ASME BPVC.VIII.
3-2019
ð19Þ
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ARTICLE KE-3
EXAMINATION OF WELDS AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
KE-300 EXAMINATION OF WELDS AND
WELD OVERLAY
Acceptance examinations of welds and weld overlay
shall be performed at the times stipulated in (a) through
(f) during fabrication and installation, except as otherwise
specified in KE-310 and KE-400.
(a) All butt joints shall be ultrasonically examined after
completion of all required heat treatment. Where ultraso-
nic examination cannot resolve embedded flaws in the
performance qualification block, or weld joint and/or ves-
sel geometry prohibits ultrasonic examination, radio-
graphic examination shall be performed.
(b) Magnetic particle or liquid penetrant examinations
of welds including plate weld repair shall be performed
after any required postweld heat treatment, except that
welds in P‐No. 1 material may be examined either before
or after postweld heat treatment. The magnetic particle
or liquid penetrant examination of welds at progressive
states of welding may be performed before PWHT.
(c) The magnetic particle or liquid penetrant examina-
tion of weld surfaces that are to be covered with weld
overlay shall be performed before the weld overlay is de-
posited. The magnetic particle or liquid penetrant exami-
nation of weld surfaces that are not accessible after a
postweld heat treatment shall be performed prior to post-
weld heat treatment. These examinations may be per-
formed before PWHT.
(d) Weld overlay shall be examined after completion of
all required heat treatment by the magnetic particle or li-
quid penetrant methods.
(e) All of the joints in austenitic stainless steel and non-
ferrous material shall be examined by the liquid pene-
trant method after final postweld heat treatment, if any,
is performed.
(f) Examination of weld joints when required in ferritic
steels with tensile properties enhanced by quenching and
tempering shall be made after all weld overlay has been
deposited, and all required heat treatment has been
performed.
KE-301 REQUIREMENTS FOR ULTRASONIC
EXAMINATIONS OF WELDS
(a) For welds in wrought product forms, both straight
beam and angle beam examinations shall be required.
The ultrasonic examination area shall include the volume
of the weld, plus 2 in. (50 mm) on each side of the weld.
The straight beam examinations shall include the volume
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of the base metal through which subsequent shear wave
shall pass. These examinations shall be performed in ac-
cordance with procedures agreed upon by the Manufac-
turer and User, and shall meet the requirements of
Section V, Article 4.
(b) A documented examination strategy or scan plan
shall be provided showing transducer placement, move-
ment, and component coverage that provides a standar-
dized and repeatable methodology for weld acceptance.
The scan plan shall include ultrasonic beam angle used,
beam directions with respect to weld centerline, and ves-
sel volume examined for each weld. The documentation
shall be made available to the purchaser upon request.
(c) The ultrasonic examination shall be performed in
accordance with a written procedure conforming to the
requirements of Section V, Article 4, Mandatory Appendix
IX. The procedure shall have been demonstrated to per-
form acceptably on qualification blocks. Acceptable per-
formance is defined as response from the maximum
allowable flaw and other flaws of interest demonstrated
to exceed the reference level. Alternatively, for techniques
that do not use amplitude recording levels, acceptable
performance is defined as demonstrating that all imaged
flaws with recorded lengths, including the maximum al-
lowable flaws, have an indicated length equal to or great-
er than the actual length of the flaws in the qualification
block.
(d) The ultrasonic examination shall be performed
using a device employing automatic computer based data
acquisition. The initial straight beam material examina-
tion (Section V, Article 4, T-472) for reflectors that could
interfere with the angle beam examination shall be
performed
(1) manually,
(2) as part of a previous manufacturing process, or
(3) during the automatic UT examination provided
detection of these reflectors is demonstrated in accor-
dance with (c).
(e) Data shall be recorded in unprocessed form. A com-
plete data set with no gating, filtering, or thresholding for
response from examination of the volume in (a) above
shall be included in the data record.
(f) Personnel performing and evaluating UT examina- ð19Þ
tions shall be qualified and certified in accordance with
their employer’s written practice as specified in Section
V, Article 1, T-120(e) or T-120(f). Only Level II or Level
III personnel shall analyze the data or interpret the
results.
 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

(g) When the UT examination is contracted by others, (-2) Plot and verify the reflector coordinates,
contractor qualification records of certified personnel provide a cross‐sectional display showing the reflector
shall be approved by the Certificate Holder and main- position and surface discontinuity such as root or
tained by their employer. counterbore.
(h) Personnel who acquire and analyze UT data shall be (-3) Review fabrication or weld prep drawings.
trained using the equipment in (d) above, and shall parti- (-c) Alternatively, other NDE methods or tech-
cipate in the demonstration of (c) above. niques may be applied to classify an indication as geo-
(i) Data analysis and acceptance criteria shall be as metric (e.g., alternative UT beam angles, radiography,
follows: I.D. profiling, or O.D. profiling).
(1) Data Analysis Criteria. Reflectors exceeding the (3) Flaw Sizing. Flaws shall be sized in accordance ð19Þ
limits in either (-a) or (-b) below, as applicable, shall be with a procedure demonstrated to size similar flaws at
investigated to determine whether the indication origi- similar material depths. Alternatively, a flaw may be sized
nates from a flaw or is a geometric indication in accor- by a supplemental manual technique as long as it has
dance with (2) below. When a reflector is determined to been qualified by the demonstration of (c) above. The di-
be a flaw, it shall be evaluated for acceptance in accor- mensions of the flaw shall be determined by the rectangle
dance with KE-333. that fully contains the area of the flaw. (Refer to Figures
(-a) For amplitude‐based techniques, the location, KE-301-1 through KE-301-7.)
amplitude, and extent of all reflectors that produce a re- (-a) The length (l ) of the flaw shall be drawn par-
sponse greater than 20% of the reference level shall be allel to the inside pressure‐retaining surface of the
investigated. component.
(-b) For nonamplitude‐based techniques, the loca- (-b) The depth of the flaw shall be drawn normal
tion and extent of all images that have an indicated length to the inside pressure-retaining surface and shall be de-
greater than the limits in (-1), (-2), or (-3) below, as ap- noted as “a” for a surface flaw or “2a” for a subsurface
plicable, shall be investigated. flaw.
(-1) For welds in material equal to or less than (-c) Subsurface flaw(s) close to a surface shall be
11/2 in. (38 mm) thick at the weld, images with indicated considered surface flaw(s) if the distance between the
lengths greater than 0.150 in. (3.8 mm) shall be flaw and the nearest surface is equal to or less than one-
investigated. half the flaw through-wall dimension as shown in Figure
(-2) For welds in material greater than 11/2 in. KE-301-1.
(38 mm) thick but less than 4 in. (100 mm) thick at the (-d) Subsurface flaws with S /a greater than 1.0
weld, images with indicated lengths greater than and surface flaws shall be evaluated for acceptance in ac-
0.200 in. (5 mm) shall be investigated. cordance with the criteria of Table KE-301-1 or Table
(-3) For welds in material greater than 4 in. KE-301-2 (or Figure KE-301-2 or Figure KE-301-3).
(100 mm) thick at the weld, images with indicated lengths
greater than 0.05t or 0.75 in. (19 mm), whichever is smal- KE-302 REQUIREMENTS FOR PERFORMANCE ð19Þ
ler, shall be investigated (t = nominal material thickness QUALIFICATION BLOCK
adjacent to the weld). The qualification blocks shall be prepared by welding
(2) Geometric. Ultrasonic indications of geometric and shall contain at least three flaws, oriented to simulate
and metallurgical origin shall be classified as follows: flaws parallel to the production weld’s fusion line as
(-a) Indications that are determined to originate follows:
from the surface configurations (such as weld reinforce- (a) The qualification block shall contain at least three
ment or root geometry) or variations in metallurgical planar flaws. The primary weld preparation angle shall
structure of materials (such as cladding to base metal in- be represented by at least two embedded flaws oriented
terface) may be classified as geometric indications, and with ±10 deg of the weld preparation angle. One flaw shall
(-1) need not be characterized or sized in accor- be located near the midpoint of the top one‐third of the
dance with (3) below; qualification block (representing the O.D.), one flaw shall
(-2) need not be compared to allowable flaw ac- be located near mid‐thickness of the qualification block,
ceptance criteria of Table KE-301-1 or KE-301-2; and one flaw shall be located near the midpoint of the bot-
(-3) shall have the maximum indication ampli- tom one‐third of the qualification block (representing
tude and location recorded, for example: internal attach- I.D.).
ments, 200% DAC maximum amplitude, 1 in. (25 mm) (b) The material of the qualification block shall meet
above the weld centerline, on the inside surface, from the P‐number requirements of Section V, Article 5.
90 deg to 95 deg. (c) The thickness of the qualification block shall be
(-b) The following steps shall be taken to classify within ±25% of the actual final thickness of the thickest
an indication as geometric: weld to be examined in the pressure vessel.
(-1) Interpret the area containing the reflector
in accordance with the applicable examination procedure.

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

Table KE-301-1 ð19Þ

Flaw Acceptance Criteria for 1 in. (25 mm) to 12 in. (300 mm) Thick Weld
1 in. (25 mm) ≤ t ≤ 21/2 in. (64 mm) 4 in. (100 mm) ≤ t ≤ 12 in. (300 mm)
Aspect Ratio, a/ℓ Surface Flaw, a /t Subsurface Flaw, a/t Surface Flaw, a/t Subsurface Flaw, a/t
0.00 0.031 0.034 0.019 0.020
0.05 0.033 0.038 0.020 0.022
0.10 0.036 0.043 0.022 0.025
0.15 0.041 0.049 0.025 0.029
0.20 0.047 0.057 0.028 0.033
0.25 0.055 0.066 0.033 0.038
0.30 0.064 0.078 0.038 0.044
0.35 0.074 0.090 0.044 0.051
0.40 0.083 0.105 0.050 0.058
0.45 0.085 0.123 0.051 0.067
0.50 0.087 0.143 0.052 0.076

GENERAL NOTES:
(a) See Figure KE-301-2, illustration (a) and Figure KE-301-3, illustration (a).
(b) t = thickness of the weld excluding any allowable reinforcement. For a buttweld joining two members hav-
ing different thickness at the weld, t is the thinner of these two thicknesses. If a full penetration weld in-
cludes a fillet weld, the thickness of the throat of the fillet weld shall be included in t.
(c) S is the distance of the indication from the nearest surface of the component (see Figure KE-301-1).
(d) For intermediate flaw aspect ratio a/ℓ, and thickness t [21/2 in. (64 mm) < t < 4 in. (100 mm)], linear in-
terpolation is permissible.
(e) If the acceptance criteria in this table results in a flaw length, ℓ , less than 0.25 in. (6.4 mm), a value of 0.25
in. (6.4 mm) may be used.
(f) This table is only applicable to a material thickness of 8 in. (200 mm) or thinner if the specified minimum
tensile strength is greater than 95 ksi (655 MPa).
(g) This table is only applicable to a material thickness of 8 in. (200 mm) or thinner if PWHT is not
undertaken.

(d) The embedded planar flaws in the qualification
block may be natural or artificial and must be fully char-
acterized in location, orientation (angular rotation in hor-
izontal and vertical axis), and reflecting area.
(e) Flaw size shall be no larger than the flaw sizes in
Table KE-301-1 or KE-301-2 for the thickness to be
examined.
KE-310 EXAMINATION OF WELD EDGE
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(a) Only indications with major dimensions greater
than 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) shall be considered relevant.
(b) Laminar type indications are acceptable without re-
pair if they do not exceed 1/4 in. (6 mm) in length. The ex-
tent of all laminar type indications exceeding 1/4 in.
(6 mm) in length shall be determined by ultrasonic exam-
ination. Indications exceeding 1/4 in. (6 mm) in length shall
be repaired by welding to a depth of 3/8 in. (10 mm) or the
depth of the indication, whichever is less, unless the ultra-

sonic examination reveals that additional depth of repair

PREPARATION SURFACES
All weld edge preparation surfaces in materials 2 in.
(51 mm) or more in thickness shall be examined by the
magnetic particle or liquid penetrant method. Weld re-
pairs made to the weld edge preparation surfaces shall
also be inspected by the magnetic particle or liquid pene-
trant method before the surface becomes inaccessible.
Indications shall be evaluated in accordance with the
acceptance standards in (a), (b), and (c). The location of
all relevant indications shall be documented.
is required to meet the ultrasonic examination require-
ment for the product form.
(c) Other nonlaminar relevant indications that are un-
acceptable are:
(1) any linear indications greater than 3/1 6 in.
(4.8 mm) long
(2) rounded indications with dimensions greater
than 3/16 in. (4.8 mm)
(3) four or more rounded indications in a line sepa-
rated by 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) or less, edge‐to‐edge

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

ð19Þ Table KE-301-2

Flaw Acceptance Criteria for 16 in. (400 mm) Thick Weld
Surface Flaw, a Subsurface Flaw, a
Aspect Ratio, a /ℓ in. mm in. mm
0.00 0.228 5.79 0.240 6.10
0.05 0.240 6.10 0.264 6.71
0.10 0.264 6.71 0.300 7.62
0.15 0.300 7.62 0.348 8.84
0.20 0.336 8.53 0.396 10.1
0.25 0.396 10.1 0.456 11.6
0.30 0.456 11.6 0.528 13.4
0.35 0.528 13.4 0.612 15.5
0.40 0.612 15.5 0.696 17.7
0.45 0.618 15.7 0.804 20.4
0.50 0.624 15.9 0.912 23.6

GENERAL NOTES:
(a) See Figure KE-301-2, illustrations (b) and (c) and Figure KE-301-3, illustrations (b) and (c).
(b) For intermediate flaw aspect ratio, a/ℓ linear interpolation is permissible.
(c) t = the thickness of the weld excluding any allowable reinforcement. For a buttweld joining two members
having different thickness at the weld, t is the thinner of these two thicknesses. If a full penetration weld
includes a fillet weld, the thickness of the throat of the fillet weld shall be included in t .
(d) S is the distance of the indication from the nearest surface of the component (see Figure KE-301-1).
(e) This table is applicable to materials with specified minimum tensile strength no greater than 95 ksi (655
MPa).
(f) If a thickness is larger than 16 in. (400 mm), flaw acceptance values for a thickness of 16 in. (400 mm) shall
be used.
(g) When the thickness is larger than 12 in. (300 mm) and less than 16 in. (400 mm), linear interpolation be-
tween values for 12 in. (300 mm) in Table KE-301-1 and those for 16 in. (400 mm) in Table KE-301-2 is
permissible.
(h) This table is not applicable if PWHT is not undertaken.

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

Figure KE-301-1 ð19Þ

Flaw Classification of Single Indication

t t

2d a
a

S
Sd

(a) Surface Indication (b) Surface Indication

t
2a (= 2d)

S
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S
a

(c) Subsurface Indication

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

ð19Þ Figure KE-301-2

Surface Flaw Acceptance Criteria

0.1

0.09

0.08
Allowable Surface Flaw Ratio, a/t

1 in.(25 mm)  t  2½ in. (64 mm)

0.07

0.06

0.05

0.04

0.03
4 in. (100 mm)  t  12 in. (300 mm)
0.02

0.01

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5

Flaw Aspect Ratio, a/l

(a) For Weld Thickness 1 in. (25 mm)  t  2½ in. (64 mm) and 4 in. (100 mm)  t  12 in. (300 mm) [Note (1)]

0.7

0.6
Allowable Half Depth, a (in.)

0.5

0.4

0.3

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0.2

0.1

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5

Flaw Aspect Ratio, a/l

(b) For Weld Thickness t  16 in. (400 mm) [Note (2)]

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

Figure KE-301-2
Surface Flaw Acceptance Criteria (Cont'd)
18

16

14
Allowable Half Depth, a (mm)

12

10

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5

Flaw Aspect Ratio, a/l

(c) For Weld Thickness t  400 mm (16 in.) [Note (3)]

NOTES:
(1) This graph obtained from acceptance criteria for surface flaw for 1 in. (25 mm) ≤ t ≤ 21/2 in. (64 mm) and 4 in. (100 mm) ≤ t ≤ 12 in. (300
mm) in Table KE-301-1.
(2) This graph obtained from acceptance criteria for surface flaw for t = 16 in. in Table KE-301-2.
(3) This graph obtained from acceptance criteria for surface flaw for t = 400 mm in Table KE-301-2.

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

ð19Þ Figure KE-301-3

Subsurface Flaw Acceptance Criteria

0.16

0.14
Allowable Surface Flaw Ratio, a/t

0.12
1 in.(25 mm)  t  2½ in. (64 mm)

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

4 in. (100 mm)  t  12 in. (300 mm)

0.02

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5

Flaw Aspect Ratio, a/l

(a) For Weld Thickness 1 in. (25 mm)  t  2½ in. (64 mm) and 4 in. (100 mm)  t  12 in. (300 mm) [Note (1)]

0.9

0.8
Allowable Half Depth, a (in.)

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5

Flaw Aspect Ratio, a/l

(b) For Weld Thickness t  16 in. (400 mm) [Note (2)]

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

Figure KE-301-3
Subsurface Flaw Acceptance Criteria (Cont'd)
25

20
Allowable Half Depth, a (mm)

15

10

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
Flaw Aspect Ratio, a/l

(c) For Weld Thickness t  400 mm (16 in.) [Note (3)]

NOTES:
(1) This graph obtained from acceptance criteria for subsurface flaw for 1 in. (25 mm) ≤ t ≤ 21/2 in. (64 mm) and 4 in. (100 mm) ≤ t ≤ 12 in. (300
mm) in Table KE-301-1.
(2) This graph obtained from acceptance criteria for subsurface flaw for t = 16 in. in Table KE-301-2.
(3) This graph obtained from acceptance criteria for subsurface flaw for t = 400 mm in Table KE-301-2.

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

ð19Þ Figure KE-301-4

Multiple Planar Flaws Oriented in Plane Normal to Pressure-Retaining Surface
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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

Figure KE-301-5 ð19Þ

Parallel Planar Flaws

237
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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

ð19Þ Figure KE-301-6

Nonaligned Coplanar Flaws in Plane Normal to Pressure-Retaining Surface (Illustrative Flaw
Configurations)

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

Figure KE-301-7 ð19Þ

Multiple Aligned Planar Flaws

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

Figure KE-301-7
Multiple Aligned Planar Flaws (Cont'd)
NOTES:
(1) This illustration indicates two surface flaws. The first, a 1 , is on the outer surface of the component, and the second, a 2 , is on the inner
surface:
(a 1 + a 2 ) ≤ (a s + a′ s )/2 within planes A−A ′ and B−B′
(2) This illustration indicates two subsurface flaws:
(a 1 + a 2 ) ≤ (a e + a′ e )/2 within planes C−C ′ and D−D ′
(3) This illustration indicates two surface flaws and one subsurface flaw:
(a) (a 1 + a 3 ) ≤ (a s + a ′ e )/2 within planes E−E ′ and F−F ′
(b) (a 1 + a 2 + a 3 ) ≤ (a s + a e + a ′ s )/3 within planes F−F ′ and G−G′
(c) (a 2 + a 3 ) ≤ (a′ s + a e )/2 within planes G −G ′ and H−H ′
(d) a s for first surface flaw, a′ s for second surface flaw, a e for first subsurface flaw, and a ′ e for second subsurface flaw are acceptable
flaw depth dimensions, respectively.

KE-320 TYPES OF WELDS AND THEIR
EXAMINATION
KE-321 WELDED JOINT CATEGORIES
The term category as used herein defines the location
of a joint in a vessel, but not the type of joint. The cate-
gories established by this paragraph are for use in this Di-
vision in specifying special requirements regarding joint
type and degree of examination for certain welded pres-
sure joints. Since these special requirements, which are
based on service and thickness, do not apply to every
welded joint, only those joints to which special require-
ments apply are included in categories. The joints in-
cluded in each category are designated as joints of
Categories A, B, C, and D below. Figure KE-321 illustrates
typical joint locations included in each category.
(a) Category A Locations. Category A locations are lon-
gitudinal welded joints within the main shell, communi-
cating chambers, 12 transitions in diameter, or nozzles;
any welded joint within a sphere, within a formed or flat
head, or within the side plates13 of a flat‐sided vessel; and
circumferential welded joints connecting hemispherical
heads to main shells, to transitions in diameter, to noz-
zles, or to communicating chambers.
(b) Category B Locations. Category B locations are cir-
cumferential welded joints within the main shell, commu-
nicating chambers, nozzles, or transitions in diameter,
including joints between the transition and a cylinder at
either the large or small end; and circumferential welded
joints connecting formed heads other than hemispherical
to main shells, to transitions in diameter, to nozzles, or to
communicating chambers.
(c) Category C Locations. Category C locations are
welded joints connecting flanges, tubesheets, or flat heads
to the main shell, to formed heads, to transitions in dia-
meter, to nozzles, or to communicating chambers; and
any welded joint connecting one side plate to another side
plate of a flat‐sided vessel.
(d) Category D Locations. Category D locations are
welded joints connecting communicating chambers or
nozzles to main shells, to spheres, to transitions in dia-
meter, to heads, or to flat‐sided vessels; and nozzles at
the small end of a transition in diameter and those joints
connecting nozzles to communicating chambers.

Figure KE-321
Illustration of Welded Joint Locations Typical of Categories A, B, C, and D
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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019

KE-322 WELD JOINTS
The entire length of all Categories A, B, C, and D weld
joints shall be ultrasonically examined in accordance with
KE-300. Where ultrasonic examination test results cannot
be conclusively interpreted, radiographic examination of
that area shall be carried out in accordance with
KE-101. The external and accessible internal weld sur-
faces and adjacent base material for at least 1/2 in.
(13 mm) on each side of the weld shall be examined by
either the magnetic particle or liquid penetrant method.
KE-323 WELD BUILDUP DEPOSITS AT OPENINGS
FOR NOZZLES, BRANCH, AND PIPING
CONNECTIONS
When weld buildup deposits are made to a surface, the
weld buildup deposit, the fusion zone, and the parent me-
tal beneath the weld buildup deposit shall be ultrasoni-
cally examined. See KE-333 for acceptance standards.
KE-324 ATTACHMENT WELDS
Attachment welds made to pressure-retaining material
shall be examined by either the magnetic particle or liquid
penetrant method. See KE-334 for acceptance standards.
KE-325 WELDS FOR MEMBRANE SEALS
Membrane seal welds shall be examined by either the
magnetic particle or liquid penetrant method.
KE-330 ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS
KE-331 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Acceptance standards for welds shall be as stated in the
(d) any group of aligned, rounded indications having an
aggregate length greater than t in a length of 12t, unless
the minimum distance between successive indications ex-
ceeds 6L, in which case the aggregate length is unlimited,
L being the length of the largest indication
(e) rounded indications in excess of those shown as ac-
ceptable in Table KE-332 and Mandatory Appendix 6.
KE-333 ULTRASONIC ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS
Flaws shall be evaluated for acceptance using the ap-
plicable criteria of Table KE-301-1 or KE-301-2 with the
following additional requirements:
(a) Surface Connected Flaws. Flaws identified as surface
flaws during the UT examination may or may not be sur-
face connected. Therefore, unless the UT data analysis
confirms that that flaw is not surface connected, it shall
be considered surface connected or a flaw open to the
surface, and is unacceptable unless a surface examination
is performed in accordance with (1), (2), or (3) below. If
the flaw is surface connected, the requirements above still
apply; however, in no case shall the flaw exceed the ac-
ceptance criteria in the applicable Construction Code
listed below for the method employed.
Acceptable surface examination techniques are
(1) magnetic particle examination (MT) in accor-
dance with Section VIII, Division 1, Mandatory Appendix
6; Section VIII, Division 2, Part 7, 7.5.6; Section I, Manda-
tory Appendix A, A-260 as applicable; or Section XII, Man-
datory Appendix V, or

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following paragraphs, while the acceptance standards for
material adjacent to the weld or beneath the weld or weld
buildup shall be as stated in Article KE-2. Table KE-332
Radiographic Acceptance Standards for
KE-332 RADIOGRAPHIC ACCEPTANCE
Rounded Indications (Examples Only)
STANDARDS
Maximum Size of Maximum Size of
Welds that are shown by radiography to have any of the
Acceptable Rounded Nonrelevant
following types of imperfections are unacceptable: Indications, in. (mm)
Thickness t , in. Indication, in.
(a) any type of crack or zone of incomplete fusion or (mm) Random Isolated (mm)
penetration
Less than 1/8 (3) 1
/4 t 1
/3 t 1
/10 t
(b) any other linear indication which has a length great- 1
/8 (3) 0.031 (0.8) 0.042 (1.1) 0.015 (0.4)
er than 3
/16 (5) 0.047 (1.2) 0.063 (1.6) 0.015 (0.4)
(1) 1/4 in. (6 mm) for t up to 3/4 in. (19 mm), inclusive 1
/4 (6) 0.063 (1.6) 0.083 (2.1) 0.015 (0.4)
(where t is the thickness of the thinner portion of the 5
/16 (8) 0.078 (2.0) 0.104 (2.6) 0.031 (0.8)
plate being welded) 3
/8 (9.5) 0.091 (2.3) 0.125 (3.2) 0.031 (0.8)
(2) t /3 for t over 3/4 in. (19 mm) to 21/4 in. (57 mm), 7
/16 (11) 0.109 (2.8) 0.146 (3.7) 0.031 (0.8)
1
inclusive /2 (13) 0.125 (3.2) 0.168 (4.3) 0.031 (0.8)
(3) 3/4 in. (19 mm) for t over 21/4 in. (57 mm) 9
/16 (14) 0.142 (3.6) 0.188 (4.8) 0.031 (0.8)
5
(c) internal root weld conditions are acceptable when /8 (16) 0.156 (4.0) 0.210 (5.3) 0.031 (0.8)
11
/16 (17.5) 0.156 (4.0) 0.230 (5.8) 0.031 (0.8)
the density change as indicated in the radiograph is not 3
/4 (19) to 2 (50), 0.156 (4.0) 0.250 (6.4) 0.031 (0.8)
abrupt (such that radiographs can be interpreted); linear incl.
indications on the radiograph at either edge of such con- Over 2 (50) 0.156 (4.0) 0.375 (9.5) 0.063 (1.6)
ditions shall be unacceptable as provided in (b)

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 ASME BPVC.VIII.3-2019
(2) liquid penetrant examination (PT) in accordance
with Section VIII, Division 1, Mandatory Appendix 8; Sec-
tion VIII, Division 2, Part 7, 7.5.7; Section I, Mandatory
Appendix A, A-270 as applicable; or Section XII, Manda-
tory Appendix VI, or
(3) eddy current examination (ET) in accordance
with Supplement I of this Case. All relevant ET indications
that are open to the surface are unacceptable regardless
of length.
(b) Multiple Flaws
(1) Discontinuous flaws shall be considered a singu-
lar planar flaw if the distance between adjacent flaws is
equal to or less than S as shown in Figure KE-301-4.
(2) Discontinuous flaws that are oriented primarily
in parallel planes shall be considered a singular planar
flaw if the distance between the adjacent planes is equal
to or less than 1/2 in. (13 mm). (Refer to Figure KE-301-5.)
(3) Discontinuous flaws that are coplanar and nona-
ligned in the through‐wall thickness direction of the com-
ponent shall be considered a singular planar flaw if the
distance between adjacent flaws is equal to or less than
S as shown in Figure KE-301-6.
(4) Discontinuous flaws that are coplanar in the
through‐wall direction within two parallel planes 1/2 in.
(13 mm) apart (i.e., normal to the pressure‐retaining sur-
face of the component) are unacceptable if the additive
flaw depth dimension of the flaws exceeds those shown
in Figure KE-301-7.
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(c) Subsurface Flaws. Flaw length (l ) shall not exceed
4t .
(d) The final data package shall be reviewed by a UT
Level III individual. The review shall include:
(1) the ultrasonic data record
(2) data interpretations
(3) flaw evaluations/characterizations performed by
another qualified Level II or III individual.
The data review may be performed by another indivi-
dual from the same organization.
Alternatively, the review may be achieved by arranging
for a data acquisition and initial interpretation by a Level
II individual qualified in accordance with KE-301(f) and
trained in accordance with KE-301(h), and a final inter-
pretation and evaluation shall be performed by a Level
III individual qualified similarly. The Level III individual
shall have been qualified in accordance with KE-301(f)
above, including a practical examination on flawed
specimens.
(e) The nameplate shall be marked under the Certifica-
tion Mark and Designator by applying UT, to indicate ul-
trasonic examination of welded seams required to be
examined in accordance with this Division.
KE-334 MAGNETIC PARTICLE AND LIQUID
PENETRANT EXAMINATION
Welds shall be examined by the magnetic particle or li-
quid penetrant methods in accordance with KE-233.
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