EN ISO 15614-8:2016 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 15614-8:2016 - Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials - Part 8 covers the qualification testing of welding procedures for arc welding of tubes to tube-plate joints. Published by CEN as the European adoption of ISO 15614-8:2016, it defines how to perform welding procedure tests for manual, partly mechanized, fully mechanized or automatic arc welding processes for fusion-welded tube-to-tube-plate assemblies.

The standard is part of the ISO 15614 series (see ISO 15607, Annex A for series details) and supersedes earlier editions. It applies where a gap remains between tube and plate for some plate thickness and excludes tube-sheets with forged end connections requiring internal/external bore welds.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope of qualification: Qualification by tube-to-tube-plate joint tests can cover fully loaded joints or joints that are only seal welded as required by application standards.
• Applicable processes: Arc welding by manual, partly mechanized, fully mechanized or automatic means.
• Welding procedure documentation: Use of pWPS (preliminary Welding Procedure Specification) and completion of the WPQR (Welding Procedure Qualification Record) are specified.
• Test piece preparation: Joint types, joint preparation, triangular/square tube pitch arrangements and test-piece construction methods are described.
• Examination and testing methods: Visual testing, penetrant testing, radiography, macroscopic examination, hardness testing and mechanical push‑out or pull‑out tests are included.
• Acceptance levels and re‑test rules: Criteria for non-destructive and destructive tests and provisions for re-testing are defined.
• Range of qualification: Limits and ranges related to manufacturer, parent materials, tube/tube‑plate dimensions and pitches, filler metal classification/dimensions, welding position, current type, heat input, preheat/interpass/post-weld heat treatment and shielding gas.
• Special topics: Repair welding is to be considered within the procedure test. For tube-to-tube-plate joints that rely on mechanical expansion as a load-bearing feature, a specific welding procedure test must be defined.

Applications and users

EN ISO 15614-8:2016 is used by:

• Welding engineers and procedure writers preparing WPS/WPQR for tube bundles, heat exchangers, boilers and pressure equipment.
• Fabricators of tube-to-tube-plate assemblies (heat exchangers, condensers, pressure vessels).
• Quality, inspection and NDT personnel responsible for acceptance testing (RT, PT, VT) and mechanical testing (push/pull‑out, hardness).
• Regulatory and approval bodies assessing conformity with pressure equipment requirements (see Annex ZA - relationship to EU Directive 97/23/EC).

Related standards

• ISO 15614 series (general Welding procedure test standards) - see ISO 15607 for series framework.
• National and regional adoptions: EN ISO 15614-8:2016 (CEN adoption).

Keywords: EN ISO 15614-8:2016, ISO 15614-8, welding procedure qualification, tube to tube-plate joints, WPQR, pWPS, arc welding, heat exchangers, pressure equipment.