BRITISH STANDARD BS EN

LTLZzL997
.r' 1

Non-destructive examination
of welds -
Ultrasonic examination of
welded joints -
Aceeptance levels
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The European StandardEN f7f2 : lggT has the stahrs of a

Britistt Standard

ICS 25.160.40

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BS EN l7l2 z L997

National foreword
Ttis British Stardaxd is the English languageversion of EN L7l2: lgg7.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrlrsted by Technical Committee
WEE/46,Nondeshuctive testing, to Tbchnical SubcommitteeWEE/46L/I3,
Ultasonic examination, which has the responsibility to:

aid enquirers to rmderstandthe text

ptesent to the resporsible European committee any enquirieson the
interpretatioq or proposals for change,and keep the IIK interests informed;
monitor related international and European dwelopments and promulgate
themin the UK

A list of organizationsrepresentedon this subcommitteecan be obtained on request

to its secretaxy.
Crogg-references
The British Standardswhich implement international or European publications
referred to in this document may be found in the BSI StandardsCatalogueunder the
section entitled 'Intemational StandardsCorrespondenceIndex', or by using the
Tind facility of the BSI StandaxdsElectronic Cafalogue.
Complia.nce with a British Standard does not of ltself confer immunity
from legal obligatflons.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cove4 the EN title page,
pages2 to 10,an inside back cover and a back cover.

This British Standard, having Amendments issued since publication

been prepared under the
direction of the Engineering Amd No. Text affected
Sector Board, was published
uder the authority of the
Standards Board and comes into
effect on 15 December 1907

@ BSI 1997

rsBN 0 580 289ffi 0

 ETIROPEA}I
STANDARD EN 1712
NORMEEUROPMNNE
EUROPAISCI{E
NORM August1997

ICS25.160.,10

Descript'ors:Weldedjoints, ferritic steels,non desFuctivetests,qualityconhol, weld defects,ultrasonictests,acceptability

ftrglistrversion

Nondestnrctivee>aminationof welds-
Lllbasonicexaminationof weldedjoints - Acceptancelevels

IJ
Conhdle non deshrctif des assemblagessoudds- ZeFtdrurgsfteieBilfung von
Conf0le par ultrasonsdes assernblagessoudes- Schweif3verbindwrgen- Ulbnaschallpffifi.urg
rrcn
Ni'reaux d'acceptation -
Schwei8verbindungenZdassigkeitsgrenzen

-1
-
This European Standard was approved by CEN on lgg707-?tL"CEN members are
bound to comply with the CEN/CENELECIntemal Regulations which stipulate the
conditions for giving this European standard the status of a national standaxd
without any alteration.
n uptodate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standaxds
may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.
This European Standaxdexists in tluee offrcial versions @nglish, Flench, German).
A version in any other languagemade by hanslation turder the responsibility of a
CEN.member into its own languageand notified to the Cenhal Secietariat has the
same staih.lsas the official versiors.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Aushi4 Belgium, Czech
l.-) Republic, Denmar\ Finlan{ Flance, Germarly, Greece, Iceland, Irelan{ Italli
Lrxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Porhrg4 Spain, Sweden, S$,itzedand and
United Kingdom.

European Commitreefor Standardization

Comit6 Eumpeen de Normalisation
Europiiisches Komitee fiir Normung

Central Secretariak rue de Staasert 36, B-f080 Bruseels

,:l
_\'7 @ 1997CEN - All rights of exploitation in any form arrd by an5rmeans reserved woddwide for CEN nutio"af
Members.
Ref.No. EN l7I2: 1997E
Page 2
EN l7r2 : 1997

Foreword Contents
This European Standaxdhas been prepaxedb'y Page
Tbchnical Committee CEN/TC 121,Welding, the
Foreword 2
secretariat of which is held by DS.
This European Standard strdl be givm the status of a I Scope 3
national standard, either by publication of an identical 2 Normative references 3
text or by endorsement, at the latest by February 1998, 3 Evaluation of indications 3
and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn
at the latest by Febmary 1998. 3.1 General 3
According to the CEN/CENELECInternal Regulations, 3.2 Sensitivity setting
the national stardards organizations of the following 3.3 Referencelevel 3
cormtries are bound to implement this European
3.4 Evaluation level 4
Standard Austriq Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmaxk,
Flnland, Ftance, Germany,Greece,Iceland, Irelan{ 3.5 Recoding level 4
Italy Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, 3.6 Measurementof indication leng;th 4
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
4 Acceptance levels 4
4.1 General 4
4.2 Lpngitudinat indications 4
4.3 Tbarweseindications 4
4.4 brdications detected b,y the tandem
technique 4
4.6 Linearly aligned and grouped
indications 4
4.6 Cumulative lenglthof acceptable
indications 5
6 Examination repod o
Annexes
A (normative) Acceptance Ievels 6
B (normative) Fixed amplitude level
technique I

@ BSI lg97
 Page B
EN l7l2: 1997

1 Scope 3 Evaluation of indications

This European Standardspecifies ulbasonic
acceptance levels,2 and 3, for firll penebrationwelded
join{s _inferritic steels,which correspond to the qualiff
levels B and C of EN 2581?respectively Other
acceptance levels can be used by agreementbetween
the conhacting parties.
An acceptancelevel corresponding to level D of
EN 25817has not been included in this stardard as
ultrasonic examination is not recommendedfor this
weld quality.
These acceptancelevels are app[cable to examinations
caried out in accordancewith the standardsreferred
to in EN 12062.They can, howeve4 be applied in
cor$rmction with other nrles, where the same tlpes of
l) reference reflectors for sensitivity setting are used
provided it is agreed between the contracting parties.
The standard is applicable to the examination of firll
penehrationferritic steel welds, with thiclmessesftom
8 mm up to I00 mm. It can also be used for other fires
of welds, materials and thiclmesses above 100mm,
provided the examinations have been performed with
necessaryconsideration of the geomehy and acoustical
properties of the component and an adeqrute
- can be employed to enable the acceptance
levels of this standard to be applied The nominal
frequency of probes used in this European Standard is
between 2 MIlz and 5 MHz unless attenuation or
requirements for higher resolution call for another
n Thickless
frqquency The use of these acceptancelevels in
coqiunction with frequenciesoutside this range needs
to be considered carefi.rllSr
2 Normative references
This European Standardincorporateg by dated or
QJ undated reference,provisions from other publications.
These normative referencesare cited at the
appropriate places in the text and the publications are
listed hereafter. For dated references,Jubsequent
amendments to or revisions of any of these
publicatioru apply to this European Standard onty
when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For
wrdated referencesthe laftestedition of the publication
referred to applies.
EN 1714 Non-destnrctiae esami,rwt;irn,of wdds -
Utmsoni,c wanxinattan of wdrtcd,joi,nts
EN 12062 Nowdzstrantiae esomi,nat:i,mof wdds -
Goneraf,ruhs Jor mntailin mnteriok
8N25817 Arc<nddd,Xbints in sted,- euidance on
Enlitg lauds for imperfeotior*
(IsO5817:1992)
3.1 General
The elaluation of indications shall be performed on
indications detected by examinations performed in
accordancewittr EN 1714.
3.2 Sensitivity settlng
For each scarudngtechnique the method for sensitivity
setting shall be agreed upon prior to the s<amination
and the same method should normally be used for
subsequert examinations.
The setting of sersitivity may be performed by
- method l: 3 mm diameter side drilled holes;
- method 2: The distance gain size
@GS) system;
- method 3: If a probe angle > 70" is used for the
&icloess range 8 mm < r< l5 run a rectangutar
notch with a depth of 1mm may be used
The length of the side drilled holes and nokhes stull
be greater tlun the width of the sowrd beam measured
at - 20 dB. Ttre width of the notch is not relevant in
this application.
The acceptancelevels for method 2 are based on the
use of the following ultrasonic wave probes given in
table l.
Tbble 1. Ultrasonic probe frequencies for
method 2
Tlansverse wave
Longitudinal wa.ve
range, t probe frequency probe frequency
in mm in I\lHz in Mhz
8<t<15 4 4to5
15-.t<4D Ztn4 zto5
40-, = 100 2 ?tD 5
If other probe ftequencies are used the effect on the
,rcceptancelevels shall be considered and necessarv
corrections shall be made.
$,8 Beference level
One of the following methods for setting reference
levels shall be used
- method l: The reference level is a
distanceamplitudecuwe @AC-cunrc) for a Bmm
diameter side drilled hole;
- method 2: The reference levels for tnnsverse and
longitudinal waves using the distance gain
size @GS) based on a disc shapedreflector (DSR)
are given in tables A"3 and,4"4 rc€p€ctivebt
- method 3: The reference level is equal to a DAC
curve for a lmm deep rectangular notctr;
- tandem examination: Dosn = 6mm (for all
thiclaresses).

@ BSI 1997
 Page 4
EN l7l2: 1997
3.4 Dvaluatlon level
AII indications equal to or exceedingthe following
shall be evaluated
- methods I and 3: Referencelevel - 10 dB
(33%DAC);
- method 2: Referencelevel - 4 dB, in accordance
with tables A3 and A4 reqectively;
- tandem examination: Dpsn = 6 mm (for all
thiclaresses).
3.6 Recording level
When recording levels are not otherwise specified, the
following values shall be use*
- recording level for methods 1 and &
- acceptance level 2: reference level - 6 dB
(50%DAC);
- acceptance level 3: reference level - 2 dB
(80%DAC).
- recording level for method 2
- acceptance level 2: reference lwe!
- acceptance level 3: reference level + 4 dB.
- recording level for tandem srarnination:
- 4sn = 6 mm (for all thiclmesses).
3.6 Measurement of indication lengfth
Tlrc length of the indication shall be determined by
measlrring the distance along the length over which the
echo amplitude is above the evaluation level, using the
fixed amplih.rdelevel technique described in arurexB.
In order to achieve a more accurate measu-rement,a
probe having a narrow beam width may be used or
corrections for the influence of the beam width may be
performed.
4 Acceptance levels
4.1 General
The acceptance levels stull be related to the
examination techniques (examirution levels) as defined
in EN 1714.Acceptance lwel 2 will normally require at
least earnination level B, and for acceptancelwel 3 at
least examination level d Any other relationship
between acceptance levels and sramination levels shall
be agfeed between the conhacting padies.
The acceptance levels in this clause are valid for all
. exarnination levels and for all techniques,including
examinations wittr shai&t beam probes.
Indications are to be evaluated as longitudirul or
hansverse depending on the orientation of their mqiqr
dimension Where this distinction cannot be clearly
made, the indication shall be classified as tranwerse if
the echo amplitude obtained during the examination of
transvers€ indications exceedsthe echo amplitude
obtained during the examination for longihrdinal
indications by 2 dB or more.
Evaluation of indications may include discrimination
between different imperfection t5pes if a4peedbetween
contracting parties. In such case,the characterization
as a planar indication may be used as the primary
discrimination of an acceptable or rejectable
indication. In this case all indications with echo
amplitude above the evaluation level shall be
characterized,and all that axe ctuncterized as planar
shall be rqiected.
For welds subject to fatig;ueloading, near surface
acceptancelevels may be specified subject to
agreementbetween the conbacting parties.
4.2 Longitudinal lndlcatlons
All indications with edro amplitudes and lengths
exceedingthe following limits are unaccept ble:
- methods I and 3: frgureA"1 and table Al;
- method 2: figwe A2 ard table A2.
f:
Any indication with a length exceedingt, for the
thiclcress range of 8 mm < t < 15fiun, or f/2 or 20 mm,
rvhichever is the larger, for all other thicloress rarges,
shall be subject to ftrtlrer examination using additional
probe angle(s), including the tandem technique where
applicable. The final eraluation shall be based on the
echo amplitude and lengft measued at the angle
$ving the maximum response.
4.8 Thansveree indications
All indications exceeding the limits stated in 4.2 are
unacceptable.
Tlan-werseindications with echo amplitudes equal to
or exceeding the er,aluation level shall be classified by
additional ultasonic scaruring,radiography or other
examination method to determine their nature. otily
indications that are isolated (i.e. maximum tluee per
mehe), v/ho-selength is less tlun l0 mm, are
ncceptableif they are planar. If they are nonalanar the l)
acceptancelevel for lon$hrdinal indications shall
apply.
4.4 Indicatlons detected by the tandem
technique
Indications detected by the tandem technique
Qongitudinal and hansverse) shall be investigated
fruther if their echo arnplihrdes exceed the recording
Ievel Additional ulhasonic or radiographic
examinations shall be carried out in order to determine
the t3pe and size of the imperfections.
The acceptability of indications detected by the tandem
tecludque is to be agreed by the conhacting parties.
45 Linearly aligned end grouped indications
Linearly aligned indications strall be considered as
continuous if they are sepaxat€dby a distance, d*, of
less thantwice the length of the longest indication. The
total, combined lengtft shall then be assessedegeinst
appropriate acceptance levels.
\._;
@ BSt 1997
 Linearly aligned indications shall satisfu rhe following:
d, < 5 mm, d2 < 5 mm, see fuure I.
Adacent indicatiors gFoupedin this way shall not be
used for furtlrcr grouping with additional indications.
OnIy discrete indications shall be subject to grouping.
After gouping, any recorded and accepted indications
in the same cross-sectionand depth position
(4 < 5 mm) shall be sepamted by a distance
Q > 10mm. krdicatiors in the same lateral position
(Q = 5 mm; strall be separatedby a distance
d" > 10mm. A{iacent indrcations with snaller distances
dy ar.rdd, are not acceptable.
V)
Q_l
Figure 1. Geometric eonfrgurations for grouped indications
o BSI 199?
4.6 Cumulative length of acceptable indications
For any length of weld equal to 6r, the maximum
cumulative length of all individually acceptable
indications above the recording levels shall not exceed
20 o/oof this length for acceptance level I or 30 % of
this length for acceptancelevel 3.
5 Exanination report
AII tuucceptable and acceptable indications above the
recording level shall be included in the oramination
repor! (seeEN l7l4).
Page 6
EN 1712: 1997

Annex A (normative)
Acceptance levels

RelatiYeecho amplitude
8mmSt<15mm
dB

tz
10
I
L

0
-(.
-6
t:
-8
-10
_12

0,5t lf 1.5t ?t
lrngth of indications
Rclative ccho amplitude 15mm<r<lmrnm

lt

-z
-(.
-6
-8
- lu
- lZ
-1L

0.5t 1,5t 2
t ength of indications

KeY: - AccePtance level

--------- Evaluatior level
Reference level : 0 dB, se€ 3.3

Recording levcls : Acceptatlce lev€l 2 = Reference level ' 6 dB (50%DAC)

Acceptance level 3 = Reference level ' 2 dB (80%DAC)

Flgure A.1 Aeeeptance levels 2 and $ for methods I and 3

q;

@ BSI 1997
 ., 1

Rclative echoarnplitude 8mmSrc15mm

dB

tz
'|
0
U
6
L
z
0
z
1
b
d
0
tt ')
t*

1.5t 2t
Irngth of indicatioos
RelatiYe echo amplitude l 5 m m < r <l 0 O m m

dB

10
I
o
v)
')
0
'z
-1.
-6
.E
l. _)
-10
- tz

0.5t 1,5t

Key : Ac€EptranccleYel
Evaluadoo leY€l

Referencc level : 0 dB, se€ lable 4.3 a$d A.4

Recording levels ; Acc€ptance level 2 = Reference level

Acceplance level 3 = Reference lcvel + 4 dB

Figure A.2 Acceptonce levels 2 and 3 for method 2

@ BSI 1997
Page 8
EN 1712: 1997

Tbble A.l Acceptance levels 2 andB for methods l and3

8mm=t<15rnrn
Indication length, , (rnrn) Max permitted echo amplihrde
l=t Referencelevel
l> t Referencelevel - 6dB
16mrn < | < I00 mm
Indication length, t (rnm) Max permitted echo amplitrde
I = 0,6t Referencelevel+4dB
0 , 5 t < l= t Referencelevel-2dB
I> t Referencelevel - 6dB
Evaluation levet Reference level - l0dB
Recording lwels: Acceptance level 2 = Referencelevel - 6 dB
Acceptance level 3 = Referencelevel - 2dB I
Table A.2 Acceptance levels 2 snd 3 for method 2
8mm = t< 15mm
Indication lengt\ | (mm) Max. permifted echo ampliUrde
l=t Referencelevel + 6dB
l> t Referencelevel
lSmm<t<l00mm
lndication length, | (mm) Max permitted echo amplihrde
I = 0,5t Referencelevel +10 dB
0,5t<l<t Referencelevel+4dB
I> t Referencelevel
Evduation level Referencelevel - 4 dB
Recording levels: Acceptance lwel 2 = Referencelevel
Acceptance level 3 =. Ref_epncelevel + 4 dB I
Thble A.3 Reference levels for angle beam scanning with transverse w&vea for method 2 (DGS)
Nominal probe Thicknese of Darent meterisl (run)
frequency (MHz)
8 < r< l5 l5<r<40 40<'<100
I,5 tD 2F Dosn=2mm Dosn = 3 mm
3to5 Dosn= I mm Dlsn = l'5 mm

Tbble A.4 Reference levels for longitudinal waves for method 2 (DGS)
Nominal probe Thlcknees of parent matertrl (mm)
frequency (Mlk)
8<r<16 15<r<40 40 <, = 100
1,5tn 2,5 25ro = 2 mm Dnsn=3mm
3to5 ,bs3 = 2 mm Dosn= 2 mm Dosn = 3 mm

@ BSI 1997
 Annex B (normative)
Fixed amplitude level technique
The technique measuresthe lafurat dimensions of an
indication over which the echo is equal to or greater
than the erraluaf,ionlevel
Tb make a measurementthe beam is scaruredover the
indications, and the probe position and beam path
r€mge,at which the echo.hasfallen to the evaluation
level are noted (positions 1 and 2 of fuure B.l).
The lateral dimension, I, is then determined by the
distance of the positions I and 2.

t ,

I
I

lllax. echo

l)

Figure B.l Fixed amplitude level technique

uslng the beam axis

t rr:
r, {- ". ..

;:. (B+1 ,,
,:l

il ,l
',j;
H e . a ' ( ) A" ,
+^!l tt 211,'
."!rc ^ 'r,'
,!.1,; ......

@BSI 1997
BS EN
l7l2 z 1997

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