(These interpretations are not partof ASME B16.9-1993and are included for information only.
INTRODUCTION
As a serviceto persons who usethe B16 Standards, theB16 Committee renders interpretations of the
requirements upon request. The procedure for requesting an interpretation is described in the follow-
ing paragraphs.
The interpretations include all replies which have been approved by the B16 Main Committee in
response to inquiries concerning interpretation of this Standard.
An interpretation applies either to the Edition and Addenda in effect on the dateof issuance ofthe
interpretation or the Edition andAddenda stated in the interpretation. Subsequent revisions to this
Standard may supersede the interpretation.
PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING INTERPRETATIONS
On request, the B16 Committee will render an interpretation of any requirement of this Standard.
Interpretations can only be rendered in response to a written request, which should be addressed to:
Secretary, B16 Main Committee
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers
United Engineering Center
345 East 47th Street
New York, NY 10017
The request for interpretationshould be clear and unambiguous. It is further recommended that the
inquiqer submit his request using the following format:
(a) Subject. Cite the applicable paragraph number(s) and/or give a concise description of the
subject.
(b) Question. Phrase the question as a request for an interpretation of a specific requirement
suitable for general understanding and use, not as a request for an approval of a proprietary design or
situation. The inquirer may also include any plans or drawings which are necessary to explain the
question; however, they should not contain proprietary names or information.
Requests which are notin this format may be rewritten in this format prior to being answered, which
may inadvertently change the original intent of the request.
ASME procedures provide for reconsideration of an interpretation when or if additional informa-
tion is available which the inquirer believes mightaffect the interpretation. Further,persons aggrieved
by an interpretation may appeal to thecognizant ASME committee or subcommittee. ASME does not
“approve,” “certify,” “rate,” or “endorse” any item, construction, proprietary device, or activity.
41
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61 6.9 Interpretations No. 1 1-1, 1-2
INTERPRETATIONS NO. 1
Replies to Technical Inquiries Issued From January 1, 1986 Through October 31, 1992
Interpretation: 1-1
Subject: Paragraph 1.2, Scope
Date Issued: February 19, 1986
File: B16-85-019
Question: Are straight cone taper and stepreducers included in the scope of ANSI B16.9-1978?
Reply: Yes. See para. 1.2 of the Standard.
Interpretation: 1-2
Subject: Paragraph 1.3, Scope
Date Issued: April 8, 1987
File: B 16-86-005
Question: Do fabricated fittings employing intersection welds fall within the scope of ASME/
ANSI B16.9-1986?
Reply: No. See para. 1.3.
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1-3, 1-4 B16.9 interpretations No. 1
Interpretation: 1-3
Subject: Paragraph 1.1, “Factory-Made”
Date Issued: June 10, 1987
File: B 16-87-002
Question (1): What is the definition or intended meaning of the term “factory-made” as used in
ANSI B16.9-1978, Section 1 , Scope, para. 1.1?
Reply (1): “Factory-made” means production facilities, manufacturing methods (using tools,
dies, jigs, and fixtures), and inspection procedures to a quality control system of a standardline of butt-
welding fittings.
Question (2): Section 1, Scope, para. 1.3 considers fabricated laterals, or other fittings employing
intersection welds, as pipe fabrications to be designed in accordance with ANSI B3 1 . Is the intentof
this provision to exclude fabricated fittings from the provisions of ANSI B16.9?
Reply (2): Yes.
Question (3): Do elbows with miter joints meet the provisions of Section 7, Surface Contours,
para. 7.1?
Reply (3): No.
Interpretation: 1-4
Subject: Inside Diameter of Fittings
Date Issued: February 27, 1990
File: B16-88-002
Question: Does ANSI B16.9-1978 place any minimum dimensional requirements on the inside
diameter of fittings at a position other than the welding ends?
Reply: No.
44
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61 6.9 Interpretations No. 1 1-5, 1-6
Interpretation: 1-5
Subject: Paragraph 9, Design Proof Test
Date Issued: February 27, 1990
File: Bl6-88-003
Question (1): Does para. 9 of ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986require you to use the nominal wall thick-
ness of the pipe that the test fitting marking identifies when calculating the burst pressure “P”?
Reply (1): Yes.
Question (2): Is the actual wall thickness of the pipe usedin the test required to be greater than the
nominal wall thickness of the pipe that the fitting marking identifies?
Reply (2): ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986 does not address the requirements for thewall thickness of
the pipe used in the test.
Interpretation: 1-6
Subject: Table A 1, Tolerances
Date Issued: February 27, 1990
File: B 16-88-004
Question: Does a NPS 30 buttweld long radius elbow that has an out-of-roundness value of 10
mm (major outside diameter 814 mm and a minor outside diameter of 804 mm) meetthe dimensional
tolerance requirements of ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986, Table Al?
Reply: No. The O.D. of a NPS32 long radius elbow has a nominal outside diameter at the weld
bevel of 813 mm with a + 7 mm, - 5 mm tolerance and an out-of-roundness tolerance of 12 mm. The
minor outside diameter of the fitting is out of tolerance.
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1-7, 1-8 B16.9 Interpretations No. 1
Interpretation: 1-7
Subject: Table 2 Dimensions of 45 O Elbows
Date Issued: February 27, 1990
File: B16-88-006
Question: Does ASME/ANSI B 16.9-,1986 require dimensions on 45 O elbows that would permit
two (2) to be welded in series and meet the dimensional requirements of the corresponding size 90"
elbow?
Reply: No.
Interpretation: 1-8
Subject: Paragraph 9.3.5, Proof Tests
Date Issued: February 27, 1990
File: B 16-88-008
Question: Are fittings made to ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986, that were designedby successful proof
tests which fulfilled the requirements of earlier editions of B16.9, considered as fulfilling the require-
ments of the 1986 edition?
Reply: Yes, provided the test data has been reviewed and meets the B16.9-1986 requirements.
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B16.9 Interpretations No. 1 1-9, 1-10
Interpretation: 1-9
Subject: Tolerances in Parallelism
Date Issued: May 10, 1990
File: B16-90-003
Question: Do Table7 and/or Table 1 of ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986 have a tolerance on parallelism
between face and backface of the lap of a Lap Joint Stub End?
Reply: No.
Interpretation: 1-10
Subject: Paragraph 11.2, Dimensions
Date Issued:
May 10, 1990
File: B 16-90-004
Question: Do the provisions of para. 11.2, ANSI B16.9-1978, prohibit the use of vernier, mi-
crometer, electronic read-out equipment, etc. for the determination of actual dimensions of B16.9
fittings?
Reply: No.
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1-11,l-12 B16.9 InterpretationsNo. 1
Interpretation: 1-11
Subject: Design Proof Test
Date Issued: August 8, 1990
File: B 16-90-008
Question: Does ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986 cover Design Proof Test requirements for branch fit-
tings (other than tees or crosses coveredin Tables 5 and 6) in which reinforcement considerations must
be analyzed?
Reply: No.
Interpretation: 1-12
Subject: Paragraph 9.2.3, Design Proof Test
Date Issued: June 27, 1990
File: B16-90-014
Question: What value of“S” shall be usedin the formulae for P (Adj) (adjusted proof test pres-
sure, psig) and P (computed bursting pressure of pipe whichthe fitting’s marking identifies, psig) pre-
sented in para. 9.2.3, ANSI B16.9-1978?
Reply: The value of “S” is the same for both equations as follows: S = Minimum specifiedtensile
strength of the pipe which the fittings marking identifies, psi.
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61 6.9 Interpretations No. 1 1-13, 1-14
Interpretation: 1-13
Subject: Tolerances
Date Issued: January 23, 1991
File: B 16-90-028
Question (1): According to ASMEIANSI B16.9-1986, must all inside diameter, outside diameter,
and wall thickness tolerances (see Tables 1 and Al) be met for each fitting?
Reply (1): Yes.
Question (2): Is there any precedence under which the tolerance must be applied?
Reply (2): No.
Question (3): In ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986, is there a maximum tolerance on wall thickness?
Reply (3): No.
Interpretation: 1 14 -
Subject: Taper Boring
Date Issued: January 23, 1991
File: B 16-90-029
Question (1): According to ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986, when a B16.9 fitting dimension is short-
ened due to taper boring, what tolerances apply?
Reply (1): Those in Table 1, Tolerances. See also para. 1.3.
Question (2): According to ASME/ANSI B16.28-1986, when a B16.28 fitting dimension is short-
ened due to taper boring, what tolerances apply?
Reply (2): Those in Table 1, Tolerances.
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1-15, 1-16 B16.9 Interpretations No. 1
Interpretation: 1-15
Subject:
Table A1 ,Tolerances
DateIssued: January 24, 1991
File: B16-90-019
Question: Does Table A1 ,ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986, specify tolerancesfor inside diameterout-
of-roundness?
Reply: No.
Interpretation: 1-16
Subject:
Clarification Long
of Radius
Elbow
DateIssued: January 25, 1991
File: B 16-90-027
Question: Does ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986,for 90O long radius elbows, require
the openings to be
joined by circular arcs on the external surfaces?
See ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986,
Reply: Yes, but the circular arcs may be terminated in tangents.
Section 7, Surface Contours.
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616.9Interpretations No. 1 1-17, 1-18
Interpretation: 1-17
Subject: Paragraph
9.2.2,
Other
Components
Date Issued: February 19, 1991
BFile: 16-90-03 1
Question: Is the actualwall thickness or the pipe material used in theDesign Proof Test Assembly
described in ASMEIANSI B16.9-1986 in para. 9.2.2limited to the nominal wall thickness or compati-
ble pipe material that the fitting markingidentifies?
Reply: No.
Interpretation: 1-18
Subject: Proof Testing of Fittings
Date Issued: September 19, 1991
16-90-01
B File: 1
Question: Can successful proof pressure test data of an ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986 fitting such as a
tee be applied to qualify a non-similar B16.9 fitting such as an elbow?
Reply: No. Test data may only be applied to qualify fittings similar to the test fittings as outlined
in Section 9.4, ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986.
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1-19, 1-20 616.9 Interpretations No. 1
Interpretation: 1-19
Subject: Wall Thickness Limitations for Fittings
Date Issued: September 19, 1991
File: B16-91-012
Question: Does ASMWANSI B16.9-1986 have any restrictions on themaximum wall thickness
used for B16.9 fitting construction?
Reply: No, provided the ends are prepared to match the customer’s pipe within the tolerances
specified in Table 1.
Interpretation: 1-20
Subject: Table 9, Straight Cone Taper Reducers
Date Issued: April 2, 1992
File: B16-91-013
Question: Are straight cone taper reducers included in the scope of ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986?
Reply: Yes, however the welding end preparations described in ASME/ANSI B16.9, Section 8
shall be met. The referencing Code may have additional requirements.
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616.9 Interpretations No. 1 1-21, 1-22
Interpretation: 1-21
Subject: Table 1 ,Tolerances
Date Issued: July 31, 1992
File: B16-92-006
Question: Do the inside, outside diameters, and minimum wall thickness tolerances of B16.9-
1978,Table 1 apply throughout the fitting?
Reply: Table 1 tolerances for the I.D. and O.D. dimensions apply at theends of the fitting. The
wall thickness tolerance applies throughout the fitting.
Interpretation: 1-22
Subject: Test Procedures
Date Issued: August 19, 1992
File: B 16-92-0
14
Question: When calculating the adjusted proof test pressure P, per ASME/ANSI B16.9-1986,
para. 9.3,for a filler metal added welded test fitting, can a welded tensiletest specimen, representative
of the test fitting, be used in determining the actual tensile strength of the test fitting material?,,S
Reply: Yes, provided the tensile specimen and tensile strength meet the applicable material re-
quirements of para. 5.0.
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