DOCUMENT NO.

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VISUAL EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
DATE REVISION :

UNIT ISSUING : APPROVED BY : PAGE REVISION

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1.0. TITLE

VISUAL EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

2.0. SCOPE

This Procedure defines the conditions and acceptance criteria for visual examination of
welds.

3.0. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

3.1. ASME Section V : Non-destructive examination

3.2. ASME Section B31.1 : Power Piping
3.3. AWS D1.1

4.0. GENERAL PREREQUISITES

The welding must be performed in accordance with the relevant sections of the ASME
Code. The inspector must pay due attention to the following points for weld and
maintain records on "visual follow up of the weld quality" report sheets.

a) WPS
- A copy of the qualified WPS or a weld record sheet containing a summary of
applicable filler and welding parameters must be available at the work face.
b) Weld Set-up
- Surface condition
- Joint alignment
- Preheat, if applicable
c) Filler Metals
- Identification and batch numbers
- Baking
- Heated electrode quivers
d) Welding
- Preheat and inter pass temperature
- Visual inspection of GTAW root pass
- Post heat, where applicable
- Number of thermocouples and their positions for subsequent PWHT, where
applicable
e) PWHT
- Thermocouples and extent of insulation
- Temperature recorders and their calibration certificates
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- PWHT time and date

- Availability of additional thermal insulation for any interruption to PWHT
f) Operators
- All NDE operators must have an annual eye sight test to check the accuracy in
the near field of vision

5.0. EXAMINATION
The weld surface to be examined shall be illuminated with a portable 100W tungsten
inspection lamp or a powerful battery operated torch in case of poor lighting conditions.
All welds shall be visually examined on the outside surface. The weld root (with the aid
of optical devices, if necessary) where access permits.

6.0. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

6.1. General Criteria
The following indications are not acceptable.
- Cracks or surface breaking defects
- Lack of fusion
- Lack of penetration (where bore surface is readily accessible)
- Other as listed in ASME B31.1 para. 136.4.2
6.2. Circumferential and longitudinal butt welds
The capping runs of HP steam and boiler feed water piping systems welds shall
be dressed before PWHT. In other piping systems, weld in 'as welded' surface
condition shall be acceptable. However, the surface of weld shall be sufficiently
free from coarse ripples, grooves, overlaps, abrupt ridges and valleys which
may affect proper interpretation of radiographs or other non-destructive
examinations. The maximum weld reinforcement shall not exceed the values
given in the table below.

Base metal Maximum weld reinforcement (mm)

thickness
(mm) T > 400 ºC 175 < T < 400 ºC T < 175 ºC

<3 2 2.5 5
3<t<5 2 3.0 5
5 < t < 13 2 4.0 5
13 < t < 25 2.5 5.0 5
25 < t < 50 3.0 6.0 6
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The surface profile of welds in the as-welded condition shall be properly blended
into the base materials without significant undercutting or overlapping at the weld
toes. Slight intermittent undercut shall be permitted providing it does not form a
sharp notch and it meets the following criteria:
a) In HP and stainless steel piping systems, the depth of undercut shall not
exceed 0.5 mm over a 10 mm length
b) In LP piping and other steel fabrications, the depth of undercut shall not
exceed 1.0 mm over a 10 mm length
The weld penetration of the root run into the pipe bore of a single V-groove weld
without backing is acceptable provided the depth of penetration is less than 3
mm. Similarly, root concavity is acceptable provided:
a) The root concavity has a smooth profile without sharp edges
b) The depth of root concavity does not exceed 1.5 mm for pipes less than
19 mm thick
c) The weld thickness is equal to the thickness of the thinner member of the
joint to be welded
6.3. Fillet Weld
A fillet weld is defined as a weld with an approximately triangular cross section
consisting of two surfaces at right angles to each other in lap, tee, or corner joint
configuration. All fillet welds shall be a continuous length unless specified
otherwise on the relevant drawing
The dimensions of a fillet weld shall be measured in terms of its throat thickness
or leg as shown bellow:

a a
t t

b b

a, b = leg length
t = throat thickness

For concave fillet welds, the actual throat thickness shall not be less than 0.7
times the specified leg length. For convex fillet welds, the actual throat thickness
shall not be more than 0.9 times the actual leg length.

7.0. TEST REPORT

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The visual examination report shall contain the following appropriate information:
- Equipment identity (equipment specification, unit and line numbers, material…).
- Weld identity (Welders symbol, weld number, date of welding…).
- Checks for: alignment, weld reinforcement, root concavity, porosity, undercut,
root run penetration, cracks, arc strikes, fillet sizes, weld spatter…
- Examination date and results
Inspector's sign