This Defence Standard (Def Stan) defines the Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) requirements and minimum acceptance standards for welds on HM Submarines and Surface Ships not in Class at Final Inspection. It includes structural joints, welds in pipe systems, weld surfacing and cladding, and fabrication welds in steel castings and forgings.

This Def Stan defines the level of importance of piping systems, clause 6.4.

The acceptance standards herein are applicable to:

a) Welds produced by the following processes:

MMA Manual Metal Arc

SA Submerged Arc

MIG Metal Inert Gas

MAG Metal Active Gas

TIG Tungsten Inert Gas

FCAW Flux Cored Arc Welding

PAW Plasma Arc Welding

b) Welds examined by the following methods:

Visual Inspection

Liquid Penetrant

Magnetic Particle

Radiography

Ultrasonic

Eddy Current

The types of weld defects referred to in this Def Stan are defined and illustrated in Annex A. 1.5 Excluded from the scope of this Def Stan are:

a) Acceptance and weld repair of CuNiCr and Non-ferrous castings, which are covered in Def Stan 02-824, Def Stan 02-863 and Def Stan 02-747.

b) Welds in nuclear primary systems and machinery, for which reference is to be made to DGS-NAS-3.

c) For electron beam welding Acceptance Standards to be in accordance with Def Stan 02-855.