When should I use 308L, 309L or 316L filler metal?

308L (including ER308LSi) is predominately used on austenitic stainless steels, such as types 301, 302, 304, 305 and cast
alloys CF-8 and CF-3. For high temperature applications such as in the electrical power industry, the high carbon 308H
electrode provides better creep resistance than does 308L.

316L (including ER316LSi) filler metal should be used with 316L and 316 base metals. CF-8M and CF-3M are the cast
equivalents of 316 and 316L, respectively.

Use 309L (including ER309LSi) when joining mild steel or low alloy steel to stainless steels, for joining dissimilar stainless
steels such as 409 to itself or to 304L stainless, as well as for joining 309 base metal. CG-12 is the cast equivalent of 309.
Some 308L applications may be substituted with 309L filler metal, but 316L or 316 applications generally require molybdenum
and 309L contains no molybdenum.

Type 347 stainless steel filler metal is ideal for 347 and 321 base materials because it matches these stabilized grades. CF-8C
is the cast equivalent of 347. Type 347 filler metal is also suitable most 308L filler metal applications.
Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

This specification covers the minimum basic requirements for various aspects of the
above ground piping and in trench piping for the industrial plants as follow:

a) Shop and filed fabrication and erection of piping.

b) Installation of in-line instrument items like orifice flanges, control valves, rota
meters, safety valves, etc.

c) Installation of items like line mounted filters, ejectors sample cooler, etc.

d) Installation of expansion joints.

e) Fabrication & erection of pipe supports including installation of spring supports,

etc. both shop and field fabrication include cutting, threading, bending, welding, bolting,
etc.

Administration of material certificates, welding operations and execution,

administration of all destructive & non-destructive examination and all testing
operations as required by the applicable procedure and standards.

1.1. Where this specification and the petroleum refinery piping code ASME B31.3
conflict, this standard shall govern. Sound engineering practice shall be followed in the
absence of specified standards or specification subject to OWNER prior approval.
1.2. CODES AND STANDARDS - Piping Fabrication and Erection

SpecificationStandards referred to in this specification shall be the latest editions,

including all revisions and addenda as listed below:

Process Piping ASME B31.3

Unified Inch Screw Threads ASME B1.1

Pipe Threads, General Purpose (Inch) ASME B1.20.1

Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings NPS 1/2” ASME B16.5

Through NPS 24”

Factory-Made Wrought Steel Butt welding Fittings ASME B16.9

Forged Steel Fittings, Socket Welding and Treaded ASME B16.11

Butt Welding Ends ASME B16.25

Square and Hex Nuts (Inch Series) ASME B18.2.2

Welded and seamless Wrought Steel Pipe ASME B36.10

Stainless Steel Pipe ASME B36.19

Wrought Stainless Steel Butt Welding Fittings MSS-SP-43

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code ASME-VIII

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code ASME-IX

1.3. RELATED ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION

The following specifications are applied as supplement of this specification.

A. Piping Material

B. Construction Work for Piping

C. Pressure Test of Piping System

D. Cleaning for Pipe Lines

E. Welding Procedure for Piping

F. Welder Qualification Test

G. Inspection & Test of Piping Construction

H. Piping hanging & support

I. Piping Design

J. Marking & Color Coding

K. Painting Specification

2. DEFINITION

2.1. DIVISION OF WORK

All piping will be fabricated by a field construction crew either in a pipespool fabrication
shop hereinafter referred to as the "shop” (as per ------) or in-place hereinafter called
the "field".

2.2. PIPE SPOOL DEFINITION - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

The word pipespool, as used in this specification, is a unit of prefabricated piping

consisting of pipe, fittings, flanges, and other components integral to the assembly.
This piping is assembled in the shop and conveyed to the construction site for
installation.

2.3. PIPE SPOOL INDEX

All pipespools to be constructed by the fabricator are listed in the Pipespool Index. Each index
is in numerical order for each field assembly area. The shop shall fabricate the pipespools in
the order they are listed in the index, unless a list giving some other priority is provided by
Consultant.

The index will show for each pipespool the pipespool number, quantity of
identical pipespools, revision mark, line number, material class, and special
information or treatment. The assembly area, revision date, and material are given at
the top of each sheet. Included with each index for each area is a Pipespool Index
Revision page. This page is a record of all revisions to the pipespool index. The shop
shall fill out and keep current the information columns on the pipespool indexes, and
provide copies to Consultant when requested or completed.

3. DRAWING APPLICATION
3.1. PIPESPOOL INDEX

All pipelines are identified with the line classification on the plan and isometric
drawing.

3.2. EXTENT OF PIPESPOOLS

Where field installed material connects to shop fabricated pipespools, the shop
fabricated spool will include all branch connections for field piping, up to the first field
butt weld, first field socket weld, first screwed connection, or first flanged joint
including the first flange. Pipespools in all sizes of butt welded and socket welded
construction will be prefabricated in the shop. Threaded piping and threaded
components which are installed as attachments to shop fabricated pipespools shall be
termed field installed materials. Straight runs of piping indicated as random piping are
not pipespools. These straight runs are installed by the field crews in random
lengths. The division between the three different types is shown on the drawings as
indicated in figure.

Here, "S" means shop fabricated, "F" means field-installed material and "R" stands for
field-installed random lengths. "FW" is a weld done in the field.

3.3. ISOMETRIC DRAWINGS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Consultant will provide the isometric drawings for all 1-1/2 inch and larger for stainless steel
and 2 inch and larger for carbon steel. The isometric drawing will show also combined line
number, equipment nozzles to which the pipeline is connected, call outs and high point vents
and low point drains. A bill of material take off for the isometric shall be attached. The bill shall
include the code, size, quantity and description for each piping component.

3.4. SYMBOLS

Drawing symbols used on the piping drawings are defined on legend. The
following definitions specify what is required when certain letter symbols are used
on the drawings.

"FW" A field weld is the joining of two components, beveled for welding, made to drawing
dimensions, and to be welded at the construction site.

"FU" A fit-up weld is a field weld that allows some dimensional adjustment of a
pipe spool during final assembly. One of the mating ends is square-cut 3 inches longer than
the dimensions required. The other mating end is bevel-cut to the exact dimension indicated
on the drawings.

"DW" A dummy weld is a weld connecting a supporting appurtenance to a pipeline. The

support is an extension of the piping but with no connection into the fluid stream.
3.5. FIELD WELDS

The Construction contractor shall locate on the piping erection drawings, field welds or fit-up
welds as required for site erection, except no location will be shown for socket weld
connections between pipe spools built in the shop and those built at the construction site.

3.6. DIMENSIONS

Unless otherwise specify all dimensions terminating at a flange are measured from the
gasket face for raised-face flanges and flat-face flanges, and the raised face of
ring-joint flanges. Gaskets are indicated by a short line placed beside or between the
dimension limit lines. Only gaskets which have a different thickness than the material
class gasket are dimensioned.

Whenever an overall dimension does not appear on a drawing, the dimension is

assumed to be the sum of individual standard fitting lengths coincident with the piping
line class material.

4. FABRICATION

4.1. GENERAL - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Fabrication works shall comply with the drawings and this specification including
relevant Engineering and Construction Specifications.

4.1.1. All weld numbers and welder’s identification number shall be painted close to
the weld, to enable trace ability of each weld and each welder, socket welds shall be
numbered per fitting, e.g. S.W tee has one weld number.

4.1.2. Construction Contractor shall maintain the color coding on piping materials to
allow easy and quick reference in accordance with the project engineering
specification.

4.1.3. All materials included in the finished piping systems shall be undamaged.

4.1.4. Construction Contractor must provide adequate protection for piping, flange
faces, threaded connections, etc. to prevent damage during handling and storage.
Construction Contractor shall ensure that flange faces are protected from corrosion or
rust.

4.1.5. Piping shall be stored in a relatively clean, dry or well drained area on elevated
dunnage and protected against contact with salts or salty water.
4.1.6. All attachments to piping, i.e. saddles, pads, etc. are to be made of same
material to the pipe.

4.2. DIMENSIONAL - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

TOLERANCE

4.2.1. Wrought Bends

A. Wrought bends shall show no significant marks or corrugations and shall be smooth and
regular in outline. Flattening shall not exceed 8% of the pipe outside diameter for pressure
duties, or 3% of the pipe outside diameter for vacuum duties. There shall be no significant
thinning when the pipe bend radius is 5 x nominal diameter or greater.

B. In general thickness stainless steel pipe of equivalent to schedule 10S and thinner shall
not be bent.

Pipe Dimensions

Tolerances shall be ±1.5mm from flange face to flange face, or centerline of pipe to flange
face.

4.2.3. Flange Face

Flange faces shall not be concave. Convexity from flange bore to joint face periphery
shall not exceed 0.15mm per centimeter width of joint face.

4.2.4. Squareness of Flanges

Flanges shall be square to the axis of the pipe to within an angle of 0° - 18' (0.3°) I.E. 0.05mm
per centimeter measured across the face of the flange, with the pipe adequately supported.

4.2.5. Bolt Holes of Flanges

Flange bolt holes shall straddle the established centerlines (Horizontal or vertical). However,
flanged connections on equipment may vary and should be individually checked. When these
connections differ, the bolt hole orientation shall be indicated on the isometric piping detail
sheet. Holes in double flanged pipes shall be correctly aligned.

4.3. WELD DETAILS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

4.3.1. Butt Welds

The term "Butt-Weld" refers to circumferential butt joints only. Special requirements
may be imposed where longitudinal welds are to be made and these welds shall not
be carried out before Consultant has approved the methods to be used. Longitudinal
and spiral welds existing in pipes as produced at the mill are outside the scope of this
specification.

4.3.2. Weld Preparation

Weld preparation shall be in accordance with the following:

Preparation standard shall be applied to ASME B31.3 and the modifications to the standard contained within
clause 5.3.6 of this specification.

B. Ends shall be beveled or square cut for welding as follows:

1) Beveled for wall thickness greater than 2.3mm

2) Square cut for wall thickness 2.3 mm and less

Root Gaps

Spacers shall be used while tack welding pipe and fittings in position to insure proper gap and full penetration in
welding. The tack welds complying with the requirements of ASME B31.3, 328.5.1(C) may be allowed to become
a part of the finished weld, whereas those not complying are not acceptable and must be chipped out before
completing the weld.

4.3.4. Bore Matching and Alignment

Bore matching and alignment shall be in accordance with ASME B31.3. Where pipe,
fittings and flanges are to be joined by circumferential butt-welds, the corresponding
parts shall be modeled and matched so that any misalignment at the inside of the
piping shall not exceed 1/16 inch at any point of the circumference of the joint.

Fit-up work may include pressing, hammering, local heating or grinding as required to reduce
any misalignment due to diameter tolerances, out-of-roundness or unequal wall thickness of
the parts of less than 1/16 inch. parts having unequal wall thickness and bores shall be
prepared in accordance with one of the details shown in ASME B31.3.

4.3.5. Cutting

A. Pipes may be cut mechanically by sawing or grinding machine.

Cutting method involving heating e.g. Flame or arc cutting for carbon steel are allowed providing the cut edge is
machined or ground back sufficiently far to give specified parent material properties at the cut edge with a
minimum of 1.5 mm.

Plasma-jet cutting may be use to cut austenitic stainless steel pipes and other materials.

Flame cutting of austenitic stainless steel pipe is not allowed.

E. Other methods of cutting may be used providing written approval is obtained from
Consultant.

4.3.6. Welding Position of Longitudinal Seams

Longitudinal seams in seam welded pipe shall be located so as to clear openings and external
attachments possible. Longitudinal seams in adjoining courses shall be preperably at
180°but a minimum between seams are in accordance with construction specification.

4.4. BRANCH WELDS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Branch connections shall be located as indicated on the piping detail sheet or isometric
piping drawings. All branch connections shall be designed in accordance with Para.
304.3 of ASME B31.3. Forged or extruded branch connections are preferred.

4.4.1. No Fitting

Branches shall be of 'Stub-in' design in accordance with Construction Specification 0000-

S1830-003 and ASME B31.3.

4.4.2. Forged branch attachments (Brancholets) shall be of the type specified on Consultant's
drawings and fitted accurately to the contours of the run pipe.

Reinforcing Pads

Reinforcing pads required by the referenced code or by piping detail sheets shall be provided
with at least one vent hole if fully welded. The hole shall be drilled and tapped with a 1/8 inch
pipe thread for testing and venting. The tapped hole shall be plugged using wood, plastic or
mastic material not capable of retaining pressure.

B. For structural attachment

Reinforcing pads for structural attachment shall be provided with an untapped hole of 1/4 inch
(6 mm) diameter for venting.

C. Where reinforcing pads are fitted either for branches or structural attachments they shall
be accurately shaped so that no gap larger than 1/8 inch (3.0mm), measured before welding,
shall exist between the periphery of the pad and the pipe to which it fits.

4.4.4. Mitered Bends

Mitered bends shall be in accordance with piping material specification ------. The number of
cuts shall be as stated on the drawing. Mitered bends are used only when specified on the
drawings and shall be in accordance with ASME B31.3 Chapter V. A joint efficiency not
exceeding 70% shall be used in the strength calculations for mitered bends. The welds in
mitered bends shall penetrate the full thickness of the pipe and the bead on the inside of the
throat shall be smooth and have an even curvature. In order to prevent a notch effect.
4.4.5. Beveled Ends

Refer to Construction Specification XXX

4.4.6. Fillet Welds

Refer to Construction Specification XXX

4.5. BENDING - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

4.5.1. Bends shall conform dimensionally to the drawings and relevant clauses of this
specification. Hot bend is not permitted.

4.5.2. Cold Bending

A. Cold bends to a centerline radius greater than five (5) times the nominal pipe diameter may
be manufactured without a subsequent heat treatment unless a heat treatment is specified on
the project specification, piping detail sheets, or isometric drawings.

B. Cold bends to a radius less than five (5) times the nominal pipe diameter is not allowed.

C. Bending after completion of fabrication to meet dimensional requirements shall not be

carried out without the approval of the engineer.

5. WELDING - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

5.1. WELDING PROCESS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Basic welding requirements are to be in accordance with ASME B31.3. Welders shall
be approved in accordance with the relevant clauses of this standard.

Welding shall be carried out by one, or a combination of the following processes:

C. Tungsten inert gas with filler wire (TIG)

The (SMAW) and (TIG) processes are preferred as welding process.

5.1.3. Backing rings shall not be used without prior written content and approval
of Consultant.

5.1.4. Where tack welding is carried out, tacks shall be as large as possible and to the
satisfaction of the Consultant inspection. Tack welds shall be removed so that they do not
form part of the finished weld unless they are produced fully qualified and tested welders to
the same procedure as the finished weld, in which case they may be absorbed into the finished
weld.
5.1.5. Flange faces shall be kept free from weld spatter and arc strike.

5.2. WELDING PROCEDURE - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Welding procedures are to be qualified in accordance with the ASME boiler and
pressure vessel code section IX and ASME B31.3, and shall be approved by
Consultant before any work is carried out.

5.2.2. Welder's competence shall be determined in accordance with Welder Qualification

Test

5.2.3. It is fabricator's responsibility to reference each weld to its welder and correct
procedure.

5.2.4. Electrodes and filler wires shall conform to the requirements specified in para.
7.1.

5.2.5. Requirements for mixed metal welds are specified in para. 6.

5.2.6. Fusion faces may be prepared by sawing, chipping, machining or grinding. They
shall be smooth and free from defects and together with the adjacent material shall be
thoroughly cleaned of oil, grease, paint and shall be free from all rust, scale, ice/water
for a distance of 50 mm from the edge of the weld.

5.2.7. The visible surface of all welds are to be clean of slag, regular uniform in contour,
without undercuts, crack or blowholes and free from spatter.

5.2.8. Weld reinforcement: The thickness of weld reinforcement shall not exceed the
following, considering the thinner component being joined:

Component Thickness (in.) Maximum Reinforcement (in.)

1/2 and Under 1/8

from 1/2 to 1 5/32

Over 1 3/16

For double welded joints this limitation on reinforcement shall apply separately to the weld
reinforcement inside and outside. The finished internal and external surfaces of the weld shall
merge smoothly into the component surfaces or the weld toe.

5.2.9. When unacceptable defects are found in complete welds, they are to be removed by
grinding, chipping or machining.
5.2.10. The basic principles of the welding procedure initially used are to be employed
for repair of faulty welds.

5.3. SPECIAL PROCESS CONTROL - Piping Fabrication and Erection

Specification

5.3.1. Work control procedure shall be prepared prior to start the special process such
as heat treatment. Processing and result of special process shall be recorded and
maintained to verify the work quality.

5.3.2. Heat Treatment of flame-cut edges for carbon steel is not required when the
edges are dressed back in accordance with para. 4.3.5. B where dressing back
proves to be impossible, then such undressed or partly dressed edges shall be stress
relieved before welding.

5.3.3. Preheating - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

A. When the welding procedure does not include pre-heating and the ambient conditions are
such that the metal temperature of the parts to be welded are below 4°C, the surface in a zone
extending 15 mm each side of the joint is to be heated to 20°C "Handwarm" before welding
commences.

B. Preheating shall be carried out in accordance with ASME B31.3 unless para. 5.3.4. A
applies.

C. In addition to the requirements of ASME B31.3, when rutile and cellulosic

electrodes are used, then preheat shall be applied on wall thicknesses of 20 mm (3/4")
and above.

5.3.4. Normalizing

Normalizing shall be carried out as follows:

Temperature 920°C/950°C

Time/Inch of Thickness 1 Hour

Minimum soaking time 1/2 Hour

Cooling shall be uniform at a rate less than 250°Cper hour down to 300°C, thereafter
cool in still air.

5.3.5. Stress Relieving - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

A. Irrespective of pipe wall thickness, PWHT shall be performed on all type joints butt,
socket, etc, for piping classes A2T3MR, AUT3P, B2T3MR, B2T6MR, D2T3MR, A2D2,
B2D2V, BCDX, D2D2V, for other piping classes PWHT shall be carried out in
accordance with ASME B31.3.

B. After completion of final P.W.H.T. hardness test shall be performed in accordance

with ASME B31.3. One test is required in the weld and one test is required in the heat
affected zone (HAZ).

C. Welds produced in austenitic stainless steel shall not require stress relief, unless
this is specifically called for in the drawings or pipeline specifications.

5.3.6. Temperature Measurement

Temperature measurement shall be in accordance with ASME B31.3.

5.3.7. A record of the time/temperature for normalising and stress relief must be kept.

6. MIXED METAL WELDS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

6.1. CARBON AND AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS - Piping Fabrication and

Erection Specification

6.1.1. Where welds are to be produced between carbon steels and austenitic stainless steels,
the weld procedures, welding techniques etc., shall be those appropriate to the austenitic
stainless steel.

6.1.2. Electrodes and filler wire shall be ER 309, E309, or ER NiCr3, ENiCr Fe3 the
choice depending on service conditions. Any heat treatment required shall be that
appropriate to the grade and thickness of carbon steel involved. The welding
procedure proposed shall be approved in writing by Consultant.

6.2. LOW ALLOY (CHROME MOLYBDENUM, ETC.) AND CARBON STEELS

6.2.1. Where welds are to be produced between low alloy steels and carbon steels, the above
procedures, electrodes, filler wires, welding technique and heat treatment etc., shall be
appropriate to the grade and thickness of the low alloy steel involved. Electrodes must be of
the basic type.

6.3. DIFFERENT GRADES OF AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS - Piping

Fabrication and Erection Specification

Where welds are to be produced between differing grades of stainless steels, the weld
procedures, electrodes, filler wires, welding techniques, etc., shall be those required
by the higher grade of material.

6.4. LOW ALLOY (CHROMIUM MOLYBDENUM ETC.) AND AUSTENITIC

STAINLESS STEEL - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification
6.4.1. Where welds are to be produced between low alloy steels and austenitic
stainless steels, the weld procedures, welding techniques, etc., shall be those
appropriate to the austenitic stainless steel.

6.4.2. Electrodes and filler wires shall in general be of higher alloy content than the
austenitic stainless steel. Any heat treatment required shall be that appropriate to the
grade and thickness of low alloy steel involved.

7. MATERIALS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

7.1. ELECTRODES AND FILLER WIRES

7.1.1. For Carbon Steel Pipes

A. All electrode and filler wires shall comply with AWS A5.1, AWS A5.2 and AWS A5.18.

B. Electrodes to be used for general butt welding of low carbon steel pipes will be as follows:

1) Pipe wall thickness up to 19 mm (0.75") use cellulosic electrodes E6010 and E7018.

2) Pipe wall thickness 19mm (0.75") and above and special carbon steel (for
low temperature or high carbon content), ER70S-3 & basic electrodes E7018.

Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipes

A. All electrode and filler wires shall comply with AWS A5.4 and AWS A5.9.

B. Electrodes to be used for general butt welding of austenitic stainless steel will be rutile
type EXXX-16.

7.1.3. For Alloy Steel Pipes

A. All electrode and filler wires shall comply with AWS A5.4 and AWS A5.5.

B. Welding electrodes to be used for general butt welding of alloy steel piping shall be as
follows:

PIPE ELECTRODE ASTM SPECIFICATION A335 AWS-ASTM CLASSIFICATION Grade

P9, 9%Cr-1% Mo Grade P7, 7%Cr-1/2% Mo Grade P5, 5%Cr-1/2% Mo Grade P22, 2-
1/4%Cr-1% Mo Grade P11, 1-1/4%Cr-1/2% Mo Grade P12, 1%Cr-2% Mo E 505-15 E 7Cr-
15 E 502-15 E9018-B3 E8018-B2 E8018-B2

7.1.4. For Carbon-Molybdenum Alloy-Steel Pipes

A. All electrode and filler wires shall comply with AWS A5.5.
B. Welding electrode shall be 7018 A1.

7.1.5. Welding Dissimilar Metals

A. The dissimilar metal welds should be avoided whenever possible, using instead some
mechanical joint such as a thread or flanged connection.

B. There are innumerable combination of dissimilar alloys which could be jointed, and most
of these combinations are special cases which must be handled on an
individual basis, with the welding procedure depending on the intended use.

C. The composition of the joining metal must be compatible with both alloys, or a buffer layer
must be placed between them.

D. If high temperatures are involved, particularly if cycle, the coefficients of thermal expansion
of the parent metals and diluted weld metal must be considered.

E. If hardenable alloys are involved, consideration must be given to eliminating hard areas
and brittle areas, or to restoring strength, hardness and toughness,
depending on whether or not the design requires a high strength member.

F. If corrosion is involved, galvanic attack and resistance to process corrodents must be

taken into account.

G. Mechanical, formability and other fabrication operations may require special consideration.

H. Welding electrodes shall be in accordance with Specification XXX.

7.1.6. The particular brands of electrodes and wires chosen shall be approved in writing by
the engineer before use.

7.1.7. Storage of electrodes and other welding materials shall be in accordance with
the vendor's instructions.

7.1.8. Refer to following specification for complete list of electrodes and filler
materials.

7.2. GRINDING WHEELS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

7.2.1. For Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipes

A. Grinding shall be carried out using resin bonded alumina or silicon carbide grinding
wheels. Rubber bonded wheels or wheels containing sulphur shall not be used.

A. Wheels previously used on ferritic steels shall not be used on the carbon steels.

7.3. WIRE BRUSHES - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

All wire brushes used on austenitic stainless steel pipes shall be of stainless steel.

8. INSPECTION AND TEST - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Inspection shall be in accordance with ASME B31.3 and the following inspection
requirements.

8.1. PROCEDURE AND RECORD - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

8.1.1. Inspection and test procedure/plan shall be prepared and approved prior to inspection
activity.

8.1.2. Result of inspection and test shall be recorded and maintained to verify the
quality of items and activities.

8.2. RADIOGRAPHY

Radiography shall be applied in accordance with Inspection & Test of Piping Construction

8.3. VISUAL EXAMINATION

Visual examination shall be carried out in accordance with Inspection & Test of Piping
Construction

8.4. PRESSURE TEST

8.4.1. Pressure testing shall be carried out in accordance with ASME B31.3 and Pressure
Test of Piping System

8.4.2. Extent of pressure testing shall be indicated on the line list.

8.4.3. Pressure testing shall be hydrostatic unless otherwise stated.

8.4.4. Shop testing of finished fabricated piping is not required unless specified.

8.4.5. Where site hydraulic testing is to be avoided, all shop fabricated piping, including
make-up lengths and lengths with loose flanges, shall be shop tested hydraulically. Provision
shall be made by the fabricator for closing the open ends of pipe for this test. Where this
procedure is required, it will be specified on the drawings and pipeline specifications.

8.4.6. All pressure testing shall be carried out after the application of any specified heat
treatment.

8.4.7. For austenitic stainless steel pipelines, hydrostatic tests shall be carried out using clean
water unless other fluids are specified on the drawings or pipeline specifications. Particular
attention must be paid to using potable water. Chlorine content of less than 50 PPM should
be used wherever possible, water having a chlorine content above 100 ppm should not be
used in any circumstances, and where it is necessary to use water within a range of 50-100
ppm, lines shall be flushed with a chlorine-free liquid with a short period of testing.

9. CLEANING - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

9.1 All bores of all fabricated piping shall be free from all sand, scale, weld spatter etc.
refer also to para. 5.2.7 and 5.2.8.

9.2. If special cleaning is required, this will be the subject of a special specification.

9.3. The cleaning of austenitic stainless steel pipe surfaces prior to welding shall not
involve the use of hydrochloric acid, chlorine compounds, or water with a chloride
content in excess of 50 ppm.

10. PROTECTION AND PACKING

10.1. DRAINING OF BORES - After hydrostatic testing and cleaning, where

specified, the bores of pipes shall be thoroughly drained and the ends immediately
sealed in accordance with para. 10.2.

10.2. PROTECTION - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

10.2.1. Pipe-ends and flange faces shall be properly protected against the ingress of
dirt, mechanical damage and atmospheric corrosion. The term "pipe-end" shall
include any weld preparation. The protection applied shall not be capable of passing
into the bore of the pipe.

10.2.2. Threaded connections shall be fitted with a line class plug or covered with a
plastic sheet securely wired or taped to the spool.

10.2.3. Socket weld connections shall be fitted with taped polyethylene plugs or
plastic sheet securely wired or taped to the spool.

11. ERECTION - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

11.1. VALVES

Valves equipped with chain wheels shall have the stems arranged so that chains do not fall
on equipment. Hooks shall be provided to hold chains clear of operating areas. Chain wheels
will be shown on the piping drawings. Install valves so that the stems are not below a
horizontal position. Orient all valves so that the hand wheels do not obstruct passageways.

11.2. FLANGED JOINTS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Protect all flange faces from damage. Take care not to mar the faces of the flanges. Bring all
flanged joints up flush so that the entire flange face bears uniformly on the gasket, and then
take up with uniform bolt tension. In bolting joints with spiral wound gaskets, the gasket shall
be compressed until the raised faces of the flanges uniformly contact the compression gauge
ring.

11.3. FLANGED OR BUTT WELDED EQUIPMENT CONNECTION

A flange cover shall be kept on all flanged connections to pumps, compressors, turbines, and
similar equipment until ready to connect the piping. Piping connecting to mechanical
equipment, such as pumps, turbines, and compressors shall be fitted-up in close parallel and
lateral alignment, prior to tightening the bolting or welding the joints. The installation shall be
approved by the inspector prior to tightening the bolting. Carbon steel piping that has not
required post-weld heat treatment may be heated for minor corrections in fit. The temperature
shall not exceed 660℃Cooling of the pipe shall not be accelerated by the application of water.
The inspector shall be notified when heating for fit-up is required.

11.4. RESTRICTIONS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

All restrictions which would interfere with filling, venting, draining, or flushing shall not be
installed until after completion of the pressure test and line flushing operations. This includes
orifice plates, flow nozzles, venturis, rotameters, PD meters, turbine meters, magnetic meters,
strainer screens, and similar in-the-line equipment.

11.5. TEMPORARY GASKETS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Protect gaskets from damage until final installation is complete. When temporary make up at
flanged joints is required in piping systems using special gaskets, make up the joint with a less
expensive sheet gasket and save the special gasket for the final installation.

11.6. PIPE SUPPORTS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

All field supports shall be installed in accordance with the standard drawings. If the field
supports are not installed or are unavailable when the piping is erected, use temporary
blocking or other adequate means of support until the field supports can be installed. Careful
consideration must be given to the support of 2-inch and smaller piping to prevent excessive
deflection.

11.7. EXPANSION JOINTS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Check the expansion joint specification for special instructions. Corrugated expansion joints
shall be installed with length extended or compressed for the ambient temperature condition
at erection, depending on anticipated direction and magnitude of movement after the line
reaches the operating temperature. Make a final check to see that shipping ties have been
removed after line tests and that any preset that may be specified has been accounted for.

11.8. TEMPORARY STRAINERS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

Temporary suction strainers shall be installed at the suction nozzles of all pumps
and compressors before pipeline flushing. They shall be located between the suction block
valve and the equipment.

11.9. SPRING HANGERS - Piping Fabrication and Erection Specification

The variable and constant support type spring hangers are preset, for the cold condition, in
the factory. The gags and shipping spacers should be removed until after hydrostatic testing
of the line has been completed.

Any dimensional adjustments that have to be made to the load flange on the compression-type
springs, or to the rod assembly on suspended-type springs, should be made before the gags
are removed. Once the spring is unblocked it is very difficult to make any adjustments.

Golden weld joint is that joint in which the new piping is connected to the existing
piping. Hence this joint cannot be hydrostatically tested.

So it has to be ensured that it should be defect free as per the standard (eg: ASME
B31.3) that is followed.

Please learn more 345.2.3 Special Provisions for Testing in ASME B31.3 2016
edition

345.2.3(c ) Closure Welds. The final weld connecting piping

systems or components that have been successfully tested in
accordance with para. 345 need not be leak tested provided the
weld is examined in-process in accordance with para. 344.7 and
passes with 100% radiographic examination in accordance with
para. 344.5 or 100% ultrasonic examination in accordance
withpara. 344.6.

Welder assigned for this joint is a very important criteria. He have to be highly skilled
as the NDT requirements for this joint is normally higher than that of other joints.

My experience, the golden joints are subjected to RT, UT, MPI & hardness test. It
depends on the standard being followed and the client requirements.
P Number Base Metal

Carbon Manganese Steels (four Group Numbers)

1
Not Used
2

1/2 Molybdenum or 1/2 Chromium,

3
1/2 Molybdenum (three Group Numbers)

1 1/4 Chromium, 1/2 Molybdenum

4
(two Group Numbers)
2 1/4 Chromium, 1 Molybdenum
5A

5 Chromium, 1/2 Molybdenum or 9 Chromium,

5B
1 Molybdenum (two Group Numbers)

Chromium, Molybdenum, Vanadium

5C
(five Group Numbers)

Martensitic Stainless Steels (Grade 410, 415, 429)

6
(six Group Numbers)
Ferritic Stainless Steels (Grade 409, 430)
7

Austenitic Stainless Steels:

8  Group 1 - Grades 304, 316, 317, 347

 Group 2 - Grades 309, 310

  Group 3 - High Manganese Grades

 Group 4 - High Molybdenum Grades

2 - 4 Nickel Steels
9A, B, C

10A, B, C, Various Low Alloy Steels

Duplex and Super Duplex Stainless Steel

10H
(Grades 31803, 32750)

High Chromium Stainless Steel

10I

High Chromium, Molybdenum Stainless Steel

10J

High Chromium, Molybdenum,

10K
Nickel Stainless Steel

Various High Strength Low Alloy Steels

11A
(six Group Numbers)

Various High Strength Low Alloy Steels

11B
(ten Group Numbers)

9 Chromium, 1 Molybdenum
15E

Not Used
16 to 20
High Aluminum Content (1000 and 3000 series)
21
Aluminum (5000 series - 5052, 5454)
22
Aluminum (6000 series - 6061, 6063)
23
 Not Used
24
Aluminum (5000 series - 5083, 5086, 5456)
25
Not Used
26 to 30
High Copper Content
31
Brass
32
Copper Silicon
33
Copper Nickel
34
Copper Aluminum
35
Not Used
36 to 40
High Nickel Content
41
Nickel, Copper - (Monel 500)
42
Nickel, Chromium, Iron - (Inconel) (C22, C276, X)
43
Nickel, Molybdenum - (Hastelloy B2)
44
Nickel, Chromium, Si
45

Nickel, Chromium, Silicone

46
 The following tables provide
Nickel, Chromium, Tungsten
47 more information.

Not Used
ASME Section IX’s Number
47 to 50
Table from QW-423 Welder
Qualifications is shown as
Titanium Alloys
51, 52, 53
Zirconium Alloys follows;
61, 62

Qualified Production Base Metals

Base Metals for Welder Qualification

P - No. 1 through P - No. 15F, P - No. 1 through P - No. 15F,

P - No. 34, or P - No. 41 through P - No. 49 P - No. 34, and P - No. 41 through P - No. 49

P - No. 21 through P - No. 26

P - No. 21 through P - No. 26

P - No. 51 through P - No. 53 or P - No. 61 P - No. 51 through P - No. 53 and P - No. 61

or P - No. 62 and P - No. 62

Base Metal Welding Brazing

P - No. 1
P - No. 101 through P - No.
Steel and Steel alloys through P - No.
103
15F

P - No. 21
Aluminum and aluminum -
through P - No. P - No. 104 and P - No. 105
base alloys
26
 P - No. 31
Copper and copper - base
through P - No. P - No. 107 and P - No. 108
alloys
35

P - No. 41
P - No. 110 through P - No.
Nickel and nickel - base alloys through P - No.
112
49

P - No. 51
Titanium and titanium - base
through P - No. P - No. 115
alloys
53

P - No. 117

Zirconium and zirconium - P - No. 61 and

base alloys P - No. 62

EN28
P No. Base Metal
8
 Carbon Manga
nese Steels, 4
Sub Groups

 Group 1
up to
approx 6
5 ksi
1 1
 Group 2
Approx
70ksi
 Group 3
Approx
80ksi
 Group 4
?

2 - Not Used

3 4 3 Sub Groups:- Typically half moly and half chrome half moly

2 Sub Groups:- Typically one and a quarter chrome

4 5
half moly

5A 5 Typically two and a quarter chrome one moly

2 Sub Groups:- Typically five chrome half moly and

5B 5
nine chrome one moly

5C 6 5 Sub Groups:- Chrome moly vanadium

6 Sub Groups:- Martensitic Stainless Steels Typically

6 8
Grade 410

7 8 Ferritic Stainless Steels Typically Grade 409

 Austenitic Stainless Steels, 4 Sub groups

 Group1 Typically Grades 304, 316, 347

8 9  Group 2 Typically Grades 309, 310
 Group 3 High manganese grades
 Group 4 Typically 254 SMO type steels

9A, B, C 7 Typically two to four percent Nickel Steels

10A,B,C,F,G ? Mixed bag of low alloy steels, 10G 36 Nickel Steel

10 H 10 Duplex and Super Duplex Grades 31803, 32750

10J ? Typically 26 Chrome one moly

11A Group 1 7 9 Nickel Steels

Mixed bag of high

11 A Groups 2 to 5 ? strength low alloy
steels.

10 Sub Groups:-
Mixed bag of high
11B ?
strength low alloy
steels.

12 to 20 - Not Used

21 21 Pure Aluminium

22 22a Aluminium Magnesium Grade 5000

Aluminium Magnesium Silicone

23 23
Grade 6000

24 - Not Used
 Aluminium Magnesium Manganese
25 22b
Typically 5083, 5086

26 to 30 Not used

31 Pure Copper

32 Brass

33 Copper Silicone

34 Copper Nickel

35 Copper Aluminium

36 to 40 Not Used

41 Pure Nickel

42 Nickel Copper:- Monel 500

Nickel Chrome Ferrite:-

43
Inconel

Nickel Moly:- Hastelloy C22,

44
C276

Nickel Chrome :- Incoloy 800,

45
825

46 Nickel Chrome Silicone

47 Nickel Chrome Tungstone

47 to 50 Not Used
 51, 52, 53 Titanium Alloys

61, 62 Zirconium Alloys

Because of these assignments, the cost of the continuous

procedure and performance qualification testing does not exist. In
most cases, qualifying a welder on a specific material will also
qualify that welder on a variety of related materials.

“For example, a welder who qualifies on a P1 to the P1 material

is also qualified to weld P-1 through P-15F, P-34, and any P-
40s.”
 32.2.

Geometries of grinder and excavation.

A - Variations in the indicated dimensions for Center to Face. Location of
attachments etc, shall not exceed 3 mm. (Tolerance shall be cumulative)

B - For Piping Bends having a radius equal to SIX times the diameter or larger
variations in the finished pipe caused by bending including any folds and bulges shall
not exceed ± 3% x Nominal Ø of the Pipe.

C - Lateral translation of flanges in any direction from the indicated position shall not
exceed 1.5 mm.

D - Rotation of flanges from the indicated position as shown shall not exceed 1.5
mm.
E - Aligment of flanges shall not deviate from the indicated position measured
across any diameter more than 0.75 mm.
A - Variations in the indicated dimensions for Center to Face. Location of
attachments etc, shall not exceed 3 mm. (Tolerance shall be cumulative)

B - For Piping Bends having a radius equal to SIX times the diameter or larger
variations in the finished pipe caused by bending including any folds and bulges shall
not exceed ± 3% x Nominal Ø of the Pipe.

C - Lateral translation of flanges in any direction from the indicated position shall not
exceed 1.5 mm.

D - Rotation of flanges from the indicated position as shown shall not exceed 1.5
mm.
E - Aligment of flanges shall not deviate from the indicated position measured
across any diameter more than 0.75 mm.