Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A code of practice
A set of law’s or rules that shall be followed when providing a service or product.
An application standard
A level of quality or specification too which something may be tested.
We use codes and standards to manufacture many things that have been built many times
before. The lessons of failures, under or over design are generally incorporated into the
next revised edition.
Generally; the higher the level of quality required then the more stringent is the
code/standard in terms of the manufacturing method, materials, workmanship, testing
and acceptable imperfection levels. The application code/standard will give important
information to the welding inspector as it determines the inspection points and stages,
and other relevant criteria that must be followed, or achieved by the contractor during the
fabrication process.
Most major application codes/standards contain 3 major areas, which are dedicated to the
1) Design
2) Manufacture
3) Testing
Codes and standards are revised periodically to take into account new data, new
manufacturing methods, or processes that may come into being. Areas of responsibility
within any application standard are generally divided into
The applied code/standard will form the main part of the contract documents hence any
deviation, or non-conformance from the code/standard must be applied for by application
from the contractor to the client as a concession. And should always be agreed in writing
prior to implementation. Once a concession has been agreed, written and signed it is then
filed with the fabrication/project quality documents.
The sections contained within a typical line pipe standard are outlined below:
Section 1 General:
This section contains the Scope of the standard, which is a very important statement
outlining accurately all that is covered by the standard, and hence indicating which is not.
Section 2 References:
This identifies a comprehensive list of all others standards, publications too which the
standard makes reference. This may include nationally published standards for welding
approvals, specialised equipment, welding consumables, and NDT etc.
Section 3 Definitions:
This section identifies a list of specific terms used within the standard, and offers a
precise and concise explanation, or definition for each.
Section 4 Specifications:
This section gives instructions and guidance on the acceptable state, and condition of all
welding equipment used on the project. It also identifies any applicable national
standards for pipe materials, fittings, welding electrodes, wires, fluxes and gases etc.
This section contains instructions and information relevant to the welding and testing of
welding procedures. The pWPS would contain the following information where relevant
a) Welding Process
b) Base material composition and grade
c) Diameter and wall thickness
d) Joint design
e) Filler material and run sequence. (If applicable)
f) Electrical, or flame characteristics of the welding process (As applicable)
g) The welding position
h) Direction of welding
i) Time between weld passes (If applicable)
j) Inter-run and post cleaning
k) Pre and Post weld heat treatments (If applicable)
l) Shielding gas and flow rates (If applicable)
m) Shielding flux (If applicable)
n) Speed of travel (If applicable)
The section also identifies the essential variables. This is defined as any variable which
if changed will effect the mechanical properties of the materials being welded, thus
requiring re-approval of the procedure. Essential welding variables will include:
The section may also give information relating to the location and type of tests for
varying diameters of pipe and all information relating to the preparation of test pieces for
mechanical testing.
This section covers aspects relating to the testing for single, and multiple qualifications
of welders by Visual examination NDT and mechanical testing.
This section gives information applicable to all aspects of field production welding,
covering such elements such as acceptable weather and site conditions.
In this section the qualification and experience requirements of all welding inspection
and NDT personnel is identified.
This section contains all relevant data for the inspector to evaluate the acceptance or
rejection of identified welding imperfections, through visual examination or NDT.
The Level of Acceptance applied is mainly driven by implications of failure of the item
Section 10 Repairs:
Should a repair become necessary, this section provides guidance on the repair
procedure.
This extensive section gives procedural instructions and information relevant to the use
of Radiography, Ultrasonic testing. MPI and Penetrant testing of welded joints.
This section is dedicated to processes that do not rely upon human skill to deposit filler
metal and demands an extensive amount of information similar to section 6 during
welding procedural approval. Processes covered include automated MIG TIG and SAW.
1) Materials specifications
2) Welding consumable specifications
3) Welding procedure approvals
4) Welder approvals
5) Personnel qualifications for NDT operators
6) NDT Methods
7) Weld Symbols on Drawings
8) Levels of acceptance of welding imperfections
1. The Scope (Generally the first section heading in any code or standard)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Note:
In many Line Pipe Standards (API 1104) the root can only be evaluated through Radiography.
Therefore some allowances, other than length are given as a factor of Radiographic Density.
In such cases the imperfection should be recorded but accepted, if the Radiograph is unavailable.
Imperfections that are not given in a standard should be marked as Not Referenced and Accepted.
The complete weld evaluation form can be found in the Section 23 “ Practical Visual Inspection”
where it forms part of page 3 of 3 of the inspection form set for both Plate and Pipe inspection.
It is important that you become very conversant with these values and where the clauses and tables
can be found before attempting your examination.
Warning:
No other papers may be brought into the exam room other than the application standard, which
will then be checked prior to the examination for any entries made other than the printed text.
If such entries are found then ejection from the exam may result. (A Hi-lighted text is acceptable)