Reliance

Procedure for
Hardness Testing

EPCMD-2-QM00-JEP-ME-005

00

17.12.2011

Issued for
Implementation

PPP / PKD

PKS / EMK / KSS

SNS

Rev

Date

Revision

Prepared
By

Checked By

Approved
By

Reliance
Contents
1. Purpose ..3
2. Scope .......3
3. References ..3
4. Abbreviations and Terms 3
5. Responsibilities 4
6. Methodology ..4

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1.

Purpose
The purpose of this procedure is to define the methods to be followed for
hardness testing of materials / welds.

2.

Scope
This procedure covers the approved methods and equipment to be used for
hardness testing during fabrication and erection of steel piping, equipment
or any other product. This is applicable for all working at Reliance projects.

3.

References
ASTM A956 - Standard test method for Leeb Hardness testing of Steel
Products.
ASTM A833 -

Standard practice for indentation hardness of metallic

materials by comparison hardness testers

ASTM E10

4.

Test method for Brinell hardness of metallic materials

User Manual -

Integrated Hardness Tester TH-130, Time group

User Manual -

Digital Hardness Tester HLN 11A, Time group

User Manual -

Digital Hardness tester Dyna MIC, Krautkramer

User Manual -

Digital Hardness tester Equotip 3, Proceq

Abbreviations and Terms

BHN

Brinell Hardness Number

CS

Carbon Steel

DCC

HAZ

Heat Affected Zone

HOD

Head of the Department

PWHT

Post Weld Heat Treatment

QMD

Quality Management Department

Document Control Center

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5.

Responsibilities
Construction Managers / Engineer in Charge are responsible for
implementing this procedure in their area.
HOD, QMD is responsible for maintaining this procedure.
DCC is the custodian of this document

6.

Methodology
Contractors Quality Control personnel shall be responsible for the execution
of hardness testing in presence of Reliance QMD persons. Any one of the
following testing methods described in clauses 6.1 or 6.2 may be adopted to
check hardness.

6.1

Brinell Hardness Testing by Poldi Hardness Tester

6.1.1 Prior to testing, the area shall be ground / filed flat. Grinding shall be carried
out without using excessive force. No overheating or burning shall be
permitted.
6.1.2 Select the Poldi standard test bar having a BHN closest to the expected BHN
of the piece.
6.1.3 Place the standard test bar between the ball and plunger.
6.1.4 With standard test bar inserted, place the Poldi tester vertically over the area
to be checked, so that ball touches the ground surface.
6.1.5 Hit the plunger with a medium weight (4lb/2kg) hammer. The blow should be
neither excessive nor too light and should be as vertical as possible. The blow
will have two indentations one on the standard test bar and the other on the
test specimen. To minimize error, diameter of the indentation on the standard
test bar should be max. 4.2 mm dia.
6.1.6 Using the microscope provided in the Poldi kit, measure the diameters of the
indentations, both on the area under test and on the standard test bar. The
diameters taken shall be the average of any elliptical indentations.
6.1.7 Refer the booklet provided with the Poldi kit to select the suitable table for
material and its heat treatment condition. In the table, look up the column
Dia. of indentation on standard test bar for the dia. of indentation actually
obtained on the test bar. Then look up the row Dia. of indentation on
specimen for the actual dia. of indentation obtained on the specimen / test
surface. Where this column and row intersects, the Brinell Hardness Numbers

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can be read (lower reading). To get exact hardness of the test specimen,
multiply the number with multiplying factor inscribed on the standard test bar.
6.1.8 All hardness impressions at one test location should have at least 6.4mm
between their nearest edges. For practical consideration, we may include
10mm.
6.1.9 Hardness impressions to be made on only two adjacent sides of standard test
bar. Replace indenter ball when it is out of round.
6.1.10 All results shall be recorded on Hardness Testing Inspection Report No.
EPCMD-2-QM00-FMT-ME-015.

6.2

Digital hardness testing by rebound velocity method

6.2.1 The surfaces to be tested shall be smooth and desired area shall be prepared
either by grinding or hand filing. Also, paint, scales, pits or other surface
coatings if any shall be completely removed.
6.2.2 The test specimen shall have 5.0 mm minimum thickness and 5 Kg weight. At
the time of taking hardness the specimen shall be rigid.
6.2.3 For thicknesses lower than 10 mm and pipe dia. up to 6, the test surface
shall be either directly supported or with in 300 mm from the support. For
thickness above 10 mm and or pipe dia. above 6, the hardness can be
measured irrespective of its position/ support location.
6.2.4 Standard flat support ring shall be replaced with special support rings for
convex or concave in case the test specimen radius is less than 30 mm (<2
dia pipe).
6.2.5 Hardness testing shall be performed when the test piece temperature is in the
range of 00C to 500C. For temperature out side this range, the user shall
develop a temperature correction for the specific material being used.
6.2.6 Test sample should not be in magnetized condition.
6.2.7 Connect the impact device with digital harness tester machine / processor.
Set all the parameters like, Measuring direction, material to be tested,
hardness parameters, etc. Average reading to be taken shall be set minimum
3 readings. (In case of TIME, TH-130 hardness tester it is single unit of
combine universal impact device and processor, no separate connection is
required.)

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6.2.8 Load the impact device by sliding the loading tube forward (In case of TIME,
TH-130 hardness tester, loading can be done by sliding the sliding grip).
Loading shall not be done at actual test location.
6.2.9 Place and hold the tester / impact device on the ground and cleaned surface
to be tested. Trigger the impact by pressing the trigger button. The hardness
value will be instantaneously displayed. Read/note the reading and repeat the
measurements until desired average measurements are done.
6.2.10

In order to prevent the errors resulting from misalignment, the base support
ring of the impact device shall be held snugly and perpendicular to the
surface of the test piece.

6.2.11

When hardness is measured with digital hardness tester,

a) On all CS, for thickness less than 10 mm, whenever result exceeds 180
HB, it shall be cross checked with Poldi tester and the greater of the two
results shall be considered for further action/ disposition as per governing
requirements. For thickness >10mm, the above condition does not apply.
b) On all AS, for thickness less than 10 mm, whenever result exceeds 210
HB, it shall be cross checked with Poldi tester and the greater of the two
results shall be considered for further action/ disposition as per governing
requirements. For thickness >10mm, the above condition does not apply.

6.3

No point shall be impacted more than once. The difference between two
impacts shall not be less than 3 mm edge to edge.

6.4

Acceptance Criteria, Frequency of Tests & Reporting

Acceptance criteria and frequency of tests shall be as per applicable Codes/
Standard/ Specifications / ITPs.
Reporting of all test results and acceptance / rejection shall be on Hardness
Test Inspection Report Form no: EPCMD-2-QM00-FMT-ME-015.

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