EN ISO 13588:2019 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 13588:2019 - "Non-destructive testing of welds - Ultrasonic testing - Use of automated phased array technology" - provides standardized guidance for applying automated phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) to fusion‑welded joints in metallic materials. The standard covers semi‑ and fully‑automated inspections for full‑penetration welded joints of simple geometry (plates, pipes, vessels) with minimum thickness 6 mm, primarily in low‑alloy and fine‑grained steels. It describes capabilities, limitations, and recommended practices for detection, location, sizing and characterization of discontinuities, and supports use as a stand‑alone method or combined with other NDT techniques.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and applicability: Fusion welds in plates, pipes and vessels; guidance for other steels; for coarse‑grained or austenitic steels use ISO 22825 in addition.
• Testing levels: Specifies four testing levels, each associated with a different probability of detection (PoD).
• Procedure and personnel: Requirements for written test procedures, operator qualifications and equipment qualification/verification.
• Equipment and setup: Guidance on ultrasonic instruments, phased array probes, scanning mechanisms, couplant, temperature and geometry considerations.
• Calibration and references: Use of reference blocks and reflectors, sensitivity and range settings (including pulse‑echo and TOFD where applicable).
• Data handling: Requirements for verification of test setup, data storage, interpretation, assessment of indications (location, length, height) and reporting.
• Assessment methods: Permits acceptance assessment based on amplitude (equivalent reflector size) and length, or height and length - note the standard itself does not supply acceptance levels.

Applications and users

Who benefits:

• NDT engineers and inspectors implementing phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) for weld inspection.
• Fabrication and quality control teams in pressure vessel, pipeline, and structural steel industries.
• Asset integrity and maintenance teams performing manufacturing inspection, pre‑service and in‑service inspection. Practical uses:
• Automated weld scanning on production lines and field inspections where repeatable, documented detection and sizing are required.
• Integrating PAUT data into inspection reports and fitness‑for‑service evaluations, or combining PAUT with other NDT (e.g., TOFD) for enhanced detection and characterization.

Related standards

• ISO 22825 - guidance for coarse‑grained and austenitic steels
• ISO 10893‑8, ISO 10893‑11, ISO 3183 - note: EN ISO 13588:2019 is not applicable to automated testing during production covered by these standards.

Keywords: EN ISO 13588:2019, phased array, PAUT, ultrasonic testing, NDT, weld inspection, fusion‑welded joints, automated inspection, probability of detection.