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Quality Control Procedure
Hardness Testing
Author: Date: Signature:
Abani Bar
Sr. NDT Tech
October 20, 2007
Responsible Management Approval:
Nilesh Pathare
Sr. NDT and CSWIP Inspection Head
Oct 20, 2007
Quality Approval:
Sridhar Manja
QAM, TCR Engineering Services, India
Oct 20, 2007



SOP Nr: N/A
Version (if not part of
document or SOP number):
QCP/TCR/HT/1.0 Rev. 0
Issue Date of this
document:
March 6, 2013
Effective Date of this
document:
March 6, 2013
Supercedes: New
Type: Controlled Copy




Doc. Classification:
Hardness Testing
Version: 1.0 Rev. 0
Location:
Middle-East, India
Page 2 of 7
Filename: Hardness-Testing-Procedure.doc
Title: Hardness Testing


H a r d n e s s T e s t i n g P R O C E D U R E
Doc. Ref. QCP-TCR-02
Issue 1 Revision 0
Confidential, Page 2 of 7


TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SCOPE 3
2. DEFINITIONS 3
3. REFERENCES 3
4. RESPONSIBILITIES 3
5. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS 4
6. EQUIPMENT 4
7. PROCEDURE 4
8. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA 6
9. SAFETY 6
10. DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING OF TEST RESULTS 6




Doc. Classification:
Hardness Testing
Version: 1.0 Rev. 0
Location:
Middle-East, India
Page 3 of 7
Filename: Hardness-Testing-Procedure.doc
Title: Hardness Testing


H a r d n e s s T e s t i n g P R O C E D U R E
Doc. Ref. QCP-TCR-02
Issue 1 Revision 0
Confidential, Page 3 of 7

1. SCOPE
This procedure specifies the requirements for hardness testing of production welds.

The purpose of this Quality Control Procedure is to address clause 4.9 Process Control of ISO 9002: 1994, to
define the equipment and methods to be followed for hardness testing of materials / weldments.
2. DEFINITIONS
HT: Hardness Testing
PWHT: Post Weld Heat Treatment
BHN: Brinell hardness number
BHV: Brinell hardness Value
HAZ: Heat Affected Zone
NDT: Non Destructive Testing
QAM: Quality Assurance Manager
3. REFERENCES
Latest revisions of the following documents shall be referred to in conjunction with this procedure:

Codes and Standards
ASME B313 Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping, latest edition.
AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section V, Nondestructive Examination
ASNT Recommended Practice No. SNT-TC-1A, Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive
Testing
ANSI / ASNT CP 189, Standard for Qualification and Certification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel

TCR Internal Documentation
TCR-QMS: Quality Assurance Systems Manual
TCR-HSE: TCR Safety Manual
TCR Written Practice for training, qualification, and certification of NDT personnel

4. RESPONSIBILITIES
TCR site in charge shall be responsible for the control, coordination and numbering of all items tested for HT as
per the schedule received from client. TCR site in charge will ensure effective communication is maintained
with the client with respect to the assigned HT Testing project.

The NDT Controller delegated for the control and coordination of NDT activities shall issue the HT Inspector
with a daily written list of welds ready for inspection.

The HT Inspector shall be responsible for conducting and reporting the results of inspection is accordance with
this present Procedure.



Doc. Classification:
Hardness Testing
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Middle-East, India
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Filename: Hardness-Testing-Procedure.doc
Title: Hardness Testing


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5. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS
Only trained personnel shall undertake the operation and interpretation of recorded results to ensure that
both the procedure and the work are implemented correctly in order to identify / verify the nominal material
compositions.

The following guidelines shall be used for the efficient and safe HT operations:
TCR Personnel: Selected on the basis of previous work experience.
Crew composition is normally composed of a Site-in-charge, and one or more HT technicians.
The customer will be provided opportunity to review the experience details of HT technicians.

6. EQUIPMENT
Testing shall be carried out by using a TIME Inc. portable hardness tester, Model TH-130.

The TIME Incs portable hardness testers method of operation is by measuring the impact and rebound
velocities of an impact device, under spring loading, against the test piece. Hardness is measured in hardness
number L and must be converted to Brinell Hardness Value (BHV). Due to the pin-point measurement made
by the TIME Inc. precautions necessary to enable accurate testing are:
The test piece must be adequately supported.
For each hardness measurement 3 impact measurements are to be made and the results averaged.
Correction is required for impact angle.
For all testing detailed referenced should be made to the operating instructions for the equipment.
Key parameters to be used are:
Impact device D
Set impact direction.
Set conversion to H.B.
Charge TIME Incs portable hardness tester by depressing charging tube.
Place impact device on test surface.
Trigger impact device.
7. PROCEDURE
A. SURFACE REQUIREMENTS
Prior to testing the area to be tested shall be prepared by grinding flush (in the case of butt welds enough area
(spots) shall be ground to enable full hardness survey to be performed). Grinding shall be carried out without
excessive use of force; no overheating or burning shall be permitted. Upon completion of grinding a further
preparation shall be made using a rotary grit paper grinding wheel. No sharp edges shall be left on the area
ground for Hardness testing. Grit standard shall be in accordance with the Manufacturers recommendation.

Model Degree of Smoothness Abrasive Grain Size
RA RT


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Hardness Testing
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Filename: Hardness-Testing-Procedure.doc
Title: Hardness Testing


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Time Inc D (TH-130) 2 10 280

Preparation by this method shall be made as close as possible to 90 (perpendicular) of the previous grinding
as practicable.
B. EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE CHECK
Performance checks shall be carried out in accordance with the manufacturers instructions supplied with the
equipment.
Calibration:
Time hardness Tester TH 130 shall be calibrated on the test block supplied with the instrument. The reading
on calibration block is in HLD scale. While calibrating the equipment HLD measuring scale shall be selected.
And during measuring Hardness of test objects the measuring scale shall be change to required scale like HB,
HRB, or HRC.
For test pieces less than 5Kg. they shall be supported or coupled with calibration block or object having weight
more than 5Kg.

Frequency of performance checks shall be:

Test instrument used continuously
At least once a day and the latest after 1000 impacts.

Test instrument used periodically
Before conducting the test
C. BRINELL HARDNESS TESTING METHOD
Brinell hardness number shall be the required hardness value for all field testing. Testing shall be carried out
on shop or field welds. Tests shall be performed after PWHT unless specified otherwise. Location of all tests
shall be in the C.L. of weld metal and both side of Heat affected zones.

Reporting of all test results and acceptance/ rejection shall be on Hardness Test Inspection Report. Only that
portion of the Form which corresponds to the test method used needs to be filled out, the other test method
shall be marked "N/A.

Prior to test, the test area (work piece) shall, if required, be additionally supported.

Tests areas shall be prepared. For each test area three impacts shall be carried out and the average of these
shall be recorded.

All results and averages shall be recorded on Hardness test Inspection Report.

For each group of readings the difference in value shall not exceed 30. If it exceeds, check whether the
surface has been adequately prepared to the required surface finish.



Doc. Classification:
Hardness Testing
Version: 1.0 Rev. 0
Location:
Middle-East, India
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Filename: Hardness-Testing-Procedure.doc
Title: Hardness Testing


H a r d n e s s T e s t i n g P R O C E D U R E
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Issue 1 Revision 0
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Conversion from the measure hardness value to H.B is made automatically within the equipment. This
converted value is then recorded as the measured hardness.
8. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
Acceptance criteria of HT on weld joints will be as follows, with the Brinell Hardness Value Restrictions not
exceed the following:

Material Group Maximum Brinell Hardness Value
P1 235 BHN
P3-P4 225 BHN
P5-P6 241 BHN

Nonferrous materials and austenitic stainless steel welds will not require hardness testing.

For P-No.3 through P-No.6 materials, hardness testing shall be conducted on 10% welds in each furnace heat
treated batch and 100% of those which are locally heat treated.

Hardness results shall not exceed the above mentioned values.
9. SAFETY
Only trained personnel shall use this instrument.

10. DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING OF TEST RESULTS
Each inspection shall be reported together with the BHN and will contacting the following information
Client Name
PO / request no.
TCR job no.
Component and / or joint identification
Specification
Reference code or acceptance criteria
Test procedure
Dimensions and / or area of test
Material type and condition
BHN
Test technique
Test system
Test or access restrictions or remarks
Interpretation and test results
Technician name, qualification level and signature
Date of test


Doc. Classification:
Hardness Testing
Version: 1.0 Rev. 0
Location:
Middle-East, India
Page 7 of 7
Filename: Hardness-Testing-Procedure.doc
Title: Hardness Testing


H a r d n e s s T e s t i n g P R O C E D U R E
Doc. Ref. QCP-TCR-02
Issue 1 Revision 0
Confidential, Page 7 of 7


Encl: TCR-HT Form