NCPWB Technical Bulletin Highlights Risk of Brittle Fracture of Carbon Steel Piping During Hydrostatic Testing

The National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau released a Technical Bulletin in May regarding failures in seamless carbon steel piping, fittings and flanges during hydrostatic testing due to changes in steelmaking practices by certain mills over the last five years.  The Bulletin recommends that, except when the piping system hydrostatic test pressure is less than 20% of the code maximum allowable pressure, contractors should include a requirement in their purchase orders that seamless carbon steel pipe, fittings and other flanges have a manganese-to-carbon ratio of 5:1 or greater and a grain size of 7 or finer to avoid such failures.  To learn more, download the NCPWB Technical Bulletin here.

Additionally, if you are not yet a member of the Utah Chapter of the NCPWB, the UMCA would like to encourage all contractor members to consider joining.  Benefits of the NCPWB include access to pre-qualified Weld Procedure Specifications (WPSs), access to weld certifications for any NCPWB certified welder across the country and more.  Membership dues are just $550/year (prorated by $100 each quarter) and the one-time initiation fee of $250 is being covered by the UMCA.  For more information, please contact the UMCA Office.