---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 192.243"
title: "49"
number: "192.243"
heading: "Nondestructive testing."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/192.243"
---

# §192.243. Nondestructive testing.

- (a) Nondestructive testing of welds must be performed by any process, other than trepanning, that will clearly indicate defects that may affect the integrity of the weld.
- (b) Nondestructive testing of welds must be performed:
  - (1) In accordance with written procedures; and
  - (2) By persons who have been trained and qualified in the established procedures and with the equipment employed in testing.
- (c) Procedures must be established for the proper interpretation of each nondestructive test of a weld to ensure the acceptability of the weld under [§ 192.241(c)](/cfr/49/192.241.md?p=c).
- (d) When nondestructive testing is required under [§ 192.241(b)](/cfr/49/192.241.md?p=b), the following percentages of each day's field butt welds, selected at random by the operator, must be nondestructively tested over their entire circumference:
  - (1) **In Class 1 locations, except offshore, at least 10 percent.**
  - (2) **In Class 2 locations, at least 15 percent.**
  - (3) In Class 3 and Class 4 locations, at crossings of major or navigable rivers, offshore, and within railroad or public highway rights-of-way, including tunnels, bridges, and overhead road crossings, 100 percent unless impracticable, in which case at least 90 percent. Nondestructive testing must be impracticable for each girth weld not tested.
  - (4) **At pipeline tie-ins, including tie-ins of replacement sections, 100 percent.**
- (e) Except for a welder or welding operator whose work is isolated from the principal welding activity, a sample of each welder or welding operator's work for each day must be nondestructively tested, when nondestructive testing is required under [§ 192.241(b)](/cfr/49/192.241.md?p=b).
- (f) When nondestructive testing is required under [§ 192.241(b)](/cfr/49/192.241.md?p=b), each operator must retain, for the life of the pipeline, a record showing by milepost, engineering station, or by geographic feature, the number of girth welds made, the number nondestructively tested, the number rejected, and the disposition of the rejects.

## Notes

### Amendments

[35 FR 13257, Aug. 19, 1970, as amended by Amdt. 192-27, 41 FR 34606, Aug. 16, 1976; Amdt. 192-50, 50 FR 37192, Sept. 12, 1985; Amdt. 192-78, 61 FR 28784, June 6, 1996; Amdt. 192-120, 80 FR 12779, Mar. 11, 2015]

### Authority

Authority: 30 U.S.C. 185(w)(3), 49 U.S.C. 5103, 60101 et. seq., and 49 CFR 1.97.

### Source

Source: 35 FR 13257, Aug. 19, 1970, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[35 FR 13257, Aug. 19, 1970, as amended by Amdt. 192-27, 41 FR 34606, Aug. 16, 1976; Amdt. 192-50, 50 FR 37192, Sept. 12, 1985; Amdt. 192-78, 61 FR 28784, June 6, 1996; Amdt. 192-120, 80 FR 12779, Mar. 11, 2015]