The material specification calls for ultrasonic testing (UT) of forgings, but a standard ASME B16.5 flange may arrive without a UT report. Decide from the governing Shell DEP requirement, equipment category, nominal thickness, and manufacturing route—not from the word “standard” alone.
Does the DEP clause cover standard flanges?
Read the exact project-applicable edition of Shell DEP 31.22.00.31 and identify whether it requires UT for all forgings or defines a narrower scope. A broad requirement can include a standard flange if it is forged; standard dimensions do not change its material form. A flange may also be manufactured from plate, so confirm the material and manufacturing records rather than treating every flange as a forging.
Keep the DEP requirement separate from the cited ASME Section VIII, Division 2 provision. The source quotes paragraph 3.2.8.2 as exempting certain standard pressure parts from inspection, material certification, or Partial Data Reports. That statement does not, by itself, settle whether a separate Shell DEP supplementary UT requirement applies. Check the exact code text, DEP wording, and project specification together; obtain the responsible Shell/project authority’s interpretation if they conflict.
What does the component and material record show?
Use the purchase specification, material certificate, and manufacturer’s records to establish both component type and manufacturing route. “Fitting,” “flange,” and “forging” are not interchangeable descriptions: the component name identifies what it is, while the material specification and manufacturing records establish how it was made.
| Record or description | What to establish | Effect on the decision |
|---|---|---|
| Component drawing or purchase order | Flange, fitting, nozzle, or other pressure part | Identifies the item; does not alone prove it is forged. |
| Material specification and certificate | Material grade and product form, such as forging or plate | Determines whether the “forging” requirement is relevant. |
| Manufacturing records | Whether the part was forged, rolled, cast, die-formed, or made from plate | Resolves ambiguous or generic component descriptions. |
| DEP/project documents | Equipment category, nominal thickness, and applicable requirements | Determines scope and any thickness threshold. |
Examples in the discussion distinguish forged materials such as ASTM A105 or A182 from fitting materials such as A234 or A403. Treat those as examples, not a substitute for checking the actual certificate and purchase documents.
Which thickness and equipment-category branch applies?
One interpretation reported for the DEP is that forgings with nominal thickness of 50 mm or greater on Category 1 or 2 equipment require UT. The same interpretation separately mentions plates at 50 mm or greater, including a blind made from plate. Verify this threshold and category against the governing DEP text and project specification before disposition; do not extend that reported threshold to other categories or editions without confirmation.
- Read the equipment category from the approved design or project documentation.
- Read nominal thickness from the drawing or purchase specification; do not substitute flange class, bore, or outside diameter.
- Confirm the material product form. If forged, compare the applicable DEP clause and threshold. If plate, check the plate-specific requirement instead of applying the forging branch.
- If the part is below the reported threshold, the category is outside its stated scope, or the wording remains ambiguous, continue to the full project requirement and obtain a documented interpretation rather than assuming exemption.
Does the standard-part code provision remove the UT requirement?
Do not treat a code provision about standard pressure parts as an automatic waiver of a separate project supplementary examination. The quoted ASME Division 2 passage concerns inspection, material certification, or Partial Data Reports for listed standard pressure parts. Determine whether the DEP invokes a supplementary UT requirement independently, and whether the project specification modifies either requirement.
If the documents appear inconsistent, record the exact clause, edition, component, material form, category, and thickness, then submit that specific question to the responsible Shell/project engineering authority. Do not accept or reject a flange solely because it is an ASME B16.5 standard item or because market stock commonly lacks UT records.
How should the UT requirement be closed out?
For a part determined to require UT, resolve the documentation gap before accepting the material for the pressure boundary. Request the required examination evidence from the supplier or arrange examination through the project’s approved process, using the governing specification’s acceptance criteria and reporting requirements. The source does not state an examination procedure or acceptance criteria, so use the controlling project documents rather than inventing them.
- Match the UT report to the actual part, material identification, and heat or traceability records.
- Check that the report identifies the applicable examination requirements and records a result acceptable under the governing DEP/project documents.
- For an item determined not to require UT under the applicable documents, retain the clause-based disposition and records showing product form, nominal thickness, and equipment category.
- Resolve mismatches or missing records with the supplier and engineering authority before material release.
What should engineers verify before release?
Verify the final disposition against the part’s traceability records and the exact project requirements. A standard flange can be subject to UT when it is a forging and the governing DEP scope requires it; a plate-made flange follows the plate requirement instead. The final check is that the approved disposition, supporting material records, and any required UT report all refer to the same component and satisfy the controlling project documents.
Frequently asked questions
Do ASME B16.5 flanges need UT under Shell DEP 31.22.00.31?
They can if they are forged and the applicable DEP/project clause requires UT. Confirm the governing edition, equipment category, nominal thickness, and manufacturing route.
How do I tell whether a flange is a forging?
Check its material certificate, purchase specification, and manufacturing records. The component name “flange” or its ASME B16.5 dimensions do not establish the product form.
How do I apply the 50 mm UT threshold?
Verify the threshold in the applicable DEP and project documents. The reported interpretation applies to forgings at 50 mm or greater for Category 1 or 2 equipment; check plate requirements separately.
How do I close out a missing UT report?
Confirm first that UT is required, then obtain a traceable report meeting the project criteria or a documented engineering disposition showing why it is not required. Before release, match the disposition and report to the component identification and material records.