PFI Standard ES-1

(Revised September 2010)

INTERNAL MACHINING AND SOLID MACHINED

BACKING RINGS FOR CIRCUMFERENTIAL BUTT WELDS

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.

Copyright by

PIPE FABRICATION INSTITUTE

Dedicated to Technical Advancements and Standardization in
the Pipe Fabrication Industry
Since 1913
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 PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)

INTERNAL MACHINING AND SOLID MACHINED

BACKING RINGS FOR CIRCUMFERENTIAL
BUTT WELDS

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 thicknesses 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 variables associated with that process. These specific

dimensions shall be defined in the Welding Procedure
1.1 This Standard covers the dimensioning of solid Specification.
machined backing rings and the internal machining of
seamless and welded piping components for use with
4. Internal Machining
these rings.
4.1 The following terms define the various dimensions and
1.2 Piping components must be internally machined to a tolerances required to compute the internal machining
close tolerance to accept solid machined backing rings. dimensions ("C" dimension) for different types of
For this reason, solid machined backing rings are not piping components.
recommended for use with piping components with
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wall thickness less than 0.562" (14mm). A = specified outside pipe diameter
B = nominal inside pipe diameter
2. Backing Rings C = I.D. machining dimension
d = specified minimum inside diameter
2.1 Solid machined backing rings may be of either flat or Mo = over tolerance on C-bore
tapered design. Refer to Figures l, 2, 3, and 4 for Mu = under tolerance on C-bore
backing ring dimensions and design. Ru = under tolerance on outside diameter
So = over tolerance on inside diameter
2.2 The nominal diameter of a tapered solid machined Su = under tolerance on inside diameter
backing ring shall be 0.010" (0.3mm) larger than the T = minimum ordered wall thickness
corresponding nominal internal counterbore of the t = nominal wall thickness
piping component. The nominal diameter of a flat solid tm = minimum wall required by design
machined backing ring shall be equal to the
corresponding nominal internal counterbore of the 4.2 To assure proper fit-up of adjoining components, and to
piping component. The diametrical tolerance on either a assure proper fit-up of the backing ring it is
flat or tapered solid machined backing ring shall be recommended that "Mo" be set at +.010" (0.3mm) and
+.000" –.010" (+0.0mm – 0.3mm). "Mu" at –.000" ( –.000mm).

3. End Preparation NOTE: It must be recognized that large diameter pipe

3.1 Typical end preparations for different wall thicknesses with a relatively thin wall, has a tendency to spring
are shown in Figures 1 through 4. Those dimensions back after removal from the machining fixture, so the
which are marked with an asterisk (*) may be modified
as appropriate for the applicable welding process and

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tolerance (Mu or Mo) on the internal machining
dimension "C" is therefore applicable to pipe ends
measured in the restrained condition. This should be
considered when checking the "C" dimension after
removal from the machining fixture.
4.3 Pipe and companion components specified by outside
diameter.
4.3.1 For pipe and companion components specified
by outside diameter and minimum wall, the
I. D. machining dimension is determined as:
C = A – Ru – Mo – 2tm , +Mo
– Mu
4.3.2 For seamless and hollow forged pipe to ASTM
A106, A3121, A335, A376, or A405, "Ru =
0.031 in. Using the recommended values of
"Mo" and "Mu" in paragraph 4.2 Formula 4.3.1
becomes:
C = A – 0.041 – 2tm +.010"
–.000"
4.3.3 For pipe specified by outside diameter and
nominal wall (or schedule) where the ASTM
12 1/2% nominal to minimum wall thickness
tolerance applies, Formula 4.3.1 becomes
C = A – 0.041 – 1.75 t +.010"
–.000"
"C" dimensions and corresponding backing ring
dimensions for standard ANSI B36.10 pipe
sizes, 24" and under with wall thickness 0.562"
(14mm) and heavier, are published in Table 1 :
"Pipe specified by outside diameter and
nominal wall ". These dimensions have been
calculated in accordance with Formula 4.3.3.
4.4 Pipe and companion components specified by inside
diameter.
4.4.1 The formulas below may be used as a guide to
determine the internal machining dimension for
pipe and companion components specified by
inside diameter:
a) for use of flat solid backing rings.
C = d+So+Su – Mo +Mo
– Mu
b) for use of tapered solid backing rings where
the possibility of weld buildup is to be
minimized or eliminated.
1
under tolereance for A312 varies with pipe size. Refer to
ASTM specification.
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PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)
C = d+So+Mo +Mo
– Mu
NOTES:
1. Where "d" is specified as nominal instead of
minimum I.D., "Su" should be dropped from the
expression.
2. When using welded plate pipe, permissible variations
in out-of-roundness and diameter may make
procurement of pipe with sized ends desirable. In
this case "So" should be set equal to the plus sizing
tolerance and "Su" the minus sizing tolerance.
4.5 Where the outside and/or inside diameters of the
adjacent components differ from each other by more
than the nominal tolerances, the heavier component
shall be tapered in accordance with ANSI B16.25,
Figure l.
5. Material Ordering
5.1 In some cases selection of internal machining
dimensions may affect ordered wall thicknesses of
pipe and mating components.
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5.2 Seamless pipe ordered by outside diameter: Formulas
4.3.1, 4.3.2 and 4.3.3 are intended to permit minimum
wall to be maintained without purchase of material
having wall thickness in excess of that required to
satisfy "tm", or "T" as applicable.
When pipe and adjoining components are received
with the O.D. larger than dimension "A" but within
the permitted O.D. tolerance, or when internal
machining for solid machined backing rings is
performed, it may be necessary to perform an
additional operation of depositing weld metal on the
I.D. or O.D. surface at the welding end (weld buildup)
to assure satisfactory contact between the internal
machined surface of the piping component and the
backing ring and to maintain tm.
Industry experience indicates that use of Formulas
4.3.1, 4.3.2 and 4.3.3 to determine the internal
machining dimension will result in a satisfactory seat
contact 7/32" (6mm) minimum (approximately 75%
minimum length of contact) between pipe and 10°
tapered backing rings. Occasionally it will be
necessary to perform a weld buildup to provide
sufficient material for machining for satisfactory
seating.
5.3 Pipe ordered to inside diameter:
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 PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)

When the formulas listed in 4.4.1 are used for b) The "C" dimension and the minimum wall (tm ) that
computing internal machining dimensions, and pipe is must be maintained at the "C" dimension should be
received with the I.D. at the minimum of the specified on the purchase order for the pipe.
permitted tolerance range, the possibility exists that
machining will encroach “tm” Note regarding rolled and welded pipe:

To minimize this problem, one of the following Due to the greater tolerances permitted for this
options may be utilized: material regarding out of roundness and variation in
diameter, use of the options listed in 5.3 above may
a) The ordered pipe wall thickness must be increased not necessarily eliminate the need for weld buildups in
to provide additional stock for machining by use of these materials.
the following formula

T = So+Su+tm +Mo
30°*

3/16"* (5mm)

(2mm)
1/16"*
7/32" MIN.
t (6mm)

(5mm)
3/16"
±10°

B 3/4" (19mm) DT
A C
(BORE) (RING O.D.)
BREAK CORNERS

FIG. 1

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TAPERED BACKING RING FOR NOMINAL WALL
THICKNESS (t) 9/16" TO 1" (14-25mm) INCLUSIVE

30°*

3/16"* (5mm)
(2mm)
1/16"*

1/2"
t (13mm)
30° MAX.
(5mm)
3/16"

1/8" R. MIN 3/4" (19mm)

A B (3mm) C DF
(BORE) (RING O.D.)

BREAK CORNERS

FIG. 2
FLAT BACKING RINGS FOR NOMINAL WALL
THICKNESS (t) 9/16" TO 1" (14-25mm) INCLUSIVE

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 PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)

±10°*

ROUNDED

30°*

3/16"* (5mm)

3/4"* (19mm)
7/32" MIN

(2mm)
1/16"*
(6mm)

(5mm)
3/16"
±10°
3/4" (19mm)
A B C DT
(BORE) (RING O.D.)
BREAK CORNERS

FIG. 3
TAPERED RINGS FOR NOMINAL WALL
THICKNESS (t) GREATER THAN 1" (25mm)

10°*

ROUNDED

30°*
t
3/16"* (5mm)
3/4" (19mm)

(2mm)
1/16"*

1/2"
(13mm)
30° MAX.
(5mm)
3/16"

1/8" R. MIN 3/4" (19mm)

B (3mm) DS
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A C
(BORE) (RING O.D.)

BREAK CORNERS

FIG. 4
FLAT BACKING RINGS FOR NOMINAL WALL
THICKNESS (t) GREATER THAN 1" (25mm)

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 PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)

TABLE 1 PIPE SPECIFIED BY OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND NOMINAL WALL

Nominal Schedule Nominal O. D. Nominal I. D. Nominal Wall Machined I. D. of O.D. of Backing Ring
Pipe Size Number or Thickness Pipe "C"
Wall
"A" "B" "t" Tapered Ring “DT” Straight Ring “DS”

Tolerance + 0.010" Tolerance + 0.000" Tolerance + 0.000"

- 0.000" - 0.010" - 0.010"

3 XXS 3.500 2.300 .600 2.409 2.419 2.409

4 XXS 4.500 3.152 .674 3.279 3.289 3.279
160 5.563 4.313 .625 4.428 4.438 4.428
5
XXS “ 4.063 .750 4.209 4.219 4.209
120 6.625 5.501 .562 5.600 5.610 5.600
6 160 “ 5.187 .719 5.327 5.337 5.327
XXS “ 4.897 .864 5.072 5.082 5.072
100 8.625 7.437 .594 7.546 7.556 7.546
120 “ 7.187 .719 7.327 7.337 7.327
8 140 “ 7.001 .812 7.163 7.173 7.163
XXS “ 6.875 .875 7.053 7.063 7.053
160 “ 6.813 .906 6.998 7.008 6.998
80 10.750 9.562 .594 9.671 9.681 9.671
100 “ 9.312 .719 9.452 9.462 9.452
10 120 “ 9.062 .844 9.234 9.244 9.234
140 “ 8.750 1.000 8.959 8.969 8.959
160 “ 8.500 1.125 8.740 8.750 8.740
60 12.750 11.626 .562 11.725 11.735 11.725
80 “ 11.374 .688 11.507 11.517 11.507
100 “ 11.062 .844 11.234 11.244 11.234
12 120 “ 10.750 1.000 10.959 10.969 10.959
140 “ 10.500 1.125 10.740 10.750 10.740
160 “ 10.126 1.312 10.413 10.423 10.413
60 14.000 12.812 .594 12.921 12.931 12.921
80 “ 12.500 .750 12.646 12.656 12.646
100 “ 12.124 .938 12.319 12.329 12.319
14 O. D. 120 “ 11.812 1.094 12.046 12.056 12.046
140 “ 11.500 1.250 11.771 11.781 11.771
160 “ 11.188 1.406 11.498 11.508 11.498
All dimensions are in inches.

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 PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)

TABLE 1 PIPE SPECIFIED BY OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND NOMINAL WALL (continued)

Nominal Schedule Nominal O. D. Nominal I. D. Nominal Wall Machined I. D. of O.D. of Backing Ring
Pipe Size Number or Thickness Pipe "C"
Wall
"A" "B" "t" Tapered Ring “DT” Straight Ring “DS”

Tolerance + 0.010" Tolerance + 0.000" Tolerance + 0.000"

- 0.000" - 0.010" - 0.010"

60 16.000 14.688 .656 14.811 14.821 14.811

80 “ 14.312 .844 14.484 14.494 14.484
100 “ 13.938 1.031 14.155 14.165 14.155
16 O. D. 120 “ 13.562 1.219 13.827 13.837 13.827
140 “ 13.124 1.438 13.442 13.452 13.442
160 “ 12.812 1.594 13.171 13.181 13.171
40 18.000 16.876 .562 16.975 16.985 16.975
60 “ 16.500 .750 16.646 16.656 16.646
80 “ 16.124 .938 16.319 16.329 16.319
18 O. D. 100 “ 15.688 1.156 15.936 15.946 15.936
120 “ 15.250 1.375 15.553 15.563 15.553
140 “ 14.876 1.562 15.225 15.235 15.225
160 “ 14.438 1.781 14.842 14.852 14.842
40 20.000 18.812 .594 18.921 18.931 18.921
60 “ 18.376 .812 18.538 18.548 18.538
80 “ 17.938 1.031 18.155 18.165 18.155
20 O. D. 100 “ 17.438 1.281 17.717 17.727 17.717
120 “ 17.000 1.500 17.334 17.344 17.334
140 “ 16.500 1.750 16.896 16.906 16.896
160 “ 16.062 1.969 16.515 16.525 16.515
--- 22.000 20.750 .625 20.865 20.875 20.865
60 “ 20.250 .875 20.428 20.438 20.428
80 “ 19.750 1.125 19.990 20.000 19.990
22 O. D. 100 “ 19.250 1.375 19.553 19.563 19.553
120 “ 18.750 1.625 19.115 19.125 19.115
140 “ 18.250 1.875 18.678 18.688 18.678
160 “ 17.750 2.125 18.240 18.250 18.240
30 24.000 22.876 .562 22.975 22.985 22.975
40 “ 22.624 .688 22.757 22.767 22.757
60 “ 22.062 .969 22.265 22.275 22.265
80 “ 21.562 1.219 21.827 21.837 21.827
24 O. D. 100 “ 20.938 1.531 21.280 21.290 21.280
120 “ 20.376 1.812 20.788 20.798 20.788
140 “ 19.876 2.062 20.350 20.360 20.350
160 “ 19.312 2.344 19.859 19.869 19.859
All dimensions are in inches.

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 PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)

TABLE 1 PIPE SPECIFIED BY OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND NOMINAL WALL (Metric)

Nominal Schedule Nominal O. D. Nominal Nominal Machined I. D. of Pipe "C" O.D. of Backing Ring
Pipe Size Number I. D. Wall
(mm) or Wall Thickness
"A" "B" "t" Tapered Ring “DT” Straight Ring “DS”
Tolerance 0.25 Tolerance 0.000 Tolerance 0.000

-0.00 -0.030 -0.030

3 (76) XXS 88.90 58.42 15.24 61.19 61.44 61.19

4 (102) XXS 114.30 80.06 17.12 83.29 83.54 83.29
5 (127) 160 141.30 109.55 15.88 112.47 112.73 112.47
XXS " 103.20 19.05 106.91 107.16 106.91
120 168.28 139.73 14.27 142.24 142.49 142.24
6 (152) 160 “ 131.75 18.26 135.31 135.56 135.31
XXS “ 124.38 21.95 128.83 129.08 128.83
100 219.08 188.90 15.09 191.67 191.92 191.67
120 “ 182.55 18.26 186.11 186.36 186.11
8 (203) 140 “ 177.83 20.62 181.94 182.19 181.94
XXS “ 174.63 22.23 179.15 179.40 179.15
160 “ 173.05 23.01 177.75 178.00 177.75
80 273.05 242.87 15.09 245.64 245.90 245.64
100 “ 236.52 18.26 240.08 240.33 240.08
10 (254) 120 “ 230.17 21.44 234.54 234.80 234.54
140 “ 222.25 25.40 227.56 227.81 227.56
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160 “ 215.90 28.58 222.00 222.25 222.00

12 (305) 60 323.85 295.30 14.27 297.82 298.07 297.82
80 “ 288.90 17.48 292.28 292.53 292.28
100 “ 280.97 21.44 285.34 285.60 285.34
120 “ 273.05 25.40 278.36 278.61 278.36
140 “ 266.70 28.58 272.80 273.05 272.80
160 “ 257.20 33.32 264.49 264.74 264.49
14 O. D. 60 355.60 325.42 15.09 328.19 328.45 328.19
(356) 80 “ 317.50 19.05 321.21 321.46 321.21
100 “ 307.95 23.83 312.90 313.16 312.90
120 “ 300.02 27.79 305.97 306.22 305.97
140 “ 292.10 31.75 298.98 299.24 298.98
160 “ 284.18 35.71 292.05 292.30 292.05
All dimensions are in millimeters.

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 PFI Standard ES-1
(Revised September 2010)

TABLE 1 PIPE SPECIFIED BY OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND NOMINAL WALL (Metric) (continued)
Nominal Schedule Nominal O. D. Nominal I. Nominal Machined I. D. of Pipe O.D. of Backing Ring
Pipe Size Number D. Wall "C"
(mm) or Wall Thickness
"A" "B" "t" Tapered Ring “DT” Straight Ring “DS”
Tolerance 0.25 Tolerance 0.000 Tolerance 0.000

-0.00 -0.030 -0.030

16 O. D. 60 406.40 373.08 16.66 376.20 376.45 376.20

(406) 80 " 363.52 21.44 367.89 368.15 367.89
100 " 354.03 26.19 359.54 359.79 359.54
120 " 344.47 30.96 351.21 351.46 351.21
140 " 333.35 36.53 341.43 341.68 341.43
160 " 325.42 40.49 334.54 334.80 334.54
40 457.20 428.65 14.27 431.17 431.42 431.17
60 " 419.10 19.05 422.81 423.06 422.81
80 " 409.55 23.83 414.50 414.76 414.50
18 O. D. 100 " 398.48 29.36 404.77 405.03 404.77
(457) 120 " 387.35 34.93 395.05 395.30 395.05
140 " 377.85 39.67 386.72 386.97 386.72
160 " 366.73 45.24 376.99 377.24 376.99
40 508.00 477.82 15.09 480.59 480.85 480.59
60 " 466.75 20.62 470.87 471.12 470.87
80 " 455.63 26.19 461.14 461.39 461.14
20 O. D. 100 " 442.93 32.54 450.01 450.27 450.01
(508) 120 " 431.80 38.10 440.28 440.54 440.28
140 " 419.10 44.45 429.16 429.41 429.16
160 " 407.97 50.01 419.48 419.74 419.48
--- 558.80 527.05 15.88 529.97 530.23 529.97
60 " 514.35 22.23 518.87 519.13 518.87
80 " 501.65 28.58 507.75 508.00 507.75
22 O. D. 100 " 488.95 34.93 496.65 496.90 496.65
(559) 120 " 476.25 41.28 485.52 485.78 485.52
140 " 463.55 47.63 474.42 474.68 474.42
160 " 450.85 53.98 463.30 463.55 463.30
24 O. D. 30 609.60 581.05 14.27 583.57 583.82 583.57
(610) 40 " 574.65 17.48 578.03 578.28 578.03
60 " 560.37 24.61 565.53 565.79 565.53
80 " 547.67 30.96 554.41 554.66 554.41
100 " 531.83 38.89 540.51 540.77 540.51
120 " 517.55 46.02 528.02 528.27 528.02
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140 " 504.85 52.37 516.89 517.14 516.89

160 " 490.52 59.54 504.42 504.67 504.42
All dimensions are in millimeters.

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