NIOEC-SP-90-11(3)

DOCUMENT CODE NO. OF PAGES: 5

PLAN/PRJ/SUB UNIT PHASE DISCIPLANE DOCUMENT TYPE SERIAL NO. REV. NO. DATE
NIOEC 000 EG TP SP 9011 A3 MARCH, 2015

NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL REFINING & DISTRIBUTION COMPANY

NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL ENGINEERING
& CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

NIOEC SPECIFICATION

FOR

WELDING OF NON-CODE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

SECOND EDITION

JULY, 2009

THIS SPECIFICATION IS THE PROPERTY OF NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. IT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED TO THE OWNER. NEITHER WHOLE NOR ANY PART OF THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE DISCLOSED TO ANY THIRD PARTY,
REPRODUCTED, STORED IN ANY RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN
CONSENT OF THE NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
 March, 2015 NIOEC-SP-90-11(3)

IN THE NAME OF GOD

FOREWORD
By their very nature, technical specifications are continuously subject to modifications and
revisions. To strengthen their merit and usefulness, continuous improvements, addendum,
deletion of disparate information and consequently provision of updated revisions are to be
made in order to ascertain that such Specifications meet the current requirements, inclusive of
Iranian Petroleum Standards (IPS) and the recognized and acceptable national and international
Standards, as well as the optimal codes and practices based on the accumulated in- house know
how and plant knowledge and experiences.

However, in reality, due to several reasons, not to mention the complexity of the matter, the
ultimate goal of continuous direct embedment of the required changes on the relevant
Specifications may be far reaching. Therefore, in the interim periods between the officially
issued revisions, the required changes will appear in other documents related to the engineering
and design work of the ongoing projects.

In response to the initiative of the Design Division and Directorate, and considering that the task
of the execution of several important and mega projects for the realization of the new oil
refineries, pipelines and oil terminals as well as improvements of the existing facilities, has been
assigned to NIOEC, it was decided to update the NIOEC Specifications and to issue new official
revisions.

The Design and Engineering Directorate was itself entrusted to carry out this important task,
and as such by forming several special technical committees, working in close co-operation and
cohesion and sharing their expertise and knowledge, the updated and revised NIOEC
Specifications were successfully prepared and compiled.

These Specifications are intended to be used for Oil Refineries, Distribution Depots, Oil
Terminals, Pipelines and Pump Stations within NIOEC projects, and have been proven to be of
high value for such purposes. It must however be appreciated that these Specifications represent
the minimum requirements and should in no way be interpreted as a restriction on the use of
better procedures, engineering and design practices or materials.

We encourage and highly appreciate the users and other clear sighted and experts to send their
comments on the Specifications to the Design and Engineering Director of NIOEC for
evaluation and approval.
 March, 2015 NIOEC-SP-90-11(3)
REVISION INDEX
REV. REV. REV. REV.
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1 2 3 4 5 PAGE 1 2 3 4 5 PAGE 1 2 3 4 5
1 × 26 51 76
2 × × 27 52 77
3 × × 28 53 78
4 × 29 54 79
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6 × 31 56 81
7 32 57 82
8 33 58 83
9 34 59 84
10 35 60 85
11 36 61 86
12 37 62 87
13 38 63 88
14 39 64 89
15 40 65 90
16 41 66 91
17 42 67 92
18 43 68 93
19 44 69 94
20 45 70 95
21 46 71 96
22 47 72 97
23 48 73 98
24 49 74 99
25 50 75 100

NOTES:
1) THIS SHEET IS A RECORD OF ALL REVISIONS TO THIS SPECIFICATION.
2) WHEN APPROVED EACH REVISION SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS A PART OF THE ORIGINAL
DOCUMENT.
3) NUMBER OF PAGES EXCLUDES THIS SHEET AND THE COVER SHEET.

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2 MARCH, 2015 R.AMIRHASANI J.KHOSRAVI M.KAREGAR NAJAFI A.ARNAN MOGHADAM
1 JULY , 2009 R.AMIRHASANI S.PAKDEL M.R.FARZAM M.A.A.SAJEDI
0 JULY,2005 M.TAVARI S.PAKDEL M.R.FARZAM M.A.A.SAJEDI
REV. DATE PREPARED CHECKED APPROVED AUTHORIZED
 March, 2015 NIOEC-SP-90-11(3)

CONTENTS: PAGE NO.

1.  SCOPE.........................................................................................................................................2 
2.  REFERENCES ...........................................................................................................................2 
3.  UNITS ..........................................................................................................................................2 
4.  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................2 
5.  ACCEPTABLE WELDING PROCESSES .............................................................................2 
6.  Welding Procedure Specification (WPS), Welding Procedure Qualification (PQR) and
Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) .....................................................................................3 
7.  FILLER METAL .......................................................................................................................3 
8.  WELD JOINT PREPARATION ..............................................................................................3 
9.  WELD CLEANING ...................................................................................................................3 
10.  WELD CONTOUR AND FINISH ............................................................................................3 
11.  WELD HEAT TREATING REQUIREMENTS .....................................................................4 
12.  REQUIRED TESTING..............................................................................................................4 
13.  GENERAL INSPECTION ........................................................................................................4 
14.  REPAIR WELDING ..................................................................................................................4 
Annex 1 ........................................................................................................................................5 

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 March, 2015 NIOEC-SP-90-11(3)
1. SCOPE
This Specification covers minimum requirements for fabrication and repair welding of special
equipment, such as the items listed in Annex 1, and shall apply when included in a request for quote
and/or purchase order. It shall not be used where primary process equipment standards or welding
codes are required.
Deviations from this specification will only be permitted on obtaining written approval from
NIOEC.
Resolution on cases not explicitly stipulated in this Specification, or on cases where conflicts may
arise among the requirements of the referenced/relevant IPS and the international standards, shall be
made through written consent and approval of NIOEC.

2. REFERENCES
The following standards, codes, and specifications, to the extent specified hereinafter, shall
constitute a part of this NIOEC Specification. Latest edition of the undated referenced documents
and the cited edition of the dated references shall apply. The applicability of changes made to the
dated references, after the cited date shall be mutually agreed upon between NIOEC and the
Vendor/Contractor.

ASME (AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS)

ASME Sec II Part C "Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes and Filler Metals"
ASME Sec V "Nondestructive Examination"
ASME Sec IX "Welding and Brazing Qualifications"

AWS (AMERICAN WELDING SOCIETY)

AWS 3.0 "Terms and Definitions"
AWS Z 49.1 "Safety in Welding and Cutting"
AWS D10.8 "Recommended Practices for Welding of Chromium-Molybdenum
Steel Piping and Tubing"

NIOEC SP (NIOEC SPECIFICATIONS)

NIOEC-SP-00-10 "NIOEC Specifications for Units'

3. UNITS
International system of units (SI) shall be used in accordance with NIOEC-SP-00-10, unless
otherwise specified.

4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
4.1. Welding procedure qualifications and welder’s performance qualifications shall conform to the
requirements of Section IX of the ASME BPV Code, latest edition, and to the additional
requirements of this specification.

4.2. All Pressure-containing butt welds shall be full penetration, when welded from one or both
sides, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing between the Employer and Contractor.

5. ACCEPTABLE WELDING PROCESSES

Fabrication welding may be achieved by any one of the following welding processes:

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a. Shielded Metal-Arc Welding SMAW

b. Gas Tungsten-Arc Welding GTAW

c. Gas Metal-Arc Welding GMAW

d. Submerged Arc Welding SAW

e. Oxyacetylene Welding OAW

f. Flux Cored Arc Welding FCAW

The use of other welding processes requires Employer approval, prior to start of fabrication.

6. Welding Procedure Specification (WPS), Welding Procedure Qualification (PQR) and

Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ)
Construction contractor shall submit welding procedure specification (WPS/WPSs), welding
procedure qualification (PQR/PQRs) and welder performance qualification (WPQ/WQT) for review
and approval with employer. If submittal of welding procedures is requested in the Special
Equipment Specification or the Purchase Order, all welding procedures must be approved prior to
start of fabrication.

7. FILLER METAL
7.1. Filler metal shall be selected so that the principal elements in the deposited weld metal are of
the same nominal composition as the base material being joined.
7.2. For joints in dissimilar base metals, the filler metal shall be selected as per AWS D10.8.
7.3. Welding of other dissimilar materials, such as copper or aluminum, requires Employer prior
approval.

8. WELD JOINT PREPARATION

8.1. Weld bevels may be prepared by machining, grinding, and/or thermal cutting. Weld bevels
prepared by thermal cutting shall be ground smoothly to facilitate fit up and minimize the
possibility of excessive root gap.
8.2. Tee or corner joints prepared by thermal cutting shall be ground smooth to facilitate alignment
and proper fit up.

9. WELD CLEANING
9.1. Weld joint shall be free of burn slag, scale, rust, oil, grease, paint, and any other foreign
material detrimental to the integrity of the weld.
9.2. Cleaning of weld joint may be accomplished by grinding, wire brushing, or suitable chemical
cleaning.
9.3. Wire brushing and grinding of stainless steels or aluminum shall be performed by using silicon
carbide wheels or stainless steel brushes not previously used on carbon steel or other ferritic
alloy materials.

10. WELD CONTOUR AND FINISH

10.1. Weld deposits shall be reasonably smooth with good fusion along the side walls of the base
material.
10.2. Weld undercutting shall not exceed 0.794 mm in depth when aligned across the direction of
loading. A notch undercut that will catch a fingernail or wire shall be avoided.

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 March, 2015 NIOEC-SP-90-11(3)
10.3. All weld surfaces shall be flush or with a slight reinforcement. The weld reinforcement shall
not exceed 3.175 mm for material thicknesses of 25.4 mm and under.
10.4. Fillet weld size shall be maintained to the dimensions specified on the drawing. Over-welding
of fillet welds should be avoided (Acceptable fillet weld tolerance: -0 + 1.60 mm.

11. WELD HEAT TREATING REQUIREMENTS

Recommended Preheat for Carbon Steels

Thickness Range Temperature

Up to 19.0 mm None
Over 19.0 mm to 38.1 mm 66 °C
Over 38.1 mm to 63.5 mm 107°C
Over 63.5 mm 149°C

When the base metal temperature is below 0°C, preheat the base metal to at least 21°C and maintain
the minimum temperature during welding.

12. REQUIRED TESTING

Required testing shall be applicable only when referenced in the Special Equipment Specification or
the purchase Order.

13. GENERAL INSPECTION

13.1. All welds shall be examined visually.
13.2. All welds shall be free of cracks, visible porosity, blow holes, cold welds, high ridges, or deep
valleys.
13.3. The construction contractor shall record the results of examinations and tests on related
NIOEC quality control forms which named Field Inspection and Test Plan (FIPs).

14. REPAIR WELDING

Each defect in welds or base metal shall be corrected either by removing and replacing
the entire weld or as follows:
a) Overlap or excessive convexity: reduce by removal of excessive weld metal.
b) Excessive concavity of weld or crater, undersize welds, undercutting: grind slightly, and deposit
additional weld metal.
c) Excessive weld porosity, excessive slag inclusions, and incomplete fusion: remove defective
portions and reweld.
d) Cracks in welds or base metal; ascertain the extent of the crack by use of dye penetrant,
magnetic particle, or other equally positive means; remove the crack to sound metal, 50.8 mm
beyond each end of the crack, and repair weld.

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 March, 2015 NIOEC-SP-90-11(3)
Annex 1

Aerators
Air Flotation
API Separators – atmospheric degasifiers
Containers – storage holding, etc
Control Panels
Cooling Towers
Duct Work
Duct Collectors
Ejector Systems – tail pipes
Enclosures
Fixtures – handling
Frames – skid mounted
Intake Vents
Mixers Blades Containers
Scrubbers
Sewage Treatment Packages
Silencers
Skimmers
Strainers
Sump – fabricated parts
Switch Racks
Water Treatment Systems