ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

SECTION IX

INTERPRETATIONS
Volume 44
The Interpretations to the Code will be issued twice a year (July and December) up to the
publication of the 2001 Edition of the Code. The Interpretations for each individual Section are
published separately and are part of the update service to that Section; Interpretations of Section
III, Divisions 1 and 2, are part of the update service to Section III, Subsection NCA.

Interpretations Volumes 36 through 41 were included with the update service to the 1995 Edition
of the Code; Volume 42 is the first Interpretations volume to be included with the update service
to the 1998 Edition.

Section Vol. 42 Vol. 43 Vol. 44 Vol. 45 Vol. 46 Vol. 47

I 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99
II-A 7 /98 ... 7 /99
II-B ... ... ...
II-C ... ... ...
II-D ... ... ...
III-NCA 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99
III-3 ... ... ...
IV 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99
V 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99
VI ... ... ...
VII ... ... ...
VIII-1 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99
VIII-2 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99
VIII-3 ... 12 /98 ...
IX 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99
X ... ... ...
XI 7 /98 12 /98 7 /99

Copyright © 1999
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
All Rights Reserved
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 INTERPRETATIONS
NO. 44 — SECTION IX
Replies to Technical Inquiries
July 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998

FOREWORD

General Information
This publication includes all written interpretations issued between the indicated dates by the ASME
Staff on behalf of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee in response to inquiries concerning
interpretations of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. A contents is also included which lists
subjects specific to the interpretations covered in the individual volume.
These interpretations are taken verbatim from the original letters, except for a few typographical
and editorial corrections made for the purpose of improved clarity. In some instances, a review of the
interpretation revealed a need for corrections of a technical nature. In these cases, a revised interpretation
is presented bearing the original Interpretation Number with the suffix R and the original file number
with an asterisk. Following these revised interpretations, new interpretations and revisions to them
issued during the indicated dates are assigned Interpretation Numbers in chronological order. Interpretations
applying to more than one Code Section appear with the interpretations for each affected Section.
ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of these interpretations when or if additional information
is available which the inquirer believes might affect the interpretation. Further, persons aggrieved by
an interpretation may appeal to the cognizant ASME committee or subcommittee. As stated in the
Statement of Policy in the Code documents, ASME does not “approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse”
any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity.
An interpretation applies either to the Edition and Addenda in effect on the date of issuance of the
interpretation or the Edition and Addenda stated in the interpretation. Subsequent revisions to the Code
may supersede the interpretation.
For detailed instructions on preparation of technical inquiries to the ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Committee, refer to Appendix A.

Subject and Numerical Indexes

Subject and numerical indexes have been prepared to assist the user in locating interpretations by
subject matter or by location in the Code. They cover interpretations issued from Volume 12 up to
and including the present volume, and will be updated with each volume.

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sec9i$text 04-19-99 15:07:49 Job #34222 ASME Interpretations 43
 SECTION IX

Subject Interpretation File No.

QW-150 and QW-462.1, Tension Test Specimens for Pipe and Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-09 BC97-302
QW-200.1, Welding Procedure Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-13 BC98-239
QW-300, Welding Performance Qualifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-11 BC98-133
QW-361.2, Machine Welding Variables for Welding Operators; and QW-381, Corrosion-
Resistant Weld Metal Overlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-14 BC98-447
QW-405.3, Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-15 BC98-448
QW-407.1, Post Weld Heat Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-10 BC97-306
BC97-308
QW-451, Procedure Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-12 BC98-237
BC98-238
QW-462.5(a), Chemical Analysis and Hardness Specimen Corrosion-Resistant and Hardfacing
Weld Metal Overlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX-98-16 BC98-453

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sec9i$text 04-19-99 15:07:49 Job #34222 ASME Interpretations 43
Section IX — Interpretations No. 44 IX-98-09, IX-98-10, IX-98-11

Interpretation: IX-98-09

Subject: Section IX, QW-150 and QW-462.1, Tension Test Specimens for Pipe and Plate

Date Issued: October 9, 1998

File: BC97-302

Question: Would tensile tests performed in accordance with SA-370 be acceptable for meeting
ASME Section IX, QW-462.1(a) and (b)?

Reply: No.

Interpretation: IX-98-10

Subject: Section IX, QW-407.1, Post Weld Heat Treatment

Date Issued: October 9, 1998

File: BC97-306/BC97-308

Question: Is it the intent of Section IX in QW-407.1 to permit reporting the results of more than
one PWHT condition on a single report, with a single PQR number, provided all other applicable
essential and supplementary essential variables are identical and all required tests are conducted and
reported for both conditions?

Reply: Yes.

Interpretation: IX-98-11

Subject: Section IX, QW-300, Welding Performance Qualifications

Date Issued: October 9, 1998

File: BC98-133

Question: May Company A retain the Company B employee responsible for welder performance
qualification to review the welder qualification documents of both companies and qualify the welders
of Company B to the welding program of Company A without further testing of the welders?

Reply: No.

395

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IX-98-12, IX-98-13 Section IX — Interpretations No. 44

Interpretation: IX-98-12

Subject: Section IX, QW-451, Procedure Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens

Date Issued: October 9, 1998

File: BC98-237/BC98-238

Question: May longitudinal bend specimens be used in lieu of transverse bend specimens when
the base metals or the base metal and the weld metal do not differ markedly in bending properties?

Reply: No.

Interpretation: IX-98-13

Subject: Section IX, QW-200.1, Welding Procedure Qualifications

Date Issued: December 22, 1998

File: BC98-239

Question: Are all-encompassing terms acceptable when addressing nonessential variables in a WPS
(e.g., for backing, “with or without,” for root spacing, “unlimited”)?

Reply: Section IX does not specify how nonessential variables are to be addressed; however, the
terms used must provide direction to the welder/welding operator for making production welds to Code
requirements.

396

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Section IX — Interpretations No. 44 IX-98-14, IX-98-15

Interpretation: IX-98-14

Subject: Section IX, QW-361.2, Machine Welding Variables for Welding Operators; and QW-
381, Corrosion-Resistant Weld Metal Overlay

Date Issued: December 22, 1998

File: BC98-447

Background: A multiple layer corrosion-resistant weld metal overlay performance qualification

(machine welding) is made with the first layer under Direct Visual control and the second layer Remote
Visual control.

Question (1): Is the welding operator qualified for both Direct and Remote Visual control techniques
applied either in single or multiple layers?

Reply (1): Yes.

Question (2): For the qualification described in the background, may two welding operators qualify
on one coupon, provided the requirements of QW-453 and QW-361.2 (which delineate the welding
operators “limits of qualification” as per QW-306) are addressed?

Reply (2): Yes.

Interpretation: IX-98-15

Subject: Section IX, QW-405.3, Positions

Date Issued: December 22, 1998

File: BC98-448

Question: May a single-pass “seal weld” as defined in QW-492, used to seal boiler tubes to a
boiler tube sheet, be considered a “cover pass” or a “wash pass” for purposes of exemption from
QW-405.3?

Reply: No.

397

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IX-98-16 Section IX — Interpretations No. 44

Interpretation: IX-98-16

Subject: Section IX, QW-462.5(a), Chemical Analysis and Hardness Specimen Corrosion-
Resistant and Hardfacing Weld Metal Overlay

Date Issued: December 22, 1998

File: BC98-453

Question: Is it permissible to use the surface of the test coupon as the “approximate fusion line”
when determining the minimum finished thickness for corrosion-resistant and hardfacing overlays in
accordance with QW-462.5(a)?

Reply: Yes.

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