PIP PNSC0001
Fabrication and Examination Specification
for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping
PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES
In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence over
this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters or
application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not be
made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names from
time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather recognized as
normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications are equally
correct and may be substituted for those named. All practices or guidelines are intended
to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA requirements. To
the extent these practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or other applicable
laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed. Consult an appropriate
professional before applying or acting on any material contained in or suggested by the
Practice.
PIP PNSC0001
Fabrication and Examination Specification
for ASME B31.3 Metallic Piping
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this specification is to describe fabrication and examination
requirements to those fabricating and examining ASME B31.3 Process Piping,
hereinafter referred to as the Code.
1.2 Scope
This specification applies to both shop and field fabricated piping. Piping to be
fabricated and examined, the heat treatment required, and the extent of examination to
be performed are set forth in specifications and drawings referencing this specification.
Fabrication requirements include requirements for materials, welding, forming, and
heat treatment. Examination of materials, components, fabrication, assembly, erection,
and records is covered. Examination methods, criteria for acceptance, and correction
of defective work are also covered.
2. References
The following documents have been referenced in this specification and are part of the
requirements. It will be necessary to understand the applicable requirements of each of the
references. Refer to the latest edition. Short titles will be used herein when appropriate.
3. Definitions
Company Representative: Person designated by the Owner to act on the Owner’s behalf
Fabricator: The firm hired to do the fabrication
4. General Requirements
4.2 Documentation
Records required by the Code, and any others required by the Owner shall be retained
by the Fabricator or others designated by the Owner. These records shall be made
available to the Company Representative on request. Requirements for documentation
are described in Sections 5.2, 6.1, 13.5, and 21.7 of this specification.
5. Materials
5.2 Records
The Fabricator shall have all required documents available for examination by the
Company Representative. As a minimum, record keeping shall be per the Code. Other
records and retention times shall be per Owner requirements. Copies of records shall
be furnished at Owner’s request.
5.3 Cleanliness
Components shall be clean and dry prior to welding. For operations that include
heating, affected surfaces shall be cleaned of harmful contaminants such as lubricants
and paint prior to performing the operation.
5.3.1 For P-Nos. 8, 2X, 4X, 5X, and 6X materials
5.3.1.1 Direct contact operation such as brushing shall be done using
stainless steel tools that have not been used on other materials.
5.3.1.2 Grinding shall be done with wheels that have not been used on other
materials.
5.4 Repairs
When welding is required to repair a component, the Fabricator shall obtain approval
from the Company Representative before proceeding.
5.5 Identification
A marking system acceptable to the Company Representative shall be used to maintain
traceability of pipe and pipe components.
6. Welding
Welding requirements including welding procedure preparation, filler metals, approved welding
processes, hardness testing, weld overlay and miscellaneous requirements are contained in PIP
PNSC0012. This specification supplements welding requirements contained in PIP PNSC0012
and provides requirements applicable to all welding processes and requirements for specific
processes and materials.
6.2.3 Arc strikes on pipe and fitting surfaces shall be avoided. If arc strikes occur
they shall be removed. Repairs to the pipe and fitting surfaces shall not reduce
the wall below the minimum required thickness.
6.3 Buttwelds
6.3.1 When seam-welded pipes are joined by butt welding, longitudinal weld seams
should be positioned at least 1 in. (25 mm) or 30 degrees apart.
6.3.2 Buttweld joints shall be prepared in accordance with the appropriate figure in
ASME B16.25. For buttwelded joints of unequal thickness, the weld ends shall
be prepared in accordance with ASME B16.25.
6.3.3 Buttweld end valves that have PTFE or other heat-sensitive parts shall be
protected from the heat of welding, or Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT), in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
6.3.4 Internal misalignment of piping components to be joined shall not exceed 1/16
in. (1.5 mm). The following methods are recommended in descending order of
preference to minimize misalignment:
a. Rotating the pipe or fitting
b. Use of spreaders or line-up clamps to correct out-of-round conditions
c. Tapering or counter boring with taper to align butt weld ends. Slopes,
angles and minimum remaining thickness shall be per ASME B16.25,
Fig. 1.
d. Back welding of the root pass
7. Branch Connections
Unless otherwise specified on the drawing, 90-degree branch connections shall conform to the
branch connection chart in the applicable piping material specification.
8. Machined Surfaces
Machined surfaces, such as flange faces, shall be protected from damage and deterioration
during all operations. Damaged machine surfaces shall be repaired, or the component shall be
replaced. See Section 5.4 of this specification.
10. Flanges
12. Tolerances
Unless shown otherwise on the drawings, tolerances for dimensions of fabricated pipe sections
shall be in accordance with PFI Standard ES-3.
The Fabricator is responsible for determining when heat treatment is required by the Code.
Heat treatment due to the process shall be specified by the Owner. The Fabricator must
exercise particular care in determining the requirements for PWHT of branch outlet fittings
(e.g. including o’let type fittings) per the Code, Para. 331.1.3 since the dimension through the
weld is different with different manufacturers. Support attachments on piping to be heat treated
shall be welded on prior to heat treatment.
a. All temperature charts, properly identified and dated, with a list of spools and
components to which each chart applies
b. A description of the equipment used and calibration dates of thermocouples and
the recorder
c. Hardness test results
Welding neck orifice flanges shall have the same bore as the pipe. Orifice runs shall not
contain welds except at the flanges. Welds at orifice flanges shall be ground or machined
smooth and flush on the inside of the pipe.
15. Cleaning
Fabricated assemblies shall be cleaned and completely drained of all liquid after fabrication
and examination in accordance with Standard Cleaning in PFI Standard ES-5.
Water used to clean piping shall be completely removed and the piping dried.
Water used to clean stainless steel piping shall contain no more than 50 ppm chlorides.
Flange faces shall be cleaned of any manufacturer applied paint or coating using a method
which will not damage the machined surface.
17. Painting
Piping shall be painted only when directed by the Company Representative. When so directed,
painting shall be in accordance with the specifications. Flange faces, ends to be field welded,
and pipe threads shall not be painted.
18. Marking
An identification number shall be plainly marked on each fabricated section. Carbon steel
piping shall be marked in white, other metallic piping in red. Marking paint or ink for stainless
steel and nickel alloy shall contain no chlorides, metals (such as zinc, lead, or copper) or metal
salts that could cause corrosive attack on the piping. Stamping of piece mark numbers or of
any identification other than the welder’s mark (see Section 6.2.1 of this specification) is
prohibited.
The use of adhesive labels on stainless steel or nickel alloy piping requires a protective barrier
of paint containing no chlorides, metals or metal salts or the use of a chloride free adhesive.
Flange faces shall be protected from damage during shipment and storage by wood or plastic
covers bolted, snapped or wired on. Carbon steel flange faces shall be kept rust-free. Pipe ends
shall be covered by durable self-fastening plastic covers. Threaded nipples, couplings, and
bosses shall be protected with metal or plastic thread protectors.
20. Rework
All rework and repairs shall be in accordance with this specification and the Code.
21.2 Preparation
External and accessible internal surfaces of joints and components to be examined
shall be free of rust, scale, weld flux or spatter, and paint. The surfaces shall be
ground if necessary, to eliminate irregularities which would obscure or confuse the
interpretation of imperfections.
21.3 Procedures
Examinations shall be performed in accordance with a written procedure as required
by Code, Para. 343. The procedure, with evidence of its qualification, shall be
submitted to the Company Representative for approval.
21.6 Defects
Any items rejected because of defects shall be repaired or replaced, and re-examined to
the extent and by the methods and criteria that applied to the original work.
21.7 Report
A report shall be supplied to the Company Representative stating the types of
examination applied to each pipeline and/or pipe spool and recording defects and
corrective measures taken.
The symbols listed below are used to indicate the type and extent of examination required for
each pipeline. Examination types were selected by using PIP PNE00012. See Section 23 of
this specification for Examination Methods.
23.1 General
Visual examination, including any in-process examination, should be performed and
repairs made prior to any other examinations being performed.
23.1.1 Methods
23.1.1.1 Methods of examination shall conform to requirements of the BPV
Code, Section V, except as modified herein. Article 1, “General
Requirements for Nondestructive Examination”, applies to all
methods of examination listed below.
23.1.1.2 The Company representative shall retain the right to designate the
piping to be randomly tested.
23.2.3 Method
The method of visual examination shall conform to the BPV Code,
Section V, Article 9, “Visual Examination”.