APPENDIX F— PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION PROCEDURES F1_ Performance Verification—General Requirements F141 PURPOSE ‘The purpose of this Appendix is to provide performance veritication procedures for qualification of API Spec 6A equipment. F1.2_ APPLICATION a. Scope "This Appendix addresses the performance verification pro- cedures for API Spec 6A products. The performance require ‘ments apply to all products being manufactured and delivered for service, whereas the performance verification procedures are to be imposed on designs of products and on designs resulting from changes. Verification testing specified in this Appendix is intended to be performed on prototypes or pro- duction models. b. Altemate Procedures Other procedures may be used provided the test require- ‘ments of this Appendix are met or exceeded. F1.3 PRODUCT CHANGES a. Design Changes ‘A design that undergoes a substantive change becomes a new design requiring performance verification. A substantive change is a change identified by the manufacturer, which affects the performance of the product in the intended service condition. This may include changes in fit, form, function or material '. Metallic Materials ‘A change in metallic materials may not require new perfor- ‘mance Verification ifthe suitability ofthe new material ean be substantiated by other means . Nonmetallic Seals A change in nonmetallic materials may not require new performance verification if the suitability of the new material can be substantiated by other means. Substantive changes of the original documented design configuration of nonmetallic seals resulting in a new design will require performance veri fication in accordance with F114. F1.4 API SPEC 6A COMPLIANCE ‘All products evaluated in performance verification tests shall comply with the applicable design requirements of APL Spec 6A. Test articles shall be hydrostaically tested to PSL ‘of API Spec 6A prior to verification testing. FA F1.5 PRODUCTS FOR VERIFICATION TESTING a. General Performance verification testing, where applicable, shall be performed on prototypes oF production models of API Spec {A equipment to verify that the performance requirements specified for pressure, temperature, load, mechanical cycles, and standard test ids are met inthe design ofthe product. », Testing Product Performance verification testing shall be conducted on full size products or fixtures that represent the specified dimen- sions for the relevant components of the end product being verified, unless otherwise specified inthis Appendix. c. Product Dimensions ‘The actual dimensions of equipment subjected to veritica- tion testing shall be within the allowable tolerance range for dimensions specified for normal production equipment. ‘Worst case conditions for dimensional tolerances should be addressed by the manufacturer, giving consideration to con- ‘coms such as sealing and mechanical functioning. 4, External Paint or Coatings ‘The product used in any pressure test must be free of paint of other coatings that would impede leak detection and/or Teak observation . Maintenance Procedures ‘The manufacturer's published recommended maintenance procedures may be used on equipment, including lubrication of valves, F1.6 SAFETY Safety of Personnel and Equipment. Due consideration should be given for the safety of personnel and equipment, F1.7 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA F1.7.1. General Verification testing of the product shall include all of the testing requirements of the applicable Product Requirement Level inthis Appendix. FA. 2. Structural Integrity ‘The product tested shall not permanently deform to the extent that any other performance requirement is not met. Products that support tubulars must be capable of supporting rated load without collapsing the tubulars below the drift diameter.F2 API SPECIFICATION 6A F1.7.3. Pressure Integrity a, Hydrostatic Test at Room Temperature ‘The hydrostatic test at room temperature shall be accept- able if no visible leakage occurs during the specified pressure hold periods of the test. The pressure change observed on the pressure measuring device during the hold period shall be Tess than 5% ofthe test pressure of 500 psi (3.45 MPa) whichever is ess, ’. Gas Test at Room Temperature ‘The gas test at room temperature shall be acceptable if no sustained bubbles are observed. If leakage is observed, the rate must be less than the rates shown in Table FI.1, mea- sured at almospherie pressure, during specified pressure hold periods, . Minimum/Maximum Temperature Tests ‘The hydrostatic or gas test at high or low temperatures shall be acceptable if the pressure change observed on the pressure measuring device is less than 5% of the testing pres- sure or 500 psi (3.45 MPa), whichever is less. F1.7.4 Fluid Compatibility of Nonmetallic Seals ‘The acceptance criteria for the standard test uid compat bility of nonmetallic seals shall be as specified in F1.14.6. F1.7.5 PostTest Examination ‘The tested prototype must be disassembled and inspected. Al relevant items should be photographed. The examination shall include a written statement thatthe product and compo- nent design does not contain defects to the extent that any performance requirement is not met. F1.8 HYDROSTATIC TESTING a. Testing Medium ‘The testing medium shall be a fuid suitable forthe testing temperatures. Water with or without additives, gas, hydraulic fluid, or other mixtures of fluids may be used as the testing ‘medium. The testing medium shall be a fluid that remains in the liquid or gaseous state throughout the test. '. Substitution of Gas ‘The manufacturer may, at his option, substitute gas for lig- uid where hydrostatic testing is specified, provided the testing ‘method and acceptance criteria for gas testing are used. F1.9 GASTESTING a, Testing Medium Air, nitrogen, methane or other gases or mixtures of gases may be used, ». 10,000 psi (69.0 MPa) and Above Equipment Gas testing is required for 10,000 psi (69.0 MPa) and higher rated working pressure equipment. «. Leak Detection Gas testing at room temperature shall be conducted with a ‘method for leak detection. The product may be completely submerged in a liquid, of the product may be flooded in the seal areas being verified so all possible leak paths are cov- cred, The product may be assembled with one end of a tube connected to a blind connector enclosing all possible Teak paths being verified. The other end of the tube shall be ‘immersed in a liquid or attached to a leakage measurement device. Other leak detection methods that can detect leakage accurately are acceptable. F110 TEMPERATURE TESTING a, Location of Temperature Measurement ‘Temperature shall be measured in contact with the equip- ‘ment being tested within 0.5 in, (I3 mm) of the through-bore Where applicable and within 0.5 in, (13 mm) of the surface Wetted by the retained fluid on other equipment, AAs an alternative, for maximum temperature testing, mea surement ofthe temperature of the luid used for heating may bbe employed, as long as the part is not artificially cooled, Ambient conditions shall be room temperature. ». Application of Heating for Maximum Temperature Testing ‘The heating for maximum temperature tests may be applied internally inthe through-bore or externally. The heat ing shall be applied such that the entire through-bore or equivalent wetted surface is at or above the maximum tem- perature, or such that all fluid used for heating contained ‘within the test articles is at or above the maximum tempera ture, . Application of Cooling for Minimum Temperature Testing. ‘The cooling for minimum temperature tests shall be applied to the entire external surface of the equipment F111 HOLD PERIODS 4, Start of Hold Periods Hold periods shall stat after pressure and temperature sta: bilization has occurred and the equipment with pressure mon- itoring device has been isolated from the pressure source, The time specified for hold times shall be a minimum. », Pressure Stabilization Pressure shall be considered stabilized when the change rate is no more than 5% of the testing pressure per hour or 500 psifhour (3.45 MPafhour), whichever is less. Pressure shall remain within 5% of the testing pressure or 500 psi (G.45 MPa); whichever is less, during the hold period. c. Temperature Stabilization ‘Temperature shall be considered stabilized when the rate of change is less than 1°F per minute (0.55°C per minute). The temperature shall remain at or beyond the extreme during the hhold period, but shall not exceed the extreme by more than 20°F (11.1°C),