PROCESS SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

FABRICATION AND ERECTION SPECIFICATION 670.233

Field Installation of Pipe Supports Welded Revision 1
June 1998
to Operating Piping Page 1 of 5

RESPONSIBLE GROUP: PSE Plant Design - Piping Design

Denotes Revision

1. PURPOSE

1.1 This specification defines for the contractor the requirements for welding pipe support steel to
pipe that has previously been commissioned but has not been put in service, or pipe that exists
in an operating plant which is presently in service and which cannot be pressure tested following
the support installation. This is to be considered a safety-sensitive procedure and care must be
taken when performing this work.

2. SCOPE

2.1 This specification applies to all projects in which supports are specified on contract drawings or
directed by the Air Products representative to be welded to existing pipe which has previously
been commissioned and may or may not already be operational.

2.2 Exception: If pipe is recommissioned by pressure testing after the support is welded to the pipe,
and welding is examined and inspected in accordance with ASME B31.3, Chapter VI, this
document does not apply.

3. RELATED DOCUMENTS

3.1 American Petroleum Institute (API)

1104 Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities

3.2 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), Section IX Welding and Brazing Qualifications
BPVC, Section V Nondestructive Examination
B31.3 Process Piping

4. DEFINITIONS

4.1 Commissioned pipe is pipe that meets all of the following.

4.1.1 The pipe has been pressure tested.

4.1.2 The welding has been examined and inspected in accordance with ASME B31.3, Chapter VI, and
accepted for operation.

Authorization for this document is on file in the GEG Engineering Standards Department.
All information herein is the confidential property of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., unless another source is shown.
This information is subject to return on demand and must not be disclosed or reproduced without prior written consent.
CONTROLLED COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE ON GREEN PAPER  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 1998
 670.233, Rev. 1, Page 2 of 5

4.2 Operating pipe is pipe that has been commissioned and has pressurized or nonpressurized
liquid/gas in it at operating or ambient temperature

5. GENERAL

5.1 The contractor shall not weld supports to any commissioned or operating piping without the
approval of Air Products.

5.2 Welding shall not be done on pressurized pipe. See paragraph 6.1 for categories of liquids/gases
for which welding of external supports is prohibited unless the pipe is emptied and purged.

6. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

6.1 Welding a pipe support to the external wall of a pipe can compromise the pressure-containing
boundary of the pipe. Welding on operating lines (pressurized or depressurized) containing
fluids or gases of the following categories is prohibited. The pipe must be emptied and purged.
Immediately notify the Air Products representative if requested to weld anything to piping
containing any of the following:

• oxidizers (oxygen, chlorine, fluorine, nitrous oxide, air with greater than 23% oxygen
concentration)
• flammable liquids/gases
• toxic liquids/gases
• corrosive chemical liquids/gases (acids, caustics)

6.2 Welding of pipe supports to depressurized, commissioned, or operating piping containing

liquids/gases in any of the following categories is permitted when carried out in accordance with
this specification.

• air
• water
• steam
• inert gases (nitrogen, argon, and helium)
• glycol-water mixtures

7. RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1 Contractor responsibility: When welding to any commissioned or operating piping, all of the
following are the responsibility of the contractor.

7.1.1 Contact the Air Products representative before proceeding with the installation.

7.1.2 Become familiar with pipe materials, support materials, fluid properties, and special
requirements such as preheat and post heat required by code and shown in Section 8.

7.1.3 Use only a weld procedure which has been submitted to the Air Products representative for approval.

7.1.4 When the pipe is located in an operating plant:

7.1.4.1 The contractor shall contact the Air Products representative and obtain the approval of the site
manager, superintendent, or plant operators, along with all necessary safety work permits before
proceeding with the installation.

All information herein is the confidential property of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., unless another source is shown.
This information is subject to return on demand and must not be disclosed or reproduced without prior written consent.
CONTROLLED COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE ON GREEN PAPER  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 1998
 670.233, Rev. 1, Page 3 of 5

7.1.4.2 The contractor shall receive appropriate site-specific safety training from the plant operators.

7.1.5 Fill in the form in Appendix A and obtain proper signatures for each support covered by this
specification.

7.2 Air Products Representative Responsibility

7.2.1 The Air Products representative will aid the contractor in obtaining information required in
paragraph 7.1.2 and obtain a proper Air Products engineering review of the contractor
procedures, where deemed necessary by the Air Products representative.

7.2.2 The Air Products representative will verify that the proper examination and inspection is performed.

7.2.3 The Air Products representative will verify that a form (Appendix A) has been completed for each
support covered under this specification and kept in the project file.

7.2.4 When the pipe is located in an operating plant:

7.2.4.1 The Air Products representative shall arrange for the contractor to receive the required
site-specific safety training by the plant operators.

7.2.4.2 The Air Products representative shall make sure that the contractor receives and is following all
required safety work permits from the plant operators.

8. WELDING

8.1 Welding shall be performed to the specific applicable welding procedures which have been
qualified in accordance with the appropriate codes such as Section IX of the ASME BPVC,
ASME B31.3, or API 1104.

8.2 Welds shall be performed by welders qualified in accordance with the test requirements of the
appropriate code, such as Section IX of the ASME BPVC, ASME B31.3, or API 1104. Each welder’s
certificate shall be on file at the work site and available to authorized inspection personnel.

8.3 Attachments welded directly to the pipe shall be of appropriate (compatible) chemical
composition, and the process of attachment shall conform to appropriate preheating, welding,
and
stress-relieving requirements. Preheating and post heating shall be done when required by the
welding specifications, or by the following criteria:

8.4 Preheating is required for the following categories:

8.4.1 Carbon steel with specified ladle analysis of carbon content greater than 0.30%, or with a weld joint
thickness greater than 25.4 mm (1 inch) shall be preheated to a minimum temperature of 80°C (175°
F).

8.4.2 Low chrome-moly alloy steel with a weld joint thickness greater than 9.6 mm (0.38 inch) shall be
preheated to 205°C (400°F) minimum to 315°C (600°F) maximum.

8.5 Post heating is required for the following categories:

8.5.1 Carbon steel with fillet weld throat thickness greater than 19.0 mm (.75 inch) shall be stress relieved
by local heating to 593°C (1100°F) minimum to 676°C (1250°F) maximum with a holding time of one
hour minimum, or one hour per inch of base material thickness followed by slow still air cooling.

Note: Since the temperatures required for these procedures will cause weakening of the
material during the heating process, preheating and post heating shall be done while the
pipe is depressurized.

All information herein is the confidential property of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., unless another source is shown.
This information is subject to return on demand and must not be disclosed or reproduced without prior written consent.
CONTROLLED COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE ON GREEN PAPER  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 1998
 670.233, Rev. 1, Page 4 of 5

8.6 Welding attachments to piping requires fillet welds. It is important that good welding techniques
be employed when making fillet welds.

8.6.1 To avoid thinning the pipe wall, fillet welds shall be made without undercutting the pipe wall.

8.6.2 To eliminate stress raisers, care shall be taken to fill craters at start and stop of welds.

9. TESTING, EXAMINATION, AND INSPECTIONS

9.1 Testing: This specification applies to piping which has been previously pressure tested
and accepted. This specification applies only if recommissioning by pressure testing is
not possible.

9.2 Examination: Visual examination and dye penetrant examination of fillet welds shall be done in
accordance with ASME B31.3 code, Chapter VI. Magnetic particle examination or ultrasonic
inspection by a qualified inspector may also be utilized.

9.2.1 When the pipe product is gas, a gas and bubble formation leak test as specified in the ASME
BPVC, Section V shall also be performed at 0.3 bar g (5 psig) maximum pressure prior to
startup.

9.3 Inspections: Inspections will be performed by a qualified representative of Air Products or

designee. The checklist in Appendix A will be completed, signed by the appropriate individuals,
and retained by the Air Products representative.

All information herein is the confidential property of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., unless another source is shown.
This information is subject to return on demand and must not be disclosed or reproduced without prior written consent.
CONTROLLED COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE ON GREEN PAPER  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 1998
 670.233, Rev. 1, Page 5 of 5

Appendix A

CONSTRUCTION CHECKLIST
INSTALLATION CHECKS/APPROVALS
1. IDENTIFICATION OF PIPE TO WHICH SUPPORTS ARE WELDED AND FLUID PROPERTIES

1.1 Line number

1.2 Fluid
1.3 Pressure
1.4 Temperature
1.5 Pipe material specification
1.6 Heat treat required (pre- or post- weld)
2. PIPE SUPPORT IDENTIFICATION

2.1 Pipe support number

2.2 Drawing number
3. PIPE SUPPORT MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY

3.1 Material specification

4. WELD QUALITY
4.1 Was welder properly qualified? Y N
4.2 Was approved weld procedure used? Y N
4.3 Was pipe surface cleaned properly? Y N
4.4 Were craters at starts/stops properly filled? Y N
4.5 Are there weld undercuts on pipe wall? Y N
4.6 Any cracks indicated by dye penetrant? Y N
By mag particle or ultrasonic? Y N
By bubble leak test? Y N
NAME DATE
SIGNATURE OF INSPECTOR
5. APPROVALS
5.1 Is pipe located in operating plant? Y N
5.2 Were proper permits issued? Y N
NAME DATE
SITE MANAGER APPROVAL

All information herein is the confidential property of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., unless another source is shown.
This information is subject to return on demand and must not be disclosed or reproduced without prior written consent.
CONTROLLED COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE ON GREEN PAPER  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 1998