EN 14163:2001 PDF

Overview - EN 14163:2001 (Welding of Pipelines)

EN 14163:2001 (adopted from ISO 13847:2000, modified) defines requirements for producing and inspecting girth, branch and fillet welds in pipeline transportation systems for the petroleum and natural gas industries. It applies to welding of carbon and low-alloy steel pipes with diameter ≥ 20 mm, wall thickness ≥ 3 mm and specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) ≤ 555 MPa. The standard supports compliance with ISO 13623 and covers common arc welding processes while noting project-specific additions may be needed for special operating conditions.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and exclusions: Covers pipeline welds, spools, risers, fittings and valves; excludes on‑land gas supply systems (per CEN adoption), flash girth welding, resistance/solid‑phase/one‑shot processes, longitudinal welds in pipe/fittings and hot‑tap welding in service.
• Covered welding processes: SMAW (shielded metal arc), GTAW (gas tungsten), GMAW (gas metal), FCAW (flux‑cored, with/without shielding gas), SAW (submerged arc).
• Welding procedure specification (WPS): WPS approval/testing follows ISO 9956 series (ISO 9956-2/3) and requires welding of test pieces, inspection and documented approval before production.
• Qualification: Requirements for approval and testing of welders and welding operators (ISO 14732 referenced); inspector witness of WPS tests is required.
• Production controls and NDE: Production welding, non‑destructive examination (NDE) methods (radiography, UT, LP, MT) and acceptance criteria are specified; repair/removal procedures and documentation requirements are included.
• Supplementary/project requirements: Recognizes that additional limits (maximum hardness, minimum impact toughness, CTOD, all‑weld‑metal tensile testing, PWHT, etc.) may be required by specific pipeline operating conditions and should be added in project supplements.
• Informative annexes: Include hyperbaric welding, CRA‑clad/CRA pipeline requirements, brazing/aluminothermic notes and NDE report examples.

Practical applications

• Ensures consistent quality and safety for welded joints in onshore/offshore petroleum and natural gas pipelines.
• Used during procurement, fabrication, installation and inspection of pipeline sections, spools, risers, fittings and valve pups.
• Guides development and approval of WPS documents, welder/operator qualification programs, NDE plans and repair procedures.

Who uses EN 14163

• Pipeline welding engineers and welding supervisors
• Fabrication contractors and welding operators
• Quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC) inspectors and NDE technicians
• Project engineers, owners and regulatory compliance teams in oil & gas

Related standards

• ISO 13623 (pipeline systems)
• ISO 9956 series (WPS specification and testing)
• ISO 14732 (welding operator approval)
• ISO 9712 (NDT personnel qualification)
• EN and ISO standards referenced for destructive and NDE testing (e.g., EN 876, EN 1043‑1, ISO 148)

Use EN 14163 when you need an industry‑accepted framework for welding practices, welder qualification, NDE and documentation for pipeline welding aligned with ISO pipeline requirements.