[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR57.03-1]

[Page 242-243]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 57_WELDING AND BRAZING--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart 57.03_Procedure Qualifications
 
Sec. 57.03-1  General requirements.


    (a) (Modifies QW 201 and QB 201). In order to obtain Coast Guard 
approval of a weld procedure to be used on welded fabrication that is 
required to meet the requirements of this part each manufacturer or 
contractor must do the following:
    (1) Each manufacturer or contractor must submit to the cognizant 
Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, for approval, a welding or brazing 
procedure specification for the particular welding or brazing process to 
be used. The welding or brazing procedure specification must include a 
sketch showing joint preparation. Suggested forms showing the 
information which is required in the welding or brazing procedure 
specification are in QW 480 and QB 480 of section IX of the ASME Code.
    (2) Each manufacturer or contractor must submit to the cognizant 
Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, for approval, the results of the 
physical tests required by section IX of the ASME Code.
    (b) (Modifies QW 202.1 and QW 451). To obtain approval of the 
welding procedure, fabricators desiring to use any welding process for 
applications involving temperatures below -18 [deg]C (approx. 0 deg;F) 
must conduct a procedure qualification test in accordance with the 
requirements of paragraph (a) of this section and the following 
additional requirements:
    (1) The test piece must be large enough so that sufficient material 
is available for the tests prescribed in QW 451 of the ASME Code, plus 
toughness tests and a macro-etch specimen.
    (2) To obtain approval the fabricator must conduct toughness tests 
and qualify in accordance with Sec. 54.05 of the subchapter. Results of 
toughness tests must be submitted for approval to the cognizant Officer 
in Charge, Marine Inspection.
    (3) The macro-etch specimen must be submitted with the test results 
required by paragraph (a) of this section. Macro-etch specimens must not 
be obtained by flame or arc cutting from the test piece. Weld 
reinforcement must remain in place unless the production welds are to be 
machined or ground. Backing rings must also be left in place unless they 
are to be removed in production.
    (4) Low temperature procedure qualification thickness ranges are as 
indicated in Table 57.03-1(b).

Table 57.03-1(b)--Low temperature weld procedure qualification thickness
                                 ranges
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Range of thickness
                                                        of materials
                                                      qualified by test
 Thickness, ``t'' of test plate or pipe as welded       plate or pipe
                     (inches)                             (inches)
                                                   ---------------------
                                                     Minimum    Maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1/16\ to \3/8\, inclusive........................     \1/16\      \3/8\
Over \3/8\ but less than \3/4\....................     *\3/8\      \3/4\
\3/4\ to 3, inclusive.............................      \3/4\        **t
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*For thicknesses less than \5/8\ inch, the thickness of the test plate
  or pipe is the minimum thickness qualified.
**Where ``t'' is the thickest material over \3/4\ inch to be used in
  production.

    (5) The limits for heat input production, as measured in Joules/
inch, must be at or below the maximum heat input

[[Page 243]]

applied to the procedure test plate. The word ``maximum'' must not be 
interpreted as either nominal or average.
    (c) [Reserved]
    (d) For quenched and tempered steels, the Commandant may prescribe 
special testing to assure that the welding procedure produces weldments 
which are not prone to low energy fracture through the heat affected 
zone.
    (e) Welding procedures that utilize type E 6012, E 6013, E 6014, E 
6024, E 7014, or E 7024 electrode will be approved only for the specific 
type, size, and brand electrode used. If a different type, size, or 
brand of electrode is used, a new procedure qualification test must be 
conducted.
    (f) Welding or brazing procedure approvals cannot be transferred 
from one plant to another plant of the same company or from one company 
to another.
    (g) (Modifies QW 253, QW 254, and QW 255). Item QW 402.4 is an 
essential variable for all procedure specifications.

[CGD 74-102, 40 FR 27461, June 30, 1975]