NR 216, Ch 5, Sec 1
SECTION 1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1 Scope
1.1 General
1.1.1 This Section specifies the general requirements for
fabrication by welding, and the other Sections of the Chap-
ter concern the requirements for approval of welding con-
sumables ( Sec 2), over weldable shop primers ( Sec 3) and
welding procedures ( Sec 4 and Sec 5).
1.1.2 The requirements are essentially intended for the
welding of weldable steels and aluminium alloy grades cov-
ered by the applicable Articles of these Rules.
1.1.3 Different materials, applications and procedures, as
well as other standards and specifications, may be consid-
ered by the Society on a case-by-case basis.
2 Fabrication by welding
2.1 General
2.1.1 Fabrication by welding is to be carried out in compli-
ance with the applicable Society Rules and according to
normal good practice, general or specific to the individual
processes, to the Surveyor’s satisfaction; in particular the
conditions stated at the time of approval and authorisation
for the use of individual processes are to be complied with.
The welded structures, the relevant details and the size of
welds are to comply with the applicable requirements; any
other requirements indicated on the approved plans or
specified during survey of construction are also to be com-
plied with.
2.2 Approval
2.2.1 Plans
The constructional plans are to be submitted for approval
when required by the Rules or in individual cases and are to
contain the necessary data relevant to the fabrication by
welding of the structures and items represented. In particu-
lar, material types, welding details, welding processes and
weld size are to be indicated; any details not represented in
the plans are, in any case, to comply with the applicable
requirements.
2.2.2 Welding procedures and consumables
Welding to be used in hull construction, machinery, pres-
sure systems and equipment subject to the inspection of the
Society, is to be carried out with approved welding consum-
ables and in accordance with approved welding proce-
dures.
April 2005 with amendments May 2006 Bureau Veritas
2.2.3 Welders and welding operators
Welders for manual welding and for semiautomatic welding
processes are to be properly trained and are to be certified
by the Society, as required in the individual applications,
unless otherwise agreed.
Welders are to be certified according to the procedures
given in the document NR476 “Approval testing of weld-
ers”, except for offshore applications where the Society’s
Rule Note “Construction survey of steel structures of off-
shore units and installations” referenced NR426 DTO R00 E
dated May 1992 is to be used.
The certification is to be in due course of validity.
Personnel manning the automatic welding machines are to
be competent and sufficiently trained.
2.2.4 Welding supervision
Welders are to be supervised and assisted, in the course of
the welding operation, by an adequate number of compe-
tent supervisors, such as to ensure efficient control of the
welding production.
Certification of the welding inspectors is not compulsory
and is left to the discretion of the Manufacturer, except in
particular cases where it may be required by the Society.
2.2.5 NDT operators
Non-destructive tests are to be carried out by qualified per-
sonnel certified by the Society or by recognised bodies in
compliance with appropriate standards.
The qualifications are to be appropriate to the particular
application.
2.3 Welding procedures
2.3.1 Approval of consumables
Consumables are to be approved in accordance with the
provisions of Sec 2.
Requirements for approval of welding procedures, where
non-approved welding consumables are allowed to be
used, are given in Sec 4.
2.3.2 Choice of consumables
Requirements regarding the use of the various grades of
approved consumables are indicated in the parts of the
Rules concerning the application or at the time of plan
approval.
In the case of consumables approved for Mo and Cr-Mo
weldable steels, the choice of the grade of the consumables
is to be made such that the nominal chemical composition
of the deposited metal corresponds to that of the base mate-
rial; where electrodes are used, they are to be of the basic
covered low hydrogen type.
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NR 216, Ch 5, Sec 1
In the case of consumables approved for C, C-Mn and Ni
ferritic steels intended for low temperature service, the
choice of the grade of consumable is to be made such that
the strength of the weld metal is appropriate to the base
metal to be welded and the temperature at which the con-
sumables satisfy the required impact strength properties is
as required in the individual applications; where electrodes
are used, they are to be of the basic covered low hydrogen
type.
In the case of consumables approved for welding stainless
steels, the selection of consumables and base metals which
can be welded is indicated in Sec 4, [4].
In the case of consumables approved for welding alumin-
ium alloys, the selection is to be made on the basis of corro-
sion resistance and strength as indicated in Sec 4, [6].
2.3.3 Manual welding processes
Manual welding processes using covered electrodes with
diameter within the approved range and employing welding
techniques according to normal welding practice are con-
sidered as ordinary welding processes and, in general, the
use of an approved electrode substitutes for qualification
tests of the welding procedure.
Approval of the welding procedure is, as a rule, required for
electrodes for welding quenched and tempered steels and
for specific applications such as those relevant to ships
intended to carry liquefied gases, in which case the require-
ments of the relevant part of the Rules apply.
2.3.4 Special welding processes
Special welding processes are intended to mean those
where the heat input from the arc is such as to melt a con-
siderable amount of base material and, in any case, those
which achieve automatic or semiautomatic welding, in par-
ticular:
180 Bureau Veritas
a) processes employing electrodes provided with special
coatings suitable to obtain a deep penetration
b) automatic or semiautomatic processes employing tubu-
lar wires filled with desoxidants and additives with or
without shielding gas, or bare wire with shielding gas,
including electro-gas and electro-slag processes
c) automatic or semiautomatic submerged-arc processes.
The welding procedure specifications involving these spe-
cial welding processes are to be preliminarily approved for
individual users.
The special welding processes are to be used within the
limits of their approval and in accordance with the condi-
tions of use for which the individual Manufacturers have
been authorised.
2.4 Type of joints, edge preparations and
size
2.4.1 General
The types of joints and the edge preparations are to be
appropriate to the welding processes adopted, to the partic-
ular structures and to the stresses to which they are sub-
jected, to the satisfaction of the Society.
Size and design are to be in accordance with requirements
given in the Rules relevant to the applications, approved
plans, and specific provisions stipulated for hulls and for
pressure systems and machinery.
2.5 Welding execution and control
2.5.1 Edge preparation, surface conditions, assembly pre-
and post- weld heating, welding sequences and inspections
of the welded structures are to be in accordance with good
practice and, where applicable, are to comply with the
requirements given in the Rules relevant to the applications.
April 2005 with amendments May 2006