ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code SECTION IX

INTERPRETATIONS Volume 44
The Interpretations to the Code will be issued twice a year (July and December) up to the publication of the 2001 Edition of the Code. The Interpretations for each individual Section are published separately and are part of the update service to that Section; Interpretations of Section III, Divisions 1 and 2, are part of the update service to Section III, Subsection NCA.

Interpretations Volumes 36 through 41 were included with the update service to the 1995 Edition of the Code; Volume 42 is the first Interpretations volume to be included with the update service to the 1998 Edition.

Section I II-A II-B II-C II-D III-NCA III-3 IV V VI VII VIII-1 VIII-2 VIII-3 IX X XI

Vol. 42 7 /98 7 /98 ... ... ... 7 /98 ... 7 /98 7 /98 ... ... 7 /98 7 /98 ... 7 /98 ... 7 /98

Vol. 43 12 /98 ... ... ... ... 12 /98 ... 12 /98 12 /98 ... ... 12 /98 12 /98 12 /98 12 /98 ... 12 /98

Vol. 44 7 /99 7 /99 ... ... ... 7 /99 ... 7 /99 7 /99 ... ... 7 /99 7 /99 ... 7 /99 ... 7 /99

Vol. 45

Vol. 46

Vol. 47

Copyright 1999 THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS All Rights Reserved

INTERPRETATIONS NO. 44 SECTION IX

Replies to Technical Inquiries July 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998

FOREWORD General Information This publication includes all written interpretations issued between the indicated dates by the ASME Staff on behalf of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee in response to inquiries concerning interpretations of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. A contents is also included which lists subjects specific to the interpretations covered in the individual volume. These interpretations are taken verbatim from the original letters, except for a few typographical and editorial corrections made for the purpose of improved clarity. In some instances, a review of the interpretation revealed a need for corrections of a technical nature. In these cases, a revised interpretation is presented bearing the original Interpretation Number with the suffix R and the original file number with an asterisk. Following these revised interpretations, new interpretations and revisions to them issued during the indicated dates are assigned Interpretation Numbers in chronological order. Interpretations applying to more than one Code Section appear with the interpretations for each affected Section. ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of these interpretations when or if additional information is available which the inquirer believes might affect the interpretation. Further, persons aggrieved by an interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME committee or subcommittee. As stated in the Statement of Policy in the Code documents, ASME does not approve, certify, rate, or endorse any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity. An interpretation applies either to the Edition and Addenda in effect on the date of issuance of the interpretation or the Edition and Addenda stated in the interpretation. Subsequent revisions to the Code may supersede the interpretation. For detailed instructions on preparation of technical inquiries to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee, refer to Appendix A. Subject and Numerical Indexes Subject and numerical indexes have been prepared to assist the user in locating interpretations by subject matter or by location in the Code. They cover interpretations issued from Volume 12 up to and including the present volume, and will be updated with each volume.

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SECTION IX
Subject QW-150 and QW-462.1, Tension Test Specimens for Pipe and Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QW-200.1, Welding Procedure Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QW-300, Welding Performance Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QW-361.2, Machine Welding Variables for Welding Operators; and QW-381, CorrosionResistant Weld Metal Overlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QW-405.3, Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QW-407.1, Post Weld Heat Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QW-451, Procedure Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QW-462.5(a), Chemical Analysis and Hardness Specimen Corrosion-Resistant and Hardfacing Weld Metal Overlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interpretation IX-98-09 IX-98-13 IX-98-11 IX-98-14 IX-98-15 IX-98-10 IX-98-12 File No. BC97-302 BC98-239 BC98-133 BC98-447 BC98-448 BC97-306 BC97-308 BC98-237 BC98-238 BC98-453

IX-98-16

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Section IX Interpretations No. 44

IX-98-09, IX-98-10, IX-98-11

Interpretation: IX-98-09 Subject: Date Issued: File: Section IX, QW-150 and QW-462.1, Tension Test Specimens for Pipe and Plate October 9, 1998 BC97-302

Question: Would tensile tests performed in accordance with SA-370 be acceptable for meeting ASME Section IX, QW-462.1(a) and (b)? Reply: No.

Interpretation: IX-98-10 Subject: Date Issued: File: Section IX, QW-407.1, Post Weld Heat Treatment October 9, 1998 BC97-306/BC97-308

Question: Is it the intent of Section IX in QW-407.1 to permit reporting the results of more than one PWHT condition on a single report, with a single PQR number, provided all other applicable essential and supplementary essential variables are identical and all required tests are conducted and reported for both conditions? Reply: Yes.

Interpretation: IX-98-11 Subject: Date Issued: File: Section IX, QW-300, Welding Performance Qualifications October 9, 1998 BC98-133

Question: May Company A retain the Company B employee responsible for welder performance qualification to review the welder qualification documents of both companies and qualify the welders of Company B to the welding program of Company A without further testing of the welders? Reply: No.

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IX-98-12, IX-98-13

Section IX Interpretations No. 44

Interpretation: IX-98-12 Subject: Date Issued: File: Section IX, QW-451, Procedure Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens October 9, 1998 BC98-237/BC98-238

Question: May longitudinal bend specimens be used in lieu of transverse bend specimens when the base metals or the base metal and the weld metal do not differ markedly in bending properties? Reply: No.

Interpretation: IX-98-13 Subject: Date Issued: File: Section IX, QW-200.1, Welding Procedure Qualifications December 22, 1998 BC98-239

Question: Are all-encompassing terms acceptable when addressing nonessential variables in a WPS (e.g., for backing, with or without, for root spacing, unlimited)? Reply: Section IX does not specify how nonessential variables are to be addressed; however, the terms used must provide direction to the welder/welding operator for making production welds to Code requirements.

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Section IX Interpretations No. 44

IX-98-14, IX-98-15

Interpretation: IX-98-14 Subject: Section IX, QW-361.2, Machine Welding Variables for Welding Operators; and QW381, Corrosion-Resistant Weld Metal Overlay December 22, 1998 BC98-447

Date Issued: File:

Background: A multiple layer corrosion-resistant weld metal overlay performance qualification (machine welding) is made with the first layer under Direct Visual control and the second layer Remote Visual control. Question (1): Is the welding operator qualified for both Direct and Remote Visual control techniques applied either in single or multiple layers? Reply (1): Yes. Question (2): For the qualification described in the background, may two welding operators qualify on one coupon, provided the requirements of QW-453 and QW-361.2 (which delineate the welding operators limits of qualification as per QW-306) are addressed? Reply (2): Yes.

Interpretation: IX-98-15 Subject: Date Issued: File: Section IX, QW-405.3, Positions December 22, 1998 BC98-448

Question: May a single-pass seal weld as defined in QW-492, used to seal boiler tubes to a boiler tube sheet, be considered a cover pass or a wash pass for purposes of exemption from QW-405.3? Reply: No.

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IX-98-16

Section IX Interpretations No. 44

Interpretation: IX-98-16 Subject: Section IX, QW-462.5(a), Chemical Analysis and Hardness Specimen CorrosionResistant and Hardfacing Weld Metal Overlay December 22, 1998 BC98-453

Date Issued: File:

Question: Is it permissible to use the surface of the test coupon as the approximate fusion line when determining the minimum finished thickness for corrosion-resistant and hardfacing overlays in accordance with QW-462.5(a)? Reply: Yes.

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