RAMZ PROJECT ID GG100MBR0771-AG
PROJECT NAME OFF PLOT DELIVERY CONTRACT
DOCUMENT TYPE WELDING, FABRICATION AND INSPECTION PROCEDURES
DOCUMENT TITLE HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE FOR PIPING
UNIT ORIGINATOR DISC. DOC SEQUENCE SHEET
AREA
CODE CODE CODE TYPE NO NO
DOCUMENT NUMBER
LNG 80 100937 RA 6065 0023 0000
PCAP CONTROL NUMBER N/A
CONTRACT NUMBER: C3100000179
Project Revision
01 01 Feb 2024 Issued for review and approval S. Muthusamy G. Jojaiah G. Jojaiah
Rev Date Description Originator Checker Approver
Off-Plot Delivery Contract(ODC) - Qarnalam
HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE FOR PIPING Contract No.
Document No# LNG-80-100937-RA-6065-0023-0000; Rev.01; Dated: 01-Feb-2024 C3100000179
CONTENTS
Sec. No. DESCRIPTIONS Page No.
1. Scope 3
2. Reference Documents 3
3. Personnel Qualification 3
4. Procedure Qualification 3
5. Calibration 4
6. Surface Preparation 4
7. Equipment 4
8. Standardization of Equipment 4
9. Frequency of Performance Check 4
10. Procedure 4
11. Extent of Hardness Test 5
12. Acceptance Criteria 5
13. Reporting 6
Attachment-I (Sample Hardness Testing Report) 7
Page 2 of 7
Off-Plot Delivery Contract(ODC) - Qarnalam
HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE FOR PIPING Contract No.
Document No# LNG-80-100937-RA-6065-0023-0000; Rev.01; Dated: 01-Feb-2024 C3100000179
1.0 SCOPE
This procedure specifies the minimum requirements for carrying out Hardness Testing
measurements of Carbon Steel, LTCS, DSS and SDSS production welds of piping or
materials by using portable hardness testers MIC-10 / Sonodur-2or3 which works on the
principle of Ultrasonic Contact Impedance.
2.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Standard test method for Vickers
2.1 ASTM E 92 latest hardness of metallic materials
Standard Test Method for Indentation
2.2 ASTM E 110 latest Hardness of Metallic Materials by Portable
Hardness Testers
2.3 ASME B 31.3 Ed. 2020 Process Piping Chapter V
SP 1173 Ver.3.0 Feb 2021 Welding of pressure retaining equipment and
2.4
piping
2.5 Health, Safety and Environment
CP 122 Ver 5.0 JULY-2011 (Management System Manual)
Sono Dur 2/3 Instruction Manual
2.6
MIC 10 Instruction Manual
2.7
2.8 ITP Inspection and Test Plan
2.9 ISO DRG Isometric Drawing
3.0 PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION
The operators/technicians used for the testing shall be trained by NDT Level III, who
shall be trained by equipment manufacturer / supplier representative. Operator shall have
minimum one-month experience and training and experience records shall be recorded.
Operators shall be approved by the company or site PDO QA/QC by demonstrating using
appropriate welded blocks.
Technician’s CV, Qualification and experience certificates shall be made available for
review. The Equipment’s instruction manual shall be available with equipment at all
times.
4.0 PROCEDURE QUALIFICATION
Procedure qualification test shall be performed in presence of Company to ensure
repeatability of the instrument before starting of the work.
Page 3 of 7
Off-Plot Delivery Contract(ODC) - Qarnalam
HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE FOR PIPING Contract No.
Document No# LNG-80-100937-RA-6065-0023-0000; Rev.01; Dated: 01-Feb-2024 C3100000179
5.0 CALIBRATION
The Hardness Testing Equipment shall be calibrated once in a year and following any
repair. Copy of calibration certificate shall accompany the Equipment at all times. Test
Certificate for Reference / Test Block shall be available with Block.
6.0 SURFACE PREPARATION
To eliminate hardness error possibly resulting from the roughness of surface, the test
surface shall be ground adequately and the test surface should be clean and free from oil
and dust.
The cleaning/grinding should not reduce thickness, which is critical for Weld/HAZ
interface area. Hardness tests shall be on properly ground smooth surfaces.
Maximum operating / Metal temperature shall be 45oC (Probe)
7.0 EQUIPMENT
Portable Hardness Tester MIC-10 / SonoDur 2 or 3.
Reference or Test Blocks value for CS material preferred range is 200 to 250 HV10. For
DSS, SDSS or other materials contractor’s provided base material with MTC of known
HV10 to be used for reference block.
8.0 STANDARDIZATION OF THE EQUIPMENT
The equipment shall be calibrated and on the known Hardness value by taking the
average value of the 3 indentations made normal to the test surface, with the distance
between the two tests points shall not be more than 2 mm. Ensure that the impact
location shall be at least 5 mm away from the outer edge of the standard test block. The
set up calibration shall be saved and used for actual measurements. Acceptable tolerance
of the reading compared to reference block value is 5%.
9.0 FREQUENCY OF PERFORMANCE CHECK
The performance check shall be carried out before taking the first reading and after the
last reading of a day. The same shall be repeated if number of impacts crossed 100
readings in a day and if any repeated inconsistence readings.
10.0 PROCEDURE
a) Care shall be taken for taking measurements by keeping the instrument probes
perpendicular to the surface with 100 % contact area.
Page 4 of 7
Off-Plot Delivery Contract(ODC) - Qarnalam
HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE FOR PIPING Contract No.
Document No# LNG-80-100937-RA-6065-0023-0000; Rev.01; Dated: 01-Feb-2024 C3100000179
b) Any measurement shall be average of the 3 indentations.
c) Where ever there is a difficulty in getting the hardness reading in HAZ (within 2 mm
from the edge of the weld reinforcement) because of weld reinforcement height, the
reinforcement shall be grounded to a level, until hardness reading is achievable.
d) Hardness measurements shall be carried out after PWHT (if any)
11.0 EXTENT OF HARDNESS TEST
Hardness measurements shall be made on the parent metal, weld and heat-affected Zone
with in 2 mm from the edge of the weld reinforcement) on either side (where necessary).
For each set of Hardness measurement required, the average and maximum of the three
measurements on the base material, weld and HAZ shall be reported.
At least one set of reading per weld shall be taken on piping of size DN 100 and smaller
At least two set of readings per weld shall be taken on piping of size DN 150 through
DN 300
At least one reading every 400 mm of weld length shall be taken on piping over size DN
300.
Pipe Size No. of reading
DN 100 and smaller At least 1 reading
DN 150 through DN 300 At least 2 reading
DN 300 Above At least 1 reading every 400mm of weld length
Hardness testing shall be done after PWHT, if PWHT is applicable for the welds in the
spool.
12.0 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
248 HV10 Maximum for ferritic metals in process services, including H2S and sour
service conditions. (Base material – 220 HV10)
325 HV10 maximum for ferritic materials in non-sour process conditions
325 HV10 maximum for structural steels
For duplex (super) stainless steel, the maximum allowable hardness value as follows;
a) For DSS 22% Cr – 320 HV10 (Base material – 290 HV10)
b) For SDSS 25% Cr – 350 HV10 (Base material – 320 HV10)
Page 5 of 7
Off-Plot Delivery Contract(ODC) - Qarnalam
HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE FOR PIPING Contract No.
Document No# LNG-80-100937-RA-6065-0023-0000; Rev.01; Dated: 01-Feb-2024 C3100000179
If hardness values are exceeded, the weld joint shall be rejected.
If only one hardness result exceeds the specified maximum value a minimum of three
further indentations shall be made in the close proximity to the failed location such that
they do not interface each other. If all further tests are below specified limit the result can
be accepted.
If any of the retest readings are found to exceed then the weld shall be considered
unacceptable and shall be reported to client. Unless accepted by client, unacceptable
welds shall be either removed, rewelded, or heat treated to reduce the hardness to an
acceptable value. The specific approach to be used shall be subject to the client’s
approval before any corrective action is taken. The corrected region shall be retested to
ensure compliance to acceptable hardness values.
Hardness measurements shall be shall be carried out after PWHT (if any)
13.0 REPORTING.
All readings and other details shall be reported in the Hardness Testing Report Format
attached.
Page 6 of 7
Off-Plot Delivery Contract(ODC) - Qarnalam
HARDNESS TESTING PROCEDURE FOR PIPING Contract No.
Document No# LNG-80-100937-RA-6065-0023-0000; Rev.01; Dated: 01-Feb-2024 C3100000179
ATTACHMENT-I
Sample Report Form
Page 7 of 7
