4.4.1 Joining techniques should be in accordance
with MSC/Circ.449. This circular requires the fabrication to be in
accordance with the manufacturer's installation guidelines, that personnel
performing these tasks be qualified to the satisfaction of the Administration,
and that each bonding procedure be qualified before shipboard piping
installation commences.
4.4.2 To qualify joint bonding procedures, the
tests and examinations specified herein should be successfully completed.
The procedure for making bonds should include: all materials and supplies,
tools and fixtures, environmental requirements, joint preparation,
dimensional requirements and tolerances, cure time, cure temperature,
protection of work, tests and examinations and acceptance criteria
for the completed test assembly.
4.4.3 Any change in the bonding procedure which
will affect the physical and mechanical properties of the joint should
require the procedure to be requalified.
4.4.4 The employer should maintain a self-certification
record available to the Administration of the following:
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- the procedure used, and
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- the bonders and bonding operators employed
by him, showing the bonding performance qualifications, dates and
results of the qualification testing.
4.4.5 Procedure qualification testing should conform
to the following:
A test assembly shall be fabricated in accordance with the bonding
procedure to be qualified and shall consist of at least one pipe-to-pipe
joint and one pipe-to-fitting joint. When the test assembly has been
cured, it shall be subjected to a hydrostatic test pressure at a factor
of safety acceptable to the Administration times the design pressure
of the test assembly, for not less than one hour with no leakage or
separation of joints. The test shall be conducted so that the joint
is loaded to be experienced in service. The size of the pipe used
for the test assembly shall be as follows:
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(1) When the largest size to be joined is 200
mm nominal outside diameter, or smaller, the test assembly shall be
the largest piping size to be joined.
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(2) When the largest size to be joined is greater
than 200 mm nominal outside diameter, the size of the test assembly
shall be either 200 mm or 25% of the largest piping size to be joined,
whichever is greater.
4.4.6 When conducting performance qualifications,
each bonder and bonding operator should make up a test assembly consisting
of one pipe-to-pipe joint and one pipe-to-fitting joint in accordance
with the qualified bonding procedure. The size of the pipe used for
the test assembly should be the same as required in 4.5. The joint should successfully pass
the hydrostatic test described in 4.5.