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ASME VIII Div 1: Full Radiography of pressure Welds
Full Radiography Requirements for Carbon Steel Pressure Vessels
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I. Introduction
Full radiography serves as a crucial quality control and assurance method to ensure the integrity of welds. However, it is not limited to a
straightforward inspection; it is an iterative process that continues until all acceptance criteria are met.
• The acceptance criteria for full radiography (100% radiography) are outlined in detail in reference [1].
Radiography inspection can enhance the efficiency of two specific types of weld joints that have been verified as achieving full
penetration and fusion:
1. Type 1 Weld: Butt joints welded from both sides, or from one side only without a permanent backing strip.
2. Type 2 Weld: Butt joints welded from one side only with a permanent backing strip.
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1) Full radiography engineering Definition
Quality assurance of pressure welds cannot be guaranteed by radiography alone. Essential components of quality control include
the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS), the Procedure Qualification Record (PQR), and the Welder Performance Qualification
(WPQ).
When it is stated that a pressure vessel has undergone full radiography, which allows for the use of the ultimate joint efficiency (E)
for each weld type, it does not imply that every welding joint has been 100% inspected by radiography. The specifics of "full radiography"
are detailed in ASME BPVC VIII Div1: UW-11.
For example, nozzles with a Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) smaller than 10 (DN 250) and a weld thickness less than 1 1/8 inches (29 mm)
might not need radiographic inspection under certain conditions, even when the pressure is deemed to require full radiography.
2) Efficiency enhancement by full radiography
If a category weld joint labeled A, B, C, and D is executed using either Type 1 or Type 2 welds, their efficiency can be improved as
shown in the table below
Weld Type/ Inspection No Radiography Full radiography
Type 1 weld 0.7 1
Type 2 weld 0.65 0.9
In this demonstration, I aim to clarify the full radiography requirements specified in ASME BPVC VIII Div. 1, Section UW-11, in an
easy-to-understand manner. For complete details, please refer to the referenced paragraph UW-11.
To simplify and address specific cases rather than general rules, we subdivide the full radiography requirement into four categories:
general requirements, lethal service, unfired steam boiler and radiography aimed at achieving ultimate joint efficiency.
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1. General Requirements for Pressure Vessels: This outlines which joints must be 100% RT inspected, regardless of service
conditions or other limitations.
2. Full Radiography Requirements for Lethal Service: This specifies the radiography requirements for vessels used in lethal
service.
3. Full Radiography Requirements for Unfired Steam Boilers: This details the radiography standards applicable to unfired steam
boilers.
4. Achieving Ultimate Joint Efficiency: This section describes the quality control measures through radiography that ensure the
highest joint efficiency .
3) Full radiography requirement for carbon steel
For vessels constructed from carbon steel (refer to Table UCS-23 in ASME BPVC VIII Div 1), additional minimum thickness requirements
are outlined in Paragraph UCS-57. This paragraph specifies a minimum thickness threshold above which full radiography is mandated based
on the P number. However, it is important to note that the radiographic exemption rules in UW-11 take precedence over the requirements
outlined in UCS-57.
Table 1: Thickness Above Which Full Radiographic Examination of Butt-Welded Joints Is Mandatory UCS-57
Material P: Number and G number Minimum thickness: t1
P 1.Gr1,2,3 1 ¼ in (32mm)
P 3:Gr 1,2,3 ¾ in (19mm)
P 4.Gr1,2 & P 9A.Gr 1 &P 9B.Gr 1 and P 10A.Gr 1&P 10B.Gr 1 & 5/8 in (16mm)
P 10C.Gr 1
P 5A.Gr 1,2 & P 5B.Gr 1& P 5C.Gr 1& P 15E.Gr 1 0
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4) Symbol used
In this work, three symbols will be used:
1. ✓ for 100% Radiography: Refers to complete radiographic examination of the weld joint.
2. ☑ for Spot Radiography: As specified in ASME BPVC VIII Div 1, Section UW-52, this involves selective radiographic examination of
specific areas.
3. t: Denotes the nominal thickness at the welded joint, which is defined as the nominal thickness of the thinner of the two joined
parts.
t
4. Thickness 1 Above Which Full Radiographic Examination of Butt-Welded Joints Is Mandatory for carbon steel (UCS-57)
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II. Full radiography general requirements
This section covers any pressure that requires full radiography, excluding those in lethal service and unfired steam boilers.
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A ✓
If t > the lesser of (t1 , 1 ½ in)
✓
Category B ✓
If t > the lesser of (t1 , 1 ½ in)
Category C If t > 1 1/8 in (29mm)
Or NPS > 10 (DN 250)
Category D
If t > the lesser of (t1 , 1 ½ in)
Example : Container for condensate collection Made from P1, Gr1 material the requirement of radiography shall be
• For P1, Gr1 material: t1=1 ¼ in (32 mm)
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A ✓
If t > 1 ¼ in (32 mm)
✓
Category B If t > 1 ¼ in (32 mm) ✓
Category C If t > 1 1/8 in (29mm)
Or NPS > 10 (DN 250)
Category D If t > 1 ¼ in (32 mm)
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I. Lethal service
Vessel to contain lethal substance
• "Lethal substances" refer to poisonous gases or liquids so dangerous that even a small amount, whether mixed with air or not,
can be fatal if inhaled. For the purposes of this Division, this category includes substances stored under pressure or those
capable of generating pressure when contained in a sealed vessel.
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A ✓
Category B ✓
Category C ✓ ✓ If t > 1 1/8 in (29mm)
Or NPS > 10 (DN 250)
Category D ✓
a) Example : a Pressure vessel for storing lethal substances made from material P 5B,Gr1 the requirement of radiography shall be
• For P5B, Gr1 material: t1= 0 In (0mm)
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A
Category B
Category C ✓ : 100% radiography of all welded joint
Category D
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b) Specific case example
Radiographic examination of the welded seams in exchanger tubes and pipes, specified by ASME VIII Div 1, may be waived for
butt-welded joints without filler metal, as long as the tube or pipe is completely enclosed within a vessel shell that meets the
requirements outlined in UW-2.
II. Unfired steam boiler
1) If the design pressure P > 50 Psi (345Kpa)
All category weld joint A shall be made with Type 1 weld
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A ✓
Category B ✓ ✓ ✓
Category C If t > 1 1/8 in (29mm)
Or NPS > 10 (DN 250)
Category D ✓
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2) If the design pressure P ≤ 50 Psi (345Kpa)
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A ✓
Category B ✓ ✓
Category C If t > the lesser of (t1 , 1 ½ in) If t > 1 1/8 in (29mm)
Or NPS > 10 (DN 250)
Category D ✓
a) Example : unfired steam boiler P=50 Psi , made from P3,Gr1 material then : t1 = ¾ in (19mm)
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A ✓
Category B ✓ ✓
Category C If t > ¾ in (19mm) If t > 1 1/8 in (29mm)
Or NPS > 10 (DN 250)
Category D ✓
b)
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III. Full radiography requirement to achieve ultimate weld joint
efficiency
This comprehensive radiography requirement here is designed to maximize the efficiency of both Type 1 and Type 2 welds, as
outlined below:
• For Type (1) weld joints: E = 1
• For Type (2) weld joints: E = 0.9
To meet these efficiency criteria, the requirements for Radiographic Testing (RT) or Ultrasonic Testing (UT) inspection must be fulfilled.
Weld type / location Shell Heads Nozzle Communicating
chamber
Category A and D
✓ ✓
✓
If t > the lesser of (t1 , 1 1/8 in)
☑ Or
Category B and C NPS > 10 (DN 250)
Category B and C That intersect
category A weld in shell or heads
Category A weld connecting seamless
shell or heads
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✓ ☑ spot radiography by UW-52
✓ ✓ 100% radiography
A pressure vessel constructed from seamless components—such as a seamless shell and seamless head—can achieve high efficiency when
inspected radiographically as outlined here.
IV. Tubesheet
All Category A welds in a tubesheet must undergo 100% radiographic inspection. These weld joints should be classified as Type (1).
References
• [1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/welding-quality-acceptance-criteria-radiographic-rt-ultrasonic-aymen-
dcckf/?trackingId=7UBqpcFvvo0tS4SMpr9eog%3D%3D
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For complete details, refer to
ASME BPVC Section VIII,
Division 1, Subsection B, Part
UW, paragraph UW-11
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