Tanap Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project: Piping Welding Specification (Asme B31.3)
Tanap Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project: Piping Welding Specification (Asme B31.3)
BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
TANAP
TRANS ANATOLIAN NATURAL GAS
PIPELINE PROJECT
SECURITY LEVEL 2
SECURITY LEVEL 2
TANAP DOĞALGAZ İLETİM A.Ş. (TANAP) 2014. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TANAP CONFIDENTIAL. CONTAINS INFORMATION THAT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY TO TANAP OR ITS AFFILIATES,
CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, AND MAY NOT BE USED, REPRODUCED OR DISCLOSED WITHOUT TANAP’S PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION.
ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS ARE CONTROLLED. ANY PRINTED COPY WILL BE UNCONTROLLED AND MAY BECOME OUTDATED
Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
Revision
Rev. Date Issued Update / Amendment Details
Description
Discipline Internal
P2-A Check 15/10/2013 First issue
Inter Discipline
P2-B Check 16/10/2013 Issue for internal check
P2-C Issued for Review 29/10/2013 Issue for client review
Issued as
P2-0 approved 09/01/2014 Issued as approved following the incorporation of client comments
1 Please note that this document and its references shall Engineering Contractor identifies the requirement for a
be subject of the MDDR. Therefore, as long as the specification to cover Welding of piping systems within
MDDR is not approved the actual review of the the compressor stations.
document can only be understood as a provisional one.
2 Page 6, Section 2.1 Reference Codes and Standards. API 1104 not included as this is specific to welding of
Please add API 1104, Welding of Pipelines and related piping systems within the plant designed to ASME B31.3.
Facilities. Separate specifications will be produced to address the
requirements for pipeline welding that will be based on
API 1104 for onshore and DnV OS-F101 for offshore.
3 Page 8, Section 2.3. Table with referenced Project Reference to project documents listed is not required.
Documents is missing, please add accordingly. This
specification shall be referenced to Piping Material
Class Index, Material Selection Guide, Piping Material
Line Class Specification etc.
5 Page 23, Section 8 Welding of Duplex Stainless Steel. This specification can be applied to a number of different
Why you mention this particular Stainless steel here? alloys. Whilst the application of duplex has not been
Where has it come from? Please reference to the identified to date, specialist equipment packages may
applicable Project Document utilise such alloys for which this specification is
applicable. As duplex requires special requirements it has
its own section.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
HOLDS
Input Planned
No. Section Description
From Date
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................... 5
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
1.0 SCOPE
1.1 This Specification establishes the welding, nondestructive examination (NDE), and heat-
treating requirements for field welded and supplier-fabricated piping, and piping sub-
assemblies. It is not applicable to piping specified as operating in H2S (sour) service or
any other environmental cracking service e.g. caustic, amine, hydrofluoric acid service.
1.2 The following items are also within the scope of this specification, unless specifically
exempt in the Purchase Order or other purchase documentation:
1.3 Unless specifically stated in the Purchase Order or other Project documents, the
following are not included in the Scope of this document:
1.4 For purposes of this document, the term “Supplier” refers to the
Seller/fabricator/manufacturer of shop-fabricated piping and sub-assemblies and to
subcontractors or other organizations performing field fabrication and assembly of piping
sub-assemblies.
The term “Buyer” is the issuer of the Purchase Order, or an individual authorized to
represent the Buyer.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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2.2 The reference codes and standards listed in Table 2-1 are applicable. Editions current
on the 1st July 2013 apply.
Standard/Specification
Title
Number
API RP 582 Welding Guidelines for the Chemical, Oil, and Gas
Industries
API TR 938-C Use of Duplex Stainless Steels in the Oil Refining
Industry
ASME B31.3 Process Piping
ASME SEC II Part C Specification for Welding Shielding Gases
SFA 5.32
ASME Section V Nondestructive Examination
ASME SEC VIII, Div.1 Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels
ASME Section IX Qualification Standard for Welding and Brazing
Procedures, Welders, Brazers, and Welding and Brazing
Operators
ASTM A 370 Standard Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical
Testing of Steel Products
ASTM A 923 Standard Test Methods for Detecting Detrimental
Intermetallic Phases in Duplex Austenitic/Ferritic
Stainless Steels
ASTM E 92 Standard Test Method for Vickers Hardness of Metallic
Materials
ASTM E 562 Standard Test Method for Determining Volume Fraction
by Systematic Manual Point Count
ASTM G 48 Standard Test Methods for Pitting and Crevice Corrosion
Resistance of Stainless Steels and Related Alloys by
Use of Ferric Chloride Solution
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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Standard/Specification
Title
Number
AWS A3.0 Standard Welding Terms and Definitions, including
Terms for Brazing, Soldering, Thermal Spraying and
Thermal Cutting
AWS 4.2 Calibrating Magnetic Instruments to Measure Delta
Ferrite Content of Austenitic and Duplex Ferritic-
Austenitic Stainless Steel Weld Metal
AWS D1.9 Structural Welding Code - Titanium
AWS D10.10 Recommended Practices for Local Heating of Welds in
Piping
EN 10204 Metallic Products – Types of Inspection Documents
ISO 2560 Welding Consumables – Covered Electrodes for Manual
Metal Arc Welding of Non Alloy and Fine Grain Steels –
Classification
ISO 14171 Welding consumables - Solid wires, solid wire-flux and
tubular cored electrode-flux combinations for submerged
arc welding of non alloy and fine grain steels -
Classification
ISO 14174 Welding consumables — Fluxes for submerged arc
welding and electroslag welding —Classification
ISO 14343 Welding Consumables - Wire Electrodes, Wires and
Rods for Arc Welding of Stainless and Heat-Resisting
Steels - Classification
ISO 14344 Welding consumables - Procurement of filler materials
and fluxes
ISO 18275 Welding Consumables - Covered Electrodes for Manual
Metal Arc Welding of High Strength Steels -
Classification
ISO 18276 Welding Consumables - Tubular Cored Electrodes for
Gas Shielded Metal Arc Welding of High Strength Steels
- Classification
ISO 21952 Welding Consumables - Wire Electrodes, Wires and
Rods for Arc Welding of Creep-Resisting Steels –
Classification
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
Abbreviation Definition
EN Euro norm
FN Ferrite number
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
Abbreviation Definition
PT Penetrant testing
RT Radiographic testing
SS Stainless steel
TC Thermocouple
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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Abbreviation Definition
3.2 When additional procedures are required by this Specification or other project
specifications or purchase documents, the Suppliers’ procedures shall be submitted to
the Buyer for review and acceptance. Examples are:
3.3 The Supplier is responsible for transmitting relevant and applicable project specifications
to their sub-suppliers, prior to start of the sub-supplier’s work. The Supplier is also
responsible for submittal of sub-supplier procedures (including NDE, welding
procedures, weld procedure application information, and/or weld/NDE maps) to the
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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Buyer. The Supplier shall review the sub-suppliers’ procedures verifying that code and
project specification requirements have been met. The Supplier shall then submit the
sub-supplier procedures to the Buyer for review and acceptance.
3.4 The Buyer issued Form 167 will identify piping classes, fluid commodities, pipe
diameters, wall thicknesses, applicable code of construction, and project technical
requirements. Buyer will supply the Form 167 to the Supplier. The Form 167 shall be
completed by the Supplier, and then returned to the Buyer to allow verification of
qualification parameters and suitability for use. Application of a weld procedure to pipe
joint(s) may be referenced by means of typical pipe spool drawings and/or weld
procedure application lists. These drawings/documents shall be referenced in the Form
167, and submitted at the same time as the Form 167.
A blank sample Form 167 is shown in Appendix 1 to illustrate the format used.
Form 167 is a tool used to consolidate and communicate Buyer’s welding, heat
treatment, and NDE requirements for the project pipe classes. The Form 167 does not
relieve the Supplier of the responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Purchase
Order. As with other Purchase Order documents, conflicts shall be brought to the
Buyer’s attention for written resolution.
3.5 Submitted welding procedures shall be qualified in accordance with the requirements of
the applicable code of construction, ASME Section IX or other project required
international welding standard, the requirements of this specification, and other
requirements in the purchase documents.
3.7 It is not the Buyer's intent to require revisions to Supplier's qualified WPS’s to meet the
additional procedure qualification requirements of this specification. However,
amendments or addenda to their standard qualified WPS's shall be issued to satisfy the
project requirements. Amendments or addenda shall become part of the WPS for the
purchase order, and the additional or modified requirements shall be communicated to
the welders employed in the work.
3.8 At the Buyer’s option, new welding procedure qualification(s) required for execution of a
purchase order may be witnessed by the Buyer’s representative(s). During the execution
of Supplier engineering work, the Supplier shall identify procedures that will require
qualification or re-qualification for the purchase order. Adequate notice, prior to
beginning actual welding procedure qualification, shall be provided to the Buyer.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
3.9 For repair of a weld, either the original WPS or one specifically submitted and accepted
by the Buyer as a designated repair WPS shall be used.
3.10 Repair plans for repair of welds or base metals shall be submitted for review, prior to
use. A repair plan shall include the following, as a minimum:
• The examination method to be used in defining the type and the extent of the
defect
• Methods to be used for removing the defect, and the testing to be conducted to
ensure that the defect has been removed
• WPS with supporting PQR to be employed and NDE methods to be used to
inspect the completed repair1
• PWHT to be applied, and subsequent NDE
3.11 PWHT procedures shall meet the requirements stated in this specification, and shall be
submitted to the Buyer for review and acceptance prior to PWHT.
3.12 NDE procedures shall meet the requirements of ASME Section V and the
acceptance/rejection criteria of the applicable code of construction, and the requirements
of this specification. NDE procedures shall be submitted to Buyer for review and
acceptance prior to fabrication.
3.12.1 Each NDE procedure proposed shall be signed off by a responsible Supplier or NDE
sub-contractor employee, showing a review to, and compliance with, the latest edition
of the relevant code. Each NDE procedure shall state the specific acceptance criteria
to be used, and not merely a reference to criteria stated in another standard or code.
3.12.2 For NDE processes other than automated ultrasonic examination (AUT), individual
NDE personnel qualifications will be verified at the Supplier’s facility by the Buyer’s
representative, and shall not be submitted through the Buyer’s document management
system, unless otherwise requested in the purchase documents or subsequent written
correspondence.
1
Note: SMAW shall not be used to repair carbon steel welds made by FCAW
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
4.1.1 The following limitations apply to Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
4.1.2 The following limitations apply to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Back purge of the first two layers, minimum, is required for nickel base and
titanium alloys and for ferrous alloys 2-1/4 Cr 1 Mo, and higher.
• GTAW root and hot passes are required for all lubrication, hydraulic, and
instrument piping.
• GTAW root and hot passes are required for piping identified in project documents
as compressor suction piping.
• Filler material is required, except for thin-wall tubing (nom. Wall ≤ 3mm),
expansion bellows and titanium.
• Use of “pulsed” mode (GTAW-P) requires specific Buyer acceptance.
4.1.3 The following limitations apply to Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW):
• For pipe sizes < DN100, welding shall be performed in the 1G rotated position.
• Back purge of the first two layers, minimum, is required for nickel base and
titanium alloys and for ferrous alloys 2-1/4 Cr 1 Mo, and higher.
• Globular transfer requires specific Buyer acceptance for root pass welding.
• Modified dip transfer process such as Surface Tension Transfer (STT), Regulated
Metal Deposition (RMD) or Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) may be accepted, with
prior Buyer approval. Seller shall submit prior experience and reference list, with
contacts, prior to consideration.
4.2 Subject to the limitations listed the following welding processes shall be used for all
welding other than root pass for open root welds.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
4.2.1 The following limitations apply to Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
4.2.2 The following limitations apply to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Filler material is required, except for thin-wall tubing (nom. Wall ≤ 3mm),
expansion bellows and titanium.
• All groove welds in DN 40 and smaller shall be welded with GTAW.
• For pipe sizes < DN100, welding shall be performed in the 1G rotated position.
• Short Arc Maximum base metal thickness shall be 10 mm;
o Shall not be used for welding of branch connections or socket welds;
o Shall require guided side bend specimens and UT examination for
procedure and welder qualification.
• Spray Arc, No limitations.
• Pulsed Arc, No limitations.
• Globular Arc Maximum base metal thickness shall be 10 mm; restricted to
carbon steel materials, only.
4.2.4 The following limitations apply to Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW):
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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5.2 PQR for WPS specifying ‘G’ classification electrodes shall be separately qualified for
each consumable manufacturer, grade and heat number of the electrode used in
production.
5.4 Welding consumables shall be manufactured to meet test requirements of the relevant
ISO consumable standards (e.g., ISO 18274, ISO 2560, ISO 14171, ISO 18275, ISO
14174, ISO 21952, ISO 14343 and ISO 18276), the ASME SFA 5 series or the AWS A5
series.
5.5 Welding consumables shall be supplied in accordance with ISO 14344/ASME SFA
5.01/AWS A5.01 lot classification as follows:
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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5.6 Welding consumables shall be readily identifiable at all times. Identification shall include
the country of origin, including the origin of the original billet, bar, rod, and converted
wire.
5.7 GTAW filler wire, in storage or in use, shall be identified by a tag, metal stamp, or
surface-etch attached to each length of wire.
5.8 Carbon steel or low-alloy steel welding consumables required for welding on piping with
a MDMT colder than -29°C shall be toughness tested and certified (on the MTR) based
on Charpy V-Notch (CVN) testing of each heat/lot to be used in production. CVN test
temperature shall be no warmer than the Minimum Design Metal Temperature (MDMT)
of the fabricated component.
5.8.1 MTR’s shall be available at the Supplier’s facility for review by the Buyer (or
representative), but are not required to be submitted, unless specifically required
elsewhere in the purchase documents.
5.8.2 Completed welds of carbon steel or low-alloy steel for piping with a MDMT colder than -
29°C, that have been found to have been made without properly tested/certified
electrodes and/or filler metals, shall be completely removed and re-welded using
certified consumables
5.9 For cryogenic service, MDMT colder than -101°C, austenitic stainless steel welding
consumables shall be selected such that resulting weld deposits have chemical
composition and associated ferrite content to balance the requirements for solidification
cracking resistance and low-temperature toughness. WPS shall state the same specific
brand, brand name, and type as qualified by the PQR.
5.10 Austenitic stainless steel welding consumables required for the welding components with
MDMT colder than -101°C, and toughness tested per ASME SEC VIII Div. 1, UHA 51
shall have CVN testing performed for each heat/lot used in production. Test results
(absorbed energy and lateral expansion, when reported) shall be shown on the MTR.
5.11 Austenitic stainless steel weld metal (A-No. 8) shall meet the ferrite requirements below
(measured prior to PWHT):
• For general service, the minimum ferrite number for non-stabilized stainless steel
(e.g. 304, 316L) weld metal shall be 5 FN.
• For cryogenic service, no minimum ferrite is specified, a written procedure
demonstrating precautions to prevent solidification cracking is required, and
100% PT for all welds shall be specified.
• For applications with operating temperatures warmer than 425⁰C, or subject to
PWHT and/or stabilizing heat treatments, ferrite number shall be no greater
than FN 9.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
• The filler metal shall closely match the base metal composition, including
vanadium and nitrogen additions, where applicable.
• Grade 9 base materials shall not be welded with Grade 91 electrodes and fillers,
and vice versa.
5.13 Chemical composition for each heat of filler material used to join creep strength
enhanced ferritic (CSEF) alloys P-No. 15E, shall have the manganese (Mn) plus nickel
(Ni) content limited to 1.5 percent maximum or shall be certified by the manufacturer to
have a lower transformation temperature upon heating, (Ac1) greater than 777°C.
5.14 Filler metals used to join CSEF alloys P-No. 15E, procedure qualification test data shall
include the CVN values obtained at +21°C and full as-deposited weld metal chemical
composition. The minimum CVN values shall be 27 J avg., 20 J min., at + 21°C.
5.15 SMAW electrodes used to join CSEF alloys P-No. 15E shall be EXX15 and EXX16.
5.16 For 1 to 3% Cr low-alloy steels, filler metal shall have a low residual element content
Bruscato Factor (X Factor) ≤ 15, except FCAW filler metal shall have X Factor ≤ 25.
Bruscato Factor, X Factor = (10P + 5Sb + 4Sn + As)/100, where the concentration of
each element is given in weight parts per million.
5.17 For dissimilar metal welds, Table 5-1 shall be used for electrode and filler material
selection. Use of other filler metal alloys requires the written acceptance of the Buyer
prior to fabrication.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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5.18 When PWHT of dissimilar metal welds is required, the carbon or low-alloy steel piping
component weld bevel shall be "buttered” (min. thickness 5 mm) with the selected and
accepted alloy filler material, prior to PWHT. The buttered section shall then be
subjected to PWHT, and shall then be mechanically beveled. Then the buttered section
may be welded to the high-alloy component, without further PWHT. The selected WPS
shall have been properly qualified for buttering, in accordance with ASME Section IX.
5.19 In general consumables shall have diffusible hydrogen limited to H8, or as dictated
elsewhere in this specification.
5.20 Cellulosic electrodes may be used for root and hot pass of single sided groove welds in
carbon steel pipe provided a minimum preheat of 149⁰C is applied.
5.21 For SMAW and FCAW welding of pipe with wall thickness > 9.5 mm, diffusible hydrogen
designation shall be H5 (or less) for weld metal with minimum specified tensile strength
(SMTS) > 587 MPa, H8 for weld SMTS between 483 MPa and 587 MPa, and H16 for
SMTS < 483 MPa.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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5.22 CSEF SMAW and FCAW filler metals shall be purchased with diffusible hydrogen
designator H4.
5.23 See Section 8 for electrode and filler metal requirements specific to Duplex Stainless
Steels.
5.24 The Seller's welding consumable handling procedure shall limit the time consumables
may be removed from storage. This period shall never exceed eight hours. Electrodes
that exceed exposure limits shall be re-baked (according to Manufacturers' guidelines)
prior to reuse. Only 1 re-bake cycle is permitted. Wet, damaged, or contaminated
electrodes shall be discarded.
5.26 Segregation of carbon steel, low-alloy, and high-alloy consumables is required during
storage, baking, holding, and handling (including portable rod ovens).
5.27 Supplier’s WPS shall reference the Manufacturer and trade name of welding
consumables to be used in production.
6.2 The specific gas mixture combinations used for weld shielding and purging shall be
documented on the PQR and shown on the WPS. Proposed changes in documented
gas mixture shall require revision of the WPS, and may require requalification of the
WPS.
6.3 Welding-grade Argon shall be used as the purging gas or backing gas, when purging or
backing is required.
6.4 Backing gas is required for austenitic stainless steel (P-No. 8) socket welds when pipe
thickness is < 2.4 mm.
6.5 Use of soluble dams for minimization of backing gas volume requires written acceptance
by the Buyer.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
6.6 For SAW, active or alloy-containing fluxes are prohibited. Only neutral-type fluxes are
acceptable (fluxes with a basicity index >1.0 using Boniszewski formula).
NOTE: Fluxes for welding of 300 series stainless steels may contain up to 2% chromium to compensate for
oxidation rates in the arc. The specific flux (brand and product number) must be accepted by the Buyer in
writing.
NOTE: For welding CSEF alloys P-No. 15E, a highly basic flux is required.
6.6 The use of re-claimed, clean, un-reacted flux may be acceptable. Buyer’s review and
acceptance of the Supplier’s procedure for cleaning, verification, and re-use is required,
prior to flux re-claiming and use.
6.7 The WPS shall specify, and production fabrication shall utilize, the same brand, trade
name, and product number flux as that used for the procedure qualification (PQR).
Changes in flux trade name, or product number shall require re-qualification of the
welding procedure.
7.2 Welding shall be protected from wind, rain, and other conditions that could adversely
affect weld quality. Welding shall not be performed when the ambient temperature at the
welding location is colder than -18°C. Minimum metal temperatures for welding,
required by the applicable Code and/or WPS, shall be verified prior to commencement of
welding.
7.3 Surfaces to be welded (including bevel faces) shall be dry and free of mill scale, oil,
grease, dirt, paint, galvanizing, and other contaminants, for a distance of at least 25 mm
from the joint preparation surfaces on the inside and outside (top and bottom) surfaces.
7.4 Welders depositing two or more layers by GMAW-S (GMAW short-circuit mode), shall
have their welder qualification testing to include side bend tests and UT examination.
Welder qualification test results for GMAW-S will be reviewed at the Supplier’s facilities
by the Buyer’s representative.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
7.6 Primers and bevel protection compounds shall be completely removed from the weld
bevel to a minimum distance of 25 mm back from the weld bevel prior to welding, on the
inside and outside (top and bottom) surfaces.
7.7 Plans to weld through “weldable primers” or other protective compounds shall require
prior acceptance by the Buyer. Specific PQRs that have included the type and brand of
compound proposed shall be submitted for acceptance by the Buyer, prior to fabrication.
7.8 A solvent wipe of the weld preparation surface is required prior to welding of nickel
alloys. The WPS(s) shall specify a pre-welding solvent wiping requirement in order to
remove low melting temperature contaminants, such as sulphur and other compounds
contained in cutting fluids or machining oils.
7.9 Weld bevel preparations for P-No. 4 and higher alloys shall be machined or ground back
to bright metal if they have been flame or arc cut.
7.10 For GMAW-S, weld bevel surfaces, as well as 3 mm (min.) of the inside diameter
surface, shall be ground to clean bright metal immediately prior to welding.
7.11 Permanently installed backing rings or straps shall not be used. Use of temporary
backing rings or straps requires written Buyer acceptance prior to use.
7.12 Purge dam materials (paper, holding tape, adhesive, etc.) shall be specifically
manufactured as water-dissolvable materials for use in welding purge operations and
used in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Use of excessive
amounts of material (e.g., “balling”, “wading”) shall be avoided.
7.13 Locations where dissolvable dams are installed shall be documented on the Supplier’s
weld maps or other weld procedure application documentation.
7.15 Individual weld layer thickness for SAW shall not exceed 13 mm.
7.16 Individual weld layer thickness for other processes shall not exceed 10 mm for materials
less than 32 mm thick, or 13 mm for base material thicker than 32 mm.
7.17 Weld joints for pressure-retaining applications shall have a minimum of two passes.
This includes socket welds and seal welds. The only exception is orbital tube welding of
thin-walled tubing.
7.18 When seal welding of threaded joints is specified, both the male and female parts shall
have contaminants (e.g. grease, oil, cutting fluids, lubricating or sealing tape) removed
from the threaded surfaces prior to assembly and subsequent seal welding.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
7.19 Seal welds of threaded pipe and fittings shall extend outward from the base to cover
exposed threads, eliminating the presence of a notch.
7.21 Socket welds between P-No. 8 materials and other (non-P-No. 8) materials are
prohibited when the design temperature is greater than 121⁰C. Socket welds between
P-15E and P-15B, P15C, P-5A, P-4, P-3, and P-1 materials are prohibited.
7.22 Joint designs for clad pipe welded from one side only shall be avoided. Proposed joint
design(s) and WPS(s) to be used when the backside of the weld is not accessible, shall
be submitted to the Buyer for specific review and acceptance, prior to procedure
qualification. Previously qualified procedures and joint designs may be submitted to the
Buyer for review and acceptance. However, the Buyer reserves the right to require new
procedure qualifications for this work.
7.23 Each completed weld bead/pass shall be cleaned by chipping, grinding or wire brushing,
and verified free of slag, heavy oxide, glassy silicate deposits, or other foreign materials
before depositing successive beads. Each weld layer shall be free of excessive porosity
and irregularities (e.g. high spots, deep crevices).
7.24 Peening shall not be used. The use of pneumatic tools or steel shot for slag removal is
not considered peening.
7.25 Welding sequences in which a layer is not completed before the next layer is started
(known as block welding) are prohibited.
7.26 Except for root passes, vertical welding shall be “vertical-up” unless accepted in writing
by Buyer for each specific application, prior to start of fabrication.
7.27 Welding and fabrication of austenitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, and nickel
based materials shall be physically separated from fabrication of carbon steel or low-
alloy steel to prohibit contamination by tools, grinding dust, cutting or welding spatter,
etc.
7.28 Grinding wheels, rotary burrs, or stainless steel wire brushes used on austenitic
stainless steel, duplex stainless, or nickel base and non-ferrous alloys, shall not have
been previously used on carbon or low-alloy steels. Also, metal removal and abrasive
tools and media used on copper alloys and galvanized material shall be segregated from
other tools and materials.
7.29 Specific controls, procedures, and material handling techniques and handling equipment
shall be in place, throughout the facility, to eliminate the contact of stainless steel and
nickel alloys with carbon steels and/or low-alloy steels. These precautions shall include
lifting and handling gear such as slings, cables, gripping jaws, etc.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
7.30 Welding of austenitic stainless and duplex stainless steel components shall not occur in
the same area, and shall be physically and verifiably separated during storage and
fabrication.
7.32 Welding or arc strikes, heat treated carbon steel, or class 2 austenitic stainless steel
fasteners is not permitted.
7.33 Heating of pipe to correct alignment tolerances shall not be performed without Buyer’s
review and acceptance of the Seller’s detailed procedure.
7.34 Valves with soft seats that are to be welded into the piping systems shall be welded in
accordance with the valve manufacturer’s specific written instructions. These instructions
shall be submitted to the Buyer for review and acceptance, prior to fabrication.
7.35 Production ferrite tests are required for P-No.8 welds that are subject to PWHT or for
welds in services operating at temperatures above 425°C and for duplex stainless steel
welds. Production ferrite readings, if required by this specification or by other purchase
documents, shall be taken in the center of the weld cap prior to PWHT. Frequency of
production ferrite testing for pressure retaining austenitic stainless steel welds shall test
at the following frequency:
7.36 Tack welds that are to be incorporated into the final weld shall be dressed, and have a
profile that can be welded over without adversely affecting the weld quality. Tack welds
not incorporated into the weld shall be removed completely after they have
accomplished their task.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
8.2 Welding Procedure Qualification and welding of DSS components shall comply with the
requirements of API 938C Annex B & C with the following additions/limitations.
8.3 DSS filler metal shall contain between 0.14% and 0.20% nitrogen for 22% Cr alloy
grades (UNS S32205 & UNS S31803). For 25% Cr DSS grades (UNS S32750 and
UNS32760), filler metal shall contain between 0.23% and 0.28% nitrogen.
8.4 Thin wall tubing (< 3.0 mm wall) shall be welded with automatic welding equipment.
8.5 The Buyer shall be consulted for acceptable welding consumables for use in dissimilar
metal welds that include duplex stainless materials.
8.6 Buyer reserves the right to review and accept or reject the selected laboratory for phase
balance determination, based on verifiable experience. Ferrite test data rejected due to
lack of laboratory experience will be cause for repeat testing of coupons associated with
the PQR. The need for repeat of other DSS PQR’s will be based on results of the 1st
repeat.
8.7 In addition to ASME SEC IX requirements given in QW-403.6 the maximum qualified
thickness shall not exceed 1.2T for weld coupons. The minimum qualified production
wall thickness is the test coupon thickness (1T).
8.8 The same brand and product number for the consumables used during procedure
qualification (PQR) are required to be shown on the accompanying WPS and shall be
used in production welding. Actual Material Test Reports (MTR’s) for production
consumables (by heat/lot) are required; “typical” MTR’s are not acceptable.
8.9 Welds from both sides are to be back ground to clean metal, followed by a dye penetrant
examination (PT). This requirement shall be stated on the WPS and the performance of
the PT shall be documented and submitted as part of the Final Document Package.
8.10 The shielding and backing gas shall be Argon. Up to 3 % nitrogen may be added. The
composition of the shielding gas used for production welding shall be the same as that
stated on the WPS and used for the PQR.
8.11 Heat input and maximum interpass temperature for DSS shall comply with API 938C,
C.2.2 and C.2.3, respectively. In no case shall the interpass temperature during
production welding exceed the interpass temperature used for procedure qualification.
For thickness < 6 mm interpass temperature shall not exceed 100⁰C.
8.12 If a defect indication requires repair by welding, only one attempt at repair is permitted.
If the defect (or part of the defect) remains after repair and re-examination, or a new
rejectable defect has been added, the weld and adjacent base material (HAZ) shall be
completely removed. A defect repair required for the processes side, or a through-wall
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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cut out of a weld (or portion of a weld), shall require Buyer notification and acceptance,
prior to start of re-weld.
8.13 PQR qualification hardness testing shall be performed in accordance with API 938C,
B.6.4. No value shall exceed 320 HV10 for 22Cr DSS and 350 Hv10 for 25 Cr DSS.
8.14 Ferrite content requirements shall meet the requirements of AP1 938C, B.6.2.4. Weld
metal ferrite determination shall be performed on the root pass, at mid-thickness, and in
the cover pass.
8.15 CVN testing according to ASTM A370 at -46˚C shall be performed. Tests shall be taken
in both the longitudinal and transverse direction. Acceptance criteria are 45 J average
with 35 J minimum individual for transverse direction and 60 J average and 45 J
minimum individual for the longitudinal direction.
8.16 DSS weldments shall be subjected to corrosion testing. Tests shall comply with ASTM
G48 test method A. Test temperature shall be 40˚C for SDSS, and 20˚C for DSS. The
exposure time shall be 24 hours. The test shall expose the external and internal surfaces
and a cross section surface in full wall thickness. The acceptance criteria are:
• No pitting at 20 X magnification
• The weight loss shall be less than 4.0 g/m2
8.17 Welder qualification testing shall include ferrite testing of pressure retaining welds using
a Fisher Feritscope®, calibrated in accordance with AWS A4.2M. Welds made from
each weld procedure, welder, and heat/lot of filler metal shall be tested. Three
measurements shall be taken in the center of each weld cap, and if accessible, the root
pass.
8.18 Production welds shall be tested for ferrite, acceptance criteria is per API 938C, B.6.2.4.
9.2 Excluding P-No. 1 with a specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) < 483 MPa materials,
preheat requirements shall also apply to all thermal gouging and cutting operations.
9.3 Preheat shall be maintained a minimum of 75 mm (3 inches) on either side of the joint or
attachment weld, and verified on both the I.D. and O.D of the piping.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
9.4 Excluding P-No. 1 with a SMYS < 483 MPa material, weldments that require preheating
shall be completed with no intermediate cooling.
Note: Cooling under an insulating blanket, prior to completion of the entire weld, is permitted, provided at least
30% of the joint depth has been filled, and provided other applicable documents do not specify more stringent
requirements.
9.5 The interpass temperature for austenitic stainless steels, nickel-base alloys, and
6000 series aluminium shall not exceed 177°C. This includes dissimilar welds between
austenitic stainless steels or nickel-base alloys and carbon or low-alloy steels. Interpass
requirements for DSS are stated in section 8.11.
Note: For hard facing high-carbon austenitic stainless steels, interpass temperature shall not exceed 427°C.
9.6 For CSEF alloys P-No. 15E only, a minimum one hour intermediate “soak” at the preheat
temperature (minimum) shall be applied before cooling under the insulating blanket.
This post-weld soaking shall also be applied at the completion of welding. Welds shall
then be cooled to below 100°C prior to initiation of the required PWHT.
9.7 For materials and procedures requiring preheat and/or restricted interpass temperatures,
temperature measurement devices (e.g. temperature indicating crayons, TCs,
pyrometers) shall be available at the work site at all times, used regularly, and if
applicable, calibrated on an annual basis (min.).
9.8 Manually operated, periodically applied, oxy-fuel torches shall not be used for preheating
low-alloy steels or high strength carbon steels (SMYS > 483 MPa).
9.9 Electrical resistance blankets or induction coils shall be used for preheating low-alloy
steels or high strength carbon steels (SMYS > 483 MPa), unless otherwise approved by
the Buyer.
9.10 When stationary oxy-fuel torches are used for preheating, heat shall be applied
continuously, and the torch tip shall be appropriate for the work (i.e., a "rosebud," not a
cutting or welding tip).
9.11 Preheat and interpass temperature shall be checked on the surface of the piping
component using a surface pyrometer, contact thermocouple, temperature indicating
crayons or non-mercury-type thermometer. Temperature indicating crayons shall not be
used directly in the weld zone.
9.12 Temperature indicating crayons used on austenitic stainless steels and nickel base
alloys shall not contain low-melting eutectics, sulphur and halogens in excess of 200
ppm (0.020 wt.%). It is the Supplier’s responsibility to determine suitable brands.
Manufacturer’s information verifying the acceptability of indicating crayons and markers
shall be on file at the Supplier’s facilities and shall be made available to the Buyer's
representative on request.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
9.13 For materials and procedures requiring preheat and/or restricted interpass temperatures,
temperature measurement devices shall always be available at the work site, used
regularly, and if applicable (e.g. pyrometer), calibrated on an annual basis (min.).
10.2 PWHT procedures allowing longer soak times at lower temperatures are not permitted.
10.3 For materials/components subject to a final “tempering” heat treatment as part of their
as-delivered condition (and stated on the accompanying MTR), the maximum
temperature for the soak shall be at least 28°C below the material’s mill tempering
temperature.
10.4 For CSEF alloy P-No. 15E materials welded in similar metal joints, the PWHT soak
temperature used shall be in the range of 745°C to 775°C. The weldment temperature
shall be brought below 100°C prior to the initiation of the required PWHT.
10.5 For CSEF alloy P-No. 15E materials welded in dissimilar metal joints, the PWHT soak
temperature used shall be in the range of 730°C to 760°C. The weldment temperature
shall be brought below 100°C prior to the initiation of the required PWHT.
NOTE: The temperature range shall be confirmed not to adversely affect the dissimilar metal.
10.6 Full PWHT of completed spools shall be performed in a furnace where possible.
10.8 Soak temperature, heat-up and cool-down rates, and furnace load and ending
temperatures shall be monitored by thermocouples (TC’s) attached to the fabricated
item. General furnace gas temperature or flue gas temperature shall not be used to
determine adequate and/or proper heat treatment.
10.9 At least one thermocouple shall be attached to the thickest section of the piping. Soak
time shall begin once all TC’s indicate temperatures have stabilized above the minimum
required temperature. The cooling cycle shall not begin until all TC’s have met the
required time-at-temperature (soak time).
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
10.10 The number and placement of TC’s shall be part of the PWHT procedure reviewed by
the buyer.
10.11 When local PWHT is required, it should meet the heating/insulation configuration and TC
placement recommendations of AWS D10.10. Supplier procedure shall be submitted for
written Buyer acceptance. Thermocouples shall be located under electric resistance
blankets or induction coils to ensure that PWHT parameters have been met.
10.12 Only resistance, induction, furnace, or quartz lamp heating methods are permitted for
local PWHT. Exothermic heat treatment is prohibited. “Manual” methods, such as torch-
heating, are not permitted.
10.13 The PWHT cycle shall be recorded on printout charts. Each TC shall be independently
recorded, and its location noted on the chart or an associated map of locations.
10.14 Attachment areas on material requiring PWHT for service conditions including areas
from which attachments have been removed, shall also receive PWHT. The
examination(s) of removal areas and results shall be documented and submitted as part
of the Final Data Package.
10.15 TC attachment areas shall be ground flush and smooth after thermocouple removal.
11.0 WORKMANSHIP
11.1 Each weld pass shall be smooth and free of slag, porosity, excessive undercut, cracks,
and lack of fusion prior to beginning the next layer. In addition, the final weld layer shall
be sufficiently free of coarse ripples, non-uniform bead patterns, high crown, and deep
ridges to permit the performance of required inspections and allow accurate and clear
interpretation of the results.
11.2 Arc strikes, starts, and stops shall be confined to the welding groove.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
11.3 Temporary attachments shall be removed to a distance no closer than 5 mm of the base
metal by one of the following methods:
• Flame cutting
• Air arc gouging
• Abrasive wheel
The remaining parts shall be ground flush. Temporary attachments shall not be removed
by hammering or forceful levering.
11.4 Marking materials and liquid penetrant materials used on austenitic stainless steels and
nickel-base alloys shall not contain metallic pigments, or other substances that can
cause corrosion or embrittlement. Sulphur and chlorides shall be limited to
concentrations of 200 ppm (0.02 wt. %). It is the supplier’s responsibility to determine
suitable brands. Manufacturer’s information verifying the acceptability of materials shall
be on file at the Supplier’s facilities and shall be made available to the Buyer's
representative on request.
11.5 Socket welds shall have a gap of approximately 1.5 mm minimum to 3 mm maximum
between the bottom of the socket and the end of the pipe prior to welding.
11.6 “Gap-o-lets” or similar products may be used to assure/maintain the required gap, with
written acceptance by the Buyer.
11.7 When welding aluminium, each weld bead and the adjacent base material shall be
cleaned to remove surface oxides. This requirement shall be noted in the Supplier’s
WPS or WPS addendum.
11.8 When welding titanium, each bead and the adjacent metal shall be cleaned to remove
surface discoloration prior to deposition of the next bead. The final weld and heat
affected zone surfaces may have intermittent iridescent, straw-coloured oxides (refer to
AWS D1.9, Table 5.3). No blue color is acceptable for any bead, and the presence of
blue or darker colors that cannot be removed, this requires removal of the entire weld.
This requirement shall be noted in the Supplier’s WPS or WPS addendum.
11.9 Pressure boundary welds shall be stamped with the welder's unique symbol or number
identification using low stress stamps. Where thin wall materials [less than 6 mm] are
used, or where Project or industry specifications do not permit stamping, the Supplier’s
proposed alternate method of weld/welder tracking shall be submitted to the Buyer for
review and acceptance, prior to implementation.
11.10 Each weld shall be stamped with the welder's unique symbol or number identification
using low stress stamps. Where wall thickness is less than 6 mm, or where other project
or industry specifications do not permit stamping, the Supplier’s proposed alternate
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
method of weld/welder tracking shall be submitted to the Buyer for review and
acceptance, prior to implementation.
11.11 Pickling and/or passivating of stainless materials or welds must have Buyer written
acceptance of the procedure prior to use.
12.1.2 Welding procedure qualification shall include simulated production hardness tests on
both the I.D. and O.D. exterior surfaces. The maximum acceptable hardness shall be
as specified in Table 12-1, or in other purchase documents, whichever is lower.
1 225
3 and 4 225
12.1.4 A Supplier’s existing, properly qualified welding procedure that does not include the
hardness readings required by this specification, may add the required testing as a
supplemental testing record for hardness to the existing PQR.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
12.2.2 When production hardness testing is required, hardness testing of welds and weld
repairs on surfaces exposed to the process fluid is required, if physically possible.
When the process side is not accessible, the opposite side may be tested.
12.2.3 The hardness testing report shall state whether testing was performed on the process
exposed surface or the exterior surface.
12.2.4 Unless otherwise required by the applicable code of construction or other project
specification(s), when production hardness testing is required, the average of the three
readings in close proximity to each other shall be considered as a single test result,
and that result shall meet the maximum hardness values in Table 12-1.
12.2.5 When production hardness testing is required, the test shall be performed on the weld
cap and local parent material. Unless otherwise specified by the Purchase Order,
production hardness testing shall be performed at the following frequency:
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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13.1.2 NDE procedures shall be accompanied by an NDE Map showing where each NDE
procedure will be used.
13.1.5 Acceptance/rejection criteria for NDE methods shall be in accordance with the
applicable code of construction or criteria in other purchase documents, the more
stringent shall apply.
13.1.6 Examination and inspection reports, including radiographic film, shall be available to
Buyer's representative(s) at all times. The examination(s) and results shall be
documented and submitted as part of the Final Data Package.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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13.3.2 Supplier shall not assume acceptance of AUT in lieu of RT until the procedures have
been accepted by the Buyer and the personnel involved have physically demonstrated
(to the satisfaction of the Buyer) the adequacy of the technique.
13.3.3 For traditional UT the following additional variables, as a minimum, shall be addressed:
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
Revision: P2-0 Status: IAA Date: 09.01.2014 Bechtel No. 25853-000-3PS-NW00-00500
13.6.2 Attachment welds to pressure retaining components shall receive 100% Visual
Examination (VT), acceptance criteria per ASME B31.3.
13.6.3 100% RT is required for pressure retaining butt welds in services with design pressure
≥ 172 barg.
13.6.4 Weld-o-let style fittings and other set-on fittings (where allowed) shall have the inside
root pass visually examined to ensure complete penetration.
13.6.5 Branch connections shall receive recorded 100% VT, in addition to other specified
examination(s). VT shall be performed internally to the greatest extent possible. If a
reinforcing pad is to be installed, VT of the pressure retaining weld shall be performed
prior to its installation.
13.6.6 Lifting lugs, tailing lugs, clip tabs, eyes, brackets, or other lifting appurtenances shall
receive a final examination of the completed weld(s) by PT or MT. This requirement
shall be satisfied regardless of whether the lifting device is temporary or permanent.
The examination shall include all welds required to fabricate the lugs or other lifting
devices and welds attaching the lugs to the piping. MT & PT examinations of these
components shall be documented separately from other testing, clearly labelled as
examinations for the lifting/tailing lugs, and submitted as part of the Final Data
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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Package. The Buyer may request that additional copies of these examinations be
shipped with the piping, and/or may request that copies be furnished at the time of lift.
13.6.7 Whenever physically possible, the MT, PT, VT, and PMI of pressure-retaining welds
required by this Specification shall be performed on the process side of the weldment.
13.6.8 Arc strikes that are not incorporated into the completed weld shall be ground and
examined by PT or MT for all alloys other than P-No. 1 with SMYS < 483 MPa. The
examination(s) shall be documented and submitted as part of the Final Document
Package.
13.6.9 Socket weld fittings may be subject to RT, at the Buyer’s request, for verification of
gap. Fittings found without gap shall be addressed by a written inspection program
suitable to the Buyer, covering all socket-welded items in the order.
14.0 RECORDS
14.1 Records pertaining to base materials, filler materials, fabrication, and inspection shall be
accessible at all times, for the Buyer’s representative(s) to review.
14.3 Requirements for the job completion data items, and the format for submittal, will be
detailed in the Purchase Order.
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Document Title: Piping Welding Specification (ASME B31.3) Client No. BCH-SPC-MTE-GEN-005
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Piping Classes
Design Code: ASME B31.3 Category: Normal Fluid Service
Service Codes
A1 1960 / 1366 -29 / 204
CWR, DO, FG, V
A2 1960 / 1134 -29 / 270
CH, DR, OW, WW, V
PROJECT CONFIDENTIAL
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