NAICS 331210

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of U.S. economic statistics. First issued in 1997 under the Office of Management and Budget and updated every five years through 2022, NAICS enables comparability of industry data across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. ²

NAICS 331210 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing iron and steel pipe and tube from purchased metal, including welded, riveted, or seamless products. It excludes integrated steel mills that make steel and then convert it into pipe and tube, which are classified under 331111. ¹

What this NAICS covers

• Manufacturing welded pipe and tube from purchased iron or steel. ¹
• Manufacturing riveted pipe and tube from purchased iron or steel. ¹
• Manufacturing seamless pipe and tube using purchased steel. ¹
• Producing iron and steel pipe and tube when steelmaking is not performed on site (non-integrated operations). ¹
• Converting purchased iron or steel into pipe and tube forms as the primary manufacturing activity. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Common exclusions and borderlines

• Making steel and then producing pipe and tube (integrated mills) is classified in 331111, not 331210. ¹
• Cast iron pipe and fittings are classified in 331511, not 331210. ¹
• Pipe system fittings (except cast iron couplings) fall under 332919. ¹
• Manufacturing metal pipes and pipe fittings from pipe produced elsewhere is classified in 332996. ¹

Common federal PSC alignments

• Purchases of iron and steel pipe or tube are frequently coded under PSC 4710 (Pipe and Tube). ⁴
• Purchases emphasizing pipe/tube fittings typically use PSC 4730 (Fittings and Specialties; Hose, Pipe, and Tube). ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 331210?

  • Establishments manufacture iron and steel pipe and tube from purchased metal using welded, riveted, or seamless methods. The key is starting with purchased iron or steel rather than producing the steel in-house. ¹

• How does 331210 differ from 331111?

  • 331210 covers pipe/tube made from purchased steel. 331111 covers making steel (and, if integrated, further processing that steel into pipe/tube). The boundary turns on whether the establishment makes steel. ¹

• Are steel pipe fittings or cast iron pipes included in 331210?

  • No. Cast iron pipe/fittings belong to 331511. Pipe system fittings (other than cast iron couplings) fall under 332919. Fabricating pipe/fittings from purchased pipe is 332996. ¹

• When will federal datasets fully reflect the 2022 NAICS vintage for 331210?

  • Census began publishing 2022 NAICS data with the 2022 Economic Census “First Look” in January 2024 and plans to transition remaining programs by the end of calendar year 2027 (with limited exceptions on five-year intervals). ³

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 331210 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 31–33 (includes the official 331210 industry definition and cross-references). ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (vintage, scope, and transition timeline). ³
• U.S. Census Bureau — About Industry (history of NAICS, OMB role, and five-year update cycle). ²

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Search — 331210: Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased Steel. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=331210&year=2022
2. U.S. Census Bureau. About Industry — background on NAICS, OMB, and five-year revisions (1997–2022). https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. Defense Pricing and Contracting (Acquisition.gov). DFARS PGI Part 208 — coordinated acquisition assignments listing PSC 4710 and 4730. https://www.acquisition.gov/dfarspgi/pgi-part-208-required-sources-supplies-and-services