Table 9.

6 Pressure vessel codes: defect acceptance criteria

(quick reference)
226 Engineers Guide to Pressure Equipment
PD 5500 (Cat 1)
Visual examination Radiographic examination
Planar defects:
Weld fit-up gap:
Undercut:
Throat thickness
error:
Excess penetration:
Weld sag:
Not permitted
max 2 mm
max 1 mm
+5/-1 mm
max 3 mm
max 1.5 mm
Cracks/lamellar tears
Lack of fusion, any
type
Lack of root
penetration
Not permitted
Porosity: max size of isolated pores
is 25% of material thickness, up to a
maximum diameter, which depends
on the material thickness.
Root concavity: max 1.5 mm Wormholes: max 6 mm length 1.5
mm width.
Weld cap overlap: Not permitted Inclusions: allowable dimensions of
solid inclusions depend on the
position of the inclusion and the type
of weld [refer to PD5500 Table
5.7(1)].
Refer to Tables 5.7(1) and 5.7(3) of PD 5500 for full details.
Ultrasonic defect acceptance criteria are given in Table 5.7(2)