PROCEDURE FOR HOLIDAY TESTING

CONTRACTOR : TECHNO FIRE CONTROLS PVT.LTD

CLIENT : AMPTPL

NAME OF THE WORK : Fire fighting system

CONTRACT NO & DATE : PO. 4500055135 DTD 25TH NOV 2011

rd
Document Ref No, : MS/AMPTPL-Techno/FF/04 dated 03 Sep 2012

1. INTRODUCTION
This covers the electrical test procedure that is adopted for checking whether there is
continuous coating on the pipe surface.
2. SCOPE
The Holiday Test is to be carried out for 100% of the wrapped and coated pipes using
portable, low amperage, adjustable voltage, and pulse type holiday detector employing an
audible signalling device.
3. REFERENCE CODE AND STANDARD
AWWA C203 IS 10221 SEC 7.1 & 7.2
4. PROCEDURE & METHODOLOGY
a. The Visual inspection of the wrapped and coated is carried out to see that the
overlap is correctly maintained and there are no wrinkles, voids, blisters, pinholes,
open seams, entrapped air or any other defects likely to cause failure of the coating.
b. The calibration report for the Holiday detector will be submitted for review before
carrying out Holiday detector testing.
c. The electrode of the holiday detector, which is in the form of a coil spring, is put on
the surface of the coated pipe.
d. The voltage of the holiday detector is set by the operator using the adjustable knob.
At no point of time the voltage will be allowed to go beyond 15000V. To ensure
proper inspection voltage the equipment shall be grounded properly and the voltage
adjusted in accordance with the instructions of the equipment manufacturer.
e. After the voltage adjustment the electrode shall be passed over the taped surface
one time only at the rate of approx 15 m /min. If the electrode shall be passed over
the coated surface, the current to the electrode should be immediately cut off to
avoid damaging the coating.
f. The location of the holiday should be marked using chalk/crayon. That 3” on either
side of defective portion of the tape is to be cut opened and removed and fresh tape
of that size or slightly larger than that is to be applied using the same application
procedure. The repaired area shall then be retested once again with the holiday
detector.
g. The report for the above test will be documented as per approved format.
REPAIR OF HOLIDAY:

i. If pinholes observed it has to be repaired by warming up the spat slightly and pressing. And
the coated surface has to be cleaned and primed. When surface gets dried a small piece of
tape (size 20m.m * 20m.m all around the pipe) can be warmed up with blow lamp and apply
the spat as lap joint.
ii. Loose and the disbanded area in the damaged portion is to be removed. Exposed portion
has to be cleaned by cloth/wire brush ensuring total absence of loose material. After
cleaned the surface the exposed area has to be primed and after priming the surface has to
be covered with tape.
iii. If air pockets are observed incision with pin or blade can be made on the air pocket area to
remove entrapped air. Then entrapped air can be expelled by pressing. After removing the
entrapped air it has to be repaired.
iv. If any surface crack observed it has to be repaired by slightly warming the cracked area with
blow lamp and pressing. Thereafter, if necessary procedure of holiday repair to be followed.
v. Coated pipes shall be handled at all times with equipment such as stout, wide-belt sling and
vide padded skid designed to prevent damage to coating.
vi. Inspection and testing shall be repeated after laying & welding of coated pipes. Particularly
for the pipes coated in site. After laying if there is any damages observed holiday test has to
be done.
vii. All repair spots sections areas must be holiday tested again after repair work.
viii. If a coated pipe remains over ground, it has to be protected against black body absorption
and against ultraviolet light by using white wash or water emulsion latex paint or Kraft paper
as recommended in AWWAC203.
ix. Any coated pipes shall not be exposed as bare coated for more than 2 days.