ARTICLE KF-4
HEAT TREATMENT OF WELDMENTS
KF-400 HEAT TREATMENT OF
WELDMENTS
This section gives requirements for heat treatment
of weldments. For additional heat treatment require-
ments for quenched and tempered steels, see KF-630.
KF-401 Requirements for Preheating
The welding procedure specification for the material
being welded shall specify the minimum preheating
requirements in accordance with the weld procedure
qualification requirements of Section IX. The need for
and temperature of preheat are dependent on a number
of factors, such as the chemical analysis, degree of
restraint of the parts being joined, elevated temperature
physical properties, and material thicknesses.
KF-402 Requirements for Postweld Heat
Treatment1
Before applying the detailed requirements and exemp-
tions in these paragraphs, satisfactory qualification of
the welding procedures to be used shall be performed
in accordance with Section IX and the restrictions listed
below. Except for nonferrous materials and except
as otherwise provided in Table KF-402.1 for ferrous
materials, all welded pressure vessels or pressure vessel
parts shall be given a postweld heat treatment at a
temperature not less than that specified in Table KF-
402.1 when the nominal thickness, including corrosion
allowance, of any welded joint in the vessel or vessel
parts exceeds the limits in Table KF-402.1. Materials
in Table KF-402.1 are listed by P-Number, which may
be found in QW-422 of Section IX and the tables of
stress values in Section II, Part D.
KF-402.1 When Holding Temperatures and Times
May Be Exceeded. Except where prohibited in Table
KF-402.1, holding temperatures and /or holding times
1
Additional postweld heat treatment requirements may result from
the requirements of Article KT-2.
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exceeding the minimum values given in Table KF-402.1
may be used (see KT-112 for additional requirements for
time at temperature). A time–temperature recording of
all postweld heat treatments shall be provided for review
by the Inspector. The total holding time at temperature
specified in Table KF-402.1 may be an accumulation
of time of multiple postweld heat treat cycles.
KF-402.2 Heat Treatment of Pressure Parts When
Attached to Different P-Number Groups and Non-
pressure Parts. When pressure parts of two different
P-Number groups are joined by welding, the postweld
heat treatment shall be that specified in Table KF-
402.1 with applicable notes for the material requiring
the higher postweld heat treatment temperature. When
nonpressure parts are welded to pressure parts, the
postweld heat treatment temperature of the pressure
part shall control.
KF-402.3 Definition of Nominal Thickness Govern-
ing Postweld Heat Treatment. The nominal thickness
in Table KF-402.1 and Table KF-630 is the thickness
of the welded joint as defined herein. For pressure
vessels or parts of pressure vessels being postweld heat
treated in a furnace charge, it is the greatest weld
thickness in any vessel or vessel part which has not
previously been postweld heat treated.
(a) When the welded joint connects parts of equal
thickness, using a full-penetration butt weld, the nominal
thickness is the total depth of the weld exclusive of
any permitted weld reinforcement.
(b) For groove welds, the nominal thickness is the
depth of the groove.
(c) For fillet welds, the nominal thickness is the
throat dimension. If a fillet weld is used in conjunction
with a groove weld, the nominal thickness is the depth
of the groove or the throat dimension, whichever is
greater.
(d) For stud welds, the nominal thickness shall be
the diameter of the stud.
(e) When a welded joint connects parts of unequal
thicknesses, the nominal thickness shall be the fol-
lowing:
 KF-402.3 2001 SECTION VIII — DIVISION 3 KF-402.3

01 TABLE KF-402.1
REQUIREMENTS FOR POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT OF PRESSURE PARTS AND ATTACHMENTS
Nominal Minimum Holding Time at Normal Temperature for Nominal Thickness
Holding Tem- (See KF-402.1)
perature, °F,
Material min. Up to 2 in. Over 2 to 5 in. Over 5 in.

P-No. 1 [Note (1)] 1,100°F 1 hr/in. 2 hr plus 15 min for 2 hr plus 15 min for
(1 hr min.) each additional inch each additional inch
over 2 in. over 2 in.

P-No. 3 [Notes (2), (3)] 1,100°F 1 hr/in. 2 hr plus 15 min for 2 hr plus 15 min for
(1 hr min.) each additional inch each additional inch
over 2 in. over 2 in.

P-No. 5A [Notes (2), (3)] 1,250°F 1 hr/in. 1 hr/in. 5 hr plus 15 min for
(1 hr min.) each additional inch
over 5 in.

P-No. 8 [Note (4)] ... ... ... ...

P-No. 10A [Notes (3), (5)] 1,100°F 1 hr min. plus 1 hr min. plus 15 min 1 hr min. plus 15 min
15 min for for each additional for each additional
each addi- inch over 1 in. inch over 1 in.
tional inch
over 1 in.

P-No. 42 [Note (4)] ... ... ... ...

P-No. 43 [Note (4)] ... ... ... ...

P-No. 44 [Note (4)] ... ... ... ...

P-No. 45 [Note (4)] ... ... ... ...

NOTES:
(1) Postweld heat treatment is mandatory under the following conditions:
(a) for materials over 11⁄4 in. nominal thickness;
(b) on material over 5⁄8 in. nominal thickness for pressure parts subject to direct firing.
(2) If during the holding period of postweld heat treatment, the maximum time or temperature of any vessel component exceeds the provisions
of KT-112, additional test coupons shall be made and tested.
(3) Postweld heat treatment is mandatory under the following conditions:
(a) for all materials over 3⁄8 in. nominal thickness;
(b) on materials of all thicknesses intended for pressure parts subject to direct firing.
(4) Postweld heat treatment is neither required nor prohibited for joints between materials of P-Nos. 8, 42, 43, 44, or 45, or any combination
thereof.
(5) Consideration should be given for possible embrittlement of materials containing up to 0.15% vanadium when postweld heat treating at
minimum temperatures.

(1) the thinner of two adjacent butt welded parts
including head-to-shell connections;
(2) the thickness of the shell in connections to
tubesheets, flat heads, covers, flanges, or similar con-
structions;
(3) in Figs. KD-700, KD-1112, KD-1121, KD-
1122, KD-1130, and KD-1131, the thickness of the
weld across the nozzle neck, shell, head, or attachment
fillet weld, whichever is greater;
(4) the thickness of the nozzle neck at the joint
in nozzle neck-to-flange connections;
(5) the thickness of the weld at the point of
attachment when a nonpressure part is welded to a
pressure part;
(6) the thickness of the weld in tube-to-tubesheet
connections.
(f) For repairs, the nominal thickness is the depth
of the repair weld.

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 KF-410 PART KF — FABRICATION REQUIREMENTS
KF-410 HEATING PROCEDURES FOR
POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT
KF-411 Methods of Heating
The postweld heat treatment shall be performed in
accordance with one of the procedures of this paragraph.
In the procedures that follow, the soak band is defined
as the volume of metal required to meet or exceed the
minimum PWHT temperatures listed in Table KF-402.1.
As a minimum, the soak band shall contain the weld,
heat-affected zone, and a portion of base metal adjacent
to the weld being heat treated. The minimum width
of this volume is the widest width of weld plus 1t or
2 in. (51 mm), whichever is less, on each side or end
of the weld. The term t is the nominal thickness as
defined in KF-402.3.
KF-411.1 Heating Entire Vessel. Heating the vessel
as a whole in a closed furnace is preferred and should
be used whenever practical.
KF-411.2 Heating Vessel Portions. Heating the ves-
sel in more than one heat in a furnace is permitted,
provided the overlap of the heated sections of the
vessel is at least 5 ft (1.5 m). When this procedure is
used, the portion outside of the furnace shall be shielded
so that the temperature gradient is not harmful (see
KF-412). The cross section where the vessel projects
from the furnace shall not intersect a nozzle or other
structural discontinuity.
KF-411.3 Heating Components and Circumferen-
tial Welds
(a) It is permissible to heat shell sections, heads,
and other components of vessels, for postweld heat
treatment of longitudinal joints or complicated welded
details, before joining any sections to make the com-
pleted vessel. Circumferential joints not previously post-
weld heat treated may be locally postweld heat treated
by heating a circumferential band that includes such
joints.
(b) This procedure may also be used for local heat
treatment of circumferential joints in pipe, tubing, or
nozzle necks. In the latter case, proximity to the shell
increases thermal restraint, and the designer should
provide adequate length to permit heat treatment without
harmful gradients at the nozzle attachments. If this is
not practical, see KF-411.5.
(c) The width of the heated band on each side of
the greatest width of the finished weld shall be not
less than two times the shell thickness. The portion
outside the heating device shall be protected so that
the temperature gradient is not harmful. For such local
heating, the soak band shall extend around the full
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COPYRIGHT American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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KF-411.6
circumference. The portion outside the soak band shall
be protected so that the temperature gradient is not
harmful. This procedure may also be used to postweld
heat treat portions of new vessels after repairs.
KF-411.4 Heating Vessel Internally. The vessel
may be heated internally by any appropriate means
when adequate temperature indicating and recording
devices are utilized to aid in the control and maintenance
of a uniform distribution of temperature in the vessel
wall. The vessel shall be fully insulated where required
prior to heating so the temperature requirements of
KF-413 are met.
KF-411.5 Local Heating of Nozzles and External
Attachments on Vessels
(a) Heating a circumferential band containing nozzles
or other welded attachments that require postweld heat
treatment in such a manner that the entire band shall
be brought up uniformly to the required temperature
(see KF-413) and held for the specified time. Except
as modified in KF-411.5(b), the soak band shall extend
around the entire vessel, and shall include the nozzle
or welded attachment. The portion of the vessel outside
of the circumferential soak band shall be protected so
that the temperature gradient is not harmful.
(b) This procedure may also be used for local heat
treatment of circumferential joints in pipe, tubing, or
nozzle necks. In the latter case, proximity to the shell
increases thermal restraint, and the designer should
provide adequate length to permit heat treatment without
harmful gradients — at the nozzle attachment, or heat
a full circumferential band around the shell, including
the nozzle.
The circumferential soak band width may be varied
away from the nozzle or attachment weld requiring
PWHT, provided the required soak band around the
nozzle or attachment weld is heated to the required
temperature and held for the required time. As an
alternate to varying the soak band width, the temperature
within the circumferential band away from the nozzle
or attachment may be varied and need not reach the
required temperature, provided the required soak band
around the nozzle or attachment weld is heated to the
required temperature, held for the required time, and
the temperature gradient is not harmful throughout the
heating and cooling cycle. The portion of the vessel
outside of the circumferential soak band shall be pro-
tected so that the temperature gradient is not harmful.
(c) The procedure in KF-411.5(a) may also be used
to postweld heat treat portions of vessels after repairs.
KF-411.6 Local Area Heating of Double Curvature
Heads or Shells. Heating a local area around nozzles
 KF-411.6 2001 SECTION VIII — DIVISION 3
or welded attachments in the larger radius sections of
a double curvature head or a spherical shell or head
in such a manner that the area is brought up uniformly
to the required temperature (see KF-413) and held for
the specified time. The soak band shall include the
nozzle or welded attachment. The soak band shall
include a circle that extends beyond the edges of the
attachment weld in all directions by a minimum of t
or 2 in. (51 mm), whichever is less. The portion of
the vessel outside of the soak band shall be protected
so that the temperature gradient is not harmful.
KF-411.7 Heating of Other Configurations. Local
area heating of other configurations not addressed in
KF-411.1 through KF-411.6 is permitted, provided that
other measures (based upon sufficiently similar docu-
mented experience or evaluation) are taken that consider
the effect of thermal gradients, all significant structural
discontinuities (such as nozzles, attachments, head to
shell junctures) and any mechanical loads that may be
present during PWHT. The portion of the vessel outside
of the soak band shall be protected so that the tempera-
ture gradient is not harmful.
KF-412 Heat Treatment That May Affect
Vessel Stress Redistribution
The Manufacturer shall ensure, in accordance with
KG-323(d), that any heat treatment given to a vessel
or vessel part does not adversely affect the stress
redistribution required by Articles KD-5, KD-8, KD-
9, and KD-10. In addition, the Manufacturer shall meet
the requirements for heat treatment given in KF-830
or KF-540(b), as applicable.
KF-413 Heating and Cooling Rates
Postweld heat treatment shall be carried out by one
of the methods given in KF-411 in accordance with
the following requirements.
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KF-420
(a) The temperature of the furnace shall not exceed
800°F (427°C) at the time the vessel or part is placed
in it.
(b) Above 800°F (427°C), the rate of heating shall
be not more than 400°F /hr (222°C/hr) divided by the
maximum metal thickness of the shell or head plate
in inches, but in no case more than 400°F /hr (222°C/
hr) and in no case need it be less than 100°F /hr (56°C/
hr). During the heating period, there shall not be a
greater variation in temperature throughout the portion
of the vessel being heated than 250°F (139°C) within
any 15 ft (4.6 m) interval of length.
(c) The vessel or vessel part shall be held at or
above the temperature specified in Table KF-402.1 for
the period of time specified. During the holding period,
there shall not be a difference greater than 100°F (56°C)
between the highest and lowest temperatures throughout
the portion of the vessel being heated, except where
the range is further limited in Table KF-402.1.
(d) During the heating and holding periods, the fur-
nace atmosphere shall be so controlled as to avoid
excessive oxidation of the surface of the vessel. The
furnace shall be of such design as to prevent direct
impingement of the flame on the vessel.
(e) Unless modified by Article KF-6, above 800°F
(427°C) cooling shall be done in a closed furnace or
cooling chamber at a rate not greater than 500°F /hr
(278°C/hr) divided by the maximum metal thickness
of the shell or head plate in inches, but in no case
need it be less than 100°F /hr (56°C /hr). From 800°F
(427°C), the vessel may be cooled in still air.
KF-420 POSTWELD HEAT TREATMENT
AFTER REPAIRS
Vessels or parts of vessels that have been postweld
heat treated in accordance with the requirements of
this Article shall again be postweld heat treated after
repairs have been made if the welds made in such repairs
required postweld treatment under the requirements of
this Article. The Manufacturer shall ensure that any
additional heat treatments required shall not adversely
affect the vessel material properties.