API 2B - Fabrication of structural Steel Pipe

Date 03-27-2008 21:26 Edited 03-27-2008 22:54

Your name suggest that you live in in Asian country which is not Japan, i.e., in an underdeveloped country. Don't get upset, I also live in an underdeveloped country and know how things work in underdeveloped countries. They work in a quite different manner than they do in developed countries.
As an engineer who lives in an uderdeveloped country, my suggestion to another engineer who lives in another underdeveloped country is the following:

1. The fact that the contractor doesn't have the API 2B monogran doesn't mean that he's not capable of welding structural steel according to that specification.
2. To ascertain that he's capable of doing it, you yourself, or some other engineer from your company, qualify him.
3. You don't hold a "certified inspector" diploma? Doesn't mind. You're an engineer, aren't you? You're experienced in welding, aren't you? So, you're supposed to know how to qualify a welder.
4. You're not very familiar with API 2B? Doesn't mind. Grab the standard and spend a whole day, if necessary, to learn every detail of it.
5. Once you feel confident, get in agreement with the contractor as to how the qualification will be carried out.
6. That qualification isn't valid for API, AWS, ASME, IIW, TWI nor for any other standardizing organization existing in the world? Doesn't matter, it'll be valid for your company because you yourself has witnessed it.

That's how I used to do back in my days of erector engineer in underdeveloped, South American countries. Years have passed and no plant that I erected has exploded.
Giovanni S. Crisi
Sao Paulo - Brazil

Note to American, European, Japanese and Australian welding specialists: before blaming me, spend a couple of years in an underdeveloped country and then we'll come back to the argument.

By kumaran mohan Date 03-28-2008 15:17

GSC,
Thanks for your information. I am looking someone more profesional way to answer my codes doubt. I am fully agree with you and this is not a rocket science to build but rather to do it as compliance with the codes. . "No short cut business".

I am not intersted to get the Contractor to qualify to the codes which they can and it's a long process to obtain it. I know usualy they have to get a approval from Company prior to the fabrication. Can a Contractor without the API 2B Monagran build the pipes? If yes where did in codes stated? If no what shall the contractor have to proposed?

And you are right. I am from Asia working for US Company.

Cheers.

By 803056

Date 03-28-2008 16:05 Edited 03-28-2008 16:10

Hello my friend Mr. Crisi;

Are you unaware of our latest standard FC-2002. I'm sure you can find it if you do a quick search of the AWS Forum site.

All joking aside, we here in the States don't always work to a code and in many cases negotiate which welding standard is best suited for the work to be performed. The truth of the matter is that "best welding practices" don't change from one code to another. The materials of construction change, some of the "does and dont's" change in minor details, but good welding technique and welding metallurgy are "constants" that hold true from one code to the next. I'm always amazed at the similarities of the various welding standards. whether the welding is for pressure applications per ASME, structural applications per AWS, or cross country transmission pipeline per API, the similarities are more abundant than the differences.

Your approach to the problem is a reasonable hands-on solution to an immediate problem as long as the owner is agreeable to the proposed remedy.

The pitfalls are those of materials and tolerances for the "roundness", NDT, acceptance criteria, etc. Provided those requirements are agreed to by both parties, including the owner, or better yet if they are in accordance with the applicable standard, the monogram issue is "window dressing" unless the standard is mandated by national or local laws.

Best regards - Al

By G.S.Crisi (****)

Date 04-01-2008 00:20

Al,
1. I'm happy for your considering me "your friend". As a matter of fact, it's amazing, and gratifying, to see that over the years a friendship has developed among the frequentors of this site. Remember when Chuck Meadows suffered from cancer? All of us who believe in a living God, no matter the formal religion we're member of, raised our prayers for him. And when he passed away, countless messages (including mine) were sent to his widow.
2. On my posting above, I've not stressed conveniently that the way I used to qualify welders back in my days of erector engineer was performed not only with the client's approval, but also with the client's strong cooperation.
In fact, before doing anything, the client and me sat together to discuss in detail in which manner the qualification was going to be carried out, and when it was under way both the client and me watched carefully the results. So, the final approval was signed by the client and me. Of course, that qualification wasn't valid before AWS, ASME, API etc. etc., but was valid for the client and my company, and this was the important thing.
You see, both the client and my company (contractor), knew that Certified Welding Inspectors approved by AWS, ASME etc, can be found at every street corner in the U.S.A. or Japan, but are as rare as white flies here in third world, underdeveloped countries. That's why I warned first world, developed engineers to spend a couple of years in a third world, underdeveloped country (and the more underdeveloped the better), before blaming me.
Giovanni S. Crisi

By darren

Date 03-30-2008 02:18

its forward thinking gentlemen such as yourself that help establish order and codes/laws in developing societies, good advice.
maybe someday your advents will be referred to as the "crisi code".
good on you giovanni
darren

By 803056

Date 04-01-2008 02:51

I can't begin to relate how many times I've worked with owners that didn't know what welding standard was best suited for the work they needed to have done. It is those times when it is helpful to know what scope of work each of the common codes apply to.

How many times have we seen project specifications state, "All work to be first class workmanship in accordance with AWS (or ASME)." and nothing else!

Those are the projects that are in need of help before the first arc is struck.

Best regards - Al