PFI ES-16 85 II 7164544 0000025 4 II

PPI Standard ES-16

(Reaffirmed 198!H8L~------'",
",,-

Access Holes, Bosses and Plugs

for Radiographic Inspection
of Pipe Welds
Prepared by
Pipe Fabrication Institute Engineering Committee

PIPE
FABRICATION
INSTITUTE

All PFI Standards are advisory only. There is no

agreement to adhere to any PFI Standard and
their use by anyone is entirely voluntary.

Issued by

PIPE FABRICATION INSTITUTE

Dedicated to Technical Advancements atltl Standardization in
the Pipe Fabrication Industry
Sitlce-I 913
1370 Old Freeport Road • Pitt~burghJ Pennsylvania 15238

1
1
C) 1
ES-16
.1.•
 PFI ES-1b 85 . . 71b4544 000002b b . .

PFI Standard £S-16

(Revised 1985)

ACCESS HOLES, BOSSES AND PLUGS

FOR RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION OF PIPE 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 quan-
tity and are rounded to the appropriate accuracy.

Pipe sizes together with applicable wall thicknesses arc not shown with metric equivalents.

The SI (metrk) 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
1.1 This standard covers recommendations for access holes, bosses and plugs for the radiographic inspec-
tion of pipe butt welds where the radiographic source is located on the inside of the pipe.

2. Access Hole and Plug

2.1 For pipe wall thickness less than % in. (16mm) thick, the location and design of the access hole and
plug shall be as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 6.

Ir---:11I4·~I
(32mm)

I
1/2"
1132"(1min)R_K.020"(Jmm) (J3mm
WELD METAL DEEP- IDENT.• TOOL
BUILDUP MARK I

l{s~~=s~slliIIE=~J~I~1
3/S·
I I 1I0mm
mm)x
~ 5/S"
T (l6mm!
I/S"(3mm) DEEP
NECK 1/4"(6
(
I
5/S"
j J l"cSUNC-3A U6mm
j
T = Nominal Wall
* Preferred
FIGURE 1

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Thu Aug 31 19:30:12 2006
 PFI ES-16 85 . . 7164544 0000027 8 . .

2.2 For pipe wall thickness % in. (16 mm) through 1% in., (35 mm) the location and design of the
access hole and plug shall be as shown in Fig. 2.

/--;11/4"~
1-_ _ _.J:6 01 U52mm) _ _ _----I
I (32mm) I
I
4"t,4IN.002mm) TAP 1"-8UNC-29
I 1/2"
(l3mm
1/32"Umm) R. x.020"Umm)
DEEP IDENT. TOOL MARl<
I
3/8"
I
NECI< 114" (6m mIx
1/8" (3mm) DE EP

0I
I
I H
1 -SUNC-3A
I
T = Nominal Wall
H = tm (minimum wall)
* Preferred FIGURE 2

2.3 For pipe wall thickness over 10/8 in. (35 mm) through 3 in., (76 mm) the location and design of the
access hole and plug shall be as shown in Fig. 3.

r----:- 11/4"----j
I (32mm) I
f
112"
01 (l3mm)
1---___---'*6 (152mm)-------oI
4 01 MIN.(l02mml 1/32" R(lmm ) x .020" (lmm)
DEEP IDENt. TOOL MARK 3'0"
(lOmm)

NECK 1/4"(6 mmlx (

"r
IIJ4"m
I/S"(3mm) DE EP

0I
1 -8UNC-3A H
,

r I I
T = Nominal Wall ~13/16"-l
H =tm (m1nimum wall) (2Imm)

'" Preferred
FIGURE 3

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 PFI ES-1b 85 . . 71b4544 0000028 T . .

2.4 For pipe wall thickness over 3 in. (76 mm) through 5 in., (127 mm) the location and design of the ac-
cess hole and plug shall be as shown in Fig. 4.

~13/4·:---I
I (44mml I
f
liZ"
1-------'-* 6"(152mml---->j (l3mm)
4"I.4IN.U02mml Ii3Z"(JmmIR.x.O20"(Jmml-
DEEP IDE NT. TO 01. MARK 3!8"
(lO(l1m)
NECK 1/4" (6mml x
1/8"13mml DEEP
JZ"
II/z"· 6UNC-3A
(3jmml H

T = Nominal Wall
H = tm (minimum wall)
* Preferred
l.-11!l/64"-..I
(3lmml
=-t
FIGURE 4

2.5 For pipe wall thickness over 5 in., (127 mm) the location and design of the access hole and plug shall
be 8S shown in Fig. 5.

~21/4·~
I (!l7mm) I
f
liZ"
(l3mm)
1--------*6" U!lZmml ------->I
1/3Z"Umm)R. x.O ZO"Omml
4"MIN.UOZmm)
DEEP IDENT. TOO L MARK

NECK 1/4"(6mmlx
I 3!8"
(lOmm)

1/8"13mm) DEEP

2"-41/Z UNC-3A
J
(lUmmi

I H

T = Nominal Wall
H = tm (minimum wall)
~IZI/3Z"~
~
* Preferred (4Zmml

FIGURE 5

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Thu Aug 31 19:30:12 2006
 PFI ES-1b 85 II 71b4544 0000029 1 II

3. Radiographic Boss and Plug

3.1 Radiographic boss may be used in lieu of weld build-up (Fig. 1) for wall thicknesses %/1 (16mm) or
less to minimize or eliminate distortion and out-of-roundness. Attachment of the boss and the plug shall
be as shown in Fig. 7.

r
r--11I4'----..j

TAP I"-s UNC-2B

I (32mml
-----.-,
I
1/2"
1/32"R.(lmml x .020"Omml 03mml
DEEP IDENT. TOOL MARK
I
i' ~~~:71 1/16"
(2mm)
_--,-1_--.--
77----r r
NECK 1/4"(6 mmlx
I/S"(3mml DEEP .-
Tim) 3/S"

~ I" I" I"+T

~~I+T
(
1"-SUNC-3A
"-
[9/32 1 (7mmlx 45°
I I
LI3I1S,,-J
(2Imm)

T = Nominal Wall
FIGURE 6

4. Attachment of the Radiographic Boss and Seal Welding of

Access Hole Plug
4.1 Attachment of the radiographic boss and seal welding of the access hole plug shall be as shown in
Fig. 7.

1/4"(6mm) FILLET 3/8" OOmm) FILLET

WELD WELD
(TWO OR MORE
FULL PENETRATION
WELD 1/4"(6mm) MIN.
FILLET
REINFORCEMENT

Boss Type Integral Type

FIGURE 7

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Thu Aug 31 19:30:12 2006
 PFI ES-16 85 . . 7164544 0000030 8 . .

5. General Comments
5.1 Upon completion of radiography and acceptance of the weld, a plug shall be inserted to close the
access hole and shall be seal welded to the pipe. Seal weld is not designed or intended to be a
pressure retaining weld.

5.2 Plug and boss material selected from acceptable material specifications as listed in the applicable code
and compatible with the pipe material shall be used. Proper consideration shall be given to the integrity
of the plug and boss stock material.

5.3 Plug material designation shall be permanently marked on either the head or the side of each plug.

5.4 The boss material designation shall be permanently marked on the side of each boss.

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Thu Aug 31 19:30:12 2006
 PFI ES-1b 85 . . 71b4544 0000031 T . .

A current index of the latest revised ES Standards and Technical Bulletins is available from the Pipe
Fabrication Institute.

PFI Standards and Technical Bulletins are published to serve proven needs of the pipe fabricating
industry at the design level and in actual shop operations. Hence, such needs are contmually consid-
ered and reviewed by the Engineering Committee of the Pipe Fabrication Institute t08rovide recom-
mended procedures which have been demonstrated by collective experiences to fulfi I requirements
in a manner for Code compliance. However, as the PFI Standards are for minimum requirements
t~e.~es!~~~~ _~~ ,~~~~i~~t~~ _a!~~~s _~~, ~!'?"p~o.n.. of. ~pecifying supplementary conditions in the form
or requIrement!> veYUDU me !>cope or we r~' pUDllcauons.

Copyright by the Pipe Fabrication Institute

Thu Aug 31 19:30:12 2006