NF 0081/2

Issue 5
October 1999

Fabrication of stainless steel

Specification for additional requirements for

Class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and
100% radiographic examination
(This Standard is the amalgamation of NF 0081/2 and NF 0081/3)

“This document is of UK origin and is Copyright© British Nuclear Fuels plc 1999. It contains proprietary information which is disclosed
for information purposes only. The contents of the document shall not in whole or in part; (i) be used for any other purpose; (ii) be
disclosed to any member of the recipient’s organisation not having a need to know such information, or to any third party individual,
organisation or government; or (iii) be stored in any retrieval system or be reproduced or transmitted in any form by photocopying or any
optical, electronic, mechanical or other means without the prior written permission of The Director or his nominee, BNFL.
 NF 0081/2: Issue 5: October 1999
Fabrication of Stainless steel
Specification for additional requirements for class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and 100% radiographic examination

Contents Page

Foreword... .......... ............................................................................................................ (ii)

Principal changes.. ............................................................................................................ (ii)

1 Scope .........................................................................................................................1
2 Definitions..................................................................................................................1
3 Related documents......................................................................................................1
4 Material identification and release ...............................................................................1
5 Inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT)
5.1 General requirements ........................................................................................2
5.2 Pre-weld inspection...........................................................................................2
5.3 Post-weld inspection and NDT ..........................................................................2
6 Documentation for welding .........................................................................................3
7 Defect acceptance .......................................................................................................3
Table
Table 1 Defect limits - Porosity and inclusions ..........................................................4

Foreword
This Standard has been prepared to ensure uniform approach for the fabrication and
inspection of austenitic stainless steel plant and pipework. It is an amalgamation of
NF 0081/2 and NF 0081/3. (NF 0081/3 Class B Issue 3: October 1985 was
incorporated into NF 0081/2 in April 1998.)

Service requirements determine the type of material used and the degree of inspection
needed. All stainless steel fabrications are required to be constructed to a high standard
of workmanship.

This Standard is one in a series concerned with fabrication. The other Standards in the
series are:
NF 0081/1 Requirements common to all fabrications.
NF 0081/4 Additional requirements for class C fabrications.
NF 0081/5 Additional requirements for class D fabrications.
NF 0081/6 Standard welding procedures.

Principal changes from NF 0081/2 Issue 4 dated April 1998

Improved definition of defect acceptance criteria for radiography

(i)
 NF 0081/2: Issue 5: October 1999
Fabrication of Stainless steel
Specification for additional requirements for class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and 100% radiographic examination

1 Scope
1.1 This Standard specifies the additional requirements for Class A and Class B fabrications and
shall be read in conjunction with NF 0081/1 which defines the general requirements for
fabrications in stainless steel.

1.2 This Standard is for welds that require visual examination, dye penetrant examination and 100%
X radiography or 100% gamma radiography in accordance with NF 0150/1.

1.3 The use of isotopes shall require the approval of the BNFL Inspector

2 Definitions

BNFL: British Nuclear Fuels plc

Inspector: The person appointed by BNFL to be responsible for inspection
under the terms of the contract and for obtaining BNFL
approval where required.
Contractor’s Inspector: The person appointed by the fabrication contractor to undertake
inspection under the terms of the contract.
shall: Indicates a mandatory requirement that is to be adopted for all
actions of the Contractor.

3 Related documents
The following documents are referred to in this Standard. Unless stated otherwise, the edition of
related documents and amendments, current at the date of order or contract, shall apply.

NF Standards
NF 0081/1 Fabrication of stainless steel requirements common to all fabrications
NF 0150/1 Radiography specification for radiographic examination

Forms
BNFL 5133 Request and authority for despatch of materials
BNFL 5988 Material release certificate

4 Material identification and release

4.1 Materials procured by the Contractor, shall be released for fabrication use by the Inspector
when he is satisfied that they have been tested, certified and identified in accordance with the
appropriate material specification. BNFL form 5988 should be used for this purpose.

4.2 The Contractor shall maintain a system for positive transfer of identification as detailed in
NF 0081/1.

4.3 Materials supplied by BNFL shall be certified by BNFL and shall be released for fabrication
use in a manner similar to clause 4.1. BNFL form 5133 shall be used for this purpose.

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 NF 0081/2: Issue 5: October 1999
Fabrication of Stainless steel
Specification for additional requirements for class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and 100% radiographic examination
5 Inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT)

5.1 General requirements

All inspection and non-destructive testing shall be carried out to the satisfaction of the Inspector
in accordance with NF 0081/1.

5.2 Pre-weld inspection

5.2.1 Each weld set-up shall be examined by the Contractor’s Inspector prior to commencement of
welding in order to ensure correct weld fit-up in accordance with the approved weld procedure
and NF 0081/1.

5.2.2 The Contractor shall maintain a record verifying acceptance in respect of each weld inspected,
see clause 6.1.

5.3 Post-weld inspection and NDT

5.3.1 The surface finish of all weld seams shall be in accordance with NF 0081/1.

5.3.2 The Contractor shall carry out 100% visual inspection prior to liquid penetrant inspection in
accordance with NF 0081/1.

5.3.3 The Contractor shall carry out 100% liquid penetrant inspection prior to radiography in
accordance with NF 0081/1.

5.3.4 The Contractor shall carry out ferrite checks in accordance with NF 0081/1 or demonstrate to
the satisfaction of the inspector acceptable weld consumable control.

5.3.5 The Contractor shall carry out 100% radiographic examination of weld seams as specified in the
contract documents or as shown on drawings in accordance with NF 0150/1.

5.3.6 Radiographic techniques shall be subject to the approval of the Inspector.

5.3.7 Where the application of radiography is considered to be limited, then ultrasonic examination
may be used to supplement radiography. The use of ultrasonics and acceptance of the
procedure shall be subject to the approval of the BNFL inspector.

a) Ultrasonic examination, where utilised, shall be in accordance with NF 0081/1.

b) Welds will not be accepted where examination by ultrasonics reveals defects as indicated in
clause 7.2.

5.3.8 After satisfactory completion and reporting of visual and liquid penetrant inspection, all
radiographs shall be examined by the Contractor’s Inspector and assessed against the defects
detailed in clause 7.

5.3.9 After sentencing and completion of the reports, the radiographs shall be subject to BNFL
scrutiny which, as a minimum shall consist of 100% viewing by a BNFL radiologist or
nominated Inspector, followed by a minimum of 10% viewing by a second BNFL radiologist or
nominated Inspector.

5.3.10 Radiographic reports of acceptable welds shall be countersigned by the BNFL radiologist or
nominated Inspector.

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 NF 0081/2: Issue 5: October 1999
Fabrication of Stainless steel
Specification for additional requirements for class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and 100% radiographic examination
6 Documentation for welding
6.1 The Contractor shall maintain a system of welding records which will supplement the
requirements of NF 0081/1:

a) Verification of satisfactory weld fit-up. (see Table 1 in NF 0081/1)

b) Verification of satisfactory visual, liquid penetrant and volumetric NDT for completed
welds and, where applicable, after back gouging. (see clause 7)

6.2 Record formats for this purpose, e.g. A3 or A4 size, shall be agreed with the Inspector.

7 Defect acceptance
7.1 Welds will not be accepted where examination by visual and/or liquid penetrant inspection
reveal any of the unacceptable defects listed in NF 0081/1.

7.2 Welds will not be accepted where examination by radiography reveal in addition to those
detailed in NF 0081/1, defects of the following types:

a) cracks.
b) incomplete root penetration / lack of penetration
c) lack of root, inter-run or sidewall fusion.
d) piping (worm holes) and group porosity other than specified in Table 1.
e) linear defects of any type in excess of the limits specified in Table 1.
f) pores and spherical inclusions, including spherical tungsten inclusions, in excess of the
limits specified in Table 1.
g) linear porosity - systematic aligned pores.
h) angular inclusions including angular tungsten inclusions.
i) root concavity in excess of limits specified in NF 0081/1.
j) root penetration in excess of limits specified in NF 0081/1.
k) oxidation

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 NF 0081/2: Issue 5: October 1999
Fabrication of Stainless steel
Specification for additional requirements for class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and 100% radiographic examination

Table 1
Defect limits - Porosity and inclusions

Thickness of Max dimensions of defect

parent Type and frequency of defect
material
Under 2 mm Defect free None

Isolated globular inclusions and porosity,

2 mm up to and provided that they are not larger than the limits Globular inclusions or
including stated and do not exceed 4 in number in any porosity 0.5 mm diameter.
2.9 mm length of 150 mm and are separated from each
other by 4 x the length of the largest defect

1. Isolated globular inclusions and porosity,

provided that they are not larger than the limits
Over 2.9 mm up stated and do not exceed 8 in number in any Globular inclusions or
to and including length of 150 mm and are separated from each porosity 0.8 mm diameter.
6 mm other by 4 x the length of the largest defect. Not
more than 4 such defects shall be grouped within
any 25 mm of weld defect.

2. Linear slag inclusions, provided that they are not Globular inclusions or
Over 6 mm up larger than the limits stated and the accumulated porosity 1.2 mm diameter.
to and including length shall not exceed ‘t’ in any length of ‘12 t.’ Linear slag inclusions not
12 mm Each slag inclusion shall be separated by 4 X the exceeding 1.0 mm width or
length of the largest defect. depth and 3 mm in length.

Globular inclusions or
Over 12 mm up For plate welds, each defect area (1 and 2 above) porosity 1.5 mm diameter.
to and including must be separated by a minimum of 150 mm. Linear slag inclusions not
16 mm exceeding 1.5 mm width or
depth and 3 mm in length.

Globular inclusions or
porosity 2 mm diameter.
Over 16 mm Linear slag inclusions not
exceeding 1.5 mm width or
depth and 3 mm in length.

Note 1 ‘t’= parent metal thickness.

Note 2 For welds joining parent materials of different thicknesses, the defect acceptance criteria shall
be based on the thinner material.

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 NF 0081/2: Issue 5: October 1999
Fabrication of Stainless steel
Specification for additional requirements for class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and 100% radiographic examination
Amendment history

Issue Date Reason for Issue

1 June 1983 First approved issue

2 July 1985
3 October 1985 BS 6443 replaced BS 4416; Section 5 & 6 rewritten to improve liaison with
NF 0081/1; Addition of tungsten inclusions in clause 6.4.1 unacceptable
defects - item(k) added)
4 April 1998 NF 0081/3 combined with NF 0081/2
5 October 1999 Improved definition of defect acceptance criteria for radiography

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 NF 0081/2: Issue 5: October 1999
Fabrication of Stainless steel
Specification for additional requirements for class A and Class B fabrications.
Visual, liquid penetrant and 100% radiographic examination

Technical Approval by: Materials and Fabrication Technical Section, Risley

Published by: Technical Standards Group

Quality and Standards Department
BNFL Engineering Ltd

Any comments relating to this Standard should be addressed to Technical Standards Group,
BNFL Engineering Ltd.

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