Weld proximity is covered by a number of international standards. Extracts from these standards are shown below and summarised in the following table: Standard Applies to Minimum distance between weld toes Notes BS 2633:1987 Ferritic steel pipework 4t t= nominal thickness of the pipe See below for notes on attachment welds. BS 4515:2009 C-Mn pipelines 4t t= pipe thickness BS 2971:1991 Carbon steel pipework Agreed by parties – PD 5500:2012 Pressure vessels 4e or 100mm whichever is greater e= design thickness Refers to the staggering of longitudinal welds ASME B&PV Boilers and pressure vessels Not specified – BS 2633 ‘Class I … Continue reading Weld proximity, between two seams standard

The following standards stipulate delay time before inspection: BS EN 1011-2:2001 Welding – Recommendations for welding of metallic materials – Part 2: Arc welding of ferritic steels (with amendment AMD 14926 Feb 2004) Paragraph 18 states: ‘Due to the risk of delayed cracking, a period of at least 16 hours is generally required before the final inspection is made of as-welded fabrications. The minimum time may be reduced for thin materials below 500N/mm2 yield strength or increased for materials of a thickness greater than 50mm or of yield strength over 500 N/mm2 … Welds that have been heat-treated to reduce hydrogen content … Continue reading Time delay before applying NDT in welding

Most austenitic stainless steel weldments do not require post-weld heat treatment. For those that do, the heat treatment temperature should reflect the particular concern that is being addressed. The necessity for any type of heat treatment of austenitic chromium-nickel steel weldments depends largely on the service conditions encountered. For some applications, heat treatment is used to impart the greatest degree of corrosion resistance possible, eg by solution treating to homogenize the composition or stabilizing, to minimize the risk of sensitization during subsequent elevated temperature exposure. In other applications, heat treatment may be used for stress relieving. This may give more … Continue reading Stainless steel and PWHT – Post weld heat treatment

Oxidation of the root bead and adjacent HAZ during welding of stainless steels is commonly called heat-tint. A chromium-rich scale is formed, which is typically not very protective, and the stainless steel surface becomes chromium-depleted: these effects may impair the corrosion resistance of stainless steel welds. Tests performed in various corrosive environments have shown that susceptibility to pitting and crevice corrosion is greater when the surface is heat-tinted, and the colour of the heat-tint is an indicator of the degree of susceptibility to corrosion. For example, purple-blue oxides are generally the most susceptible to corrosion attack. The critical pitting temperature, … Continue reading Blue colour when welding Stainless steel