Table 1 Limiting thickness for which postweld heat treatment is not required for C-Mn steels according to various

standards.

ASME P4
ASME P1 Group 1/C- ASME P3 Groups 1 & ASME P5
Groups 1 &
Code Mn, 2, Group 1, & BS Comments
2, & BS EN
& BS EN Group 1 & BS EN Group 1.4 EN Group 5.2
Group 5.1

Toughness
27J at 20C for requirement increases
32mm and R e as strength increases;
32mm increase to 16mm, 121C 16mm, 149C
16mm, 93C preheat, C 448MPa( 20J allowable thickness
ASME VIII [14] 38mm with 93C preheat, C preheat, C
0.25% at 20C for increases as
preheat 0.15% 0.15%
34mm and Re toughness increases
345MPa) and as strength
decreases.

13mm, 120C 13mm, 150C

16mm, 95C preheat, C No explicit Charpy test requirement in
ASME B31.1 [15] 19mm preheat, C preheat, C
0.25% the standard.
0.15% 0.15%

R e 448MPa, C
Room temperature
v 18J
13mm, 177C Charpy toughness
13mm 149C R e 517MPa, C
ASME B31.3 [16] 19mm 19mm preheat, C requirements for
preheat v 20J
0.15% carbon- and low alloy
R e 656MPa, C
steels:
v 27J

No explicit Charpy test requirement in

ASME B31.8 [17] 32mm
the standard.

32mm increase to Gp I-III & IIIA (defined in the standard)

API 650 [18] 38mm with 90C C V 20J. Gp IV-VI C V 41J; Gp VIA, C
preheat v 48J if Q & T or TMCP
 PWHT required for nozzles and
attachments when wall thickness
exceeded.

Test temperature
(design metal
temperature -17C).
C v 34J ( 40J
for Q&Tmp;T
32mm, increase to For design metal
grades)
API 620 [19] 38mm with 93C temperature > -40C,
preheat if tested at or below
C v 34J
this temperature.
C v 40J
Acceptable for design
metal temperatures -
C v 27J ( 34J
40C.
in longitudinal
direction)
Test temperature of -
196C for liquefied
hydrocarbon gases.

Limits set by contract drawings or

AWS D1/1 [29]
specifications.

Tubing
Tubing 16mm,
16mm, C
C 0.15, Cr R m <490MPa, C
32mm, increase to 0.15, 120C At T minimum
16mm, C 0.25%,95C 3.0, 120C V 20J
JIS B.8243 [20] 38mm with 95C preheat; operating
preheat preheat; PWHT R m 490MPa, C
preheat PWHT all temperature.
all thicknesses V 27J
thicknesses of
of vessel
vessel

Fine-grained steel: C 0.23 and CE

32mm, C 0.23%, may 0.55 and R e 370MPa and KV
Stoomwezen [21]
increase to 40mm (perpendicular) 31J at 0C and also KV
(parallel) 27J at -50C and 32mm < t
40mm and weld metal KV
(perpendicular) 31J at 0C, and as long
 as there is no accumulation of
weldments or extensive local stiffening,
and a hydrotest is carried out.

Fine-grained steel: C 0.23 and CE

0.55 and R e 450MPa and t 32mm
and as long as there is no accumulation
of weldments or extensive local
stiffening, there is no toughness
requirement.

BS 2971 [22] 35mm No Charpy test requirement.

13mm thick 13mm thick

30mm, increase to 13mm, increase to
and 127mm and 127mm
BS 1113 [23] 35mm with 100C 35mm with 100C C v >40J
diameter, C diameter, C
preheat, C 0.25% preheat, C 0.25%,
0.15% 0.15%

C v 27J for
transverse T CV lowest
specimens scheduled operating
BS EN 12952 [24] <35mm <13mm <13mm
(preferred) or C v temperature (T CV
35J for 20C).
longitudinal.

12.5mm
12.5mm thick
thick and
30mm, increase to and 127mm
12.5mm thick and 127mm
BS 2633 [25] 35mm 100C preheat, C diameter, No Charpy test requirement.
127mm diameter diameter,
0.25% 150C preheat,
120C
C 0.15%
preheat

35mm, increase to 12.5mm, increase to PWHT PWHT required

PD 5500 [26] 40mm if C v 27J at - 19mm with 100C required for for all
20C preheat all thicknesses thicknesses
 R e <450MPa, C
PD T CV =2.94(MDMT -
40mm, but see V 27J)
5500 [26] (Service 10)C(PD 5500 Annex
comments R e 450MPa, C
temperature <0C) D)
V 40J)

15mm thick,
15mm thick, or 13 mm Test temperature
or 13 mm thick and 120 depends on strength,
C v 27J or C v
PrEN 13445 [27] 35mm thick and mm diameter toughness level and
40J
120 mm and design design reference
diameter temperature temperature.
<480C

R e 275 MPa, C
Minimum design throat V 27J
C v at -40C, for
thickness: - 40mm R e 355 MPa, C
EEMUA 158 [28] assumed MDMT = -
nodes V 36J
10C.
50mm plain regions R e 450 MPa, C
V 45J

BS 5950 [30] & BS

C v required at MDMT, k = 2 for as-
5400 [31]
welded joints but reduces with stress
concentrations present.