Interpretation Response #PI-78-009 ([Mr. Jack Baker])

Below is the interpretation response detail and a list of regulations sections applicable to this response.

Interpretation Response Details

Response Publish Date: 04/04/1978

Company Name:

Individual Name: Mr. Jack Baker

Location State: NB Country: US

View the Interpretation Document

Response text:

Mr. Jack Baker

Consulting Engineer

P.O. Box 34179

Omaha, NB [sic] 68134

Dear Mr. Baker:

This refers to your letter dated March 11, 1978, in which you
ask, "Does the Office of Pipeline Safety Operation believe that
crater cracks or star cracks 5/32 inch long or less are
significant discontinuities in the assessment of a weld in a
pipeline being constructed in accordance with Part 192?"

Under Section 192.241(c), "The acceptability of a weld that is
nondestructively tested or visually inspected is determined
according to the standards in Section 6 of the 1973 edition of
API Standard 1104." Section 6.7 of API 1104 states, "Shallow
crater cracks or star cracks which are located at the stopping
point of weld beads and which are the result of weld metal
contraction during solidification are not considered injurious
defects unless their length exceeds 5/32 inch. With exception of
these shallow crater cracks, no weld containing cracks,
regardless of size or location, shall be acceptable." The Office
of Pipeline Safety Operations interpreted the requirement to mean
that shallow crater cracks or star cracks 5/32 inch or less are
not significant in the assessment of a weld.

We trust that we have satisfactorily responded to your inquiry.

Sincerely,

'signed'

Cesar DeLeon

Acting Director

Office of Pipeline

Safety Operations

Regulation Sections