COMPLETE REVISION

February 2008

Process Industry Practices

Piping

PIP PNSM0120
Purchasing Requirements for Bolting
 PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES

In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence
over this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters
or application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not
be made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names
from time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather
recognized as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications
are equally correct and may be substituted for those named. All Practices or guidelines
are intended to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA
requirements. To the extent these Practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or
other applicable laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed.
Consult an appropriate professional before applying or acting on any material
contained in or suggested by the Practice.

This Practice is subject to revision at any time.

© Process Industry Practices (PIP), Construction Industry Institute, The

University of Texas at Austin, 3925 West Braker Lane (R4500), Austin,
Texas 78759. PIP member companies and subscribers may copy this Practice
for their internal use. Changes, overlays, addenda, or modifications of any
kind are not permitted within any PIP Practice without the express written
authorization of PIP.

PRINTING HISTORY
March 2000 Issued
February 2008 Complete Revision

Not printed with State funds

 COMPLETE REVISION
February 2008

Process Industry Practices

Piping

PIP PNSM0120
Purchasing Requirements for Bolting
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .................................. 2
1.1 Purpose ............................................. 2
1.2 Scope................................................. 2

2. References ................................... 2
Industry Codes and Standards .................. 2

3. Definitions .................................... 2
4. Requirements ............................... 2
4.1 General .............................................. 2
4.2 Design and Fabrication...................... 3
4.3 Testing, Inspection, and Rejection .... 3
4.4 Documentation .................................. 4
4.5 Shipping and Handling ...................... 4

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PIP PNSM0120 COMPLETE REVISION
Purchasing Requirements for Bolting February 2008

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose
This Practice provides purchasing requirements for bolting.

1.2 Scope
This Practice describes the minimum requirements for purchasing bolting specified in
PIP Piping Material Specifications.

2. References
Applicable parts of the following industry codes and standards shall be considered an integral part
of this Practice. The edition in effect on the date of contract award shall be used, except as
otherwise noted. Short titles will be used herein where appropriate.

Industry Codes and Standards

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

– ASME B1.1 - Pipe Threads, General Purpose (Inch)
– ASME B31.3 - Process Piping
• American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
– ASTM A153 - Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware
– ASTM A563 – Carbon and Alloy Steel Nuts

3. Definitions
manufacturer: The party responsible for making the bolting

owner: The party who owns the facility wherein the bolting will be used

supplier: The party responsible for furnishing and/or installing the bolting

purchaser: The party who awards the contract to the supplier. The purchaser may be the owner
or the owner’s authorized agent.

4. Requirements

4.1 General
4.1.1 Bolting shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements
provided in the purchase order and this Practice:
a. Sizes, lengths, and quantities
b. Materials of construction
c. Applicable standards & codes

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COMPLETE REVISION PIP PNSM0120
February 2008 Purchasing Requirements for Bolting

d. Handling and packaging

4.1.2 Bolting not in accordance with the purchase order and this Practice shall be
subject to rejection.
4.1.3 All conflicts between the requirements of the purchase order and this Practice
shall be referred to the purchaser, in writing, for clarification and resolution
before proceeding with the manufacture or procurement of the affected bolting.
4.1.4 Any substitutions to, or variance from, this Practice shall require the
purchaser’s written approval before implementation.
4.1.5 An established, routine, and documented quality control program shall be used. If
requested, the quality control program shall be submitted to the purchaser for
approval.

4.2 Design and Fabrication

4.2.1 Unless otherwise specified in the purchase order, one nut shall be furnished with
each machine bolt and two nuts with each stud bolt.
4.2.2 Bolting shall be marked in accordance with the applicable ASTM/ASME
standards.
4.2.3 Unless specified otherwise, galvanized bolting shall be hot dipped in accordance
with ASTM A153.
4.2.3.1 Bolts shall have ASME B1.1 class 2A thread before galvanizing.
4.2.3.2 Nuts shall be tapped oversize after coating in accordance with
ASTM A563.
4.2.4 Unless specified otherwise, bolts shall be fully threaded studs.

4.3 Testing, Inspection, and Rejection

4.3.1 All testing (including chemical, tensile, hardness, proof load, and impact testing)
required by the applicable ASTM standards and the purchase order shall be
performed.
4.3.2 Hardness testing for strain hardened stainless steel bolting shall be in accordance
with ASME B31.3.
4.3.2.1 For all design temperatures, the maximum hardness shall be Rockwell
C35 immediately under the thread roots.
4.3.2.2 The hardness shall be taken on a flat area at least 3 mm (1/8 inch) across,
prepared by removing threads. No more material than necessary shall be
removed to prepare the area.
4.3.2.3 Hardness determination shall be made at the same frequency as tensile
tests.
4.3.3 All facilities, materials, and fabrication work associated with the bolting shall be
subject to inspection by the purchaser.
4.3.4 Acceptance of the bolting by the purchaser shall not relieve the supplier of the
responsibility to provide the bolting in accordance with the requirements of this
Practice and the purchase order.

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PIP PNSM0120 COMPLETE REVISION
Purchasing Requirements for Bolting February 2008

4.4 Documentation
4.4.1 All documentation required herein shall be identified with the specific materials
represented. All documentation shall be available for review by the purchaser at
the time and place of inspection.
4.4.2 Material test reports shall be provided if specified in the purchase order.
4.4.3 Documentation other than that specified in this Practice shall be provided in
accordance with the purchaser’s request for quotation and/or purchase order.

4.5 Shipping and Handling

4.5.1 Bolting shall be suitably packaged to protect against damage during handling and
shipment.
4.5.2 Non-galvanized carbon steel and ferro-alloy (up to 12 Cr) bolting shall be
suitably protected from environmental corrosion for shipment and storage.
4.5.3 Bolting of different materials of construction, styles, and sizes shall be packaged
separately.
4.5.4 Unless otherwise specified, package markings shall be in English.
4.5.5 In addition to the receiving address, each box, crate, or bag shall be durably
marked with purchaser’s part identification number, complete purchase order
number, length, quantity, and product specification bolting type.

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