PFI Standard ES-3

| Denotes Revision (Revised March 2009)

FABRICATING TOLERANCES

Prepared by
Pipe Fabrication Institute Engineering Committee

All PFI Standards are advisory

only. There is no agreement to
adhere to any PFI Standard
and their use by anyone is
entirely voluntary.

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PIPE FABRICATION INSTITUTE

Dedicated to Technical Advancements and Standardization in
the Pipe Fabrication Industry
Since 1913
USA CANADA
511 Avenue of America’s, # 601 655, 32nd Avenue, # 201
New York, NY 10011 Lachine, QC H8T 3G6

WEB SITE
www.pfi-institute.org
 CD-ROM VERSION 2014-2015
PFI Standard ES-3
| Denotes Revision (Revised March 2009)

FABRICATING TOLERANCES

METRIC CONVERSIONS

The conversion of quantities between systems of units involves a determination of the number of
significant digits to be retained. All conversions depend upon the intended precision of the original
quantity and are rounded to the appropriate accuracy.
Pipe sizes together with applicable wall thickness are not shown with metric equivalents.
The SI (metric) values where included with the customary U.S. values in this Standard are the
rounded equivalents of the U.S. values and are for reference only.
Metric units were derived utilizing the following conversion factor:

Conversion Factor
_________ _____
inches to 25.4
millimeter

1. Scope 3. Angularity and Rotation Tolerances

1.1 This standard covers general pipe shop 3.1 Angularity tolerance across the face of
fabricating tolerances for prefabricated flanges, weld end preparation and on rotation
piping assemblies. This standard shall not of flanges are as stated on Fig. 1.
apply to field erected pipe.
4. Closer Tolerances
2. Linear Tolerances
4.1 When closer tolerances than those given in
2.1 The tolerances on linear dimensions paragraphs 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 are absolutely
(intermediate or overall) apply to the face to necessary, they shall be subject to agreement
face, face to end, and end to end between the Purchaser and Fabricator.
measurements of fabricated straight pipe and
headers; center to end or center to face of
nozzles or other attachments; or center to
face of bends; as illustrated on Fig. 1. These
tolerances are not accumulative.

2.2 Linear tolerances on “A” are  1/8" (3.0 mm)

for sizes 10" and under,  3/16" (5.0 mm) for
sizes 12" through 24" and  1/4" (6.0 mm)
for sizes over 24" through 36".

2.3 Linear tolerances on “A” for sizes over 36"

are subject to tolerances of  1/4" (6.0 mm),
increasing by plus or minus 1/16" (2.0 mm)
for each 12" in diameter over 36".

2.4 Due to the cumulative effects of tolerances

on fittings or flanges, when joined without
intervening pipe segments, deviations in
excess of those specified in paragraphs 2.2
and 2.3 may occur, and are acceptable.

CD-ROM VERSION 2014-2015

 CD-ROM VERSION 2014-2015
PFI Standard ES-3
| Denotes Revision (Revised March 2009)

"A"

END PREPARATION FOR WELD

SHALL NOT DEVIATE FROM
"A"

INDICATED POSITION BY MORE

THAN 1/32" (1.0 mm) ACROSS
THE LAND FOR INERT GAS WELD
JOINTS OR 3/32" (3.0 mm) FOR
OTHER JOINTS

FOR BENDING TOLERANCE, MINIMUM

RADIUS AND MINIMUM TANGENT SEE
PFI STANDARD ES-24

TOLERANCES ON DIMENSIONS WHICH DO

NOT INCLUDE PIPE SEGMENTS ARE TO
BE BASED ON ANSI SPECIFICATIONS FOR
FITTINGS OR FLANGES INVOLVED
(SEE PARAGRAPH 2.4)
"A"

ROTATION OF FLANGES
FROM THE INDICATED
POSITION MEASURED AS
SHOWN, 1/16" (2.0 mm) MAX.

1/8" (3.0 mm)

X X
"A"

"A"

"A"
"A"

SECTION X-X
ALIGNMENT OF FACINGS OR
"A"

ENDS SHALL NOT DEVIATE

FROM THE INDICATED
"A
"A"

POSITION MEASURED ACROSS

"

ANY DIAMETER MORE THAN

3/64" PER FOOT (1.0 mm PER
25.0 cm) OR 1/32" (1.0 mm)
WHICHEVER IS GREATER

FIGURE 1
APPLICATION OF PIPE FABRICATION TOLERANCES

CD-ROM VERSION 2014-2015

 CURRENT INDEX OF 2014-2015
PFI STANDARDS & TECHNICAL BULLETINS
Engineering and Design
ES02 R13 Method of Dimensioning Piping Assemblies
ES07 R13 Minimum Length and Spacing for Welded Nozzles
ES16 R13 Access Holes, Bosses, and Plugs for Radiographic Inspection of Pipe Welds
ES26 R13 Welded Load Bearing Attachments to Pressure Retaining Piping Materials
ES36 R13 Branch Reinforcement Work Sheets.
ES36 R13 Branch Reinforcement Work Sheets – ELECTRONIC VERSION
ES40 RA10 Method of Dimensioning Grooved Piping Assemblies
ES44 R13 Drafting Practices Standard
Welding and Fabrication
ES01 R10 Internal Machining and Solid Machined Backing Rings For Circumferential Butt Welds
ES21 R10 Internal Machining and Fit-up of GTAW Root Pass Circumferential Butt Welds
ES24 R13 Pipe Bending Methods, Tolerances, Process and Material Requirements
ES35 RA03 Nonsymmetrical Bevels and Joint Configurations for Butt Welds
ES45 R13 Recommended Practice for Local Post-Weld Heat Treatment
ES47 R13 Welding of Internally Clad Piping
ES49 R13 Guidelines for Installation of Integrally Reinforced Branch Connection Fittings
Cleaning, Painting, and Shipping
ES05 R13 Cleaning of Fabricated Piping
ES29 R06 Internal Abrasive Blast Cleaning of Ferritic Piping Materials
ES31 RA04 Standard for Protection of Ends of Fabricated Piping Assemblies
ES34 R03 Temporary Painting/Coating of Fabricated Piping
ES37 RA10 Standard for Loading and Shipping of Piping Assemblies
Quality Control
ES03 R09 Fabricating Tolerances
ES11 R03 Permanent Marking on Piping Materials
ES22 R13 Recommended Practice for Color Coding of Piping Materials.
ES32 R13 Tool Calibration
ES39 RA10 Fabricating Tolerances for Grooved Piping Systems
ES41 RA03 Standard for Material Control and Traceability of Piping Components
ES43 RA13 Standard for Protection of Austenitic Stainless Steel and Nickel Alloy Materials
Examination and Testing
ES04 R13 Hydrostatic Testing of Fabricated Piping
ES20 R13 Wall Thickness Measurement by Ultrasonic Examination
ES27 R10 "Visual Examination" The Purpose, Meaning and Limitation of the Term
ES42 R05 Standard for Positive Material Identification of Piping Components using Portable X-Ray Emission Type Equipment
ES48 R13 Random Examination

Technical Bulletins
TB1 R13 Pressure - Temperature Ratings of Seamless Pipe Used in Power Plant Piping Systems - ELECTRONIC VERSION
TB3 R13 Guidelines Clarifying Relationships and Design Engineering Responsibilities Between Purchasers’ Engineers and Pipe Fabricator or Pipe
Fabricator or Pipe Fabricator Erector
TB5 R13 Information Required for the Bidding of Pipe Fabrication
TB7 R04 Guidelines for Fabrication and Installation of Stainless Steel High Purity Distribution Systems
TB8 R13 Recommended practice for the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piping
TB9 R13 Customary Fitting, Forging, Plate and Bar Materials used with Pipe
ELECTRONIC VERSION
 “1913 – 2013”

Visit our website www.pfi-institute.org

for;
A complete list of PFI members and available membership

 CHARTER MEMBERS
 CONTRACTOR MEMBERS
 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
 AFFILIATE MEMBERS
 HONORARY MEMBERS

Associate and Affiliate member contributors

Walter Sperko Sperko Engineering Services, Inc. Greensboro, NC
Thomas Warrelmann Victaulic Company of America Easton, PA
Sheryl Michalak Welding Outlets, Inc. Houston, TX

PFI Standards and Technical Bulletins are published to serve proven needs of the pipe
fabricating industry at the design level and in actual shop operations. Hence, such needs
are continually considered and reviewed by the Engineering Committee of the Pipe
Fabrication Institute to provide recommended procedures, which have been demonstrated
by collective experiences to fulfill requirements in a manner for Code compliance.
However, as the PFI Standards are for minimum requirements the designer or fabricator
always has the option of specifying supplementary conditions in the form of requirements
beyond the scope of the PFI publications.