Gas Industry Standard

GIS/F9-2:2006

Specification for

Metric and imperial carbon and stainless steel single ferrule compression fittings for tubes Part 2: Evaluation procedure

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Contents
Page Foreword Mandatory and non-mandatory requirements Disclaimer Brief history Introduction 1 Scope 2 Normative references 3 Test temperatures 4 Apparatus 5 Selection and preparation of specimens for testing 6 Test procedure 6.1 General 6.2 Visual and dimensional inspection test 6.3 Initial assembly test 6.4 Hydrostatic pressure test 6.5 Pneumatic pressure test 6.6 Reassembly test 6.7 Tensile pull-off test 6.8 Hydrostatic failure test 6.9 Misalignment test 6.10 Pneumatic pressure/vibration test 6.11 Tightening torque test 6.12 Tube transmitted torque test 7 Marking Annex A (informative) Tube data Table 1 Type 316 stainless steel tubes to be used in test specimens Table A.1 Recommended maximum working pressure (bar gauge) for Type 316 stainless steel tubes (imperial) Table A.2 Recommended maximum working pressure (bar gauge) for Type 316 stainless steel tubes (metric) iii iii iii iv 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 2 7 8

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Foreword
Gas Industry Standards (GIS) are revised, when necessary, by the issue of new editions. Users should ensure that they are in possession of the latest edition. Contractors and other users external to Gas Transporters should direct their requests for copies of a GIS to the department or group responsible for the initial issue of their contract documentation. Comments and queries regarding the technical content of this document should be directed in the first instance to the contract department of the Gas Transporter responsible for the initial issue of their contract documentation. This standard calls for the use of procedures that may be injurious to health if adequate precautions are not taken. It refers only to technical suitability and does not absolve the user from legal obligations relating to health and safety at any stage. Compliance with this engineering document does not confer immunity from prosecution for breach of statutory or other legal obligations.

Mandatory and non-mandatory requirements

For the purposes of a GIS the following auxiliary verbs have the meanings indicated: can may shall should indicates a physical possibility; indicates an option that is not mandatory; indicates a GIS requirement; indicates best practice and is the preferred option. If an alternative method is used then a suitable and sufficient risk assessment needs to be completed to show that the alternative method delivers the same, or better, level of protection.

Disclaimer
This engineering document is provided for use by Gas Transporters and such of their contractors as are obliged by the terms of their contracts to comply with this engineering document. Where this engineering document is used by any other party, it is the responsibility of that party to ensure that the engineering document is correctly applied.

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Brief history
First published as T/SP/F9: Part 2 Editorial update to reflect demerger November 2000 Editorial update to comply with GRM Edited by BSI in accordance with BS 0-3:1997 August 1999 June 2001 August 2004 August 2006

National Grid, on behalf of National Grid, Northern Gas Networks, Scotia Gas Networks, and Wales and West Utilities. This Gas Industry Standard is copyright and must not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the approval in writing of either National Grid, Northern Gas Networks, Scotia Gas Networks, or Wales and West Utilities.

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Introduction
Compression fittings submitted by a manufacturer as conforming to GIS/F9-1 shall be subjected to the evaluation procedure detailed in this document. The selection of test specimens and the testing will be witnessed by a third-party surveyor, appointed by the gas transporter, who shall be allowed to observe the selection of the test specimens and the tests in progress at any agreed time 1 Scope This Gas Industry Standard defines the requirements for type testing single ferrule stainless and carbon Steel compression fittings manufactured in accordance with GIS/F9-1. This specification does not cover installation or assembly of fittings, which should conform to the fitting instructions of the manufacturer. 2 Normative references The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. Formal standards BS EN 837-1, Pressure gauges Bourdon tube pressure gauges Dimensions, metrology, requirements and testing. ASTM A269, Specification for seamless and welded austenitic stainless steel tubing for general service. ANSI/ASME B31.3, Chemical plant and petroleum refinery piping. Gas Industry Standard GIS/F9-1, Specification for metric and imperial carbon and stainless steel single ferrule compression fittings for tubes Part 1: General requirements. 3 Test temperatures All tests shall be carried out at an ambient temperature of 23 2 C C. The temperature of the test media in the pneumatic pressure/vibration test (see 6.10) shall be in the range 20 to 60 C C. 4 Apparatus 4.1 Calibrated pressure gauges, in accordance with BS EN 837-1, and to accuracy class 1. 4.2 Vibration rig, capable of applying vibrations to the test specimens at 45 Hz, whilst maintaining an internal pneumatic pressure of 100 bar. 5 Selection and preparation of specimens for testing
All tests shall be carried out on fittings and tubes selected at random, to include in, in, in and 6 mm, 12 mm and 18 mm outside diameter (OD) fittings. Tests shall be carried out on not less than three pairs of joints for each size, with both stainless and carbon steel fittings, using stainless steel tubes as indicated in Table 1. Tubes should be assembled following the recommendations in Annex A.

GIS/F9-2:2006 Table 1 Type 316 stainless steel tubes to be used in test specimens Tube outside diameter Maximum working pressure bar Tube wall thickness in inches, and tube gauge 0.049, 18 gauge 0.065, 16 gauge 0.083, 14 gauge in in in Tube outside diameter Maximum working pressure barg Tube wall thickness mm 1.0 6 mm 12 mm 18 mm 424 315 279 1.5 2.0 523 329 298

6 Test procedure 6.1 General

The following tests shall be carried out to determine the capability of the compression fittings under consideration:

a) visual and dimensional inspection; b) initial assembly; c) hydrostatic pressure; d) pneumatic pressure; e) reassembly (make and break); f) tensile pull-off; g) hydrostatic failure; h) misalignment; i) pneumatic pressure/vibration; j) tightening torque; k) tube transmitted torque. 6.2 Visual and dimensional inspection test Before any fitting or part of a fitting is used in any test, it shall be dismantled, visually inspected, and measured to determine conformity with the manufacturers catalogue and GIS/F9-1. Before any tube is cut for the test assemblies, it shall be visually inspected and the outside diameter and wall thickness measured. The quality and measurements shall be checked for conformity with the relevant tube standard and GIS/F9-1. 2

GIS/F9-2:2006 The hardness of the fitting shall be measured at a point where the indentation will not affect the performance of the component. Where this is not possible, a sample component shall be sectioned to obtain hardness values. Tube hardness measurements shall be made on a sample measuring 25 mm cut from the centre of the tube length. The hardness shall be measured on the outside diameter of the tube, and checked for conformity with the fitting manufacturers requirements and the relevant material specification. 6.3 Initial assembly test Two fittings shall be assembled in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The following information shall be obtained from the assembly of each stud fitting: a) nut rotation from nut/ferrule contact (i.e. finger tight) to fully assembled (i.e. in accordance with the manufacturer's minimum recommendation in their assembly instructions); b) the torque required to fully assemble the fitting as assembled in a); c) rotation of the tube with respect to the body from nut/ferrule contact to fully assembled as in a); d) any tube bore constriction caused during the assembly procedure; e) the distance between the ferrule tip and end of the tube; f) any comments on the ease or difficulty of assembly, or any other points of interest, shall be recorded. 6.4 Hydrostatic pressure test All assemblies [assembled in accordance with 6.3a)] shall be hydrostatically (water) pressure tested to 150 bar (2 175 lbf/in2). The rate of pressure rise shall not exceed 60 bar/min, and the test pressure shall be maintained for 5 min. The assemblies shall then be checked for leakage. 6.5 Pneumatic pressure test All test assemblies that have satisfactorily passed the hydrostatic pressure test (see 6.4) shall be dried and then pneumatically tested at 100 bar. The pressure shall be maintained for 5 min, after which a leak test shall be performed on each fitting. 6.6 Reassembly test The assemblies made up in the initial assembly test (see 6.3), having passed the hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure tests (see 6.4 and 6.5), shall be fully dismantled and reassembled 10 times. On each reassembly, the fitting shall be tightened in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. When finally re-tightened, the assemblies shall be subjected to a hydrostatic pressure test in accordance with 6.4. After the pressure test, the assemblies shall be dismantled and checked visually for defects. 6.7 Tensile pull-off test A short length of tube with stud fittings at either end shall be mounted into a hydraulically operated tensile pull-off rig. The maximum force/end load generated during the pull-off shall be determined. 6.8 Hydrostatic failure test 6.8.1 General The failure pressure shall be measured and recorded for fittings under-tightened, correctly assembled, and over-tightened during initial assembly. 3

GIS/F9-2:2006 6.8.2 Under-tightened A length of tube shall be assembled with a suitable fitting at each end. One end shall be connected to a high pressure hydraulic pump, and the other end shall be used as a bleed and then blanked off. The test shall be carried out with the fittings made up to one half of the manufacturers recommended number of turns. The pressure shall be increased at a rate not exceeding 20 bar/s until failure occurs. The failure pressure and mode of failure shall be recorded. 6.8.3 Correctly assembled The test shall be performed as in 6.8.2, but with the fitting made up in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The failure pressure and mode of failure shall be recorded. This test should not be carried out if a tube burst occurs in the under-tightened test (see 6.8.2). 6.8.4 Over-tightened The test shall be performed as in 6.8.2, but with the fitting over-tightened. The limits placed on this are two and a quarter turns of the nut, or a maximum torque of 135 Nm (100 lbf/ft), with the fittings lubricated. The failure pressure and mode of failure shall be recorded. 6.9 Misalignment test An assembly that has passed tests 6.4 and 6.5 shall be dismantled and assembled into a misalignment rig with the stud fittings aligned on the same axis. The assemblies shall be hydrostatically tested as in 6.4. The assembly shall then be dismantled, and reassembled at 1 , 2 and 3 out of alignment with a hydrostatic pressure test, as in 6.4, carried out after each reassembly. The fittings shall be re-tightened as instructed by the manufacturer. The failure pressure, tube angle, position and type of failure shall be recorded. 6.10 Pneumatic pressure/vibration test Three specimens consisting of a male stud fitting, tube and blanking end shall be made up and assembled on the vibration rig. An internal pneumatic pressure of 100 bar (1450 lbf/in2) shall be applied to the specimens, and each fitting shall be leak tested using soapy water. The pressure shall be maintained during the test. A strain gauge shall be fixed to the central specimen at the entry point of the tube to the fixed stud fitting, oriented to measure the strains induced by the vibrated and cantilevered specimen (specimens shall be oriented such that they are each subjected to the same stress levels). The strain levels shall be recorded on a UV recorder and monitored on an oscilloscope. The UV recorder shall be calibrated via a precision resistor decade box inserted in the circuit. The electromagnetic vibrator shall be controlled at constant displacement through an accelerometer mounted on the vibration platform. The frequency of vibration shall be set at 45 Hz as this frequency should give no problems of resonance within the specimens and no heating effects at the point of bending. Each specimen shall be lubricated and assembled as specified by the manufacturer. Care is required to ensure that little or no residual static stress is incorporated in the assembly during make up and fitting into the test rig. The rig shall be operated until one of the specimens fails or 20 million cycles have been completed. Failure can be detected when the internal pneumatic pressure drops, thus operating a trip which isolates the vibration machine and stops the event timer. The duration of the test, together with the test frequency, shall be used to obtain the total number of cycles. The assemblies of three specimens shall be tested at superimposed bending stress levels of 30, 60, 90 and 150 N/mm2 (i.e. 12 specimens in all) or until sufficient information is gained from the test. 4

GIS/F9-2:2006 The test shall continue running until all three specimens fail or complete 20 106 cycles. Each failure shall be recorded, including the position of the failure with respect to the ferrule. 6.11 Tightening torque test A fitting shall be made up as specified by the manufacturer in the as supplied condition. The fitting shall be made up using a calibrated torque wrench with a maximum torque indication pointer. The torque required to make up the fitting shall be recorded; any indication of galling shall also be recorded. 6.12 Tube transmitted torque test Two fittings shall be made up in a rig that can measure the torque transmitted to the attached tube. Each assembly shall be loosely assembled in the test rig, and the nut tightened to finger tightness. The fitting shall then be made-up in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions using the minimum nut turns from the nut/ferrule contact. The maximum torque transmitted to the tube during this operation shall be recorded. 7 Marking Products conforming to GIS/F9-2 shall be permanently marked with the following information: a) the number and date of this standard, i.e. GIS/F9-2:2006 1); b) the name or trademark of the manufacturer or their appointed agent; c) the manufacturers contact details; d) where authorized, the product conformity mark of a third party certification body, e.g. BSI Kitemark.
NOTE Attention is drawn to the advantages of using third party certification of conformance to a standard.

1)

Marking GIS/F9-2:2006 on or in relation to a product represents a manufacturers declaration of conformity, i.e. a claim by or on behalf of the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of the standard. The accuracy of the claim is therefore solely the responsibility of the person making the claim. Such a declaration is not to be confused with third party certification of conformity, which may also be desirable.

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Annex A (informative) Tube data A.1 General Compression fittings have been used throughout industry for many years on various applications and conditions. Careful consideration should be given to the selection of tube to be used with fittings to ensure reliable, safe, leak-tight joints. The tube specification should include material, hardness, wall thickness and surface finish. A.2 Tube selection The following variables should be considered when ordering tubing for use with compression fittings: a) tube material; b) tube hardness; c) wall thickness; d) surface finish. A.3 Tube handling The correct storage of tube before and during use is important to prevent damage occurring and to maintain the tube in the as supplied condition. The careless handling of tube can result in damage which may cause leakage problems during installation. Linear score marks and scratches of a serious nature may prove impossible to seal. In general: a) do not drag tubing from racks or across floor/obstacles; b) do not force tube that is not round into the fitting; c) do not use damaged tube instead, cut it back. A.4 Tube end preparations The tube ends should be prepared correctly to assist the correct installation of the fitting joints: a) tube ends should be cut as square as possible to prevent misalignment of tube to fitting bore; b) burrs should be removed from the outer and inner edges of the tube ends; c) tube bores should be free from loose swarf or debris. Tubes can be cut to length using a hacksaw or a tube cutter. When using a hacksaw it is important to cut the tube end as square as possible, with the tube held correctly to prevent any deformation occurring. When a tube cutter is used, care should be taken not to flare the tube end or produce a groove in the tube surface. Tube cutter wheels should be maintained clean and sharp at all times. A.5 Tube bending The bending of the tube adjacent to compression fittings requires care as sealing problems can result. These can be caused by: a) linear score marks created by worn bending tool formers; b) tube may be deformed on section; 6

GIS/F9-2:2006 c) over-/under-bent tube causing misalignment and excessive stresses. Always bend tube prior to insertion into fittings and ensure adequate length of straight tube to fully enter the fitting abutment. A.6 Alignment and clamping of tube The alignment of tube to fitting is an important feature that aids dismantling and reassembling of the joints. Tubing should be clamped in position at the appropriate distance to ensure a sound construction within the pipework system. A.7 Maximum working pressure The following tables show the maximum working pressures of stainless steel seamless tubes for use with compression fittings. Stainless steel tube should be fully annealed and conform to ASTM A269 or equivalent. A maximum hardness of HV180 (HRB80) is preferred, but up to HV200 (HRB90) is the maximum allowed by ASTM A269. The working pressures in the tables are based on tubing that has a 75 000 psi minimum U.T.S. and an allowable working stress of 20 000 psi, as specified in ANSI B31.3 for a temperature range of 29 C to +38 C. Table A.1 Recommended maximum working pressure (bar gauge) for Type 316 stainless steel tubes (imperial) Tube outside diameter in Maximum working pressure bar Tube wall thickness in 0.028 1/8 3/16 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 1 597 383 281 0.035 780 492 358 232 172 523 334 246 204 169 451 329 279 230 170 437 363 298 219 399 292 0.049 0.065 0.083 0.109

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Table A.2 Recommended maximum working pressure (bar gauge) for Type 316 stainless steel tubes (metric) Tube outside diameter mm Maximum working pressure bar Tube wall thickness mm 0.7 4 6 8 10 12 15 16 18 20 22 25 464 298 1.0 671 424 310 244 202 160 492 384 315 248 247 204 195 165 145 436 341 338 279 266 226 210 1.5 2.0