Praxair, Inc.

Praxair Technology Center

Tonawanda, NY 14151-0044
Praxair Standard: W-6

Welding of Vessels

Revision Date: 02/01/2019 Effective Date: 02/22/2019

Written by: J.B. Koch Revised by: P. Miller Approved by: K. Kibler

1.0 Scope
This Standard covers welding, nondestructive examination, and other fabrication requirements
for components (vessels) and attached piping designed and/or obtained by Praxair. Components may be
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) designed pressure vessels or non-ASME pressure
vessels, such as vessels with a design pressure less than 15 psig (1.03 barg) or an inside diameter less
than 152 mm (6 inches). For non-ASME pressure vessels, all provisions of ASME Section VIII,
Division 1, relating to design, fabrication, and inspection shall apply except for authorized inspector
involvement and vessel registration. Materials of construction include various grades of carbon steel,
stainless steels, and aluminum alloys. See Tables 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 for materials addressed in this
standard. Design pressure is limited to 3000 psig (207 barg) and lower. Components with a design
pressure above 3000 psig (207 barg), in vacuum or in cyclic service shall be handled on an individual
basis.
Piping inside a vessel shall be constructed and tested per the requirements of ASME Code,
Section VIII, Division 1. Piping outside the vessel shall be constructed and tested per the requirements
of ASME Code, B31.3. Welding processes and filler metals for piping shall follow the requirements of
the appropriate Praxair pipe welding standard listed in Section 2.0.
A specific country code may be specified in lieu of the ASME Code for vessels to be installed in
that country when potential future location to another country is not a consideration. Any local code
shall be previously reviewed and approved by the Praxair pressure vessel code consultant. The specific
country code shall provide equivalent requirements as outlined in this Standard. Such codes may use
criteria other than 15 psig (1.03 barg) design pressure to determine when the code rules apply.
2.0 Codes and Standards
All components shall be designed, constructed, inspected, tested, and documented per the
requirements of Section VIII, Division 1 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Components
which fall within the scope of the ASME Code, Section VIII, Division 1, shall also be stamped per
ASME Section VIII, Division 1 requirements. ASME vessels constructed within the United States and
Canada shall be registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.

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of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or manual, including photocopy,
rendering or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written consent of Praxair, Inc.
 Praxair Standard W-6 (Revised: 02/01/2019)

The following codes and Praxair Standards are applicable:

• API RP 582, Welding Guidelines for the Chemical, Oil, and Gas Industries
• ASME Code, Section II, Materials
• ASME Code, Section VIII, Division 1, Pressure Vessels
• ASME Code, Section IX, Welding and Brazing Qualifications
• ASME B31.3, Process Piping
• W-41 General Welding Standard for Piping
• W-42 Welding of Carbon Steel Piping
• W-43 Welding of Stainless Steel Piping
• W-44 Welding of Monel Piping
• W-45 Welding of Carbon Steel to Stainless Steel Piping
• W-46 Welding of Monel to Carbon Steel Piping
• W-47 Welding of Monel to Stainless Steel Piping
• W-48 Welding of Aluminum
• W-52 Welding of Carbon Steel Piping in Low-Temperature Service
• W-53 Welding of 11/4 Cr – ½ Mo Low Alloy Steel Piping for Superheated Steam,
High-Pressure, High-Temperature Service
• W-55 Welding of 11/4 Cr – ½ Mo Low Alloy Steel to Stainless Steel Piping
• W-56 Welding Nickel Alloy Piping
3.0 Welding
All welding shall meet the requirements of ASME Section VIII, Division 1 for components, or
B31.3 for piping. Welding of pipe for components shall also meet the requirements of the applicable
Praxair pipe welding standards.
Permanent backing strips may be used for vessel girth seams unless prohibited by specific
project requirements. Backing strips shall not be used when crevice corrosion is a possibility and shall
not be used in cyclic service. Backing strips shall be made from the same nominal composition as the
materials being joined. If backing strips are not used, the root pass of any weld in carbon steel and
stainless steel which cannot be welded from both sides shall be welded with Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
(GTAW). Any single-sided groove welding of stainless steel not using backing strips shall be back
purged with argon backing gas during welding. When backing gas is required, welding shall not start
until the gas existing in the purged area has oxygen content equal to or less than 1 percent as measured
with a suitable portable oxygen analyzer. Backing gas flow shall be maintained until at least two weld
layers have been completed.
3.1 Welding Procedures

All welding covered by this Standard shall be performed to Weld Procedures (WPS) which
have been qualified per ASME Code, Section IX requirements. The WPSs and Procedure Qualifications

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(PQRs) shall be submitted for approval to Praxair a minimum of two weeks before any welding begins.
This submittal shall also include all WPS/PQRs intended for tack welding, other temporary attachment
welds to pressure boundary materials, and WPS/PQRs for repair welding.
Components and piping covered by this Standard may have a Minimum Design Metal
Temperature (MDMT) at which the applicable code requires charpy impact testing of the base metal
and/or weld metal. When either base metal or weld metal requires impact testing, these test results shall
be included on the PQR. All codes accept results reported in absorbed energy (ft-lbs or joules) for lower
strength carbon steels. Results for stainless steel shall be recorded as Lateral Expansion (LE) and shall
meet ASME Code and Praxair requirements. Charpy impact test results for carbon steels with a 95,000
psi (655 mPa) and higher tensile strength, and all UHT and UHA base materials and weld metals shall
be reported in both absorbed energy and lateral expansion (mils or mm).
After initial approval has been granted for a WPS, resubmittal for subsequent projects is not
mandatory. A new transmittal letter shall be submitted listing the WPS, including revision number, the
applicable PQR and revision that shall be used for the current project. Certification that no changes
have occurred in the WPS and PQR since the original submittal shall also be included in this transmittal
letter.
3.2 Weld Processes and Filler Metals
Acceptable welding processes and filler metal combinations for pressure boundary materials
for a MDMT of -20°F and warmer are given in Table 1.
Carbon steel lifting lugs, their pads, and any braces attached to them shall be welded with low
hydrogen electrodes meeting the EXX15, EXX16, or EXX18 AWS classifications.
Electrodes for the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) process meeting AWS classifications
EXX12, EXX13, EXX14, EXX24, and EXX27 shall not be used for welding pressure retaining parts of
components or piping. They shall also not be used for tack welding or temporary structural attachments.
These electrodes may be used for welding carbon steel non-pressure retaining structural fillet welds.
The Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) process shall be by the machine or automatic methods as
defined in Section IX of ASME Code. Crushed slag and blending crushed slag with unused flux is not
acceptable and shall not be used.
After the filler material supplier’s original packaging is opened, the filler materials shall be
stored per the following requirements.
• SMAW – Table A3 in ASME Code, Section II, Part C, SFA-5.1, Specification for Carbon
Steel Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding is mandatory for carbon steel and
stainless-steel materials
• GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and SAW wire, rod and flux – All shall be stored and used per
their manufacturer’s recommendations
Removable starting and stopping tabs or plates shall be used to weld shell longitudinal seams.
This Standard allows five welding processes to be used: GTAW (aka TIG), GMAW or MIG,
SMAW, FCAW, or SAW. Welding process requirements and welding application requirements are
listed in Table 1 for Praxair’s commonly used material combinations at a MDMT of -29°C (-20°F) and
higher.

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Table 2 lists carbon steel welding consumables by AWS classification that have provided
acceptable mechanical properties for a MDMT colder than -29°C (-20°F) but not lower than -48°C
(-55°F). Select the appropriate filler metal for the minimum design metal temperature listed in the
drawings and specifications.
Table 3 lists stainless steel and aluminum welding consumables by AWS classification that
have provided acceptable mechanical properties for a MDMT significantly colder than -29°C (-20°F).
Written approval from Praxair shall be obtained for exceptions to the welding processes and
filler metals listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3 before they are used.
Table 1A
Acceptable Welding Processes and Filler Metal Combinations for MDMT of -29°C (-20°F) and Warmer
Carbon Steel to 5083, 5086, 6061 & 6063
Welding Process Carbon Steel CrMo Low Alloy Steel
Stainless Steel Aluminum Alloys
SMAW Note 1 E309 or E309L E7016-B2L, E7016-B2L, Not Permitted
E8016-B2 or E8018-B2
GTAW ER70S-2 or ER309 or ER70S-B2L or ER80S-B2 ER5183
ER70S-6 ER309L
GMAW ER70S-2 or ER309 or ER70S-B2L or ER80S-B2 ER5183
ER70S-6 ER309L
SAW F7A2-EM12K ER309L F80A2-EB2-B2 Not Applicable
Note 4 F7A2-EH14
F7P2-EM12K
FCAW Note 2 E309LTX-1 or E8XT1-B2 or E8XT5-B2 Not Applicable
E309LTX-4

Table 1B
Acceptable Welding Processes and Filler Metal Combinations for Stainless Steel Base Metals
with MDMT of -29°C (-20°F) and Warmer
2101 (UNS S32101)
304H Incoloy 800H 2205 (UNS S33205)
321(H)
304 & 304L 316 & 316L 316H (UNS N08810) TP2207 (UNS AL6XN
Welding 347(H)
Stainless Stainless Stainless Stainless Steel Incoloy 800HT 32750) Austenitic
Process
Steel Steel Steel (UNS N08811) Duplex Stainless Stainless Steel
Note 6
Note 6 Note 7 Steel
Note 5
SMAW E308L-XX, E316L-XX E308H E347L-XX ENiCrCoMo-1 E2209 ENiCrMo-3,
E316L-XX E316H E347H-XX ENiCrMo-4,
ENiCrMo-10
GTAW ER308L, ER316L ER308H ER347L ERNiCrCoMo-1 ER2209 ERNiCrMo-3,
ER316L ER316H ER347(H) ERNiCrMo-4,
ERNiCrMo-10
GMAW ER308L, ER316L ER308H ER347L ERNiCrCoMo-1 ER2209 ERNiCrMo-3,
ER316L ER316H N/A for H ERNiCrMo-4,
grade materials ERNiCrMo-10
SAW ER308L, ER316L ER308H ER347L Not Applicable ER2209 ERNiCrMo-3,
Note 4 ER316L ER316H ER347 (H) ERNiCrMo-4,
ERNiCrMo-10
FCAW E308LTX- E316LTX-1, E308HTX-1 E347LTX-1, Not Applicable E2209T0-1 Not
1, E168LTX-4 or -4 E347LTX-4 E2209T0-4 Applicable
E308LTX-4 N/A for H
E316HTX-1 grade materials
or -4

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Table 2
Acceptable Welding Processes and Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel Filler Metal Combinations for
MDMT Range (-29°C to -48°C) (-20°F to -55°F)
Welding Process Carbon Steel Carbon Steel to Stainless Steel
GTAW ER70S-2, ER70S-6, ER80XNi-1, ER80XNi-2 ER309 or ER309L
GMAW ER70S-2, ER70S-6, ER80XNi-1, ER80XNi-2 ER309 or ER309L
SMAW E7016-1, E7018-1, E8016-C3, E8018-C3, E8016-D1, E309-XX or E309L-XX
E8018-D1, E8016-C3L, E8018-C3L
FCAW (Note 3) E8XT5-Ni1C, E8XT5-Ni1M, E81T1-Ni2C E309LTX-1 or E309LTX-4
SAW (Note 4) F7AX-EM12K, F7AX-EH14, F7PX-EM12K, F7PX- ER309L
EH14

Table 3
Acceptable Welding Processes and Stainless Steel and Aluminum Filler Metal Combinations for MDMT
less than -29°C (-20°F)
304(L) or 316(L) Stainless Steel
Welding Process 5052, 5083, 6061 and 6063 Aluminum Alloys
Notes 3, 8
SMAW E310-15 or 16, or E316L-15 Not Permitted
GTAW ER308L, ER316L or ER310 ER5183
GMAW ER308L or ER316L ER5183
SAW (Note 4) ER308L or ER316L Not Applicable
FCAW E308LTX-1 or 4, or E316LTX-1 or 4 Not Applicable

Note 1: An E6010 or E7018 electrode is acceptable for materials having an ultimate tensile strength of 60,000
psi (410 mPa) or less. Materials above this level shall be welded with E7018 or similar low hydrogen
electrode.
Note 2: Electrode shall meet ASME SFA 5.20, Classification E7XT-1 or E7XT-5. A low hydrogen flux-cored
wire as described by the wire manufacturer’s literature shall be used for all welding involving materials
having an ultimate tensile strength higher than 60,000 psi (410 mPa).
Note 3: Filler metal to be used on a component or piping with a minimum design metal temperature that
requires impact testing by the construction code shall be qualified by CVN impact testing at the service
temperature (or lower). Pre-use testing of each lot of filler metal is required unless ER308L, ER316L or
ER310 is used with the GTAW process. Results of this test shall be submitted for approval along with
the WPS and PQR two weeks before welding is to start on the component.
Note 4: Only neutral flux shall be used with the SAW process.
Note 5: See Section 3.7 for special requirements when welding duplex stainless steel materials.
Note 6: See Section 3.8 for additional requirements when welding stainless steel for high temperature service.
Note 7: See Section 3.9 for additional requirements when welding Incoloy 800H/800HT in high temperature
service.
Note 8: When MDMT is colder than -196°C (-320°F), additional limitations apply per section 3.3.

3.3 Toughness Testing

Components covered by this Standard may have a MDMT at which the applicable code
requires toughness testing of the base metal and/or weld metal. When either base metal or weld metal
requires this testing, these test results shall be included on the PQR. Charpy impact test results for base
materials and weld metals shall be reported in both absorbed energy and lateral expansion. Toughness

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testing and acceptance criteria are given in ASME Code, Section VIII, Division 1,or ASME B31.3 for
piping.
When MDMT is colder than -196°C (-320°F), acceptable welding processes and filler metals
are:
• GTAW or GMAW with 316L or 308L filler metal
• FCAW with 316L filler metal
Provide impact test data on base material, complete pre-use impact testing and ferrite number
readings of filler metals for each lot of consumables to be used in production. Vessel (production)
impact testing is required. All other requirements of ASME Section VIII, Division 1, UHA-51 apply.
3.4 Weld Maps

A weld map showing where each weld procedure is used shall be submitted to Praxair with the
WPS and PQR for each component for each project.
3.5 Welders

All welders shall be qualified to the requirements of ASME Section IX for all welding before
welding on a component or piping or completing tack welds and temporary attachment welds.
3.6 Stainless Steel Precautions

Markers, paints, tape, cleaning solvents etc., shall be designed for use on stainless steel and
shall have low sulfur, chloride and other halides content. If hydro testing is performed on a stainless
steel vessel, or water is used to clean or control interpass temperature, the chloride content of the water
shall be below 50 parts per million.
All liquid penetrant materials shall meet the contamination limits requirements in ASME
Section V, Article 6.
3.7 Special Requirements When Welding Duplex Stainless Steel

The requirements in API RP 582 shall be addressed during WPS qualification, fabrication, post
fabrication cleaning and any required testing.
3.7.1 If a thermal process is used for cutting or beveling a minimum of 2 mm (3/32 in) of material
shall be mechanically removed to eliminate the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) caused by the thermal
process.
3.7.2 Arc strikes, tack welds and temporary welds that are not included in a finished weld shall be
removed by grinding to a minimum of 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) below the base material. A dye penetrant test
shall be completed after grinding. All crack-like defects shall be completely removed. Once the dye
penetrant test shows all defects are removed, the gouged area(s) shall be filled with weld metal per a
weld procedure approved by Praxair.
3.7.3 If the weld requires purging only argon shall be used as the backing gas. Welding shall not
start until the oxygen in the backing gas exiting the weld area contains less than or equal to 0.5 percent
oxygen. Backing gas flow shall be maintained until a weld metal thickness is greater than 6 mm (¼
inch) thickness.

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Backing gas is required when weld fillet welding on materials that are equal to or less than 6
mm (¼ inch) thickness. This requirement includes welding socket weld fittings
3.7.4 For tube-to-tubesheet welds, tube wall reduction during tube expansion shall be between 2 and
3 percent.
Tube expansion shall eliminate the crevice on the shell side. Full tube expansion inside the
tubesheet face shall be equal to or less than 1.6 mm (1/16 inch).
The tube-to-tubesheet weld and heat affected zone shall not be roller expanded.
3.7.5 Permanent backing strips are not permitted.
3.8 Special Requirements for Welding Stainless Steel for High Temperature Service (>1000°F
[538°C])

When fabrication requires using “H” grade base materials and filler materials (TP347H/
TP321H, 304H/316H) additional requirements regarding heat treatment, cleaning, and quality must be
followed.
3.8.1 Head forming by cold forming process is prohibited for TP321H and TP347H materials.
3.8.2 Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) is required when welding 347H and 321H greater than ¼-
inch thick base material. Holding temperature shall be 1950 ±25°F (1066 ±14°C) for 30 min per inch
material thickness or 10 minutes, whichever is greater.
3.8.3 PWHT is required when welding 304H and 316H greater than 1-inch thick material thickness.
Holding temperature shall be 1900 ±25°F (1083 ±14°C) for 30 min per inch of thickness.
3.8.4 Above 800°F (427°C), PWHT heating rate shall not exceed 400°F/hr (204°C/hr) divided by the
material thickness in inches.
3.8.5 Support vessel and piping as needed during heat treatment to avoid sagging and distortion.
3.8.6 Remove insulation used during PWHT and complete forced air cooling as quickly as possible.
Cooling rate shall be recorded to 800°F (427°C).
3.8.7 A minimum of one ferrite number reading per filler metal lot shall be taken on production
welds. The ferrite number for the deposited weld metal shall not exceed 10 FN measured before PWHT.
Ferrite number shall be measured with an instrument calibrated to, and listed in, AWS A4.2M or by
actual, as-deposited chemical composition using WRC 1992 (FN) Diagram. . Ferrite number reading is
not required after PWHT.
3.8.8 All “H Grade” stainless steels requiring PWHT shall have scale removed by machining,
grinding, sandblasting, or acid pickling.
3.8.9 Weld procedure qualification shall include base metal, HAZ and weld metal micrograph with
grain size analysis. Acceptance criteria for 3xxH grade materials shall be grain size 7 or coarser.

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3.9 Special Requirements for Welding Incoloy 800H/800HT in High Temperature Service
(>1000°F [538°C])

PWHT is required for all vessel fabrication per Section VIII UNF-56(e).
Above 800°F (427°C), heating rate shall not exceed 400°F/hr (204°C/hr) divided by the
material thickness in inches.
Remove insulation used during PWHT and complete forced air cooling as quickly as possible.
Cooling rate shall be recorded to 800°F (427°C)
Incoloy 800H/800HT requiring PWHT shall have scale removed by machining, grinding,
sandblasting, or acid pickling.
Weld procedure qualification shall include weld metal micrograph and grain size analysis.
Acceptance criteria for Incoloy 800H/800HT grade materials shall be grain size 5 or coarser.
All welded butt joints shall be fully radiographed using D4 radiographic film and shall meet
the examination requirements of Section VIII, Division 1, paragraph UW-51 or B31.3 as applicable.
Liquid penetrant exam is required for all welded joints per ASME Section VIII UNF-58 (c)
when they are not required to be fully radiographed. The exam shall be made following heat treatment if
heat treatment is performed.
3.10 Initial Cleaning

All dirt, oil, grease, paints, and other markings shall be removed from the weld area before
welding begins, per the requirements of Section VIII, Division 1.
3.11 Wire Brushing, Grinding Wheels and Sanding Discs

Wire brushes used for stainless steel and aluminum components shall have stainless steel
bristles. Wire brushes, grinding wheels and sanding discs used on carbon steel and CrMo low alloy steel
shall not be used on stainless steel or aluminum. Wire brushes, grinding wheels and sanding discs used
on stainless steel shall not be used on aluminum and vice versa. A marking system shall be used to
clearly identify the materials wire brushes, grinding wheels and sanding discs are used on to eliminate
cross contamination.
3.12 Beveling

Weld bevels may be made by thermal or mechanical means. If bevels are cut with thermal
processes, they shall be cleaned to bright metal with a mechanical process before welding.
3.13 Straightening and Shrinking

Application of heat to straighten or shrink stainless steel or aluminum shall not be used without
first obtaining Praxair’s approval of the written procedure. A specific written procedure is required for
each instance.

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3.14 Preheat and Interpass Temperature

Base metal temperature shall be a minimum of 15°C (60°F) before any welding starts,
including tack welding and attachment welding. An area the greater of 10 times the thickest material
being welded or 150 mm (6 inches) in diameter measured from the point of welding start shall be heated
to 15°C (60°F) or higher.
This preheat temperature shall be maintained as long as welding is progressing. If welding is
interrupted for any reason, the preheat shall be maintained or the rate of cooling shall be controlled
down to the preheat tempt to prevent detrimental effects in the materials. The preheat specified on the
WPS shall be applied before welding resumes.
The preheat temperature shall be measured on the surface opposite to which heat is applied. If
the temperature must be measured on the same side as the preheat temperature is applied, a minimum of
five minutes shall elapse after ending of the preheat and measuring the preheat temperature.
Record preheat temperature used for production welds when application of heat is required.
Preheat temperatures shall be as specified in B31.3, Table 330.1.1 for piping and Section VIII,
Division 1, Appendix R for vessel components.
If a preheat temperature above the minimum required in the referenced codes is used to
complete the weld procedure qualification test coupons, this higher preheat shall be treated as an
essential variable and must be documented on the WPS. Lowering this preheat for production welding
requires requalification of the weld procedure.
3.15 Post Weld Heat Treatment

Any vessel which requires Postweld Heat Treatment (PWHT) shall be handled on an individual
basis. A written procedure including all the requirements of Section VIII, Division 1 shall be submitted
to Praxair for review before PWHT takes place. Chart recordings shall be submitted as part of the
quality control records for the project.
3.16 Requirements for Cold-Stretched Austenitic Stainless-Steel Vessels

All cold stretching pressure vessel applications shall be handled on an individual basis.
Welding and examination requirements shall meet the requirements of ASME Section VIII
Division 1, Appendix 44 – Cold Stretching of Austenitic Stainless-Steel Pressure Vessels. Additional
vessel fabrication qualification testing may be required as defined by Praxair’s pressure vessel
consultant.
Welding process shall be limited to GTAW with 308L or 316L filler metal.
Weld procedure qualification test results shall be submitted to Praxair for review and approval
before vessel production begins.
3.17 Repair Welding

Gouging of repairs can be accomplished using either thermal or mechanical means. If a

thermal gouging process is used, all evidence of oxides shall be removed mechanically before the weld
repair is started.

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All evidence of a defect shall be removed before repair welding is started. Complete defect
removal shall be verified by liquid penetrant testing or magnetic particle testing on magnetic materials,
and liquid penetrant testing on non-magnetic materials.
If more than two attempts must be made to remove a defect, a written procedure shall be
submitted to Praxair for approval before the third repair effort is made.
3.17.1 Repair of Defective Welds in “H” Grade Materials

Complete additional heat treatment after any repair welding as required by initial design.
Temperature and time shall match the initial heat treatment required. A second heat treatment is not
required as part of weld procedure qualification.
3.18 Weld Size in Corrosion Service

Full penetration longitudinal and girth seams have the necessary service life due to the
corrosion allowance added to the shell or head. Fillet weld leg length (or throat depth) for supports,
nozzles, etc., subjected to corrosion shall be increased by an amount equal to the corrosion allowance.
4.0 Testing and Inspection
The testing and inspection requirements of ASME Section VIII, Division 1 and B31.3 shall be
met, except as modified in this Standard.
4.1 In Process Inspections

Each layer of a weld shall be uniform in width and size throughout its full length. Each layer
shall also be smooth and free of slag inclusions, cracks, porosity, lack of fusion and undercut before the
next layer is added. The cover layer shall be free of coarse ripples, porosity, irregular surfaces, non-
uniform bead patterns, high crown, and deep ridges or valleys between beads.
Grinding or sanding used to meet the requirements of the previous paragraph shall not reduce
the base metal thickness or weld metal thickness below the minimum design thickness nor reduce the
nominal thickness of the adjoining material by 1 mm (1/32 inch) or 10 percent, whichever is less.
Offset between two adjoining pieces of materials shall meet the requirements of UW-33 of
Section VIII, Division 1. Longitudinal seams of component shells and fabricated pipe shall meet the
requirements for Category A joints in Table UW-33. Girth seams of components and pipe joints shall
meet the requirements for Category B, C, and D of Table UW-33.
Out-of-roundness of shells and piping shall meet the requirements of section UG-80.
Temporary attachments welded to the pressure boundary shall be cut off, not “broken” or
“knocked” off. The remaining weld shall be sanded or ground smooth with the surface. The material
thickness shall not be reduced below the required minimum design thickness.
Arc strikes outside the weld bevel and in areas where temporary attachments have been
removed will be subject to either a dye penetrant test or, if appropriate, a magnetic particle test per
Appendix 8 or Appendix 6, respectively, of Section VIII, Division 1. Crater cracks or other indications
not meeting the requirements of Appendix 6 or 8 shall be removed and rewelded.

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4.2 Non-Destructive Testing

4.2.1 ASME Coded Vessel Shell Groove Welds

Unless another Praxair Standard or project-specific drawing includes more stringent

requirements, longitudinal and girth seams shall meet the spot radiographic requirements of Section
VIII, Division 1, paragraph UW-52. When Praxair supplies heads for ASME coded vessels, the head
girth seams shall be considered to be another segment and shall meet the requirements of UW-
11(a)(5)(b).
Automatic ultrasonic testing (AUT) may be used in lieu of radiography on ASME coded
vessels provided the requirements outlined in the latest edition of ASME Section VIII, Division 1,
paragraph UW-51(a)(4) are met.
4.2.2 Non-ASME Code Component Shell Groove Welds

Longitudinal seams shall be welded with full penetration groove welds, unless another Praxair
Standard or project-specific drawings include other requirements. One shell from each lot of shells shall
be spot radiographed. A lot of shells are defined as each group of five or a partial group of five shells.
These radiographs shall meet the requirements of paragraph UW-52 of Section VIII, Division 1 of the
ASME Code.
Unless another Praxair Standard or project-specific drawing includes other requirements, girth
seams which are groove welded shall, as a minimum, be spot radiographed per the requirements of
paragraph UW-52 of Section VIII, Division 1 of the ASME Code.
AUT may be used in lieu of radiography on non-ASME coded vessels provided the
requirements outlined in the latest edition of ASME Section VIII, Division 1, paragraph UW-51(a)(4)
are met.
4.2.3 Pipe Welding

Pipe joint welds external to components shall meet the requirements of ASME B31.3 and
Praxair Standard W-41. In addition, pipe shall be subjected to a minimum 10 percent random
radiographic examination of the welds for each pipe welder of each component. The radiographs shall
be evaluated per Table 341.3.2A, Normal Fluid Service requirements in ASME B31.3, unless stated
otherwise on the approved drawings.
AUT may be used in lieu of radiography for pipe girth welds provided the requirements
outlined in the latest revision of ASME B31.3 Appendix R are met.
4.2.4 Fillet Welding

For vessels that are pneumatically tested, fillet welds shall meet the requirements of paragraph
UW-50, located in ASME Code, Section VIII, Division 1.
4.2.5 Welding Lifting Lugs

All lifting devices (including lifting lugs, trunnions, attachment pads, etc.) attached with fillet
welds or partial penetration welds shall have their attachment welds examined for their full length by
either magnetic particle or liquid penetrant test methods if the materials are magnetic, and by liquid

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 Praxair Standard W-6 (Revised: 02/01/2019)

penetrant testing if the materials are nonmagnetic. Magnetic particle testing and evaluation shall be
completed per Appendix 6 of ASME Section VIII, Division 1. Liquid penetrant testing and evaluation
shall be completed per Appendix 8 of ASME Section VIII, Division 1.
All lifting devices attached with full penetration welds shall have their full length examined by
ultrasonic testing. Ultrasonic testing and evaluation shall be completed per Appendix 12 of ASME
Section VIII, Division 1.
4.2.6 Austenitic and duplex stainless steels welds exceeding ¾-inch nominal thickness shall be
examined for cracks by the liquid penetrant test per Section VIII, Division 1, paragraph UHA-34. The
exam should be made following heat treatment if heat treatment is performed.
5.0 Quality Records
All testing and inspection records shall be submitted to Praxair as part of the vessel quality
record dossier as defined on the purchase order. Records of applied preheat, PWHT and NDE (including
production hardness testing, if required) shall include the date of each test - including initial fabrication
and any repairs.
6.0 Safety
Fumes and radiation (ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light) generated during welding can be a
serious health hazard. Precautions should be taken to avoid the concentration and/or inhalation of the
fumes and effects of this radiation. Welders shall use an oxygen monitor when welding with inert gases
in enclosed spaces.
Solvents used to clean metals may decompose when heated, producing toxic vapors. Consult the
solvent’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for further information. Vessels cleaned with solvents shall be tested
for residual Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). The VOC levels shall be equal to or less than 10 ppm
before any welding takes place or the finished component is shipped from the component supplier.
Never enter an enclosed vessel or piping for any reason without first going through an approved
confined space entry procedure and documenting that the atmosphere inside the vessel is within
prescribed OSHA limits or the local safety and health requirements of the fabrication location.

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