Interpretation 28-01

Subject: B31.3-2018, Interpretation of Paras. 301.2, 302.2.4, and 302.3.5 Design

Pressure Water Hammer

Date Issued: September 21, 2021

File: 21-857

Question 1: In accordance with ASME B31.3-2018, does paragraph 301.2 Design Pressure
require consideration of pressure transients such as water hammer?

Reply 1: Yes. Also see para. 302.2.4.

Question 2: In accordance with ASME B31.3-2018, does paragraph 302.2.4 Allowances for
Pressure and Temperature Variations apply to pressure transients such as water
hammer?

Reply 2: Yes. Alternatively, a more rigorous analysis may be performed, see para.
300(c)(3). Also, see interpretation 20-03.

Question 3: In accordance with ASME B31.3-2018, do the calculated stresses due to

occasional loads in para. 302.3.6(a) include consideration of pressure transients
such as water hammer?

Reply 3: Yes. As an alternative to para. 302.3.6, a more rigorous analysis may be

performed, see para. 300(c)(3). Also, see interpretation 19-18.
Interpretation 28-02

Subject: B31.3-2018, Interpretation of Para. 345.2.3(c) Closure Weld

Date Issued: September 21, 2021

File: 21-1111

Question: In accordance with ASME B31.3-2018, when utilizing closure welds per para.
345.2.3(c) on a weld connecting a piping system to an ASME B16.5 pipe flange
(which is a listed component – see para. 326.3), is the B16.5 pipe flange required
to be successfully leak tested in accordance with para. 345?

Reply: No. See also Interpretation 23-14.

Interpretation 28-03

Subject: B31.3-2020, Interpretation of Para. 341.4 Use of In-Process Examination in-lieu

of Radiographic Examination

Date Issued: September 21, 2021

File: 21-1459

Question 1: Does ASME B31.3-2020, para. 341.4.1(b)(1) for Normal Fluid Service, address
radiographic or ultrasonic examination of welds other than circumferential butt
and miter groove welds?

Reply 1: No.
Question 2: In accordance with ASME B31.3-2020, para. 341.4.1(b)(1), if radiographic
examination of a branch connection weld in Normal Fluid Service is specified by
the engineering design must the engineering design include acceptance criteria
and any allowance to substitute in-process examination?

Reply 2: Yes.

Interpretation 28-04

Subject: B31.3-2020, Interpretation of Para. M341.4 In-Process Examination In-lieu of

Radiographic Examination for Category M Fluid Service

Date Issued: September 21, 2021

File: 21-1460

Question: When specified in the engineering design or specifically authorized by the

Inspector per para. 341.4.1(b)(1), does ASME B31.3-2020, para M341.4, allow
the use of in-process examination in accordance with para. 344.7?

Reply: Yes.

Interpretation 28-05

Subject: B31.3-2016, Interpretation of Para. 300(c) Heat Treatment for Longitudinal l Weld
of ASTM A358 Pipe after Spool Fabrication

Date Issued: September 21, 2021

File: 21-1696

Question: Does ASME B31.3-2016 permit discontinuities in the longitudinal welds of welded
pipes manufactured in accordance with ASTM A358 grades 304, 304L, 316, and
316L, to be repaired by the fabricator without further heat treatment?

Reply: The Code does not address if heat treatment is required. See para. 341.3.3.

Interpretation 28-06

Subject: B31.3-2020, Interpretation of Notes to Table A-1, A-1M, A-1A, Etc., Note 6 Use
of Non-Impact Tested Welded Carbon Steel Materials below -18°C

Date Issued: April 4, 2022

File: 21-1943

Question: In accordance with ASME B31.3-2020 edition, Table A-1 and A-1M Note 6, may
a listed carbon steel material containing welds made by the manufacturer be
used at a design minimum temperature of -29°C (-20°F) without performing
impact testing of the weld and heat affected zone in addition to what is required
by the material specification?
Reply: Yes, provided the requirements of para. 323.2.2(f) as corrected by an Errata #21-
1996 are met. The corrected paragraph reads “…minimum temperature is colder
than -29°C (-20°F), except for manufacturing welds…”.

Interpretation 28-07

Subject: B31.3-2020, Interpretation of Para. 331.1.3(a)(2), Control Thickness for PWHT of

Corrosion Resistant

Date Issued: April 4, 2022

File: 22-542

Question (1): Does ASME B31.3-2020, para. 331.1.3(a)(2) apply to the corrosion resistant
weld metal overlay cladding?

Reply (1): No.

Question (2): Do ASME B31.3-2020, Table 331.1.1 and Table 331.1.3 apply to weld overlay
application?

Reply (2): No.

Question (3): In accordance with ASME B31.3-2020, when fabricating piping with corrosion
resistant weld metal overlay cladding may ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 1,
UCL-30 through UCL-52 be applied under the rules of para. 323.4.3(d)?

Reply (3): Yes.

Interpretation 28-08

Subject: B31.3-2016, Interpretation of Table 341.3.2, Sugared Root

Date Issued: September 21, 2022

File: 22-1093

Question: Does ASME B31.3-2016 specify acceptance criteria for “sugaring” or “oxidation”
of stainless-steel weld roots?

Reply: No.

Interpretation 28-09

Subject: B31.3-2020, Interpretation of Paras. 345.1 Required Leak Test and Para. 345.3
Preparation for Leak Test

Date Issued: September 21, 2022

File: 22-1243
Question: In accordance with ASME B31.3-2020, para. 345.1, shall the examination of
para. 341.3.1 (required and any additional examinations specified by engineering
design) be completed before leak testing is performed?

Reply: Yes.

Interpretation 28-10

Subject: B31.3-2020, Interpretation of Paras. 300(d), 328.3, 333.2, 345.1 and K328.3
Welding Electrode and Filler Metal

Date Issued: September 21, 2022

File: 22-1605

Question (1): Are weld electrodes or filler metals in the unused condition listed materials?

Reply (1): No.

Question (2): Are solder or brazing filler metal and flux in the unused condition listed materials?

Reply (2): No.

Question (3): If the weld electrodes, filler metals, solder, or braze filler metal in the unused
condition are unlisted, is the material allowable stress to be determined in
accordance with para. 302.3.2 Bases for Design Stresses?

Reply (3): No. The rules for listed/unlisted materials do not apply to welding electrodes, filler
metals, solder, or braze filler metal. See para. 328.3.1 and 333.2.

Question (4): If the weld electrodes, filler metals, solder, or braze filler metal in the unused
condition are unlisted, is the material required to be evaluated in accordance with
para. 323.1.2 Unlisted Materials?

Reply (4): No. Welding electrodes, filler metals, solder, or braze filler metal are not
“components”, as per B31.3 definition in para. 300.2.

Interpretation 28-11

Subject: B31.3-2020, Interpretation of Para. M345 Sensitive Leak Test of Welds

Date Issued: September 21, 2022

File: 22-1732

Question (1): Does ASME B31.3-2020, para. M345 require a sensitive leak test be performed
in addition to the required leak testing of para. 345.1?

Reply (1): Yes.

Question (2): Does ASME B31.3-2020, para. 345.8 sensitive leak test apply to all joints and
welds including structural attachment welds to pressure containing components?

Reply (2): Yes.