Federal regulations · Through 2026-08-25 · Newer source version available

49 CFR 192.241: Inspection and test of welds.

(a) Visual inspection of welding must be conducted by an individual qualified by appropriate training and experience to ensure that:
(1) The welding is performed in accordance with the welding procedure; and
(2) The weld is acceptable under paragraph (c) of this section.
(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 § 192.243, except that welds that are visually inspected and approved by a qualified welding inspector need not be nondestructively tested if:
(1) The pipe has a nominal diameter of less than 6 inches (152 millimeters); or
(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.
(c) The acceptability of a weld that is nondestructively tested or visually inspected is determined according to the standards in section 9 or Appendix A of API Std 1104 (incorporated by reference, see § 192.7). Appendix A of API Std 1104 may not be used to accept cracks.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 49—Transportation
Subtitle B—Other Regulations Relating to Transportation
CHAPTER I—PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SUBCHAPTER D—PIPELINE SAFETY
PART 192—TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart E—Welding of Steel in Pipelines

(a) Visual inspection of welding must be conducted by an individual qualified by appropriate training and experience to ensure that:

(1) The welding is performed in accordance with the welding procedure; and

(2) The weld is acceptable under paragraph (c) of this section.

(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 § 192.243, except that welds that are visually inspected and approved by a qualified welding inspector need not be nondestructively tested if:

(1) The pipe has a nominal diameter of less than 6 inches (152 millimeters); or

(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.

(c) The acceptability of a weld that is nondestructively tested or visually inspected is determined according to the standards in section 9 or Appendix A of API Std 1104 (incorporated by reference, see § 192.7). Appendix A of API Std 1104 may not be used to accept cracks.

Collected 2026-08-27T02:26:34Z. Source file · JSON

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