Code Interpretations - VIII-1

Interpretation: VIII-1-07-49
Subject: Appendix 28 and Fig. UW-13.2 (2007 Edition)
Date Issued:
June 10, 2008
File: 08-888
Question: Mandatory Appendix 28 provides an alternative to the requirement "a + b not be
less than 2ts" given in UW-13(e)(4) and Fig. UW-13.2. When applying the provisions of
Appendix 28, is the requirement shown in Fig. UW-13.2 as "tp not less than the smaller of ts
or 1.4 in." still mandatory?
Reply: Yes.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-07-53
Subject: Appendix 28 and Fig. UG-34(g)
Date Issued:
August 13, 2008
File: 08-1043
Question (1): The comer joint welds between the short and long plates for a noncircular
vessel shall meet the requirements of Fig. UW-13.2 or Appendix 28; do the requirements of
Fig. UW-13.2 or Appendix 28 also apply to a weld made in accordance with Fig. UG-34(g) that
attaches a flat end plate to the inside of the non circular vessel?
Reply (1): No.
Question (2): If the provisions for weld joint size shown in Fig. 28-1(b) are used, is it required
to prepare and qualify a sample comer weld joint in accordance with Appendix 28-2(a)?
Reply (2): Yes.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-01-140
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (2001 Edition); Fig. UW-13.2, Sketch (c), and Appendix 28, 282(c)
Date Issued:
February 6, 2003
File: BC02-2305
Question: In meeting the requirements of Section VIII, Division 1, is visual examination of the
inside corner required of a joint configuration as shown in Fig. UW-13.2, sketch (c)?
Reply: No.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-01-134
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (2001 Edition); Appendix 28, Fig. 28-1
Date Issued:
December 9, 2002
File: BC02-2640
Question: In meeting the requirements of 28-2(a) of Section VIII, Division 1, may a butt-weld
coupon be used to qualify the weld procedure, welder or welding operator, provided the
tolerances of 28-2(a)(1) and 28-2(a)(2) are met?
Reply: No.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-01-110
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (1998 Edition, 2000 Addenda); UG-84(i), UCS-67 and Appendix 28
Date Issued:
December 20, 2001
File: BC01-843
Question (1): For box headers with Section VIII, Division 1, Appendix 28 alternative corner
joints, constructed of base materials exempt from impact testing at an MDMT of -40F,

welded with impact test qualified at -50F welding procedures, are production impact tests in
accordance with UG-84(i) required?
Reply (1): No, production impact tests are only required for Category A and B joints.
Question (2): May a specific heat/lot of welding consumables that has been classified by
impact tests at a temperature colder than the temperature listed in the appropriate part of
Section II Part C be used in UCS-67 to establish a colder MDMT?
Reply (2): No.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-01-79
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (1998 Edition, 2000 Addenda); Appendix 28
Date Issued:
July 2, 2001
File: BC01-408
Question: May the provisions of Appendix 28 in Section VIII, Division 1 be applied to weld the
side plates of a rectangular box header for an air cooled heat exchanger if one or both plates
has a radius at the weld groove as schematically shown in Fig. UW-13.3 sketch (b)?
Reply: No.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-01-60
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (1998 Edition, 2000 Addenda); Appendix 28, 28-2
Date Issued:
June 11, 2001
File: BC01-297
Question: In the manufacture of box headers for air-cooled heat exchangers, Appendix 28 in
Section VIII, Division 1 is used for the corner weld joints at the long side to short side
attachments and at the long and short side attachments to the end plates. Based on the
requirements of 28-2(a), shall sample corner joints be prepared for each combination of
corner joint thicknesses when the different thicknesses are used for the long and short sides,
and the end plates?
Reply: Yes.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-01-41
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (1998 Edition, 2000 Addenda); Appendix 28, 28-2(c), Use of
Backing Strips
Date Issued:
April 24, 2001
File: BC01-223
Question: In accordance with Appendix 28 of Section VIII, Division 1, may alternative corner
weld joints for box headers be made with the use of permanent backing strips that make the
visual inspection requirements of 28-2(c) not possible?
Reply: No.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-01-05
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (1998 Edition, 1999 Addenda); Fig. UW-13.2 and Appendix 28
Date Issued:
October 2, 2000
File: BC00-502
Question: For Category C and D corner joints of side plates in a rectangular pressure vessel,
like those shown in Fig. UW-13.2, or permitted by Appendix 28 of Section VIII, Division 1,
when volumetric examination is performed, is there a need to determine a joint efficiency
factor in the design of the components?
Reply: Corner joints like those shown in Fig. UW-13.2 and Appendix 28 are not butt joints.
Volumetric examination is not required for corner joints, but UG-93(d)(4) and material
requirements, such as UHA-34, UNF-58, etc., may require liquid penetrant or magnetic
particle examinations. A joint efficiency of 1.0 shall be used for corner joints. Regardless of

the extent of examination, the joint efficiencies given in Table UW-12 are not applicable for
corner joints.
Code Interpretations - VIII-1
Interpretation: VIII-1-95-104
Subject: Section VIII, Division 1 (1995 Edition); Appendix 28
Date Issued:
June 18, 1996
File: BC96-093
Question (1): In the manufacture of box headers for air-cooled heat exchangers, is it
permissible to use the requirements of Appendix 28 in Section VIII, Division 1, for
longitudinal welds as well as end plate welds?
Reply (1): Yes.
Question (2): Is it permissible to use Appendix 28 in Section VIII, Division 1, when both
members are beveled?
Reply (2): No.