MSS SP-54-2013

Quality Standard for Steel Castings

for Valves, Flanges, Fittings,
and Other Piping Components

Radiographic
Examination Method

Standard Practice
Developed and Approved by the
Manufacturers Standardization Society of the
Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
MSS ®
127 Park Street, NE
Vienna, Virginia 22180-4602 www.mss-hq.org
Phone: (703) 281-6613
Fax: (703) 281-6671
E-mail: standards@mss-hq.org
MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-54
This MSS Standard Practice was developed under the consensus of the MSS Technical Committee 304 and the
MSS Coordinating Committee. The content of this Standard Practice is the resulting efforts of competent and
experienced volunteers to provide an effective, clear, and non-exclusive standard that will benefit the industry as
a whole. This MSS Standard Practice describes minimal requirements and is intended as a basis for common
practice by the manufacturer, the user, and the general public. The existence of an MSS Standard Practice does
not in itself preclude the manufacture, sale, or use of products not conforming to the Standard Practice.
Mandatory conformance to this Standard Practice is established only by reference in other documents such as a
code, specification, sales contract, or public law, as applicable. MSS has no power, nor does it undertake, to
enforce or certify compliance with this document. Any certification or other statement of compliance with the
requirements of this Standard Practice shall not be attributable to MSS and is solely the responsibility of the
certifier or maker of the statement.

“Unless indicated otherwise within this MSS Standard Practice, other standards documents
referenced to herein are identified by the date of issue that was applicable to this Standard
Practice at the date of approval of this MSS Standard Practice (see Annex A). This Standard
Practice shall remain silent on the validity of those other standards of prior or subsequent
dates of issue even though applicable provisions may not have changed.”

By publication of this Standard Practice, no position is taken with respect to the validity of any potential claim(s)
or of any patent rights in connection therewith. MSS shall not be held responsible for identifying any patent
rights. Users are expressly advised that determination of patent rights and the risk of infringement of such rights
are entirely their responsibility.

In this Standard Practice, all text, notes, annexes, tables, figures, and references are construed to be essential to
the understanding of the message of the standard, and are considered normative unless indicated as
“supplemental”. All appendices, if included, that appear in this document are construed as “supplemental”. Note
that supplemental information does not include mandatory requirements.

U.S. customary units in this Standard Practice are the standard; the SI (metric) units are for reference only.

This Standard Practice has been substantially revised from the previous 1999 (R 2007) edition. It is
suggested that if the user is interested in knowing what changes have been made, that direct page by page
comparison should be made of this document and that of the previous edition.

Non-toleranced dimensions in this Standard Practice are nominal unless otherwise specified.

Excerpts of this Standard Practice may be quoted with permission. Credit lines should read ‘Extracted
from MSS SP-54-2013 with permission of the publisher, Manufacturers Standardization Society of the
Valve and Fittings Industry.' Reproduction and/or electronic transmission or dissemination is prohibited
under copyright convention unless written permission is granted by the Manufacturers Standardization
Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry Inc. All rights reserved.

MSS is a registered trademark of Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.

Originally Published: February 1959

Current Edition Approved: October 2012/Updated March 2013
Current Edition Published: March 2013

Copyright ©, 2013 by
Manufacturers Standardization Society
of the
Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-54

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

1 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................................... 1
2 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................................... 1
3 BASIS FOR USE ........................................................................................................................... 1
4 RADIOGRAPHIC PROCEDURE ................................................................................................. 1
5 ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS .................................................................................................... 2
6 REMOVAL AND REPAIR OF DISCONTINUITIES .................................................................. 2

ANNEX

A Referenced Standards and Applicable Dates ................................................................................ 3

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-54

QUALITY STANDARD FOR STEEL CASTINGS FOR VALVES, FLANGES, FITTINGS,

AND OTHER PIPING COMPONENTS

RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION METHOD

1. SCOPE

1.1 This Standard Practice provides methods 4. RADIOGRAPHIC PROCEDURE

and acceptance standards for the film method of
radiographic examination of steel castings for 4.1 ASTM E94, “Standard Guide for
valves, flanges, fittings, and other piping Radiographic Testing” shall be used as a guide.
components.
4.2 Areas to be radiographed shall be in
This Standard Practice is applicable to the initial accordance with Section 3.1.
examination of castings and toward the
examination of casting repairs. 4.3 The film shall be as close as practical to
the casting being radiographed.
1.2 The methods contained in this Standard
Practice provide uniform procedures that will 4.4 Any commercial available intensifying
produce satisfactory and consistent results upon screen except those of the fluorescent type may
which the acceptance standards of Section 5 may be used.
be used. 4.5 All film shall bear identification markings
1.3 This examination guide may be used on a to properly orient the film for interpretation and
voluntary basis or when specified in an inquiry, to denote the actual casting under examination.
contract, or order, and when mutually agreed Film shall be marked to identify the organization
upon by the manufacturer and the purchaser. producing the radiograph and the date exposed.

1.4 It is difficult to rigidly interpret 4.6 Penetrameters shall be used on each

radiographs to a set of acceptance standards. radiograph and shall conform to the
Consequently, there is a need for close requirements of ASTM E94.
cooperation between the manufacturer and the 4.7 Any commercially available film may be
purchaser in applying radiographic acceptance used provided it is equal to or finer grained than
standards. ASTM E94, Type 2.
2. DEFINITIONS 4.8 Radiographs may be made using multiple
film techniques, and in either single or multiple
2.1 For definitions of terms relating to
viewing, so as to cover a greater latitude in
radiography, refer to ASTM E94, Appendix X1.
casting thickness with a single exposure.
3. BASIS FOR USE
4.9 Radiographs shall be within the following
3.1 Critical sections of pressure containing photographic (H&D) density range:
valve castings, as identified by ASME B16.34, a) Single film viewing – 1.5 minimum, 4.0
shall be radiographed. maximum.
3.2 Radiographs of castings up to 2 in. (50.8 b) Superimposed viewing of double film,
mm) wall thickness shall be interpreted to each single film – 1.00 minimum, 2.5
ASTM E446; heavy-wall thickness from 2 to maximum; with a double film – 4.0
less than 4½ in. (50.8 to 114 mm) shall be maximum.
interpreted to ASTM E186; and heavy-wall
4.10 Surface shall be such that radiographic
thickness from 4½ to 12 in. (114 to 305 mm)
contrast due to surface condition cannot mask or
shall be interpreted to ASTM E280.
be confused with that of any indication.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-54

4.11 Single wall thicknesses shall be Acceptable

radiographed wherever practical. Discontinuity Type Category Comparative Plates
(ASTM E186)
4.12 The radiographic sensitivity shall be 2-
4T for thickness up to and including 0.75 in. Gas Porosity A A3
(19 mm) and 2-2T for thickness greater than Sand and Slag
B B3
Inclusions
0.75 in. (19 mm).
Shrink, Type 1 C CA3
4.13 The manufacturer shall be responsible for 2 C CB3
assigning qualified personnel to perform and 3 C CC3
interpret radiographic examinations in Cracks D None
conformance with the requirements of this Hot Tears E None
Standard Practice. Inserts F None

4.14 A qualification record of personnel 5.1.3 Heavy-Walled Thickness from 4½ to 12

considered suitable by the manufacturer to in. (114 to 305 mm)
perform and interpret examinations in The following comparative plates of ASTM
accordance with this Standard Practice shall be E280 define acceptable indications:
available upon request.
ASNT SNT-TC-1A provides a recommended Acceptable
Discontinuity
procedure for qualifying personnel. Category Comparative Plates
Type
(ASTM E280)
5. ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS Gas Porosity A A3
Sand and Slag
5.1 Acceptance criteria for castings that B B3
Inclusions
involve the body, bonnet (cover), and end pieces Shrink, Type 1 C CA3
(of multi-piece valve bodies, e.g., ball valves) 2 C CB3
shall be based on wall thickness as indicated 3 C CC3
within this section. Cracks D None
Hot Tears E None
5.1.1 Wall Thickness up to 2 in. (50.8 mm)
Inserts F None
The following comparative plates of ASTM
E446 define acceptable indications:
6. REMOVAL AND REPAIR OF
Acceptable DISCONTINUITIES
Discontinuity
Category Comparative Plates
Type 6.1 Piping parts and components rejected
(ASTM E446)
through the application of these standards may
Gas A A2
be repaired. If welding is required, it shall be
Sand B B3
performed by qualified personnel and in
Shrink, Type 1 C CA2
accordance with requirements specified in the
2 C CB3
applicable steel casting specification.
3 C CC3
4 C CD3 6.2 Areas, which as a result of radiographic
Hot Tears & Cracks D&E None examination have been weld repaired or from
Inserts which discontinuities have been removed
F None
(Chills, Chaplets) without requirement for weld repair, shall be re-
Mottling G Reference Only examined by the radiographic method.
5.1.2 Heavy-Walled Thickness from 2 to less 6.3 Acceptance standards for porosity and
than 4½ in. (50.8 to 114 mm) slag inclusions in welds shall be in accordance
The following comparative plates of ASTM with UW-51 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure
E186 define acceptable indications: Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 1.

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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-54

ANNEX A

Referenced Standards and Applicable Dates

This Annex is an Integral part of this Standard Practice and is placed after the main text for convenience.

Standard Name Description

ASME; ANSI/ASME
B16.34-2013 Valves – Flanged, Threaded and Welding End
BPVC-VIII, Div. 1-2010 Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 1, Rules for Construction
of Pressure Vessels; including Addenda Reprint (2011)
ASTM
E94-04(2010) Standard Guide for Radiographic Examination
E186-10 Standard Reference Radiographs for Heavy-Walled (2 to 4½ in. (50.8 to 114 mm))
Steel Castings
E280-10 Standard Reference Radiographs for Heavy-Walled (4½ to 12 in. (114 to 305 mm))
Steel Castings
E446-10 Standard Reference Radiographic for Steel Castings Up to 2 in. (50.8 mm) in
Thickness

ASNT; ANSI/ASNT
SNT-TC-1A-2011 Personnel Qualification and Certification in Nondestructive Testing (includes
ANSI/ASNT CP-105-2011, Training Outlines for Qualification of Nondestructive
Personnel)

The following organizations appear in the above list:

ANSI American National Standards Institute, Inc.
25 West 43rd Street, Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10036-7406
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International)
Two Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016-5990
ASTM ASTM International
100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959
ASNT The American Society for Nondestructive Testing, Inc.
1711 Arlingate Lane
Columbus, OH 43228-0518

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 Listing of MSS Standard Practices (as of March, 2013)
TITLE
SP-6-2012 Standard Finishes for Contact Faces of Pipe Flanges and Connecting-End Flanges of Valves and Fittings
SP-9-2013 Spot Facing for Bronze, Iron, and Steel Flanges
SP-25-2008 Standard Marking System for Valves, Fittings, Flanges, and Unions
SP-42-2009 Corrosion Resistant Gate, Globe, Angle and Check Valves with Flanged and Butt Weld Ends (Classes 150, 300 & 600)
SP-43-2013 Wrought and Fabricated Butt-Welding Fittings for Low Pressure, Corrosion Resistant Applications
SP-44-2010 Steel Pipeline Flanges (incl. 2011 Errata Sheet)
SP-45-2003 (R 2008) Bypass and Drain Connections
SP-51-2012 Class 150LW Corrosion Resistant Flanges and Cast Flanged Fittings
SP-53-2012 Quality Standard for Steel Castings and Forgings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components – Magnetic Particle Examination Method
SP-54-2013 Quality Standard for Steel Castings and Forgings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components – Radiographic Examination Method
SP-55-2011 Quality Standard for Steel Castings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components – Visual Method for Evaluation of
Surface Irregularities (ANSI-approved American National Standard)
SP-58-2009 Pipe Hangers and Supports – Materials, Design, Manufacture, Selection, Application, and Installation (incorporates content of SP-69, 77, 89, and 90)
(ANSI-approved American National Standard)
SP-60-2012 Connecting Flange Joints between Tapping Sleeves and Tapping Valves
SP-61-2009 Pressure Testing of Valves
SP-65-2012 High Pressure Chemical Industry Flanges and Threaded Stubs for Use with Lens Gaskets
SP-67-2011 Butterfly Valves
SP-68-2011 High Pressure Butterfly Valves with Offset Design
SP-69-2003 Pipe Hangers and Supports – Selection and Application (ANSI-approved American National Standard)
SP-70-2011 Gray Iron Gate Valves, Flanged and Threaded Ends
SP-71-2011 Gray Iron Swing Check Valves, Flanged and Threaded Ends (incl. 2013 Errata Sheet)
SP-72-2010a Ball Valves with Flanged or Butt-Welding Ends for General Service
SP-75-2008 Specification for High-Test, Wrought, Butt-Welding Fittings
SP-78-2011 Gray Iron Plug Valves, Flanged and Threaded Ends
SP-79-2011 Socket Welding Reducer Inserts
SP-80-2013 Bronze Gate, Globe, Angle, and Check Valves
SP-81-2006a Stainless Steel, Bonnetless, Flanged Knife Gate Valves
SP-83-2006 Class 3000 Steel Pipe Unions Socket Welding and Threaded
SP-85-2011 Gray Iron Globe & Angle Valves, Flanged and Threaded Ends
SP-86-2009 Guidelines for Metric Data in Standards for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Actuators (Incl. 2011 Errata Sheet)
SP-87-1991 (R 1996 – Reinstated 2011) Factory-Made Butt-Welding Fittings for Class I Nuclear Piping Applications
SP-88-2010 Diaphragm Valves
SP-91-2009 Guidelines for Manual Operation of Valves
SP-92-2012 MSS Valve User Guide
SP-93-2008 Quality Standard for Steel Castings and Forgings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components – Liquid Penetrant Examination Method
SP-94-2008 Quality Standard for Ferritic and Martensitic Steel Castings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components – Ultrasonic Examination Method
SP-95-2006 Swage(d) Nipples and Bull Plugs
SP-96-2011 Guidelines on Terminology for Valves and Fittings
SP-97-2012 Integrally Reinforced Forged Branch Outlet Fittings – Socket Welding, Threaded, and Buttwelding Ends
SP-98-2012 Protective Coatings for the Interior of Valves, Hydrants, and Fittings
SP-99-2010 Instrument Valves
SP-100-2009 Qualification Requirements for Elastomer Diaphragms for Nuclear Service Diaphragm Valves
SP-101-1989 (R 2001) Part-Turn Valve Actuator Attachment – Flange and Driving Component Dimensions and Performance Characteristics
SP-102-1989 (R 2001) Multi-Turn Valve Actuator Attachment – Flange and Driving Component Dimensions and Performance Characteristics
SP-104-2012 Wrought Copper Solder-Joint Pressure Fittings
SP-105-2010 Instrument Valves for Code Applications
SP-106-2012 Cast Copper Alloy Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Class 125, 150, and 300
SP-108-2012 Resilient-Seated Cast Iron Eccentric Plug Valves
SP-109-2012 Weld-Fabricated Copper Solder-Joint Pressure Fittings (incl. 2012 Errata Sheet)
SP-110-2010 Ball Valves Threaded, Socket-Welding, Solder Joint, Grooved and Flared Ends (incl. 2010 Errata Sheet)
SP-111-2012 Gray-Iron and Ductile-Iron Tapping Sleeves
SP-112-2010 Quality Standard for Evaluation of Cast Surface Finishes – Visual and Tactile Method. This SP must be used with a 10-surface, three dimensional Cast
Surface Comparator, which is a necessary part of the standard. Additional Comparators available separately.
SP-113-2012 Connecting Joints between Tapping Machines and Tapping Valves
SP-114-2007 Corrosion Resistant Pipe Fittings Threaded and Socket Welding Class 150 and 1000 (ANSI-approved American National Standard)
SP-115-2010 Excess Flow Valves, 1¼ NPS and Smaller, for Fuel Gas Service
SP-116-2011 Service-Line Valves and Fittings for Drinking Water Systems
SP-117-2011 Bellows Seals for Globe and Gate Valves
SP-119-2010 Factory-Made Wrought Belled End Pipe Fittings for Socket-Welding
SP-120-2011 Flexible Graphite Packing System for Rising Stem Valves – Design Requirements
SP-121-2006 Qualification Testing Methods for Stem Packing for Rising Stem Steel Valves
SP-122-2012 Plastic Industrial Ball Valves
SP-123-1998 (R 2006) Non-Ferrous Threaded and Solder-Joint Unions for Use with Copper Water Tube
SP-124-2012 Fabricated Tapping Sleeves
SP-125-2010 Gray Iron and Ductile Iron In-Line, Spring-Loaded, Center-Guided Check Valves
SP-126-2007 Steel In-Line Spring-Assisted Center Guided Check Valves
SP-127-2001 Bracing for Piping Systems Seismic-Wind-Dynamic Design, Selection, Application
SP-128-2012 Ductile Iron Gate Valves
SP-129-2003 (R 2007) Copper-Nickel Socket-Welding Fittings and Unions
SP-130-2003 Bellows Seals for Instrument Valves
SP-131-2010 Metallic Manually Operated Gas Distribution Valves
SP-132-2010 Compression Packing Systems for Instrument Valves
SP-133-2010 Excess Flow Valves for Low Pressure Fuel Gas Appliances
SP-134-2012 Valves for Cryogenic Service, including Requirements for Body/Bonnet Extensions
SP-135-2010 High Pressure Knife Gate Valves
SP-136-2007 Ductile Iron Swing Check Valves
SP-137-2013 Quality Standard for Positive Material Identification of Metal Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components
SP-138-2009 Quality Standard Practice for Oxygen Cleaning of Valves & Fittings
SP-139-2010 Copper Alloy Gate, Globe, Angle, and Check Valves for Low Pressure/Low Temperature Plumbing Applications
SP-140-2012 Quality Standard Practice for Preparation of Valves and Fittings for Silicone-Free Service
SP-141-2012 Multi-Turn and Check Valve Modifications
SP-142-2012 Excess Flow Valves for Fuel Gas Service, NPS 1½ through 12
SP-143-2012 Live-Loaded Valve Stem Packing Systems
SP-144-2013 Pressure Seal Bonnet Valves
(R YEAR) Indicates year reaffirmed • Price List Available Upon Request • MSS is an ANSI-accredited American National Standards developer

Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.

127 Park Street, NE, Vienna, VA 22180-4620 • (703) 281-6613 • Fax # (703) 281-6671
MSS-TECH SP-54-2013