Interpretations

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel CodeSECTION IX

INTERPRETATIONSVolume 44

The Interpretations to the Code will be issued twice a year (July and December) up to thepublication of the 2001 Edition of the Code. The Interpretations for each individual Section arepublished separately and are part of the update service to that Section; Interpretations of SectionIII, Divisions 1 and 2, are part of the update service to Section III, Subsection NCA.

Interpretations Volumes 36 through 41 were included with the update service to the 1995 Editionof the Code; Volume 42 is the first Interpretations volume to be included with the update serviceto the 1998 Edition.

Section Vol. 42 Vol. 43 Vol. 44 Vol. 45 Vol. 46 Vol. 47

I 7/98 12/98 7/99II-A 7/98 . . . 7 /99II-B . . . . . . . . .II-C . . . . . . . . .II-D . . . . . . . . .III-NCA 7/98 12/98 7/99III-3 . . . . . . . . .IV 7/98 12/98 7/99V 7/98 12/98 7/99VI . . . . . . . . .VII . . . . . . . . .VIII-1 7/98 12/98 7/99VIII-2 7/98 12/98 7/99VIII-3 . . . 12/98 . . .IX 7/98 12/98 7/99X . . . . . . . . .XI 7 /98 12/98 7/99

Copyright © 1999THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

All Rights Reserved

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INTERPRETATIONS

NO. 44 — SECTION IX

Replies to Technical InquiriesJuly 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998

FOREWORD

General Information

This publication includes all written interpretations issued between the indicated dates by the ASMEStaff on behalf of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee in response to inquiries concerninginterpretations of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. A contents is also included which listssubjects specific to the interpretations covered in the individual volume.

These interpretations are taken verbatim from the original letters, except for a few typographicaland editorial corrections made for the purpose of improved clarity. In some instances, a review of theinterpretation revealed a need for corrections of a technical nature. In these cases, a revised interpretationis presented bearing the original Interpretation Number with the suffix R and the original file numberwith an asterisk. Following these revised interpretations, new interpretations and revisions to themissued during the indicated dates are assigned Interpretation Numbers in chronological order. Interpretationsapplying to more than one Code Section appear with the interpretations for each affected Section.

ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of these interpretations when or if additional informationis available which the inquirer believes might affect the interpretation. Further, persons aggrieved byan interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME committee or subcommittee. As stated in theStatement of Policy in the Code documents, ASME does not “approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse”any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity.

An interpretation applies either to the Edition and Addenda in effect on the date of issuance of theinterpretation or the Edition and Addenda stated in the interpretation. Subsequent revisions to the Codemay supersede the interpretation.

For detailed instructions on preparation of technical inquiries to the ASME Boiler and PressureVessel Committee, refer to Appendix A.

Subject and Numerical Indexes

Subject and numerical indexes have been prepared to assist the user in locating interpretations bysubject matter or by location in the Code. They cover interpretations issued from Volume 12 up toand including the present volume, and will be updated with each volume.

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SECTION IX

Subject Interpretation File No.

QW-150 and QW-462.1, Tension Test Specimens for Pipe and Plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-09 BC97-302QW-200.1, Welding Procedure Qualifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-13 BC98-239QW-300, Welding Performance Qualifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-11 BC98-133QW-361.2, Machine Welding Variables for Welding Operators; and QW-381, Corrosion-

Resistant Weld Metal Overlay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-14 BC98-447QW-405.3, Positions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-15 BC98-448QW-407.1, Post Weld Heat Treatment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-10 BC97-306

BC97-308QW-451, Procedure Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-12 BC98-237

BC98-238QW-462.5(a), Chemical Analysis and Hardness Specimen Corrosion-Resistant and Hardfacing

Weld Metal Overlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-16 BC98-453

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Section IX — Interpretations No. 44 IX-98-09, IX-98-10, IX-98-11

Interpretation: IX-98-09

Subject: Section IX, QW-150 and QW-462.1, Tension Test Specimens for Pipe and Plate

Date Issued: October 9, 1998

File: BC97-302

Question: Would tensile tests performed in accordance with SA-370 be acceptable for meetingASME Section IX, QW-462.1(a) and (b)?

Reply: No.


Subject: Section IX, QW-407.1, Post Weld Heat Treatment


File: BC97-306/BC97-308

Question: Is it the intent of Section IX in QW-407.1 to permit reporting the results of more thanone PWHT condition on a single report, with a single PQR number, provided all other applicableessential and supplementary essential variables are identical and all required tests are conducted andreported for both conditions?

Reply: Yes.


Subject: Section IX, QW-300, Welding Performance Qualifications


File: BC98-133

Question: May Company A retain the Company B employee responsible for welder performancequalification to review the welder qualification documents of both companies and qualify the weldersof Company B to the welding program of Company A without further testing of the welders?

Reply: No.

395


IX-98-12, IX-98-13 Section IX — Interpretations No. 44


Subject: Section IX, QW-451, Procedure Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens


File: BC98-237/BC98-238

Question: May longitudinal bend specimens be used in lieu of transverse bend specimens whenthe base metals or the base metal and the weld metal do not differ markedly in bending properties?

Reply: No.


Subject: Section IX, QW-200.1, Welding Procedure Qualifications

Date Issued: December 22, 1998

File: BC98-239

Question: Are all-encompassing terms acceptable when addressing nonessential variables in a WPS(e.g., for backing, “with or without,” for root spacing, “unlimited”)?

Reply: Section IX does not specify how nonessential variables are to be addressed; however, theterms used must provide direction to the welder/welding operator for making production welds to Coderequirements.

396


Section IX — Interpretations No. 44 IX-98-14, IX-98-15


Subject: Section IX, QW-361.2, Machine Welding Variables for Welding Operators; and QW-381, Corrosion-Resistant Weld Metal Overlay


File: BC98-447

Background: A multiple layer corrosion-resistant weld metal overlay performance qualification(machine welding) is made with the first layer under Direct Visual control and the second layer RemoteVisual control.

Question (1): Is the welding operator qualified for both Direct and Remote Visual control techniquesapplied either in single or multiple layers?

Reply (1): Yes.

Question (2): For the qualification described in the background, may two welding operators qualifyon one coupon, provided the requirements of QW-453 and QW-361.2 (which delineate the weldingoperators “limits of qualification” as per QW-306) are addressed?

Reply (2): Yes.


Subject: Section IX, QW-405.3, Positions


File: BC98-448

Question: May a single-pass “seal weld” as defined in QW-492, used to seal boiler tubes to aboiler tube sheet, be considered a “cover pass” or a “wash pass” for purposes of exemption fromQW-405.3?

Reply: No.

397


IX-98-16 Section IX — Interpretations No. 44


Subject: Section IX, QW-462.5(a), Chemical Analysis and Hardness Specimen Corrosion-Resistant and Hardfacing Weld Metal Overlay


File: BC98-453

Question: Is it permissible to use the surface of the test coupon as the “approximate fusion line”when determining the minimum finished thickness for corrosion-resistant and hardfacing overlays inaccordance with QW-462.5(a)?

Reply: Yes.

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