RADIOGRAPHIC TESTING OF WELD JOINTS

(As per API-1104, 20th Edition & EWPL100-P30-J00-505)

9.3 ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS
API
Clause
no.

Type of Defect

9.3.1

Acceptance Limit

Relevant
UT

Parameter

Individual

Inadequate Penetration
without Hi-Low (IP)

Length

25mm

25mm in 300mm of continuous weld

OR 8% of weld length in any weld
less than 300mm in length.

LS
9.6.2.2 a/b

9.3.2

Inadequate Penetration
due to Hi-Low (IPD)

Length

50mm

75mm in 300mm of continuous weld

L S 9.6.2.2
NOT
MATCHING

9.3.3

Inadequate Cross
Penetration (ICP)

Length

50mm

50mm in 300mm of continuous weld

9.3.4

Incomplete Fusion (IF)

Length

9.3.5

Incomplete Fusion due

to Cold Lap (IFD)

Length

9.3.6

Internal Concavity (IC)

Density

Burn Through (BT)

Dia. &
Density

9.3.7.2

Elongated Slag
Inclusion (ESI)

9.3.8.2

Isolated Slag Inclusion

(ISI)

ESI + ISI

25mm in 300mm of continuous weld

OR 8% of weld length in any weld
less than 300mm in length.
50mm in 300mm of continuous weld
50mm
OR 8% of weld length in any weld
less than 300mm in length
Density of IC exceeds that of the thinnest adjacent
parent material then 9.3.7.2 will follow.
- density exceeds that of the
6mm
thinnest adjacent parent material
Sum of max dimensions of separate
BTs 13mm in any continuous 300mm
of weld, whose density exceeds that
of the thinnest adjacent parent
material.
25mm

Length

50mm

50mm in continuous 300mm of weld

Width

1.6mm

Length

13mm in continuous 300mm of weld

Width

3.0 mm

Nos.

Length

3mm

9.3.9.2

9.3.9.3

9.3.9.4

Porosity (P)

Aggregate

Dia.

25% of
TWT

4 Nos. with max. width 3mm in

continuous 300mm of weld length

(TWT = Thinnest Wall Thickness)

Dia.

Dia. of Cluster 13mm

Length

13mm in continuous 300mm of weld

13mm

50mm in continuous 300mm of weld

OR 8% of the weld length

Length

Individual 6mm & separated by less than 50mm

-

LS
9.6.2.2 a/b
LB
9.6.2.3
RV
9.6.2.7
RV
9.6.2.7.a
RV
9.6.2.7.b
LB
9..6.2.3
V. C.
9.6.2.5
V. I.
-9.6.2.6
V. C.
9.6.2.5

8% of the total weld length

Cluster Porosity (CP)

Hollow Bead (HB)

LB
9.6.2.3

9.3.10

Crack (C)

Not Allowed at all

9.3.11

UndercutExternal/Internal
(EU/IU)

Length

50mm in continuous 300mm of weld

OR 1/6 of the weld length

9.3.12

Accumulation of
Imperfections

Length

50mm in continuous 300mm of weld

OR 8% of the weld length

V. I.
-9.6.2.6
TT
9.6.2.1.b
V. C.
9.6.2.5
V. C.
9.6.2.5
LB
9.6.2.3
V.R 9.6.2.7.b
9.6.2.1
L.S.9.6.2.7.b
NOT
MATCHING

9.6.2.8 a/b

OBSERVATIONS ON VARIOUS NDT ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA,

API-1104, 20TH EDITION

1.

Inadequate Penetration due to High-Low (IPD)

- It is a Linear Surface (ID) defect.
As per RT Acceptance Criteria (Clause no. 9.3.2), an aggregate length of 75mm is
acceptable, whereas as per UT acceptance criterion (Clause no. 9.6.2.2) it is
25mm only.
Moreover as per Clause no. 9.3.12- Accumulation of Imperfections, the aggregate
length of indication in any continuous 300mm length of weld is 50mm, how it will
accommodate the clause no. 9.3.2.

2.

Internal and External Under Cuts (IU & EU)

- It is a Linear Surface defect.
As per RT Acceptance Criteria (API-1104, Clause no. 9.3.2), an aggregate length
of 50mm is acceptable, whereas as per UT acceptance criterion (Clause no.
9.6.2.2) it is 25mm only.

3.

Individual Indications except Volumetric Individual

-Acceptance criteria for different individual defects are mentioned for RT, but for UT
acceptance criteria for Individual Indications, except Volumetric Individual, are not
mention in API-1104.