GM PW 301 - Liquid penetrant inspection of welded assemblies

INDUSTRY & FACILITIES

Pressure and Welding Technical Management Center

GM PW 301 - Liquid penetrant inspection of welded

assemblies
*

App. Date 30/06/2003 Rev. 3 Order N° 301

Distr. Status Confidential - All rights Rev. Date 18/06/2003
reserved

Classification
Category 1 - Pressure and Welding technical Centre
Sub-category 4) Welding

Quality Actors

Editor(s) Cecile Sauphanor/FRA/VERITAS, Jean-Francois Adam/FRA/VERITAS, Patricia

Abecassis/FRA/VERITAS

Editor Manager Jean-Francois Adam/FRA/VERITAS

Checker Michel Clerjaud/FRA/VERITAS

Approval Manager Alain Chandeze/FRA/VERITAS

Distribution Manager Benedicte Godart/FRA/VERITAS

Master List Manager Benedicte Godart/FRA/VERITAS

Version Log
Revision Date Revision Number
18/06/03 3
18/06/03 3

Update of Master List Manager

Modification date Author Old value

Paper Complementary Distribution

Revision Sheet 000 of GM PW 301 Liquid penetrant inspection of welded assemblies - rev. 3 - rev. date 18/06/2003

Revision Sheet

This document cancels and supersedes GM PW 301- Rev. 2 (26/10/1998).

- Major modifications of the text due to the changement of the organization in Bureau Veritas, it is said
the creation of the Pressure and Welding Technical Management Centre in Bureau Veritas Paris-
Rennequin under the responsibility of Michel CLERJAUD who reports to Alain CHANDEZE.

- Modification of the paragraph 1.7.

- Complete modification of the other references in Part 1 - GENERAL.

- Also have been taken into account some dispositions connected with new PED organisation.
1.1 Purpose
The present procedural guide defines the general arrangements applicable to liquid penetrant inspections of
welded asemblies.

1.2 Scope of application

The provisions set forth in the present document are applicable whenever Bureau Veritas is called upon to
carry out a liquid penetrant inspection, insofar as they do not conflict with the requirements set forth by the
client.

The present guide only applies to the formalities for the discovery and characterization of defects.

The criteria for interpretation should be defined by the client and should be the object of a separate
specification, distinct from the present guide.

For french regulation applications, it might be refered to "BV France, PRT SD008", at the request of a foreign
office, if need. This demand will be considered, at each case, particularly by BV CTPS, which holds the
updated list of qualified inspectors.

1.3 Responsibility for implementation

The persons involved in this type of inspection must be qualified and certified.

The Regional Chief Executive is responsible for appointing personnel to carry out these inspections.

In France, the certification must be carried out in accordance with the COFREND system (NF EN 473), at an
appropriate level. Other Regions in Europe should ensure the qualifications of the operators comply with their
national organisation (see annex VIII of GM PW 127).

In applying this system, the inspections can be carried out by a "Level 1" operator, on the condition that a
"Level 2" (or "Level 3") operator provided him with the technical instructions necessary to effectively carry out
the inspections and present the results thereof.

The present document can be used as the basis for drafting the aforementioned instructions.

1.4 References

Other
- M.O.,
- PGG,
- Standard EN 25817 : Arc-welded joints in steel - Guidance on quality levels for imperfection.
- Standard EN 571-1 Non destructive testing - Penetrant testing - Part 1 : General principles.
- Standards EN 288-1, 288-2, 288-3 and 288-4 as examples (available in French, English and German and in
all EU languages from national standards institutes).

Regulated field :
Welded constructions according to French regulation as follows :
- pressure equipment according to devree 99-1046 of December, 13th of 1999 transposing PED 97/23/EC
Directive which lists concerned equipment,
- transportable pressure equipment according to decree 2001-386 of May, 3rd of 2001 transposing TPED
1999/36/EC Directive, which lists is indicated in GM 402 § 2.1.
- simple pressure vessels according to decree of December, 14th of 1989 for application of 87-404/CEE
Directive
 - equipment for transportation of dangerous goods according to ADR decree of June, 1st of 2001 modified,
- equipment for transportation of dangerous goods according to RID decree of June, 5th of 2001 modified,
- pipe-lines for transportation of fuel gases according to decree of May 11th of 1970,
- mains for distribution of fluids other than hydrocarbon and fuel gases.

- French AQUAP specification (applicable in case of repairs, please consult CTPS)

- general case (1-87)
- electron beam welding (1.88) (for these cases, please consult CTPS).
- local repairs made during welding for manufacture of new equipment or repairs of in-service equipment
(2.82) (for these cases, please consult CTPS)
- assemblies intended to fix on a wall a bolt-fitting, a string or a spacer (2.88) (for these cases, please
consult CTPS)
- manufacturing of stainless tubes fusion welded in specialised plants (for these cases, please consult
CTPS)

- Departmental order of 24 march 1978 as amended, concerning the use of welding in the repair of
pressure vessels manufactured under old French regulation, to take into account acceptance level of defects.

All applicable document, cited in a precise standard.

1.5 Terminology
- Standard EN 25817 : Arc-welded joints in steel - Guidance on quality levels for imperfection.
- Standard EN 571-1 Non destructive testing - Penetrant testing - Part 1 : General principles.
- Standards EN 288-1, 288-2, 288-3 and 288-4.

1.6 Identification and filing

This guide, entitled "LIQUID PENETRANT INSPECTION OF WELDED ASSEMBLIES" is filed under the
reference GM PW 301 with other Methodologic Guides by the Metallurgy-Welding Manager in Pressure and
Welding Technical Management Centre, as stipulated in MO - 4.1 Continuous Improvement, Document
Management, §1.1.

1.7 Revision
This guide is revised at the warranted request of the Vice-President Quality or the Metallurgy-Welding
Manager of Pressure-Welding Technical Management Centre (CTPS) as stipulated in MO.

1.8 Distribution
This guide is made available to the organisation in charge of distribution by the Pressure and Welding
Technical Management Centre (CTPS) or the Metallurgy-Welding Manager (cf. PGG 012).

Section 1 - General provisions

1.1 TIME OF INSPECTION

The inspections are carried out during the stages of manufacturing defined in the instructions
(specifications, codes, standards, regulations, etc.) provided by the client.

1.2 SCOPE OF EXAMINATION

The zones to be inspected should be defined in specifications submitted by the client. In the absence
of client specifications, Bureau Veritas can propose an appropriate inspection plan to the client, which
must be approved by the parties before being carried out.
1.3 OPERATING METHODS

The general principles to be followed are those defined in the standard EN 571-1.
In certain cases, depending upon the type of contruction being inspected, it is necessary to define a
specific operating method in addition to the general instructions provided herein.
In this case, the operating method must be defined and approved by the parties prior to the
inspection.

1.4 SAFETY

The study will include an examination of any toxic, flammable or irritant qualities present in the
products being used which might affect the safety of persons or goods.

Section 2 - Preparation of inspection

2.1. GENERAL GUIDELINES

2.1.1. Compatibility of products-equipment

The person carrying out the inspection shall ensure that the products-equipment used are
compatible with the acceptable levels of contamination of the surfaces being inspected.

2.1.2. Temperature
The temperature of the equipment to be tested must allow the products being used to remain
intact. In the absence of manufacturer specifications to the contrary, the temperature range
of +10°C / +50°C is acceptable.

2.2. PREPARING THE SURFACES - CLEANING

The surfaces to be examined must be free of any products or irregularities which might be harmful,
either by the retention of the product to be applied or by masking the defects which are essential to
the interpretation of the results once the excess product has been eliminated.
Particularly, all surfaces must be clean, dry and with an acceptable surface finish.
The cleaning agents that can be used are:
- ethyl acetate
- acetone
- isopropanol
- trichlorethane (should not be applied to stainless steel)
In the case of grinding, the cleaning process should not provoke the sealing (closing) of defects,
notably by caulking.

2.3. APPLICATION OF THE PENETRANTS

The penetrants can be applied using the following methods:

 - by spraying/pulverization
- with a brush
- by immersion of the material.

The duration of penetration should not be less than:

- 25/30 minutes for water soluble agents
- 15/20 minutes for agents which are soluble in a volatile product

The penetrants to be used shall have the following characteristics:

- coloured and visible in white light
- or fluorescent and visible in ultraviolet light

They can be:

- directly rinsed with water (pre-emulsified)
- rinsed with water after the application of an emulsifier (post-emulsified)
- removed with a special product.

2.4. ELIMINATING EXCESS PENETRANT

Excess penetrant must be entirely removed using a compatible medium, e.g. a sponge or a lint free
rag, or a pressurized water jet (p < 3 bar and temp. < 40° C).

2.5. DRYING

After eliminating the excess penetrant the surface must be dried either by means of natural
evaporation or with a clean and dry lint free rag, etc.

2.6. DEVELOPER

The developer must be applied after the drying by spraying of a thin and uniform layer. It must be
compatible with the penetrant.

The developers can be either dry, wet or peel-removed.

Section 3 - Inspection

3.1. INSPECTION CONDITIONS

The provisions of the Methodological Guide applicable to visual inspections (GM PW 300) are
applicable to all which is not specifically provided for hereafter.

Conditions of examination, rules of interpretation and criteria of acceptability are defined in relation to
each applicable standard, for the industrial product to be examined, included in the documents listed
in 1.4 above.

3.1.1. White Light

 The white light technique used with colored penetrants requires a lighting of approximately
350 lux.

3.1.2. Ultraviolet Lighting

When fluorescent penetrants are used the inspection must be carried out under ultraviolet
lighting. The characteristics of this type of lighting must be specified on the inspection report.

3.2. RESULTS

The results are characterized according to their shape, dimensions and positioning/placement.
It can be considered that the result is linear if its largest dimension is greater than three times its
smallest dimension. If not, it is characterised as "rounded".
Deceptive results, like those resulting from discontinuities, can be caused by imperfections in the
surface examined.
Any result presumed to be deceptive is considered as an inacceptable defect unless the zone where
it appeared was reexamined and the new examination resulted in a finding to the contrary.
Large discolored areas caused by the improper application of the penetrant are not acceptable and
require that a new inspection be carried out.
The relevant results are compared to the interpretation criteria. They are circled, using an indelible
chalk or similar, on the part being inspected.

Section 4 - Cleaning

After the inspection, if necessary, the residue remaining from the products must be removed.

Section 5 - Inspection Report

Following the completion of the inspection, a report must be drafted by the person who carried out the
inspection (a sample report is provided in the Appendix attached hereto).

In certain cases a drawing is also necessary and possibly a photograph of the part inspected, as well as a
sketch of the defect detected.

A copy of the report is sent to the client and another copy is kept on file for at least five years.

Appendix 1 - Liquid penetrant examination Report

(Form AdME 7621)