Does the Circ Joint in a Flanged & Flued expansion joint require full X-Ray?

[TJOrlowski]

We are getting some pushback from a Canadian safety authority in their review of our application for CRN on one of our straight tube HX designs. The design contains a simple flanged & flued expansion joint per Appendix 5 and TEMA. The flanged and flued heads we are using are small: 10-3/4" OD on the small end, and 18" OD on the big end, and they are manufactured from a single piece of plate with no welds in the heads. We are doing full VE and LP on both sides of all accessible welds from head to head, and where each head attaches to the shell with a butt-weld per para 5-5(c).

The reviewer in Canada is now insisting that all those welds (the circ weld joining the two heads, and the circ welds attaching the expansion joint to the shell) need to be X-rayed 100% per parap 5-5(b). We (and our AI) do not agree, as para 5-5(b) states that welds within the flexible element need to be examined this way. Para 5-4 defines the flexible element as the flanged and flued head. Not both heads welded together (the expansion joint).

Is our interpretation correct? If so, any guidance on how we might diplomatically present this to the design reviewer at the safety authority in Canada to get them to agree and get this project closed?

-TJ Orlowski

 

[SnTMan]

TJOrlowski, I do not believe these circ seams require full RT. I think the operative parts are:

1) 5-4(b)(1) where the weld and by reference the joint effcy is per Table UW-12;

and especially 2) 5-5(c) where no RT whatsoever is mentioned. The language referring to the joining of the individual elements is perfectly clear.

Best of luck with your reviewer.

Mike


The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand