scrap
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_scrap_records
• Sources:

Nickel-bearing process wastewater (nickel_bearing_process_wastewater)

Record aqueous waste from wet descaling, rinsing, cleaning, or hydrostatic-test water management only when it leaves the foreground process as a separately characterized nickel-bearing wastewater stream.

• Selected flow: Nickel-bearing process wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: measured wastewater volume leaving the foreground boundary; use not_applicable when no such wastewater stream leaves the process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources:

Elementary flows

Fossil carbon dioxide from on-site natural-gas combustion (carbon_dioxide_fossil)

Calculate only the direct fossil carbon dioxide emitted from natural gas combusted inside the foreground boundary. Upstream fuel-supply and electricity-generation emissions remain in background datasets.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: recorded natural-gas use multiplied by the documented site, supplier, or jurisdictional carbon content and oxidation basis
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg accepted product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_natural_gas_records
• Sources:

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_avoid	shared operations	Prefer subdivision, separate metering, production-order records, or physically traceable consumption so the declared nickel product receives its measured inputs and outputs without allocation.
allocation_shared_services	unavoidable shared utilities and services	When subdivision is not practicable, allocate shared electricity, fuel, water, and common services using the causal physical driver documented for that operation, such as machine time, furnace occupancy, processed mass, or tested length. Disclose the driver and sensitivity.
allocation_scrap	nickel-alloy fabrication scrap	Record scrap mass and destination separately. Do not subtract scrap from feedstock input or credit avoided primary nickel inside the gate-to-gate inventory. If a study applies a recycling allocation or substitution credit, report it outside the uncredited foreground inventory and disclose the method.

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_material_mass_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	nickel-bearing feedstock	weighbridge, scale, goods-receipt, stock, and production-order records	material grade; product form; supplier; lot; gross mass; tare; returned mass; route	reconcile calibrated mass records to production orders and inventory movements	kg	each receipt and production lot	representative continuous 12-month period or all lots in a shorter declared campaign	all foreground manufacturing operations	sum net consumed mass by atomic feedstock row, then normalize by accepted-product mass	scale calibration; material certificates; purchase and stock reconciliation; lot traceability
cp_electricity_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	electricity	submeter and facility meter records	meter id; opening and closing readings; kWh; production order; allocation driver	use submetered consumption first; reconcile to facility totals and document any allocation	kWh and MJ	each shift or production lot; monthly reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	all included equipment and attributable auxiliaries	convert kWh to MJ, allocate only unavoidable shared use, and normalize by accepted-product mass	meter calibration; invoices; reconciliation and allocation worksheet
cp_natural_gas_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	natural gas and direct fossil CO2	gas meter, invoice, fuel analysis, and production records	volume; pressure; temperature; dry or wet basis; carbon content or calorific value; oxidation basis; furnace; production order	reconcile meters and invoices; retain the factor source used for direct CO2 calculation	m3 and kg CO2	each production lot or monthly with production-order allocation	representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	on-site combustion within the foreground boundary	correct volume to the declared condition, allocate by causal furnace driver, calculate direct CO2, and normalize by accepted-product mass	meter calibration; invoices; gas specification; factor document; calculation worksheet
cp_process_water_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	process water	water meters, tank records, and operating logs	inlet volume or mass; return; discharge; density; operation; production order	meter make-up and separately metered return; document density conversion where used	kg and m3	each shift or production lot; monthly reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	all included wet operations	calculate net boundary-crossing process water and normalize by accepted-product mass	meter calibration; water balance; density basis; operating log
cp_argon_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	industrial argon	gas meter, cylinder stock, and invoice records	gas identity; purity; cylinder capacity; opening and closing stock; receipts; pressure; temperature; production order	meter or reconcile cylinder stock and purchases, excluding other shielding gases	m3	each production lot; monthly reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	welding or protected-atmosphere operations that use argon	correct to the declared volume condition and normalize by accepted-product mass	gas certificate; meter calibration or cylinder reconciliation; invoices
cp_accepted_product_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	accepted product	calibrated scale, production, inspection, and test records	product form; grade; dimensions; route; lot; measured mass; disposition; test status	sum only accepted saleable product mass linked to the declared lot	kg	each production lot	all represented lots	factory-gate accepted product	divide every included exchange by accepted mass and multiply by 1,000 kg	scale calibration; inspection release; test certificate; lot reconciliation
cp_scrap_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	nickel-alloy fabrication scrap	scrap scales, bins, transfer notes, and disposition records	grade family; source operation; mass; destination; recovery status; lot	weigh segregated metallic scrap and prevent mixing with slag or non-nickel waste	kg	each bin transfer and production lot	representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	all included fabrication and finishing operations	sum segregated scrap by grade family and normalize by accepted-product mass	scale calibration; bin identification; transfer note; mass-balance reconciliation
cp_wastewater_records	integrated_nickel_product_manufacture	nickel-bearing process wastewater	discharge meter, tank, treatment, and laboratory records	volume; source operation; nickel concentration; other declared constituents; treatment; destination; lot	meter the separately characterized stream and retain representative analyses	m3	each discharge or daily total; analysis at the documented compliance frequency	representative continuous 12-month period or declared campaign	wet operations within the foreground boundary	sum only the qualifying stream leaving the boundary and normalize by accepted-product mass	meter calibration; sampling plan; laboratory report; treatment and discharge record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	all inventory rows	normalized amount = lot amount / accepted-product mass × 1,000 kg	atomic lot amount; measured accepted-product mass	amount per 1,000 kg accepted product
calc_gas_volume	natural gas and industrial argon	Convert recorded volume to the declared pressure, temperature, and moisture reference condition before aggregation; retain the conversion inputs and equation.	recorded volume; pressure; temperature; moisture basis; declared reference condition	corrected m3
calc_direct_fossil_co2	direct fossil carbon dioxide	Multiply corrected natural-gas use by the documented carbon-content or emission factor and oxidation basis; exclude upstream supply emissions.	corrected gas use; factor and unit; oxidation basis	kg fossil CO2 per 1,000 kg accepted product
calc_mass_reconciliation	nickel-bearing material balance	Reconcile feedstock mass with accepted product, segregated scrap, returned material, documented stock change, and other individually recorded nickel-bearing outputs. Investigate and disclose unexplained differences.	feedstock; product; scrap; returns; stock change; other nickel-bearing outputs	lot-level mass-balance difference

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity	product and nickel-bearing material rows	Preserve product form, grade or UNS designation, specification, dimensions, route, heat-treatment condition, and lot linkage; do not use a generic nickel proxy without disclosure.	material certificates; purchase records; production order; inspection release
dq_measurement	mass, energy, gas, and water records	Use calibrated meters or reconciled business records, retain unit conversions, and explain allocation of unavoidable shared records.	calibration records; invoices; meter reconciliation; conversion worksheet
dq_temporal	foreground dataset	Prefer a continuous representative 12-month period. A shorter campaign is allowed only when all represented lots are included and seasonality, maintenance, and start-up effects are disclosed.	dated production, utility, maintenance, and shutdown records
dq_completeness	foreground exchanges	Reconcile purchase, meter, stock, scrap, wastewater, and emission records. Add actual unlisted exchanges as separate atomic rows and document any cut-off with its quantitative significance.	mass and energy balances; waste manifests; discharge records; completeness checklist
dq_source_match	background datasets	Match feedstock grade family, product form, recycled-content claim, geography, technology, and delivery boundary; document every proxy and expected bias.	dataset metadata and proxy assessment

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_identity	reference flow	Confirm that the accepted output is a nickel or nickel-alloy tube, pipe, or wrought tube or pipe fitting within the declared scope; verify that grade, form, route, dimensions, condition, test specification, and factory-gate state are present.	unsd-cpc-3-0-structure-2025; astm-b161-25; astm-b619-b619m-19r23; astm-b366-b366m-25
validate_route	process model	Confirm that only performed route operations are included and that seamless, welded, and wrought-fitting alternatives have not been combined into one fictitious production route.	astm-b161-25; astm-b619-b619m-19r23; astm-b366-b366m-25
validate_reference_amount	normalized inventory	Confirm that accepted-product output equals 1,000 kg after normalization and that every included exchange uses the same accepted-product denominator.
validate_material_balance	nickel-bearing inputs and outputs	Recalculate the lot-level mass balance and investigate unexplained differences between feedstock, accepted product, scrap, returns, stock changes, and other nickel-bearing outputs.
validate_energy_emissions	electricity, natural gas, and direct emissions	Confirm electricity is recorded as energy, gas reference conditions are declared, direct fossil CO2 is calculated only for on-site combustion, and upstream electricity and fuel-supply emissions are not duplicated as direct emissions.
validate_atomic_inventory	all inventory rows	Confirm every selected flow is one atomic physical, chemical, waste, or elementary exchange; verify all UUID-empty rows are explicitly unresolved and no generic utility, chemical, waste, or emission group substitutes for actual flows.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Foreground factory-gate production dataset eligible for downstream use as a secondary_dataset or background_dataset after review
downstream_use	Product LCAs, lifecycle models, procurement comparisons, and supply-chain inventories requiring a declared nickel tube, pipe, or fitting manufacturing dataset
allowed_use	Use when product form, grade family, route, dimensions, heat-treatment and surface condition, geography, technology, recycled-content basis, and factory-gate boundary are sufficiently matched and all unresolved flow identities are reviewed
excluded_use	Direct representation of upstream nickel production, cast fittings, stainless-steel products outside the nickel-alloy declaration, installed piping systems, use-stage service, maintenance, or end-of-life
required_metadata	PCR id; product form; grade and material standard; route; dimensions; heat-treatment and surface condition; test specification; site geography; technology; production period; accepted yield; feedstock forms and recycled-content basis; allocation; cut-offs; source dataset versions; unresolved identities
required_quality_disclosure	Meter coverage and calibration; record reconciliation; allocation drivers; mass-balance result; gas reference conditions; carbon-factor source; wastewater characterization; temporal representativeness; proxy choices; exclusions and known limitations
update_trigger	Change in grade family, product form, forming or welding route, heat-treatment or descaling technology, energy source, feedstock recycled-content basis, site geography, allocation method, or a material shift in accepted yield, scrap, water, fuel, or emissions

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
unsd-cpc-3-0-structure-2025	Official guidance (official_guidance)	United Nations Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 structure, 30 June 2025, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Official CPC 41524 title and classification hierarchy; classification context only
astm-b161-25	Standard (standard)	ASTM International, ASTM B161-25, Standard Specification for Nickel Seamless Pipe and Tube, https://store.astm.org/b0161-25.html (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Seamless nickel pipe and tube boundary, cold-worked or agreed hot-worked condition, and inspection or test requirements
astm-b619-b619m-19r23	Standard (standard)	ASTM International, ASTM B619/B619M-19(2023), Standard Specification for Welded Nickel and Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Pipe, https://store.astm.org/b0619_b0619m-19r23.html (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Welded-pipe feedstock and process decomposition: flat-rolled alloy, automatic welding without filler, conditional cold work, solution annealing, descaling, and testing
astm-b366-b366m-25	Standard (standard)	ASTM International, ASTM B366/B366M-25, Standard Specification for Factory-Made Wrought Nickel and Nickel Alloy Fittings, https://store.astm.org/b0366_b0366m-25.html (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Wrought fitting scope and cast-fitting exclusion; eligible feedstock forms; shaping, heat treatment, and test requirements