Page 1 of 7

ULTRASSONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

Procedure
For NR13 thickness measurement

Responsible:

Axess principal engineer for

inspection of pressurized systems

Prepared:
Revised:
Approved:

MTf / 16.05.11
RCf/ 20.05.11
MTf / 20.05.11

Page 2 of 7

ULTRASSONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

CONTENTS
1.

OBJECTIVE ...................................................................................................... 3

2.

RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................................................. 3

3.

REFERENCES .................................................................................................. 3

4.

DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................... 4

5.

ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS - UTM ................................... 5

5.1
Rules for UTM ............................................................................................................................. 5
5.1.1
Equipment ............................................................................................................................. 5
5.1.2
Scanning of test points .......................................................................................................... 5
5.1.3
Paint ...................................................................................................................................... 5

6.

REQUIREMENTS TO COMPETENCE AND EQUIPMENT............................... 6

6.1
6.2

Competence ................................................................................................................................ 6
Equipment ................................................................................................................................... 6

7.

APPENDIX ........................................................................................................ 7

7.1
APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................................ 7
A.1 Mapping of pressure vessels ......................................................................................................... 7
A.2 Filling the UTM Report................................................................................................................... 7

Responsible:

Axess principal engineer for

inspection of pressurized systems

Prepared:
Revised:
Approved:

MTf / 16.05.11
RCf/ 20.05.11
MTf / 20.05.11

Page 3 of 7

ULTRASSONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

1. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this document is to provide guidelines for inspection and evaluation of the mechanical
integrity of pressurized systems for NR13 purposes.

2. RESPONSIBILITY
Axess principal engineer for inspection of pressurized systems is responsible for this procedure.

3. REFERENCES
NR13 Brazilian Regulation on Safety on boiler and pressure vessels
ASME SEO V edio de 1998.
PETROBRS N 1594 Reviso D.

Responsible:

Axess principal engineer for

inspection of pressurized systems

Prepared:
Revised:
Approved:

MTf / 16.05.11
RCf/ 20.05.11
MTf / 20.05.11

Page 4 of 7

ULTRASSONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

4. DEFINITIONS
A-scan

UT presentation where echo strength is

graphically presented

D-meter

Simplified apparatus utilising ultrasonic

measurement principle, where result is only
presented as digits

Test point

An area subjected to an NVI or NDT activity

Tmin

Minimum required wall thickness

Strength thickness calculated from hoop

stresses according to ASME

UT

Ultrasonic Testing

NDT-method used to find wall thickness and

material defects

UTM

Ultrasonic thickness
measurements

Thickness measurements using manual UT

instruments

Responsible:

Axess principal engineer for

inspection of pressurized systems

Prepared:
Revised:
Approved:

MTf / 16.05.11
RCf/ 20.05.11
MTf / 20.05.11

Page 5 of 7

ULTRASSONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

5. ULTRASONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS - UTM

UTM is a manual ultrasonic testing method and is extensively used as method for monitoring internal
loss of wall thickness on vessels in Axess' inspection programs mainly due to its apparent simplicity
and logistical and economical advantages. It is rated as a good method for monitoring high pressure
equipment.

5.1 Rules for UTM

To enhance the quality of our measurements and minimize maintenance need due to the inspection
itself the following rules shall be followed when carrying out UTM and recording the results.

5.1.1

Equipment

The instrument shall be properly calibrated.

5.1.2

Scanning of test points

As a general rule, the test point shall always be scanned. Scanning means to, as reasonably practical,
measure thickness over the entire surface of the test point. The sketches in appendix A are guidelines
for scanning of test points. Thickness shall be recorded to the closest half millimetre. For certain
monitoring task this may differ.
The recorded result for a test point shall preferably be twofold; 1) the minimum measured thickness
within the test point and 2) a description of internal surface in case it is deemed extraordinary
uneven/corroded by the UT operator.

5.1.3

Paint

If paint is intact and possible to measure through, it shall not be removed. This is to minimize
maintenance costs. Error made in the measurements due to paint must be compensated for using
equipments with this feature (eg. Topcoat from GE DSM device).

Responsible:

Axess principal engineer for

inspection of pressurized systems

Prepared:
Revised:
Approved:

MTf / 16.05.11
RCf/ 20.05.11
MTf / 20.05.11

Page 6 of 7

ULTRASSONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

6. REQUIREMENTS TO COMPETENCE AND EQUIPMENT

6.1 Competence
-

For general UT and ultrasonic wall thickness measurements there is an absolute requirement that
a certified level 2 operator are certified by a recognized organization (eg. ASNT, PCN, etc)

6.2 Equipment
-

NDT equipment shall be calibrated and according to the relevant NDT procedures at all times
while in use.

UT equipment shall have A-scan presentation. So called 'D-meters', i.e. digital-presentation-only

thickness gauges are not allowed to be used for thickness measurements on presumed corroded
or eroded piping.

Responsible:

Axess principal engineer for

inspection of pressurized systems

Prepared:
Revised:
Approved:

MTf / 16.05.11
RCf/ 20.05.11
MTf / 20.05.11

Page 7 of 7

ULTRASSONIC
LTRASSONIC THICKNESS MEASUREMENT

7. APPENDIX
7.1 APPENDIX A
A.1 Mapping of pressure vessels
Test areas for UTM on pressure vessels need to calculate MAWP:

Vertical pressure vessels

Horizontal pressure vesse

els

A.2 Filling the UTM Report

The UTM Report (reference file "Model
"
of UTM Report") must be filled according to the following
instructions:
a)
b)
c)
d)

Only the gray colour marked cells of the spreadsheet shall be filled with information;
The values of the measurements must be filled in millimetres, without exception;
exception
The sketch must have clear difference between vertical and horizontal vessels;;
At the end of the report, there shall have the electronic signature and the certification number of the
inspector performing the UTM.
UTM

Responsible:

Axess principal engineer for

inspection of pressurized systems

Prepared:
Revi
Revised:
Approved
Approved:

MTf / 16.05.11
RCf/ 20.05.11
MTf / 20.05.11