×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

B31.3 PWHT of a closure weld, am I required to hydrotest it after PWHT is complete?

B31.3 PWHT of a closure weld, am I required to hydrotest it after PWHT is complete?

B31.3 PWHT of a closure weld, am I required to hydrotest it after PWHT is complete?

(OP)
Hi all,

I could not find an answer in the B31.3 interpretations. Here is my problem. I am required to do several closure welds in various projects. The pipe spools being installed are pressure tested; however, the final connection will require a closure weld. The client also requires me to PWHT these line classes (Sour). I was under the impression that a closure weld was exempt from hydrostatic testing but the clients construction manager is telling me that if we PWHT the closure weld afterward then am I required to hydrotest the weld. So I ask, if I PWHT a closure weld am I required to hydrotest it after the PWHT is complete? For reference this job is being complete in Canada (BC).

Section 345.2.2 Other Test Requirements (B) states:
Heat Treatment. Leak tests shall be completed after any heat treatment.

Section 345.2.3 Special Provisions for Testing
(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% radio-
graphic examination in accordance with para. 344.5 or
100% ultrasonic examination in accordance with
para. 344.6

RE: B31.3 PWHT of a closure weld, am I required to hydrotest it after PWHT is complete?

kelaog,
As you pointed out in this paragraph you posted in your question post.
Section 345.2.3 Special Provisions for Testing
(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% radio-
graphic examination in accordance with para. 344.5 or
100% ultrasonic examination in accordance with
para. 344.6


You have a choice of two options -
1. 100% radio-graphic examination in accordance with para. 344.5
or
2. 100% ultrasonic examination in accordance with para. 344.6

You may want to discuss this with you AI (Authorized Inspector)

Sometimes its possible to do all the right things and still get bad results

RE: B31.3 PWHT of a closure weld, am I required to hydrotest it after PWHT is complete?

(OP)
Pennpiper, thank you for your reply. Either I don't understand your answer, or you haven't understood my question. I would think I've probably misunderstood your answer due to my lack of experience. In which case, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. Perhaps you can clarify?

I realize that you can do in-process examiniation in lieu of a pressure test. Sometimes this is referred to as a golden or closure weld procedure which is 100% mpi of the root pass (although not required, but typically industry standard) and RT or UT of the final pass.


However, because I'm required to do PWHT of the closure weld. Am I required to now hydrotest it based on 345.2.2 para (B). In which case these two clauses are conflicting each other which is why I've posted both.

Or are you telling me that after I'm done PWHT I can do 100% UT or RT of the cap and I am still meeting 31.3 requirements. I believe typically these are done after PWHT anyway.

So to clarify, the closure weld procedure in my case would look like this.
Root pass
100% MPI
final pass
PWHT
100% UT/RT

No pressure test required.

RE: B31.3 PWHT of a closure weld, am I required to hydrotest it after PWHT is complete?

Hydrostatic testing is not required to be repeated for welds identified under 345.2.3.

RE: B31.3 PWHT of a closure weld, am I required to hydrotest it after PWHT is complete?

Section 345.2.2 states that any leak test that is to be carried out only after PWHT if PWHT is required for the weld as per the piping class and it doesn't mean that the closure weld to be pressure tested if PWHT is performed on it.

Pressure test can be waived off / exempt for closure weld provided the requirements mentioned in section clause 345.2.3 ASME B 31.3 fulfilled.

Regards,
ISHACK M

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources