LAC 43:XIII.1321. Inspection and Test of Welds [49 CFR 192.241]

A. Visual inspection of welding must be conducted by an individual qualified by appropriate training and experience to ensure that [49 CFR 192.241(a)]: 1. the welding is performed in accordance with the welding procedure; and [49 CFR 192.241(a)(1)] 2. the weld is acceptable under Subsection C of this Section. [49 CFR 192.241(a)(2)] B. The welds on a pipeline to be operated at a pressure that produces a hoop stress of 20 percent or more of SMYS must be nondestructively tested in accordance with §1323, except that welds that are visually inspected and approved by a qualified welding inspector need not be nondestructively tested if: [49 CFR 192.241(b)] 1. the pipe has a nominal diameter of less than 6 inches (152 millimeters); or [49 CFR 192.241(b)(1)] 2. the pipeline is to be operated at a pressure that produces a hoop stress of less than 40 percent of SMYS and the welds are so limited in number that nondestructive testing is impractical. [49 CFR 192.241(b)(2)] C. The acceptability of a weld that is nondestructively tested or visually inspected is determined according to the standards in section 9 of API Std 1104 (incorporated by reference, see §507). Appendix A of API Std 1104 may not be used to accept cracks. [49 CFR 192.241(c)]