La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XIII-1323

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XIII-1323 - Nondestructive Testing [49 CFR 192.243]

A. Nondestructive testing of welds must be performed by any process, other than trepanning, that will clearly indicate defects that may affect the integrity of the weld. [ 49 CFR 192.243(a)]

B. Nondestructive testing of welds must be performed: [ 49 CFR 192.243(b)]

1. in accordance with written procedures; and [ 49 CFR 192.243(b)(1)]

2. by persons who have been trained and qualified in the established procedures and with the equipment employed in testing. [ 49 CFR 192.243(b)(2)]

C. Procedures must be established for the proper interpretation of each nondestructive test of a weld to ensure the acceptability of the weld under §1321. C [ 49 CFR 192.243(c)]

D. When nondestructive testing is required under §1321. B, the following percentages of each day's field butt welds, selected at random by the operator, must be nondestructively tested over their entire circumference: [ 49 CFR 192.243(d)]

1. in Class 1 locations, except offshore, at least 10 percent; [ 49 CFR 192.243(d)(1)]

2. in Class 2 locations, at least 15 percent; [ 49 CFR 192.243(d)(2)]

3. in Class 3 and Class 4 locations, at crossings of major or navigable rivers, offshore, and within railroad or public highway rights-of-way, including tunnels, bridges, and overhead road crossings, 100 percent unless impracticable, in which case at least 90 percent. Nondestructive testing must be impracticable for each girth weld not tested; [ 49 CFR 192.243(d)(3)]

4. at pipeline tie-ins, including tie-ins of replacement sections, 100 percent. [ 49 CFR 192.243(d)(4)]

E. Except for a welder or welding operator whose work is isolated from the principal welding activity, a sample of each welders or welding operators work for each day must be nondestructively tested, when nondestructive testing is required under §1321.B [ 49 CFR 192.243(e)]

F. When nondestructive testing is required under §1321. B, each operator must retain, for the life of the pipeline, a record showing by milepost, engineering station, or by geographic feature, the number of girth welds made, the number nondestructively tested, the number rejected, and the disposition of the rejects. [ 49 CFR 192.243(f)]

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XIII-1323

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 9:230 (April 1983), amended LR 10:522 (July 1984), LR 24:1309 (July 1998), LR 30:1242 (June 2004), Amended LR 441039 (6/1/2018).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:501 et seq.