BUREAU DE CONTROLE, D’EXPERTISE ET D’INSPECTION INDUSTRIEL

RADIOGRAPHY TESTING
PROCEDURE
Procedure no. BCE/RT/003-2018/Rev-1.0

NOM ET PRENOM
DATE ET SIGNATURE

PREPARED BY ABDELLATIF KHIRI 01-02-2021

REVIEWED BY GOVINDRAJ K

APPROVED BY Level III

HASSANIA II, BLOC B, N°258, El Alia, Mohammedia – SARL au Capital de

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sl. No. DESCRIPTIONS

1. SCOPE

2. REFERENCES

3. PRE-REQUISITIES

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

5. PROCEDURE

DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING OF TEST RESULTS

6.

HASSANIA II, BLOC B, N°258, El Alia, Mohammedia – SARL au Capital de

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1. SCOPE
This procedure describes equipment, method and technique for radiographic examination of
butt welds of thickness range up to 60mm by using gamma ray sources. The materials
intended to be radiographed in accordance with this procedure is steel.

2. REFERENCES

This procedure has been established with reference to the following documents.
International Standards:
ASME SECTION V 2017 Article 2 : Radiographic Examination
ASME SECTION V 2017 Article 22 : Standard guide for Radiographic examination.
SNT-TC-1A : Recommended Practice : Personnel - Qualification & Certification in NDT

3. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS
Radiographic examination personnel shall be qualified to at least level-II as per SNT-TC-1A or
equivalent with minimum 5 years post certification practical experience.
Interpretation and evaluation of radiographs shall be performed by a qualified ASNT Level -
II technician with appropriate post-qualification experience.
Personnel engaged in radiography should have medical eye examination as per SNT-TC-1A.
Personnel conducting radiography shall have licensed from supreme council.
Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) shall be required on site where radiography is being
carried out (RPO can be part of the Radiographic Crew).
Radiographic Crew shall always consist of two Workers (Radiographer and RPO).

4. SURFACE CONDITION

Where possible, the contour of the weld surface on both sides shall be smooth and uniform
to such a degree that on the resulting radiographic image the irregularities do not mask, be
confuse with the image of any discontinuity. Any change section shall be gradual.
Welds shall be visually examined prior to radiographic examination.

5. BACK SCATTER RADIATION

A lead letter “B” of minimum 1.5mm thick and 13mm height shall be attached to the back of
each film holder during each exposure to determine if back scatter is exposing the film. If a
light image of letter “B” appears on a darker background of the radiograph, protection from
backscatter is insufficient and the radiograph shall be considered unacceptable. A dark
image of the “B” on a lighter background is not cause for rejection. Suitable lead backing
shall be used to avoid backscatter.

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6. IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

Each segment of the weld radiograph shall have unique identification of part, joint and
section of the joint (eg. Job No, Client, Drawing No., Joint No., Welder ID, Size, Schedule,
Date, Material etc.,). However, the identification numbers shall not obscure the area of
interest.

Markers in the form of lead arrows shall be placed alongside, but clear of outer edges of the
weld, to identify its position. Spacing of lead marker shall be 90-150 mm diameter lead
markers at 20mm intervals, 150-300 mm diameter lead markers at 50mm intervals and
above 300mm diameter, lead markers at 100mm intervals.

All circumferential and longitudinal joints to be radiographed shall be divided into segments
and shall be marked to provide reference points for the accurate relocation of each
radiograph. The last reference marker on each end of the image shall appear on the
appropriate adjacent images in a way that establishes that no part of the weld has been
omitted.

When radiographs are taken after repair, the number of times the weld undergone shall be
denoted by letters suffixed R1, R2… and in same way the ground, merged or blended
segments shall be denoted by G1, G2… and the film retakes due to unacceptable quality
of the image shall be suffixed RT1, RT2…

7. EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

RADIATION SOURCE

For examination of welds, Iridium 192(Ir192) gamma ray source shall be used as radiation
source. Ir192 gamma ray source shall be used for thickness 5 mm and above, the maximum
thickness for the use of a radioactive isotope is primarily dictated by the exposure time.
However, the minimum thickness limitation may be reduced when the radiographic
techniques used, demonstrate that the required radiographic sensitivity has been obtained.

The maximum physical size of radioactive source shall be 2.5mm dia x 3mm length.

The equipment manufacturers or supplier's publications, such as technical manuals, decay

curves, or written statements documenting the actual or maximum source or focal spot size
shall be acceptable as source size verification. This value shall be used in calculating
geometric unsharpness. Incase if the manufacturer data is not available then source size
verification shall be carried out as per ASME Sec V Article 2, T-261.2

INTENSIFYING SCREENS

Lead intensifying screens of thickness 0.10” to 0.125” shall be used on the front and backside
of the film to improve the quality of the radiograph.
Intensifying screens shall be handled carefully to prevent dents, scratches, dirt or grease on
the active surface which might cause false indications on the radiograph.

HASSANIA II, BLOC B, N°258, El Alia, Mohammedia – SARL au Capital de

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FILMS

Fine grain films shall be used as necessary to achieve the required radiographic sensitivity.
Single film technique shall be used.
Films shall be used within the manufacturer’s specified shelf life or product’s expiry date.
Industrial Radiographic Film such as Kodak AA, Agfa D4 or equivalent shall be used.

CASSETTES

Cassettes, whether rigid or flexible, shall have sufficient compression to ensure positive film-
to-screen contact it shall also be light proof, and of good quality.

IMAGE QUALITY INDICATORS (IQI)

Type of Image Quality Indicator

Wire type Image Quality Indicators (IQI) shall be used to demonstrate sensitivity
requirements of applicable code/standard. These shall be manufactured and identified in
accordance with the requirements or alternatives allowed in ASME Sec V, Article 22, SE-
747. IQI’s shall meet the requirements of Table T 233.2. IQI’s manufactured in accordance
with other national or international stand (e.g. DIN) may be employed provided the material
requirements of ASME Sec V Article 2 - T 276.1 are met and the IQI essential wire is lesser
than or equal to the standard requirement.

IQI shall be selected from either same material group or from a material group with less
radiation absorption than the material being radio graphed.The essential wire required to be
visible as a radiographic image on the radiograph shall be based on the Table 1 displayed
below.

Table – 1
SELECTION IQI

Nominal Single Wall Essential Wire Essential wire

Matl. Thickness Range (mm) Source Side Film side

Up to 6.4 5 4
Over 6.4 to 9.5 6 5
Over 9.5 to 12.7 7 6
Over 12.7 to 19.0 8 7
Over 19.0 to 25.4 9 8
Over 25.4 to 38.1 10 9
Over 38.1 to 50.8 11 10
Over 50.8 to 63.5 12 11
Over 63.5 to 101.6 13 12
Over 101.6 to 152.4 14 13
Over 152.4 to 203.2 16 14
Over 203.0 to 254.0 17 16
Over 254.0 to 304.8 18 17
Over 304.8 to 406.4 20 18
Over 406.4 to 508.0 21 20

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Placement of IQI

Where possible, IQI shall be placed on the source side of the weld. The exception to this is
permissible only in cases where hand placement of IQI source side is not possible.
On any radiograph on which an IQI is used on the film side of the weld, the IQI shall have
lead letter “F” placed next to it, to be visible on the radiograph.

IQIs shall be placed on the weld at the edge of the area of interest with the wires oriented
transversely to the fusion line, with the thinnest wire to the outside.
The thickness of the material under IQI shall be within 10% of the maximum thickness under
examination. If the thickness range to be covered is large, an appropriate IQI shall be placed
on both the maximum and minimum thickness to appear on each radiograph.

Number of IQIs

The requirements shall be two IQIs, one at each extremity of the area to be inspected or one at
the center of the radiation beam and one at the extremity of the area to be inspected.
For panoramic exposures, at least four IQIs shall be used spaced 90 apart (ie; one IQI per
quadrant); or one IQI per film; whichever is greater.
When a length less than 125mm are inspected, only one IQI is required, located at the
extremity of the area to be inspected.

DENSITY MEASUREMENT

Densitometer or Step wedge comparison filmstrip shall be used to judge the density of
radiograph.
Density achieved in the radiograph shall be measured at the location of the image of the
required wire on the IQI.
Difference in density readings at any given location shall not exceed 0.05

FILM VIEWERS
Film viewers (Illuminators) used to view radiographs shall provide sufficient variable light
source sufficient for the essential wire to be visible on the radiograph.
The radiographs shall be viewed in a room with subdued background lighting that will not
cause any glare, shadows or reflections from the surface of the film under examination. The
brightness of the surroundings shall be about the same as the area of interest in the
radiograph.
The viewing conditions shall be such that the light from around the outer edge of the
radiograph or coming through low density portions on the radiograph does not interfere with
the interpretation.

8. CALIBRATION

SOURCE SIZE
Supplier’s written statements or reports documenting the actual or maximum source size or
focal spot shall be acceptable as source size verification.

STEP WEDGE DENSITY STRIP AND DENSITOMETER

The density of step wedge density strip and densitometer shall be calibrated in accordance
with T-262 of ASME Sec. V 2010.

HASSANIA II, BLOC B, N°258, El Alia, Mohammedia – SARL au Capital de

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9. RADIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUE

GENERAL
A single wall exposure technique shall be used for radiography if this is practically possible.

When it is not practical to use single wall technique, double wall technique shall be used
with adequate number of exposures for complete coverage.

While selecting the technique, care shall be exercised to ensure that the minimum required
sensitivity is achieved and the required geometric unsharpness (Ug) is not exceeded.

DOUBLE WALL TECHNIQUE

When it is not practical to use a single wall technique, one of the following double wall
techniques shall be used.

SINGLE WALL VIEWING

In double wall exposure single wall viewing technique, the radiation passes through two
walls of the weld and only the weld on the film side is viewed for acceptance on the
radiograph. When complete coverage is required for circumferential welds, a minimum of
three exposures (120 degree to each other) shall be taken. The radiographic technique
sketch is as shown in Annexure I.

Double wall viewing

In double wall exposure double wall viewing technique, the radiation passes through two
walls of the weld and the weld in both walls is viewed for acceptance on the same
radiograph.

For welds, the radiation beam shall be offset from the plane of the weld at an angle
sufficient to separate the images of the source side and film side portions of the weld, so
that there is no overlap of the areas to be interpreted. A minimum of two exposures shall be
taken at 90 deg. to each other for each joint to obtain complete coverage of the weld. The
radiographic technique sketch is as shown in Annexure I.
When the diameter is small and the thickness is high, it may not be practical to exercise the
technique. In such case, the weld shall be radiographed with the radiation beam positioned
so
that the images of both walls are superimposed. A minimum of three exposures shall be
taken either at 60 deg. or at 120 deg. to each other for each joint to obtain complete
coverage of the weld. The radiographic technique sketches are as shown in Article – 2 which
is attached with this procedure.
Additional exposures shall be made if the required radiographic coverage cannot be
obtained using the minimum number of exposures indicated in double wall and single wall
viewing.

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10. LOCATION MARKERS

Location markers in the form of arrows made of lead shall be placed alongside but clear of
the outer edges of the weld to identify its position on the radiographic image.

The location markers shall provide evidence on the radiograph that the complete coverage
of the weld has been obtained. The location markers shall be placed in such a way that they
do not interfere with the interpretation of radiograph. The location markers shall be placed
on source side or film side as detailed in Annexure II.

11. GEOMETRIC UNSHARPNESS

Geometric unsharpness (Ug) of the radiograph shall be determined in accordance with

Ug = F d/D

where Ug is geometric unsharpness

“F” is the maximum projected dimension of the radiation source.
“d“ is the distance from the source side of the weld to the film.
“D” is the distance from the source to source side of the object.
“D” and “d” shall be determined at the approximate center of the area of interest.
The maximum permissible geometric unsharpness shall be as detailed in ASME Sec V
Article 2, T-274.2.
Minimum focal/source to film distance shall be kept such that the geometric unsharpness of
the radiograph shall not exceed 0.5mm Required IQI sensitivity shall be used as a base for
final acceptance of radiograph.

12. FILM OVERLAP

The separate radiographs of a weld joint shall overlap sufficiently to ensure that no portion
of the joint remains unexamined. The minimum film overlap shall be 20mm.

13. IMAGE QUALITY

The radiographs shall be free from mechanical, chemical or other foreign material such as
fogging, scratches, finger marks, dirtiness, static marks, tears, other processing defects like,
water marks or chemical stains or other false indications due to defective screens, to the
extent that they do not mask and are not confused with the image of any discontinuity in
the area of interest of the object being radiographed.

14. RADIOGRAPHIC DENSITY

In the image of the length of weld under examination, the film density near the IQI essential
wire shall be not less than 2.0 In both cases, the highest density shall not be greater than
4.0, unless special arrangements are made for adequate viewing of higher density film.

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The density measurement of the radiograph shall be accomplished by using the

densitometer or step wedge film density strip.

The density range acceptable on any radiograph shall vary by no more than +30% and –15%
of the density measured near the essential wire of the IQI. If the density in the area of
interest on the radiograph falls outside this range, an additional IQI is required to be
displayed in each such area.

15. SENSITIVITY

Radiography shall be performed with a technique of sufficient sensitivity to display the

specified wire image of the designated IQI, which is an essential indication of the image of
the radiograph.
Dia of Thinnest wire discernible or radiograph X 100
Penetrated thickness at area of interest

(including weld re-inforcement)

The minimum sensitivity of the radiograph shall be considered as satisfactory of the required
wire size is visible. The sensitivity shall always be 2% or better.

16. FILM PROCESSING

The exposed films shall be processed either by manual processing or automatic processing in
accordance with film manufacturer’s recommendations and Standard guide for Controlling
the quality of industrial radiographic film processing. SE-999 or Paragraphs 23 through 26 of
SE-94, ASME Section V Article 22, Standard guide for Radiographic examination.

17. FILM HANDLING AND CLEANLINESS

Films shall be handled under safe light conditions.

Films shall be handled only at their edges and with dry, clean hands to avoid finger marks on
film surfaces.

Sharp bending, excessive pressure and rough handling of film shall be avoided.

Cassettes, screens and loading bench shall be kept clean.

The dark room shall be arranged and maintained with processing facilities on one side, and
film handling on the other to promote cleanliness in manual processing.

18. FILM STORAGE

Unexposed films shall be stored in such a manner that they are protected from the effects of
light, pressure, excessive heat, excessive humidity, damaging fumes or vapors, or
penetrating radiation.

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ACCEPTANCE STANDARD

Radiographs shall be evaluated in accordance with client requirement.

19. REPAIR AND RE-EXAMINATION

Repaired segments shall be re-examined by the same procedure and technique used for
original examination.

20. REPORTING

A detailed report duly signed by NDE personnel (minimum Level II) shall be issued in the
standard Radiographic Examination Report Form as attached as Annexure III.

HASSANIA II, BLOC B, N°258, El Alia, Mohammedia – SARL au Capital de

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Annexure I.

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Annexure II.

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Annexure III.
RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION REPORT
To,
M/s - Client Name Report no. 4'' Pipe of 6.2 mm thickness

Report dated.

S.F.D : 4'' Film : AGFA D7

Source : IR-192 Thickness : 6.2 mm
Strength : 15.00 Ci Density : 2-4
Technique : D W S I Sensitivity : 2 -2 T
Penetrameter : ASTM-10 F DIN :- Reference Standard : ASME SEC.V
Lead screens : 0.1mm, 0.15mm Accep. Standara : ASME SEC. IX.

Sr. No. Description Segment Size Remarks

1 4 inch-Pipe-Tk 6.2mm A-B 4 X 8'' N S D- Acceptable
2 4 inch-Pipe-Tk 6.2mm B-C 4 X 8'' N S D- Acceptable
3 4 inch-Pipe-Tk 6.2mm C-A 4 X 8'' S / M- Acceptable

Note:
N S D – No Significant Defect
S / M – Surface Mark

FOR BCE II

HASSANIA II, BLOC B, N°258, El Alia, Mohammedia – SARL au Capital de

100.000,00DH
Patente : 39574998–R.C : 19815 – I.F : 20778151 – ICE : 001849052000041
Tél: 066167 80 30 / Email:bce2imaroc@gmail.com