Steamfitter Quality Control Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a traveler or work package in piping fabrication QC?
- To track material costs
- To document each step of fabrication with sign-offs (Correct answer)
- To schedule manpower assignments
- To record overtime hours
Correct answer: To document each step of fabrication with sign-offs
A traveler documents each fabrication step—fit-up, welding, NDE, PWHT, testing—with dated signatures to maintain quality traceability.
Question 2: During post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), the thermocouple reading drops below the minimum soak temperature for 5 minutes. What must occur?
- Ignore if average temperature was met
- Document and continue
- Restart the soak cycle from the beginning (Correct answer)
- Stop the cycle and reject the weld
Correct answer: Restart the soak cycle from the beginning
If the temperature falls below the specified minimum soak temperature, the soak time must restart from zero to ensure proper stress relief.
Question 3: Which piping code governs quality control requirements for power plant steam piping?
- ASME B31.3
- ASME B31.1 (Correct answer)
- ASME B31.9
- ASME B31.4
Correct answer: ASME B31.1
ASME B31.1, Power Piping, covers quality requirements for steam and power plant piping systems.
Question 4: A welder's qualification test coupon fails bend testing. What is the immediate consequence?
- The welder is retrained and immediately qualifies
- All production welds made by that welder since the last successful test are subject to review (Correct answer)
- Only future welds are affected
- The welder is disqualified from all pipe work permanently
Correct answer: All production welds made by that welder since the last successful test are subject to review
A failed qualification test calls into question the welder's recent production welds, which must be reviewed and potentially re-examined.
Question 5: What is the acceptable porosity limit for a single circular pore in a groove weld under ASME B31.1?
- Not to exceed 3/32 inch diameter (Correct answer)
- Not to exceed 3/16 inch diameter
- Porosity is always acceptable if not clustered
- Not to exceed 1/4 inch diameter
Correct answer: Not to exceed 3/32 inch diameter
ASME B31.1 limits individual circular porosity to 3/32 inch maximum diameter for groove welds.
Question 6: What does the term 'NCR' stand for in a piping QC program?
- Non-Conformance Report (Correct answer)
- National Code Review
- Nominal Component Rating
- New Construction Record
Correct answer: Non-Conformance Report
NCR stands for Non-Conformance Report, used to document any material, weld, or installation that does not meet specified requirements.
Question 7: When reviewing a piping isometric drawing for QC, what does a 'hold point' symbol indicate?
- A location where the pipe is anchored to structure
- A point where work must stop and inspection approval is required before proceeding (Correct answer)
- A pressure relief valve location
- A field weld location
Correct answer: A point where work must stop and inspection approval is required before proceeding
A hold point requires mandatory QC or third-party inspection and written sign-off before the next work phase can begin.
Steamfitter Quality Control Procedures 3
What is the purpose of a traveler or work package in piping fabrication QC?