-

S T D - P F I ES-Lb-ENGL

2002

71b115411 0000571 O72

PFI Standard ES- 16
(Reaffirmed March 200 1)

ACCESS HOLES, BOSSES AND PLUGS

FOR RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION
OF PIPE WELDS

Prepared by
Pipe Fabrication Institute Engineering Commiee

All PFI Standards are advisory only. There is no

agreement to adhere to any PFI Standard and their

use by anyone i s entirely voluntary.

Copyright by

PIPE FABRICATION INSTITUTE

Dedicared 10 Technical Advnncenients and Stnndnrdizoiion in
ihr Pipe Fnbricniiori I n d u s f r ~ ~
Since 1913
USA

CANADA

PMB 323

6 j j 33T ave. siriie 201

61 I f e n n s j h i i i n Avenrie SE
Wnsltingioii. DC

Lachine. Quebec

20003

H8T3C6
WEB SITE
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*.p~-insiiiiii~.

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S T D - P F I ES-Lb-ENGL

7Lb45qLi 0000572 T O 7

2001

PFI Standard ES- 16

(Reaffirmed March 2001)

ACCESS HOLES, BOSSES AND PLUGS

FOR RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION OF PIPE WELDS
METRIC CONVERSIONS
The conversion of quantities between systems of units involves a determination of the number of significant
digits to be retained. All conversions depend upon the intended precision of the original quantity and are rounded to
the appropriate accuracy.
Pipe sizes together with applicable wall thickness are not shown with metric equivalents.
The SI (metric) values where included with the customary U S . values in this Standard are the rounded
equivalents of the U.S. values and are for reference only.
Metric units were derived utilizing the following conversion factor:

Conversion

Factor

inches to
millimeter

25.4

1. Scope
1.1 This standard covers recommendations for access holes, bosses and plugs for the radiographic inspection of
pipe butt welds where the radiographic source is located on the inside of the pipe.

2. Access Hole and Plug

2.1 For pipe wall thickness less than 5/8 in. (16mm) thick, the location and design of the access hole and plug
shall be as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 6.

h-

TAP 1"-8UNC-26

1/ 2 (13mm)

1/32'(1mm) R.x.020(1 mm)

DEEP IDENT TOOL --*
MARK
NECK 1/4" (6mm) x
118" (3mm) DEEP
+
I"8UNC-3A

f 580
T (16mm)

T = Nominal Wall
* Prefered

I
.
\

FIGURE 1

3
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3 / 8 ( 1Omm)

&

98'(16mm)

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71b4544 0000573 745 9

2001

PFI Standard ES- 16

(Reaffirmed March 2001)

2.1 For pipe wall thickness 5/8 in. (16 mm) through 1 3/8 in. (35 mm), the location and design of the access
hole and plug shall be shown in Fig. 2.

,II
I

TAP 1"-8UNC-2B

1/32"(1mm) R.x.O20'(1mm)
DEEP IDENT. TOOL
MARK

\YA

T =Nominal Wall
H = t- (minimum wall)
* Prefered

NECK 1/4' (6mm) x

1/8" (3mm) DEEP
1"-8UNC-3A

-b

2.3 For pipe wall thickness over 1 318 in. (35 111111) through 3 in. (76 mm), the location and design of the access
hole and plug shall be as shown in Fig. 3.

* 6 (152mm)

1/2" (i3mm)

1/32"(1mm) R.x.020'(1mm)
DEEP IDENT TOOL d
MARK

TAP 1"-8UNC-2B

3/8" (1O m )

NECK 1/4" (6mm) x

1 / 8 (3mm) DEEP
(32mm)

l"8UNC-3Ab--

T =Nominal Wall
H = tm (minimumwall)
Prefered

I
LJ3/16J

(21mm)

FIGURE 3

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T
H

S T D - P F I ES-16-ENGL

2001

71b4544 0000574 8 8 1
PFI Standard ES- 16
(Reaffirmed March 2001)

2.1 For pipe wall thickness over 3 in. (76 mm) through 5 in. (127 mm), the location and design of the access
hole and plug shall be as shown in Fig. 4.

*6(152mm)
4min(l02mm)

TAP 1 ln"bUNC-2B
1/2" (13mm)

1/32"(1mrn) R.x.020"(1mm)
DEEP IDENT. TOOL __*
NECK 1/4" (6mm) x
118' (3mm) DEEP
1 1/2"UNC-3A -b

T = Nominal Wall
H = t- (minimum wall)
Prefered

i5/w
(31mrn)

FIGURE 4

2.5 For pipe wall thickness over 5 in. (127 mm), the location and design of the access hole and plug shall be as
shown in Fig. 5.

6 (152mm)
4"min(102rnm)

dm7

TAP 2" - 4%UNC-2B

i
DEEP IDENT. TOOL ' MARK
NECK 1 / 4 (6mm) x
l i 8 (3mrn) DEEP

(54mm)

'!4\\\T--t--hY--l

2" (51mm)

2" - 4%UNC-3A -b
T

T = Nominal Wall
H = tm (minimum wall)
Prefered

FIGURE 5

5
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2ODL

7Lb't5411 0000575 7LB W

PFI Standard ES- 16
(Reaffirmed March 2001)

3. Radiographic Boss and Plug

3. i Radiographic boss may be used in lieu of weld build-up (Fig. 1) for wall thicknesses 5/8 in. (16mm) or less
to minimize or eliminate distortion and out-of-roundness. Attachment of the boss and the plug shall be as
shown in Fig. 7.

TAP 1"-8UNC-2B

f
'
I

1 3/4'
(44mm)

1/32"(lmm) R.x.020(1mm)
DEEP IDENT. TOOL
MARK
NECK 1/4" (6mm) x 1 / 8 (3mm) DEEP

1/16'

3/8" ( 1Omm)

1/16" (2mm)

9/32" (7mm) x 45"

L13/!16"J
(2mm)
T =Nominal Wall

FIGURE 6
4. Attachment of the Radiographic Boss and Seal Welding of Access Hole Plug
4,1 Attachment of the radiographic boss and seal welding of the access hole plug shall be as shown in Fig. 7.

3/8" (10mm) FILLET WELD

(TWO OR MORE PASSES)
,1/4

(6mm) FILLET WELD

FULLPENETRATION
WELD 1/4" (6mm) MIN.
FILLET
REINFORCEMENT

1/16 (2mm)

Integral Type

Boss Type

FIGURE 7

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S T D - P P I ES-Lb-ENGL

2 O O L D 7Lb115114 000057b b 5 q D
PFI Standard ES-16
(Reaffirmed March 2001)

5. General Comments
5.1 Upon completion of radiography and acceptance of the weld, a plug shall be inserted to close the access
hole and shall be seal welded to the pipe. Seal weld is not designed or intended to be a pressure retaining
weld.

5.2 Plug and boss material selected from acceptable material specifications as listed in the applicable code and
compatible with the pipe material shall be used. Proper consideration shall be given to the integrity of the
plug and boss stock material.

5.3 Plug material designation shall be permanently marked on either the head or the side of each plug.
5.4 The boss material designation shall be permanently marked on the side of each boss.

7
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S T D - P F I ES-Lb-ENGL 2001 m 71b11544 0000577 570 m

CHARTER MEMBERS

ACCORD PIPE FABRICATORS, INC.

AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY, INC.
FLO-RITE, INC.
GEM INDUSTRIAL, INC.
HPI CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
HUXTABLE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
IDEAL WELDERS, LTD.
INDUSTRIAL POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
IVOR J. LEE, INC.
JOHN E. GREEN COMPANY
J. F. AHERN CO.
J. H. KELLY LLC
J. S . MC KINNEY, INC.
KINETIC SYSTEMS, INC.
M & M WELDING AND FABRICATORS, INC.
MC ABEE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
MC CARL'S, INC.
MECHANICAL INCORPORATED
MID STATES PIPE FABRICATING, INC.
MURPHY COMPANY
NARDE1 FABRICATORS, LTD.
NEWMECH COMPANIES, INC.
PHILLIPS, GETSCHOW COMPANY
PIPING SYSTEMS, INC.
S. A. COMUNALE COMPANY, INC.
S&D / OSTERFELD MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS
SCOTT CO. OF CALIFORNIA
SPECIALTY PIPING CORPORATION
TEAM INDUSTRIES, INC.
W. J. O'NEIL COMPANY

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A current index of the latest revised ES Standards, Technical Bulletins and Safety Training Guideline is available from

the Pipe Fabrication Institute.

PFI Safety Training Guideline, Standards and Technical Bulletins are published to serve proven needs of the pipe
fabricating industry at the design level and in actual shop operations. Hence, such needs are continually considered and
reviewed by the Engineering Committee of the Pipe Fabrication Institute to provide recommended procedures, which

have been demonstrated by collective experiences to fulfill requirements in a manner for Code compliance. However,
as the PFI Standards are for minimum requirements the designer or fabricator always has the option of specifying
supplementary conditions in the form of requirements beyond the scope of the PFI publications.

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