Standard Specification for

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Positive Material Identification

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Table of Content

1.0 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Definitions of Terms ............................................................................................. 3

2.0 CODES, STANDARDS AND REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ............................................ 3

2.1 Reference Documents ......................................................................................... 3
2.2 International Codes and Standards...................................................................... 3

3.0 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................. 4

3.1 General................................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Positive Material Specification ............................................................................. 5
3.3 Inspection Lot ...................................................................................................... 5
3.4 Alloy Material ....................................................................................................... 5
3.5 COMPANY supplied material ............................................................................... 5
3.6 CONTRACTOR supplied material........................................................................ 6

4.0 PMI EXAMINATION ........................................................................................................ 6

5.0 EXTENT OF PMI............................................................................................................. 6

6.0 ACCEPTABLE METHODS FOR PMI ............................................................................. 7

7.0 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA.............................................................................................. 8

7.1 Base metal .......................................................................................................... 8
7.2 Deposited weld metal .......................................................................................... 8

8.0 REJECTION CRITERIA .................................................................................................. 8

9.0 DOCUMENTATION ........................................................................................................ 9

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 Standard Specification for
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Positive Material Identification

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1.0 SCOPE

1.1 Purpose
This specification applies to all metallic alloy materials used in piping components, heater
coils, storage tanks, vessels etc. Positive Material Identification (PMI) shall be carried out
at the VENDOR’S works on Metallic Alloy Materials procured either directly by the
COMPANY / CONTRACTOR or indirectly through the sub-vendors.
The requirements of this specification are to be considered as minimum requirements and
VENDOR may submit to the PURCHASER, for agreement, any possible solutions, with
supporting notes that could give technical and / or economic improvement.
Any omission in this requirement shall not relieve the VENDOR of his responsibility to
deliver the equipment along with other associated items, which are complete, of proven
design, and conforms to the Performance Requirements.
1.2 Definitions of Terms
The CLIENT / COMPANY / COMPANY where used in this specification shall mean the
ultimate user / COMPANY of the plant and facilities.
The CONTRACTOR / PURCHASER where used in this specification shall mean the party,
who undertake LSTK / EPC contract for the above project.
The VENDOR / SUPPLIER where used in this specification shall mean the party, who
manufactures or supplies the equipment and services specified.
The INSPECTOR / TPA where used in this specification shall mean the PURCHASER /
COMPANY or their authorized Third Party Agency for carrying out the inspection.
The ENGINEER / DEC where used in this specification shall mean the party, who perform
Design Engineering Consultancy and Project Management for COMPANY.

2.0 CODES, STANDARDS AND REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

2.1 Reference Documents

The latest revision of following project specification / documents shall form integral part of
this specification.
P6EC-STD-PP-S-1001 : Piping Material Specification
2.2 International Codes and Standards
API RP 578 : Material Verification Program for New and Existing Alloy Piping
Systems.

ASME Sec. II : ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code – Materials.

ASME B31.3 : Process Piping

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 Standard Specification for
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3.0 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

3.1 General
3.1.1 Carbon steels are excluded from the scope of this specification.
3.1.2 This specification covers the procedures and methodology to be adopted to assure that the
chemical composition of the alloy material is consistent with the applicable material
specifications as specified in purchase documents using 'Alloy Analyzer' at the time of final
inspection before dispatch.
3.1.3 The following items require PMI unless specifically exempted through a Concession/
Deviation permit by COMPANY.
(1) All pressure containing piping components including, thermo wells, instrument
manifolds, RTJ gaskets, fasteners etc.
(2) Alloy steel instrumentation items (Control valves, Safety valves etc.)
(3) Alloy cast and Forged steel valves.
(4) Tubular products used in the fabrication of heaters.
(5) Pressure - containing instrument housings (e.g. gauge glass housings, orifice meter
tubes).
(6) Internal metallic linings/cladding, and weld overlay, done at site, used for protection
against corrosive environments.
(7) Tubing, tube fittings etc
(8) Stud, bolts and nuts
(9) Plates, sheet metal
(10) All pressure containing welds.
(11) Any other components or materials specifically designated for PMI on the purchase
order/contract.
3.1.4 Exclusions
The following items are exempted unless specifically designated for PMI in the purchase
order/contract:
(1) Gaskets (spiral wound or carbon steel only).
(2) Internal instrument parts.
(3) Internal non pressure- containing baffles, trays, tray clips, supports, pall-rings,
support rings, etc.
(4) Electrical components.
(5) Compression-type ferrules and fittings for use with 3/4 inch (19mm) outside diameter
and smaller tubing.

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3.1.5 All grades of Stainless Steel materials shall be subjected to PMI test at site. In case of any
defective materials being found at site, the CONTRATOR shall be responsible to effect
replacement of such defective materials at project site without any delays to the
satisfaction of COMPANY / INSPECTOR.
3.2 Positive Material Specification
3.2.1 The term Positive Material Identification (PMI) refers to determination/verification of alloy
type or its composition using portable or mobile spectrometer/alloy analyzer.
3.2.2 Chemical spot checking, resistivity testing, eddy current testing, electromagnetic alloy
sorting, thermoelectric testing shall not be considered as PMI for the purpose of this
specification.
3.3 Inspection Lot
A group of items offered for inspection covered under same size, Heat and Heat treatment
lot.
3.4 Alloy Material
3.4.1 Any metallic material (including welding filler materials) that contains alloying elements
such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum or vanadium, which are intentionally added to
enhance mechanical or physical properties and/or corrosion resistance.
3.4.2 The test methods outlined in this specification are intended to identify the nominal
composition of alloy materials. These test methods are not intended to establish the
conformance of a material to a particular alloy specification.
3.4.3 PMI shall not be considered as a substitute for required mill test reports listing chemical
composition. In addition, mill test reports shall not be considered as confirming alloy
verification.
3.4.4 The PMI activity shall be included in the overall quality plan and Inspection & Test Plan for
warehouse and fabrication/erection. The contractor shall submit to COMPANY, a
procedure for PMI to comply with the requirements of this specification. Approval of PMI
procedure shall be obtained from COMPANY prior to commencement of
fabrication/erection as the case may be.
3.4.5 A copy of daily PMI records shall be submitted to COMPANY/INSPECTOR.
3.4.6 After installation, but prior to hydrostatic testing/painting/insulation, the contractor shall
examine all components requiring PMI for proper compliance to this specification. A record
of this final check, as specified below, shall be submitted to COMPANY and made part of
the permanent inspection records.
3.5 COMPANY supplied material
Records signed by CONTRACTOR and duly certified by representative of COMPANY /
INSPECTOR.

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3.6 CONTRACTOR supplied material

3.6.1 Records signed by CONTRACTOR and certified by an approved third party inspection
agency.
3.6.2 After acceptance, all components shall be marked with a suitable paint mark. Markings
must be permanent and readily visible. These markings are in addition to markings
required by other codes / specifications / Technical Notes.
3.6.3 Controls shall be established to keep the non conforming items identified till proper
resolution of non conformity.
3.6.4 COMPANY / INSPECTOR shall have the right to witness the performance of any PMI test.

4.0 PMI EXAMINATION

a) The SUPPLIER shall submit a procedure of PMI to comply with the requirements of
this Specification for approval by COMPANY/CONTRACTOR prior to commencing
manufacture/ inspection of product.
b) PMI examination of alloy materials is independent of any certification, markings or
colour coding that may exist and is aimed at verifying that the alloy used are as per
specified grades.
c) The SUPPLIER shall identify all incoming alloy materials and maintain full traceability
of all alloy materials, including all off-cuts. Transfer of identification marks shall be
undertaken prior to cutting to ensure maintenance of identification on off-cuts.
d) The SUPPLIER shall ensure that all alloy materials are segregated and stored in
separately identified locations to prevent the mix up of materials of different alloy
specifications or alloy material with carbon steel. Non ferro-magnetic materials shall be
segregated at all times from ferro-magnetic materials.
e) PMI examination is subject to surveillance inspection by COMPANY / CONTRACTOR.
f) Any materials supplied during all phases of the project shall have a PMI examination
unless otherwise agreed by COMPANY / CONTRACTOR.

5.0 EXTENT OF PMI

a) Flanges, Fittings Valves, RTJ Gaskets. – 100%

b) Pipes – 100% (For pipes procured from traders). Two (2) random samples drawn
from each size / heat / lot (For pipes procured directly from mills).

c) Fasteners

Lot size Sample Size

Up to 100 Nos. 2% (Min 2)

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101 to 500 Nos. 1% (Min 3)

501 and above. 0.5% (Min 5)

Note:

For Welded Pipes and Fittings, PMI shall be performed on Base Metal as well as
weldments.

Whenever any sample drawn to PMI test on the basis of percentage selection in b &
c above, fails to meet specification requirements, 100% of items of lot shall be tested
for PMI.

6.0 ACCEPTABLE METHODS FOR PMI

a) The method used for PMI examination shall provide a quantitative determination of
the alloying elements like Cr, Mo, Ni, V in Alloy Steel items.
b) Instruments or methods used for PMI examination shall be able to provide
quantitative, recordable, elemental composition results for positive identification of
alloying elements present.
c) The acceptable instruments for alloy analyser shall be either “Portable X-Ray
fluorescence” or “Optical Emission” type each capable of verifying the percentage
of alloy elements within specified range.
d) Chemical spot testing, magnets, alloy sorters and other methods using eddy
current or triboelectric testing methods are not acceptable for PMI examination.
e) The PMI instrument used shall have the sensitivity to detect the alloying elements
in the specified range.
f) All PMI instrument used shall have been serviced within a 6-month period of the
time of use to verify the suitability of batteries, sources etc., the data of the last
service shall be stated on the PMI Report Form.
g) Each analyser must be calibrated according to the manufacturer’s specification at
the beginning and end of each shift. Instrument must be checked against known
standard for each alloy type to be inspected during the shift.
h) Certified samples, with full traceability, of known alloy materials shall be available
for use as a random spot check on the instrument calibration.
i) The surfaces to be examined shall be prepared by light grinding or abrasive paper
and solvent cleaner. Evidence of Arc burn resulting from examination shall be
removed by light grinding or abrasive paper.
j) No permanent marks, which are injurious to the usage of product in service, are
acceptable.

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k) Alloy Steel ring type joint Gaskets shall be inspected by using portable X-Ray
fluorescence instrument.
l) Testing shall be done as per the procedures outlined by the manufacturers of alloy
analyser being used. Modification of these procedures if any, must be approved by
COMPANY.
m) The persons performing PMI shall demonstrate their capabilities to the satisfaction
of COMPANY’s visiting engineer. If the vendor has qualified operator on their rolls,
he may perform the examination. Otherwise PMI examination shall be sub-
contracted to an independent testing agency approved by COMPANY.
n) Whenever material is identified as not meeting requirements by the visiting
engineer a rejection note shall be issued.

7.0 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

7.1 Base metal

PMI test results showing presence of characteristic elements upto 10% less than the
minimum specified value in the material specification and upto 10% more than the
maximum specified value in the material specification shall be acceptable.
7.2 Deposited weld metal
For deposited weld metal between base metals of the same specification using matching
consumables, the recorded presence of characteristic elements upto 12.5% less than the
minimum specified value in the welding consumables specification and upto 12.5% more
than the maximum specified value in the welding consumable specification shall be
acceptable.

8.0 REJECTION CRITERIA

a) If the PMI test results fall outside the acceptable range as given in 7.0 above, the
CONTRACTOR shall obtain a quantitative check analysis performed by a laboratory
acceptable to COMPANY for a complete chemical analysis. Results of this analysis
shall be submitted to COMPANY, with CONTRACTOR's recommendation, for final
decision.
b) Decision of COMPANY shall be final in this regard.
c) If any material component or weld is found unacceptable, all other represented
materials (e.g. in case of fasteners,supports) or welds shall be considered suspect. In
such cases, the CONTRACTOR has the following options.
d) Scrapping all those represented materials or components and replacing with new
components or welds.
e) Performing 100% examination of the remainder of the represented materials/
components and replacing each item that fails the PMI check.

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f) If the performance of any verification activity is unacceptable to COMPANY or if any

material has been incorrectly identified, all further tests shall be subject to COMPANY
approval until the problem is corrected.

9.0 DOCUMENTATION

a) Print out from alloy analyzer, in original, duly certified by the CONTRACTOR/ PMI
agency.
b) PMI report as per format acceptable to COMPANY / INSPECTOR.
c) CONTRACTOR shall demonstrate to COMPANY that all components requiring PMI
have been subjected to PMI testing and accepted.

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