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B S I 2 1 * 54 91
BRITISH STANDARD AEROSPACE SERIES
~
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0 2 3 98 8 7 b
~ ~~~
,

BS 2M 54 : 1991
(SupersedingBS Aí54 :1982)

Specification for

Temperature control in
the heat treatment of
metals

Con %lede la température de .:aitement Temperaturregt-mgbei der Wirmebehandiung

thermique des métaux - Spécifications von Metalien

Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI

 BSI 2M *54 91 M 1 624bb9 0239888 8 i
-
B S 2M: 54 : 1991

Foreword

This B ritish S tandard has b een prepared under t h e direction of th e Aerospace

S tandards Policy Committee. It is th e fi rs t revision of BS M 5 4, which was

originally published in 1 98 2 and is now withdrawn,

In this revision, t h e requirements have b een reviewed in t h e light of operating

experience. No maj or changes have b een introduced and t h e principles remain

t h e same. However, detailed modifications have b een introduced and, w here

necessary, reinforced to reflect c urrent technological trends and t o allow

maximum commonality With similar documents produced by o ther indus tries an d

international organizations.

Compliance with a B ritish Standard does not of itself confer immunity from
legal ob ligations .

Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI

 Contents

Page
Foreword Inside front page
Committees responsible Back page
Specification
1 Scope 2
2 Definitions 2
3 General 2
4 Pyrometric equipment 3
5 Furnacesurveys 3
6 Calibration 4
7 Routine checks on furnace instrumentation 6
8 Records 5
mbles
1 Heat treatment categories 2
2 Scale spacing for category A heat treatments 3

Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI 1

 B S I 2M *54 91 m 1 6 2 4 6 6 9 02 39890 b I '
WL -.
. _

BS 2M 64 : 1991

Specification

2. 9 secondary master thermocouple

1 Scope
A thermo c o up le th at is c alib rated agains t a ma. ; e r
This B ritish S tandard s pecifies t h e requirements fo r

thermo c o up le and is c ap ab le of o p eratio n w ithi n

th e meas urement and c o ntro l of temp erature

s pecified limits .
during t h e he at tre atme n t of metals and p ai ts us ed

in aeros pace c o ns truc tio n, in fu rnac e s l ) , ovens o r NCYE. S e c o ndai 7 mas te r thermo c o up les are no rmally us ed fo r

th e c alib ratio n of re fe re n c e thermo c o up les w he re th e life of a

b aths ,

mas te r thermo c o up le n e e ds t o b e p re s e rv e d. (S ee 6. 4. )
It does no t deal w ith o the r as p ec ts of h e at

tre atme nt o p erati o ns t h a t may affec t th e finis hed 2.1 0 reference thermocouple

p ro duc t, e. g . soaking time, fu rnac e atmo s p here A thermo c o up le t h a t is c alib rated ag ains t a mas ter

and quenching rate . Furthermo re, it is no t

o r s ec o ndary mas ter thermo c o up le and is c ap ab le

intended fo r application to heating fo r th e s ole of o p eratio n w ithin s pecified limits.

purpos e of assisting mechanical defo rmatio n o r
NCYIX. Referenc e thermo c o up les are normally us ed to p erfo rm

o the r immediate processes whi c h do no t affec t th e fu rn ac e s urveys and reg ul ar c hec ks o n fu rn ac e pyrometry.

final p ro p erties of th e materi al, (S ee 6. 3 . )

N m . The ti tl e s of th e p ub lic atio ns re fe rre d to in this s tan dard

3
are lis ted on th e ins ide b ack p ag e.

General

3.1 The temp erature of th e fu rnac e s hall b e

controlled in s uc h a manner t h a t th e temp eratures

2 Definitions
of t h e charge or th e effec tive working volume s hall

For t h e purpos es of this B ritis h S tandard, th e

comply w ith 3. 2 or 3. 3 , whichever is ap p li c ab le.

following definitions apply.

3. 2 Where a p artic ular h e at tre atme n t

2 . 1 heat treatment
temp erature w ith a to leranc e is s pecified in th e

Heating o p eratio ns t h a t are applied to o b tain

material s pecification o r order, thi s s hall be s tric tly

s pecified p ro p erties o r condition i n th e material.

obs erved. Where t h e s pecified temp erature

2. 2 category A heat treatment to leranc e is les s th an o r equal t o th at given i n

tab le 1 fo r category A h e at tre atme nt, th e h e at

Heat tre atme nt w here precis e c o ntro l of

temp erature is es s ential to ens ure development of

tre atme nt s hall b e regarded as category A. Where

th e s pecified temp erature to leranc e i s g reater, t h e

s pecific mechanical p ro p erties and/o r

h e at tre atme n t s hall be regarded as c ateg o ry B .

metallographic s tru c tu re .

2. 3 category B heat treatment I a b l e 1 . Heat treatment categories

Heat tre atme nt w here a wider temp erature rang e
Te mp e i ' atu re M ax i m u m te mp e ratu re to l e ran c e of

c an be to lerated w itho ut imp airment of ability to c h arg e or e ffe c t i v e w o rki n g v o l u me

achieve t h e required mechanical p ro p erties and/o r

C ate g o ry A he at C ate g o ry B heat

metallographic s tru c tu re .

2. 4 effective working volume

I tre atme n t

O C
. tre atme n t

O C
O C

That p art of th e fu rnac e i n which th e te mp e ratu re

I < 75 0 f5 i 10

is to be maintained w ithin s pecified to leranc e

limits .
f 1 0 I f1 5

2. 5 manufacturer 3.3 Where no h e at tre atme n t temp erature is

The firm responsible fo r t h e h e at tre atme n t of s p ec ifi ed, o r w here a te mp e ratu re maximum,

materials o r p arts in th e condition in which they minimum, or range is given, th e requi red h e at

are consigned to th e purchas er. tre atme nt temp erature s hall b e determined by the

manufac turer and s hall b e included in th e work

2. 6 repeatability of temperature measurement
i ns truc ti o ns for t h e o p eratio n. The to leranc e on

The ability of a temp erature meas uring s ys tem to

this s elec ted temp erature s hall b e as given in th e

rep ro duc e cons is tently t h e meas urement of

material s pecification o r on th e order. Where no

temp erature.
temp erature to leranc e is s p ec i fied, t h e to leranc es

2. 7 bias of temperature measurement given in tab le 1 , category B, s hall b e ap p lied.

The c o ns is tent deviation of a temp erature

3.4 A record of all h e at tre atme nt o p eratio ns s hall

meas urement s y s tem,

be maintained (s ee claus e 8) an d th e te mp e ratu re

2. 8 master thermocouple s hall be recorded during t h e proces s . All s uc h

A thermocouple whos e calibration is trac eab le to a temp erature records s hall be an no tate d so th at th e

nati o nal s tandard and is us ed w ithin s pecified temp erature agains t time record c an be c o rrelated

limits . (S ee 6.4.) wi th th e work tre ate d ,

The word ' fu rn ac e ' thro u g ho u t t h e te x t of thi s s tan dard] e x c e p t w he re specifically s tate d , inc ludes fu rn ac e s , ovens an d b aths .

Reproduced
2 by IHS under license with BSI
 4 Pyrometric equipment
4. 1 Each furnace shall, as a minimum, be
provided with the following pyrometric equipment.
(a) An independent control instrument and
temperature sensor s o that the furnace
temperature can be automatically controlled.
Where zoned furnaces are used, separate
temperature sensors and controllers shall be used
for each zone.
(b) A visual display and recording instrument
coupled with a temperature sensor so that the
temperature of the effective working volume can
be measured. Where zoned furnaces are used,
separate temperature sensors shall b e provided
for each zone. Where multi-point recorders are
used, each temperature record shall be clearly
identifiable to the relevant temperature sensor.
(c ) An over-temperature instrument coupled with
a temperature sensor capable of operating an
audible or visual alarm and, where practicable,
capable of shutting down th e heating source
when there is a failure of the controller to cut
out at a pre- set temperature. Where zoned
furnaces are used, separate over-temperature
instruments and temperature sensois shall be
used for each temperature zone.
NOTE 1. An integrated system which satisfies th e above
requirements (a), (b) and (c) may b e w e d.
NUI73 2. In this context, a zone is th e volume of furnace under
the heat control of one controller and one heating circuit.
4.2 Equipment based on t h e use of thermocouples
shall normally be used for th e measurement and
control of heat treatment operations. For
calibrations, furnace surveys and routine furnace
checks, equipment based on th e use of
thermocouples, shall be used. Operational
temperatures of thermocouples shall be in
accordance with BS 1 041 : Part 4.
NUI73. For temperatures above 1 250 O C other instruments may
be used, provided they maintain the required control of the
process.
4.3 Analogue temperature recording instruments
fo r furnaces used in category A heat treatments
shall have a scale spacing, a t the operating
temperature, as shown in table 2,
l à b l e 2. S cale spacing for category A heat
treatments
Qmperature Maximum Maximum
inàicatinglrecording temperature interval
instrument: total increment per b etween scale
indicating range mm of scale divisions
7
O C
< 760
2 750 7 I 1 0
Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI
5 Furnace surveys
5.1 Before new furnaces are used for production
heat treatment, they shall be surveyed using
reference thermocouples and instruments (see 6.3
and 6.5) for temperature variation and adequacy of
control. Where it is impossible to use the method
of surveying as defined in this standard due to the
design of the furnace (e. g. continuous furnaces and
vacuum furnaces), an alternative method shall be
defined by the manufacturer.
5.2 Furnaces shall be surveyed as follows
(a) Furnaces used for category A heat treatments
shall be surveyed with at least one reference
thermocouple for each 0.75 m3 of effective
working volume, with a minimum of five
thermocouples. Thermocouples shall be
distributed evenly within the required effective
working volume.
NUI73. For furnaces greater than 18 m3,surveys may be
carried out with a to tal of 24 thermocouples, irrespective of
volume.
(b) Furnaces used for category B heat treatments
shall be surveyed with at least one thermocouple
for each 1 m3 of effective working volume, with
a minimum of five thermocouples.
Thermocouples shall be distributed eveniy within
the required effective working volume.
NOTE. For furnaces greater than 1 2 m3, surveys may b e
carried out w ith a total of 1 2 theimocouples, irrespective of
volume.
(c) B ath- type furnaces for both category A and B
heat treatments below 1 000 O C shall either be
surveyed in accordance with (a) or (b) as
appropriate, or a t a minimum of nine evenly
distributed Iocations within the bath to
demonstrate temperature uniformity.
NOTE. A single reference thermocouple which is moved in
th e bath to these locations may b e used for this purpose.
When checking for overshoot, this tes t couple should be close
to th e heat source,
5.3 The initial survey, and any survey after maj or
repair, shall be perfoimed at the maximum and
minimum temperature range for which the furnace
is likely to be used, and a t intermediate
temperatures no t more than 200 OC apart.
S ubsequent surveys shall be performed at the
maximum and minimum temperatures of the
normal operating range and at temperatures not
more than 400 O C apart.
5.4 l b establish the stabilized temperature
pattern, temperature readings shall be taken a t
intervals, where practicable, not exceeding 2 min
and for sufficient time, no t less than 30 min after
attainment of the required temperature, and
without alteration of the s et point temperature.
3
 ES1 2fl *54 91 M Lb24bb9 0239892 T M

:
~

B S 2M 6 4 1991

a
The maximum variation in te mp e ratu re thro ug ho ut s hall b e w ithin 75 O C of th e maximum and

th e effec tive working volume of th e fu rnac e s hall minimum us e te mp e ratu re an d at approximately

no t exceed t h e te mp e ratu re tolerances s pecified 250 OC intervals b e tw e e n the s e extremes . The

in 3.2 or 3.3. There s hall b e no overs hoot of maximum correction th at s hall b e applied t o a

%
te mp e ratu re beyond the s e tolerances . referenc e thermocouple s ys tem fo r te mp e ratu re

NO IE. Metallic h e a t s inks o n s urvey s ens ors may b e us ed if they

bias s hall no t exceed f 3 O C or f 0. 7 5 of the

rep res ent, or are s maller th an , th e s malles t charge i n te rms of te mp e ratu re being meas ured, whichever is th e

s ection thicknes s .
greater.

6.6 For furnac es us ed fo r category A h e at

6.3.2 For thermocouples us ed only fo r fu rnac e

treatmp nts , th e s urvey s hall b e rep eated at

s urveys , as an alternative to calibrating individual

:
intervals no t exceeding 6 mo nths , except w he re it
thermocouples , wire purchas ed and c ertifi ed t o

c an b e demo ns trated t h a t t h e tolerances s pecified

clas s 1 (clas s 2 fo r ty p e B) of BS 493 7 Part 20

in 3.2 an d 3.3 can b e maintained; in which cas e

s hall b e calibrated by checking o n e thermo c o up le

th e frequenc y of th e s urvey may be reduc ed to

from eac h reel.

intervals no t exceeding 1 2 mo nths . For furnac es

us ed for category B h e at tre atme nts th e s urvey

6.3.3 Reference thermocouples of the rare metal

ty p e s hall b e calibrated at intervals n o t exceeding

s hall b e rep eated at intervals n o t exceeding

1 2 months . Reference thermocouples of th e bas e

1 2 mo nths ,

metal ty p e fo r us e at temp eratures below 600 OC

of
NUiX 1 . Where t h e fu rn ac e is provided w ith an equivalent

numb er evenly dis tributed te mp e ratu re indicators as s pecified

s hall b e calibrated at intervals no t exceeding

in 6,2, only a limited s urvey t o chec k fo r adequacy of c o ntro l 6 mo nths , and fo r us e at temp eratures of above

an d freedom from exces s ive variation need be carried o u t.

600 O C s hall afte r 6 mo nths b e renewed or

re- calibrated and s ubj ect t o fu r t h e r calibration at

6. 6 A full s urvey s hall b e carried o u t afte r any

intervals no t exceeding 3 months . It is

rep air o r modification to th e fu rnac e t h a t may

recommended th at th e maximum te mp e ratu re at

affe c t te mp e ratu re control and uniformity, o r

whi c h. ni c ke l - c hro mi u dni c ke l - al u mi ni u m

whenever do ub t exis ts as to th e fu rnac e efficiency

thermocouples are us ed fo r referenc e is 1 1 00 O C ,

or accuracy of te mp e ratu re readings .

but if us ed above thi s te mp e ratu re , the y s hall b e

calibrated eac h time before us e.

6 Calibration
NU E . At lower te mp e ratu re s t h e deterio ratio n of s u c h

thermocouples is s lower, b u t the wires gradually los e th e i r

6 . 1 General
homogeneity, an d accuracy th e n bec omes de p e n de n t on

te mp e ratu re g radient and d e p th of immers ion. I t is fo r th e s e

6,l.1 Calibration of thermocouples , control and
reas ons th at th e more s tab le p l a ti n u d p l ati n u m- rh o d i u m

indicating ins truments s hall b e carried o u t w ith

thermocouples or previous ly unus ed

equip ment whose calibration is trac eab le t o nickel-chromium/nickel-aluminium thei mo c o up l es are normally

us ed fo r referenc e purpos es .
natio nal s tandards .

6 . 4 Master thermocouples

:
6.1 .2 Thermocouples s hall b e manufac tured and

us ed in accordance w ith BS 1 041 Part 4. 6.4.1 Mas ter thermocouples s hall b e of th e

NUI'E. Particular atte n ti o n is draw n t o th e effec ts of

p l a ti n u d p l ati n u m- rh o d i u m ty p e . They s hall b e

temp erature g radients an d d e p th s of immers ion o n t h e o u tp u t

c ali b rated, to g ether w ith any compens ating leads ,
electromotive forc e ( e , m . f. ) of a thei mo c o up l e w he n o ne o r b o th

at s uffic i ent temp eratures thro ug ho ut th e working

of th e wires become heterogeneous . For th e s e reas ons , if a

thermocouple h as b een in s ervice in o ne location for s ome time rang e t o e ns u re t h a t , w hen us ed w i th an indic ato r

i t is preferab le to check i t in s itu. Removal t o an o th e r s e p arate

of the required accuracy, t h e rep eatab ility of

Calibration fu rn ac e may lead

t e s t conditions for d e p th of
to erro neo us

immers ion an d
calibration unles s

te mp e ratu re g radient
the
te mp e ratu re meas urement is wi thin f 1 . 5 O C . The

maximum correction to a mas ter thermo c o up le fo r

f
are identical w ith previous seilrice conditions .

bias s hall no t exceed 2

in
O C .

6 . 2 Thermocouples for use production

6.4.2 Master thermocouples s hall b e calibrated at
furnaces and baths
intervals no t exceeding 1 2 mo nths .
The accuracy of thermocouples us ed in production

furnac es s hall b e s u c h t h a t the y comply w ith th e 6.4.3 S ec o ndaiy mas ter thermocouples s hall b e

temp erature requirements of 7. 2. 2. c alib rated agains t a mas ter thermo c o up le at

intervals n o t exceeding 1 2 mo nths an d s hall comply

6 . 3 Reference thermocouples
w i th 6.4.1 .

6.3.1 Reference thermocouples , to g ether wi th any

6 . 5 Tkmperature measuring instruments
neces sary compens ating leads , s hall b e initially

calibrated agains t a mas ter, o r s ec o ndary mas ter, 6.5.1 Ins truments fo r us e w i th referenc e or mas ter

%
thermocouple. Where t h e referenc e thermocouple thermocouples s hall b e of s uc h accuracy t h a t the y

is to be us ed over a te mp e ratu re rang e, calibration do no t intro duc e a n ei-ror of more th an f 0. 2 5

s hall b e at temp eratures or a te mp e ratu re of fu l l s c ale range.

ap p ro p riate t o the i r us e. C alibration temp eratures

4
Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI
 ~

BS 2M 54 : 1991

6.5.2 Instruments for use with reference 7. 2. 2 The discrepancy between th e indicated
temperature and the temperature as determined by
ô
thermocouples shall be calibrated a t intervals not
exceeding months. Instruments for use with the reference system shall not exceed 0. 6 % of the
master thermocouples shall be calibrated at temperature in degrees Celsius being measured or
intervals not exceeding 1 2 months. 2 O C whichever is the greater, after the necessary
temperature correction for the reference
6.6.3 Temperature indicators and recorders for use
thermocouple system has been made.
with production furnaces shall be calibrated against
independent reference voltages across the
operating range of the furnace at intervals not 8 Records

exceeding months. The instrument error shall not

%
6
The following information shall be maintained and
exceed f 2. 6 OC or f 0. 6 of the selected
be available for examination:
calibration temperature, whichever is the greater.
(a) details and date of calibration of
thermocouples and associated instruments;
7 Routine checks on furnace
(b) results and date of furnace temperature
instrumentation surveys;

(c) results and date of weekly checks;

7 . 1 Daily checks

When in use, th e instrumentation shall be checked (d) heat treatment records.

daily to ensure that i t is working correctly. Such

checks shall include, as a minimum, t h e following:

(a) alignment of recording chart and correct

c hart speed setting;

(b) correct functioning of chart marking

mechanism;

(c) correlation of s et point to recorded

temperature.

7 . 2 Weekly and other checks

7. 2. 1 When in use, checks shall be made on t h e

correct functioning of th e over- temperature device
and either:

(a) at least one production

thermocouple/recorder combination in each

o
furnace shall be checked a t intervals not
exceeding 1 week against a reference
thermocouple and instrument. The reference
thermocouple shall b e located close to the
recorder thermocouple in the furnace which
shall be a t normal operating temperature(s) with
a representative load in position,

or

(b) Where a furnace is provided with a number

of evenly distributed recording thermocouples
equivalent to that specified in 5.2 which are
checked against each other, the check shall be
performed a t intervals not exceeding 3 months.
The temperature pattern established at the time
of th e last survey s h d be maintained within the
limits specified in 7. 2. 2.

Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI

 BS 2M 54 : 1991

Publications referred to

BS 1041 Temperature measurement

Part 4 Thermocouples
BS 4937 International thermocouple reference tables
Part 20 Specification for thermocouple tolerances

Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI

 --
%- e--

Cornrnittees responsible for this

B ritish Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Aerospace

Standards Policy Committee (ACE/-) to %chnical Committee ACE/61, upon
which the following bodies were represented:

Aluminium Federation
British Forging Industry Association
British Investment Casting Trade Association
British Non-ferrous Metals Federation
Copper Development Association
Light Metal Founders’ Association
Ministry of Defence
Society of British Aerospace Companies Limited
o

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Aerospace
Standards Policy Committee,
was published under the
authority the Standards Board

-1
and comes into effect on
of

28 June 1991 h e n d m e n t s issued since publication

O BSI 1991 imd. No. IDate

~~

%xt affected
First published December 1982 I I
Second edition June 1991

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference ACE/61
Draft for comment 90/78030 DC
~-
IS B N O 680 1 9636 G ISI, 2 Park S treet, Londo n W U 2B S B S I, Linford Wo o d, Milton Keynes MK14 GLE

9106 - 4- O. 7k- B ACE161

Reproduced by IHS under license with BSI