[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: 46CFR57.06-3]

[Page 246-247]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 57_WELDING AND BRAZING--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart 57.06_Production Tests
 
Sec. 57.06-3  Method of performing production testing.

    (a) Except as otherwise specified in this section a test plate shall 
be attached to the shell plate on one end of the longitudinal joint of 
each vessel as shown in Figure 57.06-3, so that the edges of the test 
plate to be welded are a continuation of and duplication of the 
corresponding edges of the longitudinal joint. For attached test plates, 
the weld metal shall be deposited in the test plate welding groove 
continuously with the weld metal deposited in the groove of the 
longitudinal joint. As an alternate method, the marine inspector may 
permit the use of separate test plates, provided the same welding 
process, procedure, and technique employed in the fabrication of the 
longitudinal joint are used in welding the test plates.
    (b) All test plates, whether attached to the shell or separate in 
accordance with paragraphs (a) and (d) of this section, shall be 
prepared from material of the same specification, thickness, and heat 
treatment and, for Class I-L and Class II-L vessels, the same heat as 
that of the vessel for which they are required. However, except when 
required to be from a specific heat, test plates may be prepared from 
material of a different product form, such as plate in lieu of a 
forging, provided the chemical composition is within the vessel material 
specification limits and the melting practice is the same.
    (c) Test plates are not required for welded nozzle attachments.
    (d) In the case of vessels having no longitudinal welded joints, at 
least one set of test plates shall be welded for each vessel, using the 
circumferential joint process, procedure and technique, except that the 
provisions of Sec. 57.06-2(a) shall also apply for Classes I and I-L 
vessels, and that the provisions of Sec. 57.06-2 (a) and (c) shall also 
apply for Classes II and II-L vessels.

[[Page 247]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC01FE91.030

  Figure 57.06-3--(PW-53.2) Method of forming longitudinal test plates
    (e) Test plates shall be made by the same welder producing the 
longitudinal and circumferential joints. If more than one welder is 
employed in the welding of the pressure vessel(s), the test plates shall 
be made by the welder designated by the marine inspector. The test 
plates shall be of the same thickness as the material being welded and 
shall be of sufficient size to provide two specimens of each type 
required, except that in the case of pressure vessels having no 
longitudinal seams, the test plate need be only of sufficient length to 
provide one set of test specimens, and if a retest is necessary, an 
additional set of test plates may be welded separately.