UCS-66

Commentary UCS-66 must be used to determine if a carbon or low alloy steel material of certain
governing thickness should be impact tested (governing thickness may not be the
same as the actual nominal thickness of the material). Materials are assigned to one
of the curves plotted on Fig. UCS-66. The combination of the governing thickness
and material classification (curve A, B, C, or D) would indicate the impact testing
exemption temperature (vertical axis of Fig. UCS-66). If the minimum design
metal temperature (MDMT), specified by the User, is colder than this exemption
temperature, the material must be impact tested.

Each component of the vessel, having a different governing thickness or material

classification, must be assessed. (For a list of components that need assessment,
see UCS-66.) The governing thickness that must be used in Fig. UCS-66 for the
assessment is:
a) For butt joints, other than those in flat heads and tubesheets, the nominal
thickness of the thickest welded joint.
b) For corner, fillet, and lap welded joints, the thinner of the parts joined.
c) For flat heads or tubesheets, the larger of the thickness from “b” above or the
flat component thickness divided by 4.
d) For castings, the largest nominal thickness.
e) For flat nonwelded parts, such as bolted flanges, tubesheets, and flat heads, the
thickness of the flat component divided by 4.
f) For a nonwelded dished head, the greater of the flat flange thickness divided by
4 or the minimum thickness of the dished portion.

If the governing thickness at any welded joint exceeds 4 inches and the MDMT is
colder than 120°F, impact-tested material must be used.

If the governing thickness of the nonwelded part exceeds 6 inches and the MDMT
is colder than 120°F, impact-tested material must be used.

For welded assemblies, the MDMT for each joint shall be determined and the
warmest MDMT used as the MDMT for the assembly.

Fig. UCS-66.1 may be used to reduce the impact test exemption temperature of a
component or the MDMT of a vessel, if the defined ratio is less than 1.0 but not

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-14
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

less than 0.35. The resulting MDMT may not be colder than -55°F, except as may
result from the UCS-68(c) rule.

Except for the provision in UCS-68(c), impact testing is required for all materials
if the MDMT is colder than -55°F and the thickness ratio in Fig. UCS-66.1 is
greater than 0.35. Impact testing is not required if the MDMT is colder than -55°F
but no colder than -155°F and the thickness ratio in Fig. UCS-66.1 is equal to or
less than 0.35.

No impact test is required for ASME/ANSI B16.5 or B16.47 flanges, if the MDMT
is -20°F or warmer.

No impact test is required for UCS materials if the thickness is less than 0.10 inch
and the MDMT is -55°F or warmer.

Materials with specified minimum yield strength greater than 65 ksi must be
impact tested.

The materials listed in Note (c) of Fig. UG-84.1 (these are materials that are
required to be impact tested by the material specification) need not be impact tested
if the MDMT is no more than 5°F colder than the specification impact test
temperature.

Several useful application figures are presented in this Paragraph. Fig. UCS-66.2 is
a flow chart of the procedure for determining the MDMT, and Fig. UCS-66.3 gives
detailed instructions for determination of the governing thickness of a component.

For determination of the MDMT of a vessel, to be specified by the User, see UG-
20(b). For minimum impact test requirements, see UG-84.

The following example illustrates the use of the flow chart in Fig. UCS-66.2. We
recommend that you print this example and refer to it as you review Fig. UCS-66.2.

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-15
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

Shell material is SA-516 Grade 70, normalized

Joint efficiency E = 1.00
Nominal thickness tn = 2.0 inches
Required thickness tr = 1.75 inches
Corrosion allowance c = 0.00 inches

Material is assigned to Curve D of Fig. UCS-66.

From Curve D of Fig. UCS-66, the MDMT or

exemption temperature for a nominal thickness of 2
inches is -4°F

t r E * 1.75 (1.00 )
Ratio: = = 0.875
tn − c 2.0 − 0.0

Fig. UCS-66.1 gives a reduction of 13°F (12.5°F

rounded to 13)

Adjusted MDMT or the impact testing exemption

temperature of the component = -4 – 13 = -17°F

References to UCS-66 references the following Paragraphs:

other Code
Paragraphs

Content Paragraph
Design temperature UG-20
Maximum allowable stress values UG-23
Castings UG-24
Charpy impact tests UG-84
Impact tests of welding procedures UCS-67
Design UCS-68

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-16
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

Alert: • UG-20 also has criteria that exempt some carbon steel materials
from impact testing. Investigate if the vessel or the component
can be exempted from impact testing by the rules of UG-20(f),
before proceeding to the more conservative rules of UCS-66.
• For nozzle-to-shell joints with reinforcing pads, consider the
nozzle-to-shell and pad-to-shell joints as two separate welds, for
arriving at the governing thickness of these components.

Code Excerpts UCS-66

MATERIALS
(a) Figure UCS-66 shall be used to establish impact testing exemptions for
steels listed in Part UCS. Unless otherwise exempted by the rules of this Division,
impact testing is required for a combination of minimum design metal temperature
(see UG-20) and thickness (as defined below) which is below the curve assigned to
the subject material. If a minimum design metal temperature and thickness
combination is on or above the curve, impact testing is not required by the rules of
this Division, except as required by (j) below and UCS-67(a)(2) for weld metal.
Components, such as shells, heads, nozzles, manways, reinforcing pads,
flanges, tubesheets, flat cover plates, backing strips which remain in place, and
attachments which are essential to the structural integrity of the vessel when
welded to pressure retaining components, shall be treated as separate components.
Each component shall be evaluated for impact test requirements based on its
individual material classification, thickness as defined in (1), (2), or (3) below, and
the minimum design metal temperature.
The following thickness limitations apply when using Fig. UCS-66.
(1) Excluding castings, the governing thickness tg of a welded part is as
follows:
(a) for butt joints except those in flat heads and tubesheets, the
nominal thickness of the thickest welded joint [see Fig. UCS-66.3 sketch (a)];
(b) for corner, fillet, or lap welded joints, including attachments as
defined above, the thinner of the two parts joined;
(c) for flat heads or tubesheets, the larger of (b) above or the flat
component thickness divided by 4;
(d) for welded assemblies comprised of more than two components
(e.g., nozzle-to-shell joint with reinforcing pad), the governing thickness and
permissible minimum design metal temperature of each of the individual welded
joints of the assembly shall be determined, and the warmest of the minimum design
metal temperatures shall be used as the permissible minimum design metal
temperature of the welded assembly. [See Fig. UCS-66.3 sketch (b), L-9.3.1, and
L-9.5.2.]

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-17
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

If the governing thickness at any welded joint exceeds 4 in. and the minimum
design metal temperature is colder than 120°F (49°C), impact tested material shall
be used.
(2) The governing thickness of a casting shall be its largest nominal
thickness.
(3) The governing thickness of flat nonwelded parts, such as bolted
flanges, tubesheets, and flat heads, is the flat component thickness divided by 4.
(4) The governing thickness of a nonwelded dished head [see Fig. 1-6
sketch (c)] is the greater of the flat flange thickness divided by 4 or the minimum
thickness of the dished portion.
(5) If the governing thickness of the nonwelded part exceeds 6 in. (152
mm) and the minimum design metal temperature is colder than 120°F (49°C),
impact tested material shall be used.
Examples of the governing thickness for some typical vessel details are shown in
Fig. UCS-66.3.
NOTE: The use of provisions in UCS-66 which waive the requirements for impact
testing does not provide assurance that all test results for these materials would
satisfy the impact energy requirements of UG-84 if tested.
(b) When the coincident ratio defined in Fig. UCS-66.1 is less than one, Fig.
UCS-66.1 provides a basis for the use of components made of Part UCS materials
to have a colder MDMT than that derived from (a) above without impact testing.
(1)(a) For such components, and for a MDMT of –55°F (–48°C) and
warmer, the MDMT without impact testing determined in (a) above for the given
material and thickness may be reduced as determined from Fig. UCS-66.2. If the
resulting temperature is colder than the required MDMT, impact testing of the
material is not required.
(b) Figure UCS-66.1 may also be used for components not stressed
in general primary membrane tensile stress, such as flat heads, covers, tubesheets,
and flanges (including bolts and nuts). The MDMT of these components without
impact testing as determined in UCS-66(a) or (c) may be reduced as determined
from Fig. UCS-66.2. The ratio used in Step 3 of Fig. UCS-66.2 shall be the ratio of
maximum design pressure at the MDMT to the maximum allowable pressure
(MAP) of the component at the MDMT. If the resulting temperature is colder than
the required MDMT, impact testing of the material is not required, provided the
MDMT is not colder than –55°F (–48°C).

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-18
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

0.394 1 2 3 4 5 6
Nominal Thickness, in.
[Limited to 4 in. for Welded Construction]

FIG. UCS-66 IMPACT TEST EXEMPTION CURVES [SEE NOTES (1) AND (2)] [SEE UCS-66(a)]

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-19
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

GENERAL NOTES ON ASSIGNMENT OF MATERIALS TO CURVES:

(a) Curve A applies to:
(1) all carbon and all low alloy steel plates, structural shapes, and bars not listed in Curves B, C, and D below;
(2) SA-216 Grades WCB and WCC if normalized and tempered or water-quenched and tempered; SA-217 Grade WC6 if
normalized and tempered or water-quenched and tempered.
(b) Curve B applies to:
(1) SA-216 Grade WCA if normalized and tempered or water-quenched and tempered
SA-216 Grades WCB and WCC for thicknesses not exceeding 2 in. (50 mm), if produced to Þne grain practice and water-
quenched and tempered
SA-217 Grade WC9 if normalized and tempered
SA-285 Grades A and B
SA-414 Grade A
SA-515 Grade 60
SA-516 Grades 65 and 70 if not normalized
SA-612 if not normalized
SA-662 Grade B if not normalized
SA/EN 10028-2 P295GH as-rolled;
(2) except for cast steels, all materials of Curve A if produced to Þne grain practice and normalized which are not listed in
Curves C and D below;
(3) all pipe, Þttings, forgings and tubing not listed for Curves C and D below;
(4) parts permitted under UG-11 shall be included in Curve B even when fabricated from plate that otherwise would be
assigned to a different curve.
(c) Curve C
(1) SA-182 Grades 21 and 22 if normalized and tempered
SA-302 Grades C and D
SA-336 F21 and F22 if normalized and tempered
SA-387 Grades 21 and 22 if normalized and tempered
SA-516 Grades 55 and 60 if not normalized
SA-533 Grades B and C
SA-662 Grade A;
(2) all material of Curve B if produced to Þne grain practice and normalized and not listed for Curve D below.
(d) Curve D
SA-203
SA-508 Grade 1
SA-516 if normalized
SA-524 Classes 1 and 2
SA-537 Classes 1, 2, and 3
SA-612 if normalized
SA-662 if normalized
SA-738 Grade A
SA-738 Grade A with Cb and V deliberately added in accordance with the provisions of the material speciÞcation, not colder
than −20°F (−29°C)
SA-738 Grade B not colder than −20°F (−29°C)
SA/AS 1548 Grades 7-430, 7-460, and 7-490 if normalized
SA/EN 10028-2 P295GH if normalized [see Note (g)(3)]
SA/EN 10028-3 P275NH

General Notes and Notes continue on next page

FIG. UCS-66 IMPACT TEST EXEMPTION CURVES [SEE NOTES (1) AND (2)] [SEE UCS-66(a)] (CONT’D)

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-20
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-21
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

TABLE UCS-66
TABULAR VALUES FOR FIG. UCS-66

Customary Units SI Units

Thickness, Curve Curve Curve Curve Thickness, Curve Curve Curve Curve
in. A, °F B, °F C, °F D, °F mm A, °C B, °C C, °C D, °C
0.25 18 −20 −55 −55 6.4 −8 −29 −48 −48
0.3125 18 −20 −55 −55 7.9 −8 −29 −48 −48
0.375 18 −20 −55 −55 9.5 −8 −29 −48 −48
0.4375 25 −13 −40 −55 11.1 −4 −25 −40 −48
0.5 32 −7 −34 −55 12.7 0 −22 −37 −48

0.5625 37 −1 −26 −51 14.3 3 −18 −32 −46

0.625 43 5 −22 −48 15.9 6 −15 −30 −44
0.6875 48 10 −18 −45 17.5 9 −12 −28 −43
0.75 53 15 −15 −42 19.1 12 −9 −26 −41
0.8125 57 19 −12 −38 20.6 14 −7 −24 −39

0.875 61 23 −9 −36 22.2 16 −5 −23 −38

0.9375 65 27 −6 −33 23.8 18 −3 −21 −36
1.0 68 31 −3 −30 25.4 20 −1 −19 −35
1.0625 72 34 −1 −28 27.0 22 1 −18 −33
1.125 75 37 2 −26 28.6 24 3 −17 −32

1.1875 77 40 2 −23 30.2 25 4 −17 −31

1.25 80 43 6 −21 31.8 27 6 −14 −30
1.3125 82 45 8 −19 33.3 28 7 −13 −28
1.375 84 47 10 −18 34.9 29 8 −12 −28
1.4375 86 49 12 −16 36.5 30 9 −11 −27

1.5 88 51 14 −14 38.1 31 11 −10 −26

1.5625 90 53 16 −13 39.7 32 12 −9 −25
1.625 92 55 17 −11 41.3 33 13 −8 −24
1.6875 93 57 19 −10 42.9 34 14 −7 −23
1.75 94 58 20 −8 44.5 34 14 −7 −22

1.8125 96 59 22 −7 46.0 36 15 −6 −22

1.875 97 61 23 −6 47.6 36 16 −5 −21
1.9375 98 62 24 −5 49.2 37 17 −4 −21
2.0 99 63 26 −4 50.8 37 17 −3 −20
2.0625 100 64 27 −3 52.4 38 18 −3 −19

2.125 101 65 28 −2 54.0 38 18 −2 −19

2.1875 102 66 29 −1 55.6 39 19 −2 −18
2.25 102 67 30 0 57.2 39 19 −1 −18
2.3125 103 68 31 1 58.7 39 20 −1 −17
2.375 104 69 32 2 60.3 40 21 0 −17

2.4375 105 70 33 3 61.9 41 21 1 −16

2.5 105 71 34 4 63.5 41 22 1 −16
2.5625 106 71 35 5 65.1 41 22 2 −15
2.625 107 73 36 6 66.7 42 23 2 −14
2.6875 107 73 37 7 68.3 42 23 3 −14

2.75 108 74 38 8 69.9 42 23 3 −13

2.8125 108 75 39 8 71.4 42 24 4 −13
2.875 109 76 40 9 73.0 43 24 4 −13
2.9375 109 77 40 10 74.6 43 25 5 −12
3.0 110 77 41 11 76.2 43 26 5 −12

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-22
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-23
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-24
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-25
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-26
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-27
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

2004 SECTION VIII — DIVISION 1

tg1 � thinner if tA or tC

(g) Integrally Reinforced Welded Connection

NOTE: tg = governing thickness of the welded joint as deÞned in UCS-66.

FIG. UCS-66.3 SOME TYPICAL VESSEL DETAILS SHOWING THE GOVERNING THICKNESSES AS DEFINED
IN UCS-66 (CONT’D)

(c) In lieu of using (b)(1)(b) above, the MDMT determined in UCS-

66(a) or (c) may be reduced for a flange attached by welding, by the same
reduction as determined in (b)(1)(a) above for the neck or shell which the flange is
attached.
NOTE: The bolt-up condition need not be considered when determining the
temperature reduction for flanges.
(2) For minimum design temperatures colder than –55°F (–48°C), impact
testing is required for all materials, except as allowed in (b)(3) below and in UCS-
68(c).

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-28
 Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

(3) When the minimum design metal temperature is colder than –55°F
(–48°C) and no colder than –155°F (–104°C), and the coincident ratio defined in
Fig. UCS-66.1 is less than or equal to 0.35, impact testing is not required.
(c) No impact testing is required for the following flanges when used at
minimum design metal temperatures no colder than –20°F (–29°C):
(1) ASME B16.5 flanges of ferritic steel;
(2) ASME B16.47 flanges of ferritic steel;
(3) split loose flanges of SA-216 GR WCB when the outside diameter and
bolting dimensions are either ASME B16.5 Class 150 or Class 300, and the flange
thicknesses are not greater than that of either ASME B16.5 Class 150 or Class 300,
respectively.
(4) Carbon and Low Alloy Steel Long Weld Neck Flanges. Long weld
neck flanges are defined as forged nozzles that meet the dimensional requirements
of a flanged fitting given in ASME B16.5 but having a straight hub/neck. The neck
inside diameter shall not be less than the nominal size of the flange and the outside
diameter of the neck and any nozzle reinforcement shall not exceed the diameter of
the hub as specified in ASME B16.5.
(d) No impact testing is required for UCS materials 0.10 in. (2.5 mm) in
thickness and thinner, but such exempted UCS materials shall not be used at design
metal temperatures colder than –55°F (–48°C). For vessels or components made
from NPS 4 (DN 100) or smaller tubes or pipe of P-No. 1 materials, the following
exemptions from impact testing are also permitted as a function of the material
specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) for metal temperatures of –155°F (–
104°C) and warmer:

SMYS, ksi Thickness, in.

20 to 35 0.237
36 to 45 0.125
46 and higher 0.10

(e) The material manufacturer’s identification marking required by the material

specification shall not be stamped on plate material less than 1/4 in. (6 mm) in
thickness unless the following requirements are met.
(1) The materials shall be limited to P-No. 1 Gr. Nos. 1 and 2.
(2) The minimum nominal plate thickness shall be 0.1875 in. (4.8 mm), or
the minimum nominal pipe wall thickness shall be 0.154 in. (3.9 mm).
(3) The minimum design metal temperature shall be no colder than –20°F
(–29°C).

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-29
Carbon and Low Alloy Steel—UCS-66

(f) Unless specifically exempted in Fig. UCS-66, materials having a specified

minimum yield strength greater than 65 ksi (448 MPa) must be impact tested.
(g) Materials produced and impact tested in accordance with the requirements
of the specifications listed in Fig. UG-84.1, General Note (c), are exempt from
impact testing by the rules of this Division at minimum design metal temperatures
not more than 5°F (3°C) colder than the test temperature required by the
specification.
(h) No impact testing is required for metal backing strips which remain in
place made of materials assigned to Curve A of Fig. UCS-66 in thicknesses not
exceeding 1/4 in. when the minimum design metal temperature is –20°F (–29°C) or
warmer.
(i) For components made of Part UCS materials that are impact tested, Fig.
UCS-66.1 provides a basis for the use of these components at MDMT colder than
the impact test temperature, provided the coincident ratio defined in Fig. UCS-66.1
is less than one, and the MDMT is not colder than –155°F (–104°C).
(1) For such components, the MDMT shall not be colder than the impact
test temperature less the allowable temperature reduction as determined from Fig.
UCS-66.2.
(2) Figure UCS-66.1 may also be used for components not stressed in
general primary membrane tensile stress, such as flat heads, covers, tubesheets, and
flanges (including bolts and nuts). The MDMT shall not be colder than the impact
test temperature less the allowable temperature reduction as determined from Fig.
UCS-66.2. The ratio used in Step 3 of Fig. UCS-66.2 shall be the ratio of
maximum design pressure at the MDMT to the maximum allowable pressure
(MAP) of the component at the MDMT.
(3) In lieu of using (i)(2) above, the MDMT for a flange attached by
welding shall not be colder than the impact test temperature less the allowable
temperature reduction as determined in (i)(1) above for the neck or shell to which
the flange is attached.
(j) When the base metal is exempt from impact testing by (g) above or by Fig.
UCS-66 Curves C or D, –20°F is the coldest MDMT to be assigned for welded
components that do not meet the requirements of UCS-67(a)(2).

© 2004 ASME International.

All rights reserved. 3-30