Air Leak Test

General
This document presents minimum requirements of air leak test that will be applied of reinforcement pad
of storage tank.
Particular attention of this test is leakage detection that shall be applied to circumference finish fillet weld
reinforcement plate to shell on each opening using tell-tale hole before the tank is filled with test water.

Testing Apparatus
Compressor 1 unit
Pressure gauge 1 unit
Flexible hose
Soup solution

Testing Method
Applying pneumatic pressure and soup film as media of finish fillet welds between reinforcement plate
and shell for Leakage detection.

Preparation
i) Pneumatic pressure test shall be performed after visual examination.

ii) The joint should be thoroughly cleaned from debris and foreign materials using suitable cleaning
process.
iii) Keep dry of surface area that will be tested.

iv) The temperature limits of metal surface shall be between 4o C (40 o F) and 52 o C (125oF), unless the
film solution is proven to work at temperatures outside these limits, either by testing or manufacturers
recommendations.
v) Prepare soup solution suitable for detection of leak.
vi) A minimum light intensity of 1000 lux (100Fc) at the point of examination is required during the
application of the examination and evaluation for leaks.
vii)The examiner shall has vision (with correction, if necessary) to be able to read a Jagger Type 2
standard chart at distance of not less than 300 mm (12 in).
viii) The examiner shall competent in the technique of the pneumatic pressure testing, including
performing the examination and interpreting and evaluating the results.

Test Execution
i) Applying pneumatic pressure to the each opening of 100 kpa (15 lbf/in2) and hold pressure.
ii) Verifying and Examine the weld of outside tank for evidence of leakage.
In case the leakage happens of welding seam, it will be indicated with formation of bubbles and pressure
drop indicated at pressure gauge. If leakage found, Identify using marker at leakage area for repair work
and retested.
iii) Result of test shall be documented and maintain.
iv) When rainfall during a test makes the checking for leaks, required agreement between COMPANY
and CONTRACTOR that the test shall be postponed until weather permits possible to inspect.
v) The tested surface shall be cleaned and dry, after pneumatic pressure test complete.

Acceptance Criteria
There is no bursting bubble at welding seam tested.

Repair of Defective Welds

i) Defect in welds shall be repaired by grinding or chipping or melting out the defects and re-welding in
accordance with previous WPS.
ii) The repair weld shall be retested as paragraph 5.
PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to reinforcing the activities that will be carried out for
the performance of the pneumatic tests that are required on reinforcement pads of
nozzles, saddles, attachments etc.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions are applicable to this document:

LEAK: Is the evidence that a fluid is passing from on side to another in a closed vessel,
independent the amount of fluid.

PROCEDURE

The inspection area shall be clean and free of dirt, oxidation, scale, slag, splatters, oil or
other foreigner materials that can hide weld defects.
The reinforcement pad shall have one threaded hole of NPT in that which shall
be applied the air at least to 0.5 bar for a sufficient time to permit inspection of the
welds.
The examination shall be made using soaps suds looking for any leakage inside and
outside of the nozzle and on the pipe neck to reinforcement pad weld, and the
reinforcement pad to vessel weld.

ACCEPTANCE CRITERIAL

No leaks are permitted. In the case that is detected any leak, this one has to be
repaired using approved welding procedure, and retested using the procedure described
above.

FORMS

The Pneumatic Test results shall be recorder in the Pneumatic Test Report; acceptance
of the test is obtained by signature and dated in the document