NUMBER P28-E01

REV. No. 0
ENGINEERING STANDARD DATE SEP 2014
PAGE 1 OF 7

Pipe Joints

This document is issued by PE, SABIC E&PM, Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The information contained in
this document is the confidential property of SABIC. It cannot be disclosed, copied or used for any purpose without approval
from SABIC. If you are not authorized to posses this document, please destroy it immediately.
 NUMBER P28-E01
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Pipe Joints DATE SEP 2014

ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 2 OF 7

CONTENTS
1 SCOPE .................................................................................................................................... 3
2 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 3
3 DEFINITIONS ......................................................................................................................... 3
4 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................. 3
4.1 Permanent backing rings shall not be used in Butt weld joints. ......................................... 3
4.2 The following joints are the most commonly used in pressure piping system: .................. 3
5 WELDED JOINTS ................................................................................................................... 3
5.1 Buttwelding Joints .............................................................................................................. 3
5.2 Socket Welds ..................................................................................................................... 4
6 FLANGED JOINTS ................................................................................................................. 5
6.1 Exclusions .......................................................................................................................... 5
6.2 Limitations on Long exposed Bolted Joints ....................................................................... 5
7 THREADED JOINTS............................................................................................................... 5
7.1 Hazardous Services ........................................................................................................... 5
7.2 Non-Hazardous Service ..................................................................................................... 5
7.3 Thread Engagement .......................................................................................................... 5
8 SEAL WELDING OF THREADED JOINTS ............................................................................ 6
8.1 The Seal Weld.................................................................................................................... 6
8.2 General Requirements ....................................................................................................... 6
8.3 Special Requirements ........................................................................................................ 6
8.4 Mechanical Requirements ................................................................................................. 6
8.5 Joint Compound ................................................................................................................. 7
9 JOINTS FOR INSTRUMENT TUBING ................................................................................... 7
10 PROHIBITED PIPING JOINTS AND COMPONENTS ........................................................... 7
11 CONFLICTS AND DEVIATIONS ............................................................................................ 7
12 REVISION HISTORY .............................................................................................................. 7

Table I Minimum Number of Threads Engagement ....................................................................... 6

 NUMBER P28-E01
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Pipe Joints DATE SEP 2014

ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 3 OF 7

1 Scope
1.1 This standard covers limitations on various types of weld joints, including pipe to pipe, pipe to
flange, pipe to fitting; used in metallic piping for pressure services in plants and pipelines. This
standard supplements ASME B31 (B31.1, B31.3, B31.4 and B31.8) piping codes.
1.2 This standard shall be utilized during preparation of Piping material specification and fabrication
of piping system

2 References
References made in this standard to the following documents. The latest issues, amendments, and
supplements to these documents shall apply unless otherwise indicated.
SABIC Engineering Standards (SES)
P02-S01 Piping Material Specifications for Process Fluids
P04-S01 Piping Material Specification for Utilities
R10-E01 Instrument Piping and Tubing System Criteria
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
B16.25 Buttwelding Ends
B31.1 Power Piping
B31.3 Process Piping
B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid and Slurries
B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems

3 Definitions
For understanding this standard, the following definition applies.
Seal Welding: It is a fillet weld applied on threaded joints to prevent leakage of threaded joints. It shall
not be considered as contributing factor to the strength of the threaded joints.

4 General Requirements
4.1 Permanent backing rings shall not be used in Butt weld joints.
4.2 The following joints are the most commonly used in pressure piping system:
a. Welded Joints
b. Flanged Joints
c. Threaded Joints
d. Seal Welding of Threaded Joints
e. Joints for Instrument Tubing

5 Welded Joints
5.1 Buttwelding Joints
5.1.1 Joints Between Piping of Equal Strength, with Different Walls
The joint details for piping of equal strength, and different wall thickness shall be as
follows:
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Pipe Joints DATE SEP 2014

ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 4 OF 7

a. When the wall thickness ratio of the two pieces is less than or equal to 1.5, the thicker
wall is taper bored in accordance with the respective ASME B31 design code.
b. When the wall thickness ratio of the two pieces is greater than 1.5, a combination of
taper boring and weld end preparation is used. The end preparations and geometry
shall comply with ASME B16.25.
5.1.2 Joints Between Piping of Unequal Strength, with Different Walls

When pipe materials joined have different yield strengths and unequal wall thicknesses,
taper boring and special beveling in accordance with ASME B16.25 under the following is
to be used as follows:
a. When the thickness of the lower grade material exceeds 1.5 times the required
thickness of the higher grade but is not needed to match the design strength of the
higher grade.
b. When the thickness of the higher grade material exceeds 1.5 times the required
thickness of the lower grade.
5.1.3 Transition Pieces

When joining pipes of different material grades (yield strengths), a transition piece shall
be used if the wall thickness of lower grade material is greater than 1.5 times the wall
thickness of higher-grade material.
Graphic details of the joint designs are shown in ASME B31.3, ASME B31.4 and ASME
B31.8.
5.1.4 The specific application of butt weld joints shall be in accordance with SES P02-S01.
5.2 Socket Welds
5.2.1 The maximum size of socket-welded joints for process fluid / utilities shall be limited to
NPS 1 ½ unless otherwise specified.
5.2.2 Socket-welded construction shall not be used in the following services.
a. Piping components NPS 2 and larger.
b. Services defined as category K as per ASME B31.3
c. Services requiring 100 percent radiographic examination.
d. Services, operating under vibration / fatigue / cyclic conditions.
e. Piping class 900# and above.
f. Services defined as category M as per ASME B31.3
g. Services in which crevice corrosion can occur. Examples of such fluids:
i. Chlorides (Austenitic Stainless Steel)
ii. Caustic (carbon steel, austenitic Stainless Steel)
iii. Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC, austenitic Stainless Steel), especially
relating to unmanaged hydrotest conditions
h. Polymerizing services (like butadiene)
i. Services that are susceptible to erosion or erosion-corrosion
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j. Services for which strict cleanliness standards are mandatory, example

Oxygen service.

6 Flanged Joints
6.1 Exclusions
6.1.1 Flanged joints shall be avoided where leaks are not tolerated, or severe hazard exists
from leaked fluid. The following services are typical of those where flanges are to be
avoided:
a. Potentially toxic materials
b. Steam in ASME Class 900 and higher
c. Cyclic or vibration services (where leak likely to occur)
d. In the fully restrained portion of cross-country pipelines and in underwater pipelines
e. In locations where the piping will be subjected to large bending or other external loads
f. Buried piping
g. Hydrogen service
6.2 Limitations on Long exposed Bolted Joints
The limitations on long exposed Bolted Joints, shall be in accordance with SES P02-S01.

7 Threaded Joints
7.1 Hazardous Services
Threaded joints shall be avoided in hazardous and hydrocarbon fluid services. In case
unavoidable, seal welding of joints shall be made as per paragraph 8.3. See SES P02-S01 for
size limitation of threaded joints in piping system.
7.2 Non-Hazardous Service
The threaded connections shall only be used in drinking water and instrument air services and the
size shall comply with Table-IIIA of SES P04- S01. In case unavoidable, seal welding of joints
shall be made as per paragraph 8.3.
7.3 Thread Engagement
The minimum length of the engaged threads pipe shall meet the requirement of ASME B1.20.1
for taper pipe thread. The minimum number of engaged pipe threads shall meet the requirements
of Table I.
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Pipe Joints DATE SEP 2014

ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 6 OF 7

Table I Minimum Number of Threads Engagement

NO. OF THREADS
SIZE (NPS)
ENGAGED
1/2 through 3/4 6
1 through 1-1/2 7
2 through 3 8
4 10

8 Seal Welding of Threaded Joints

8.1 The Seal Weld
Where seal welding is required, the seal weld shall be a fillet weld going from the outer diameter
of the female part, smoothly with slight concavity as allowed by ASME B31, to the male part
covering all exposed threads without undercut.
8.2 General Requirements
Seal welding of threaded joints is required when deemed necessary for those locations and
services where an uncontrolled leakage would result in serious consequences for the operation
or safety of plant and personnel.
8.3 Special Requirements
8.3.1 When threaded joints cannot be avoided, seal welding shall be applied to all threaded
joints, upstream and downstream of the root valve, in the following services:
a. All hydrocarbons
b. Boiler feedwater, condensate, and steam systems utilizing ASME Class 300 and
higher flange ratings
c. Toxic materials such as chlorine, phenol, hydrogen sulfide, etc.
d. Corrosive materials such as acid, caustic, etc.
e. Oil field chemicals (e.g. corrosion inhibitors, emulsifiers, electrolytes, etc.)
8.3.2 Seal welding is not required for the following services and applications:
a. Thermowells
b. Joints which require frequent disassembly and are located downstream of a seal
welded block valve, e.g. sample connections.
c. Pipe union ring threads and joints with elastomer o-rings
d. Threaded joints, downstream of a seal welded root valve, which discharge directly to
an open drainage system or to the atmosphere
8.4 Mechanical Requirements
Seal welding is required on threaded joints when the piping is subject to vibration, whether
continuous or intermittent.
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ENGINEERING STANDARD PAGE 7 OF 7

8.5 Joint Compound

PTFE (Teflon) tape or joint compounds shall not be used in threaded connections requiring seal
welding. PTFE tape shall not be used for service temperature greater than 204 C.

9 Joints for Instrument Tubing

The use of fittings for flared, flareless, and compression-type tubing fittings and other joints shall be as
per SES R10-E01.

10 Prohibited Piping Joints and Components

The following piping components and joints shall not be used in pressure piping system.
a. Caulked joints.
b. Soldered, Brazed and Braze-welded joints.
c. Proprietary mechanical joints, Clamp type connectors and Proprietary Coupling.

11 Conflicts and Deviations

11.1 Any conflict(s) between this standard, SES and industry standards, engineering drawings, and
contract documents shall be resolved at the discretion of SABIC.
11.2 Deviations providing less than the minimum requirements of the standard require written approval
from SABIC

12 Revision History
Revision No. 0, September 2014 SES number changed from P28-G01 to P28-E01 in
line with SES numbering Philosophy.
Existing SES restructured.
Added: Limitation of socket weld joints in section
5.2.2.
Deleted: Paragraph for Proprietary mechanical joints,
Clamp type connectors and Proprietary Coupling.