PART HF — SUBPART HB

REQUIREMENTS FOR BOILERS

FABRICATED BY BRAZING

Article 10 General Requirements

HB-1000 Scope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
HB-1001 Responsibility of Manufacturer or Contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Article 11 Material Requirements

HB-1100 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
HB-1101 Combinations of Dissimilar Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
HB-1102 Brazing Filler Metals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
HB-1103 Fluxes and Atmospheres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Article 12 Brazing Processes, Procedures, and Qualifications

HB-1200 Brazing Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
HB-1201 Joint Brazing Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
HB-1202 Brazing Qualifications and Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Article 13 Design
HB-1300 Strength of Brazed Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
HB-1301 Brazed Joint Efficiency Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
HB-1302 Minimum Thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
HB-1303 Permissible Service Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
HB-1304 Application of Brazing Filler Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
HB-1305 Joint Clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
HB-1306 Openings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
HB-1307 Brazed Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Article 14 Fabrication Requirements

HB-1400 Cleaning of Surfaces to Be Brazed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
HB-1401 Postbrazing Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
HB-1402 Repair of Defective Brazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Article 15 Inspection and Stamping

HB-1500 Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
HB-1501 Inspection of Brazing Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
HB-1502 Certification of Brazer and Brazing Operator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

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 HB-1503 Visual Examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
HB-1510 Stamping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Table
HB-1305 Recommended Joint Clearances at Brazing Temperature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

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 ARTICLE 10
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

HB-1000 SCOPE
The requirements of this Subpart HB are applicable
to boilers and parts thereof that are fabricated by
brazing.

HB-1001 RESPONSIBILITY OF
MANUFACTURER OR
CONTRACTOR
Each manufacturer or contractor is responsible for
the brazing done by his organization and shall establish
the procedures and conduct the tests required in Section
IX to qualify the brazing procedures he uses in the
construction of the brazed assemblies built under Section
IV and the performance tests of brazers and brazing
operators to determine their ability to apply the proce-
dure properly.

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 ARTICLE 11
MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS
HB-1100 GENERAL
Materials used in the construction of boilers and parts
thereof by brazing shall conform to the specifications in
Section II, and shall be limited to those materials for
which allowable stress values have been assigned in
Table HF-300.1 and Table HF-300.2. The materials
being brazed shall be of proved brazing quality with
the brazing filler metal employed. Satisfactory qual-
ification of the brazing procedure under Section IX is
considered proof of acceptable material for brazed
construction.
HB-1101 COMBINATIONS OF DISSIMILAR
MATERIALS
Combinations of dissimilar metals may be joined by
brazing provided they meet the qualification require-
ments of Section IX.
133
HB-1102 BRAZING FILLER METALS
The selection of the brazing filler metal for a specific
application shall depend upon its suitability for the
base metals being joined. Satisfactory qualification of
the brazing procedure under Section IX is considered
proof of the suitability of the filler metal. Brazing used
with brazing filler metals other than those listed in
Section II, Part C, SFA-5.8 shall be separately qualified
for both procedure and performance qualification in
accordance with Section IX.
HB-1103 FLUXES AND ATMOSPHERES
Suitable fluxes or atmospheres or combinations of
fluxes and atmospheres shall be used to prevent oxida-
tion of the brazing filler metal and the surfaces to be
joined. Satisfactory qualification of the brazing proce-
dure under Section IX is considered proof of the
suitability of the flux and /or atmosphere.
 ARTICLE 12
BRAZING PROCESSES, PROCEDURES,
AND QUALIFICATIONS
HB-1200 BRAZING PROCESSES
Specific brazing processes which are permitted for
use under this Section are classified by method of
heating and are torch brazing, furnace brazing, induction
brazing, electrical resistance brazing, and dip brazing —
salt and flux bath.
HB-1201 JOINT BRAZING PROCEDURES
A joint brazing procedure shall be developed for
each different type of joint of a brazed assembly. A
recommended form for recording the brazing procedure
is shown in QB-480 of Section IX. If more than one
joint occurs in a brazed assembly, the brazing sequence
shall be specified on the drawing or in instructions
accompanying the drawing. If welding and brazing are
to be done on the same assembly, the welding shall
precede the brazing unless it is determined that the
heat of welding will not adversely affect the braze
previously made, and the weld will not be adversely
contaminated by the brazing metal.
HB-1202 BRAZING QUALIFICATIONS AND
RECORDS
HB-1202.1 Qualification of Brazing Procedures
(a) Each brazing procedure employed in the fabrica-
tion of boilers shall be qualified in accordance with
Section IX. Only qualified procedure specifications shall
be followed in construction. Each manufacturer shall
135
conduct the required tests to qualify all brazing proce-
dures to be used by his organization.
(b) The nominal thickness of base material used with
lap joints tested using the test fixture shown in QB-
463.7 of Section IX shall not exceed 1⁄2 in. (13 mm).
There is no thickness limitation when specimens are
tested without the test fixture shown in QB-463.7.
HB-1202.2 Qualification of Brazers and Brazing
Operators. All brazers assigned to manual brazing
shall have passed the tests prescribed for brazers in
Section IX. All brazing operators assigned to brazing
by automatic means or by furnace, induction, resistance,
or dip brazing shall pass the tests as prescribed in
Section IX. Such tests shall be conducted by the
manufacturer or contractor.
HB-1202.3 No Production Work Without Qual-
ifications. No production work shall be undertaken
until both the brazing procedure and the brazers or
brazing operators have been qualified.
HB-1202.4 Maintenance of Records of Qual-
ifications and Identifying Marks
(a) The manufacturer shall maintain a record of the
brazers and brazing operators employed by him showing
the date and results of qualifying tests and the identifying
mark assigned to each. These records shall be certified
to by the manufacturer and shall be accessible to the
Inspector.
(b) Each brazer and brazing operator so qualified
shall be assigned an identifying number, letter, or
symbol by the manufacturer which shall be used to
identify the work of that brazer or brazing operator.
 ARTICLE 13
DESIGN
HB-1300 STRENGTH OF BRAZED JOINTS
(a) It is the responsibility of the designer to determine
from suitable tests or from past experience that the
specific brazing filler metal selected can produce a joint
which will have adequate strength over the operating
temperature range. The strength of the brazed joint
shall not be less than the strength of the base metal,
or the weaker of the two base metals in the case of
dissimilar metal joints.
(b) For any type of joint, the strength of the brazed
section shall exceed that of the base metal portion of
the test specimen in the qualification tension tests
provided for in QB-150 of Section IX. Lap joints shall
have a sufficient overlap to provide a higher strength
in the brazed joint than in the base metal.
HB-1301 BRAZED JOINT EFFICIENCY
FACTORS
(a) The joint efficiency factor to be used in design
of boilers with brazed joints shall be 0.80 for joints
in which visual examination assures that the brazing
filler metal has penetrated the entire joint.
(b) The joint efficiency factor to be used in the
design of boilers shall be 0.50 for joints in which
visual examination will not provide proof that the
brazing filler metal has penetrated the entire joint.
HB-1302 MINIMUM THICKNESS
The minimum thickness of nonferrous and other
copper or copper-alloy plates, heads, and tubesheets
shall be as specified in HF-301.
HB-1303 PERMISSIBLE SERVICE
TEMPERATURE
Satisfactory qualification of the brazing procedure in
accordance with Section IX, Part QB is considered
137
satisfactory proof of the adequacy of the base materials,
the brazing filler metal, the flux and /or atmosphere,
and other variables of the procedure for service not
exceeding 250°F (121°C).
HB-1304 APPLICATION OF BRAZING
FILLER METAL
The design shall provide for the application of the
brazing filler metal as part of the design of the joint.
Where practicable, the brazing filler metal shall be
applied in such a manner that it will flow into the
joint or be distributed across the joint and produce
visible evidence that it has penetrated the joint.
(a) Manual Application. The manual application of
the brazing filler metal by face-feeding to a joint should
be from one side only. Visual observation of the other
side of the joint will then show if the required penetra-
tion of the joint by the filler metal has been obtained.
If the side opposite to the filler metal application cannot
be visually examined, as is the case with socket-type
joints in pipe and tubing (blind joint), a joint efficiency
factor of 0.50 shall be used in design of this joint.
(b) Preplaced Brazing Filler Metal. The brazing filler
metal may be preplaced in the form of slugs, powder,
rings, strip, cladding, spraying, or other means. After
brazing, the brazing filler metal should be visible on
both sides of the joint. If the brazing filler metal is
preplaced within a blind joint in such a manner that
it penetrates the major portion of the joint during
brazing and appears at the visible side of the joint, a
joint efficiency factor of 0.80 may be used in the
design of the joint. If the brazing filler metal is preplaced
on the outside or near the outside of a blind joint, and
the other side cannot be inspected to ascertain complete
penetration, then a joint efficiency factor of 0.50 shall
be used in the design of the joint.
HB-1305 1998 SECTION IV HB-1307

TABLE HB-1305 HB-1306 OPENINGS

RECOMMENDED JOINT CLEARANCES AT
BRAZING TEMPERATURE
Brazing Filler Metal Clearance, in.
B Al Si Group 0.006–0.010 for laps < 1⁄4 in.
0.010–0.025 for laps > 1⁄4 in.
B CuP Group 0.001–0.005
B Ag Group 0.002–0.005
B Cu Zn Group 0.002–0.005
B Cu Group 0.000–0.002
HB-1305 JOINT CLEARANCE
(a) The joint clearance shall be kept sufficiently
small so that the filler metal will be distributed by
capillary attraction. Since the strength of a brazed joint
tends to decrease as the joint clearance used is increased,
the clearances for the assembly of joints in boilers
shall be within the tolerances set up by the joint
design and as used for the corresponding qualification
specimens made in accordance with Section IX.
(b) If greater tolerances are to be used in production,
the joint must be requalified for those greater tolerances.
The control of tolerances required may be obtained by
using rivets, spot welding, crimping, or other means
which will not interfere with the quality of the braze.
If such means are employed in production, they must
also be employed in qualification of procedure, brazer,
and operator.
NOTE: For guidance, see Table HB-1305 which gives recommended
joint clearances at brazing temperature for various types of brazing
filler metal. Brazing alloys will exhibit maximum unit strength if
clearances are maintained within these limits.
(a) Openings for nozzles and other connections shall
be far enough away from any main brazed joint so
that the joint and the opening reinforcement plates do
not interfere with one another.
(b) Openings for pipe connections in boilers having
brazed joints may be made by inserting pipe couplings,
not exceeding NPS 3 (DN 75), or similar devices in
the shell or heads and securing them by welding,
provided the welding is performed by welders who
have been qualified under the provisions of Section IX
for the welding position and type of joint used. Such
attachments shall conform to the rules for welded
connections.
HB-1307 BRAZED CONNECTIONS
(a) Connections, such as saddle type fittings and
fittings inserted into openings formed by outward flang-
ing of the vessel wall, in sizes not exceeding NPS 3
(DN 75), may be attached to boilers by lap joints of
brazed construction. Sufficient brazing shall be provided
on either side of the line through the center of the
opening parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell
to develop the strength of the reinforcement through
shear in the brazing.
(b) For nozzle fittings having a bolting flange and
an integral flange for brazing, the thickness of the
flange attached to the boiler shall not be less than the
thickness of the neck of the fitting.

138
 ARTICLE 14
FABRICATION REQUIREMENTS

HB-1400 CLEANING OF SURFACES TO BE thermal treatments shall be performed in accordance

BRAZED
The surfaces to be brazed shall be clean and free
from grease, paint, oxides, scale, and foreign matter
of any kind. Any chemical or mechanical cleaning
method may be used that will provide a surface suitable
for brazing.
HB-1401 POSTBRAZING OPERATIONS
Brazed joints shall be thoroughly cleaned of flux
residue by any suitable means after brazing and prior
to inspection.1 Other postbrazing operations such as
1 Flux residues can be extremely corrosive as well as interfere with
visual inspection.
with the qualified procedure.
HB-1402 REPAIR OF DEFECTIVE BRAZING
Brazed joints which have been found to be defective
may be rebrazed, where feasible, after thorough clean-
ing, and by employing the same brazing procedure
used for the original braze. If a different brazing
procedure is employed, i.e., torch repair of furnace
brazed parts, a repair brazing procedure shall be estab-
lished and qualified.
When a repair brazing procedure is established it
shall provide control of the application of brazing filler
metal to meet the conditions set forth in HB-1301(a).
Where these requirements cannot be met, the limitations
of HB-1301(b) will apply.

139
 ARTICLE 15
INSPECTION AND STAMPING
HB-1500 INSPECTION
HB-1501 INSPECTION OF BRAZING
PROCEDURE
The Inspector shall examine the procedure for each
type of joint being produced and shall determine that
the procedure has been qualified in accordance with
the requirements of Section IX and shall satisfy himself
that fabrication of the joint is in accordance with the
procedure. Where there is evidence of consistent poor
quality, the Inspector shall have the right at any time
to call for and witness tests of the brazing procedure.
HB-1502 CERTIFICATION OF BRAZER AND
BRAZING OPERATOR
(a) The manufacturer shall certify that the brazing
on a vessel or part thereof has been done by brazers
or brazing operators who are qualified under the require-
ments of Section IX, and the Inspector shall assure
himself that only qualified brazers or brazing operators
have been used.
(b) The manufacturer shall make available to the
Inspector a certified copy of the record of the qualifica-
tion tests of each brazer and brazing operator. The
Inspector shall have the right at any time to call for
and witness tests of the ability of a brazer or brazing
operator.
141
HB-1503 VISUAL EXAMINATION
(a) Where possible, both sides of each brazed joint
shall be visually examined after flux residue removal.
Where it is not possible to inspect one side of a brazed
joint (blind joint), the Inspector shall check the design
to determine that the proper joint factor has been
employed, unless he can assure himself that the brazing
filler metal has been preplaced in such a manner that
it satisfied HB-1304.
(b) There shall be evidence that the brazing filler
metal has penetrated the joint. In a butt braze there
shall be no concavity. The braze may be repaired or
rebrazed.
(c) The presence of a crack in the brazing filler
metal shall be cause for rejection. Dye penetrant inspec-
tion may be used if desired. The braze may be repaired
or rebrazed.
(d) The presence of a crack in the base metal adjacent
to a braze shall be cause for rejection even if the crack
is filled with brazing alloy. Such cracking shall not be
repaired.
(e) Visible pinholes or open defects in the braze
shall be cause for rejection. The joint may be rebrazed.
(f) Rough fillets, particularly those with a convex
appearance, are cause for rejection. Such joints may
be repaired or rebrazed.
HB-1510 STAMPING
Boilers shall be stamped according to the require-
ments of HG-530 or the stamping may be placed on
a nonferrous plate, irremovably attached to a visible
part of the boiler.