CEN/TR 15135:2005

Welding - Design and non-destructive testing of welds

This Technical Report is an information document and provides guidance for design and evaluation of various joint types and geometrical configurations concerning the accessibility or ability of the weld to be examined with non-destructive testing methods.

Schweißen - Gestaltung von Schweißnähten und ihre zerstörungsfreie Prüfung

Soudage - Conception et essais non destructifs des assemblages soudés

Varjenje - Zasnova in neporušitveno preskušanje zvarnih spojev

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jun-2005
• ICS: 25.160.40 - Welded joints and welds
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 121 - Welding
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 121/WG 21 - Testing of welds
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 15-Jun-2005
• Completion Date: 15-Jun-2005
• Directive: 97/23/EC - Directive 97/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 May 1997 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning pressure equipment
• Mandate: M/071 - Mandate to CEN for standardization in the field of Pressure equipment
• Ref Project: SIST-TP CEN/TR 15135:2005 - Welding - Design and non-destructive testing of welds

Overview

CEN/TR 15135:2005 - Welding: Design and non‑destructive testing of welds is a CEN Technical Report that provides guidance on designing welded joints and evaluating their suitability for non‑destructive testing (NDT). It focuses on how joint geometry, accessibility and surface conditions affect the ability to examine welds using common NDT methods. The report is an information document intended to support weld design and inspection planning across a wide range of welded configurations.

Key topics

• Design-for-inspectability: Guidance on configuring joints and geometries so welds can be effectively examined by NDT.
• Method suitability tables: Comparative evaluation tables (Table 1 and Table 2) that show the applicability of main NDT methods for different joint configurations: Visual Testing (VT), Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Radiographic Testing (RT), Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) and Penetrant Testing (PT).
• Applicability conventions: Simple symbols indicate expected performance - + (applicable and satisfactory), (+) (limited application; should be supplemented), - (not suitable).
• Volumetric vs surface methods: Emphasises that volumetric methods (UT, RT) are highly dependent on component geometry and beam direction, while surface methods (VT, MT, PT, eddy current) depend primarily on surface condition and access.
• Practical considerations: Notes on factors that influence detectability - material thickness, surface finish, metallurgical structure, beam direction, and special cases such as double‑wall radiography.

Applications

• Planning NDT during the design phase to ensure welds are inspectable without costly rework.
• Specifying appropriate NDT methods and acceptance approaches for particular joint types and fabrication sequences.
• Assessing accessibility issues (one‑side vs both‑sides access) and how they affect RT and UT feasibility.
• Informing fabrication and inspection procedures in pressure equipment, structural steelwork, pipelines, and general manufacturing where weld quality verification is required.

Who should use this standard

• Welding designers and engineers seeking to design weld joints for effective inspection.
• NDT engineers, inspectors and QA/QC personnel who select and plan inspection strategies.
• Fabricators and welding supervisors organizing fabrication sequences and access for testing.
• Standards writers and procurement teams referencing NDT specifications (can be used together with EN 12062).

Related standards

• EN 12062 - Non‑destructive examination of welds - General rules for metallic materials (recommended for use together with CEN/TR 15135:2005).

Keywords: CEN/TR 15135:2005, welding design, non‑destructive testing, NDT, welded joints, radiographic testing, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle, penetrant testing, visual testing, inspectability, EN 12062.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2005
Varjenje - Zasnova in neporušitveno preskušanje zvarnih spojev
Welding - Design and non-destructive testing of welds
Schweißen - Gestaltung von Schweißnähten und ihre zerstörungsfreie Prüfung
Soudage - Conception et essais non destructifs des assemblages soudés
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TR 15135:2005
ICS:
25.160.40 Varjeni spoji in vari Welded joints
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL REPORT
CEN/TR 15135
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHER BERICHT
June 2005
ICS 25.160.40
English version
Welding - Design and non-destructive testing of welds
Soudage - Conception et essais non destructifs des Schweißen - Gestaltung von Schweißnähten und ihre
assemblages soudés zerstörungsfreie Prüfung
This Technical Report was approved by CEN on 15 May 2005. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 121.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2005 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TR 15135:2005: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3
1 Scope.4
2 General.4
3 Evaluation of a design for non-destructive testing .4
Bibliography.20

Foreword
This Technical Report (CEN/TR 15135:2005) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 121
“Welding”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Report: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the
United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This Technical Report is an information document and provides guidance for design and evaluation of various
joint types and geometrical configurations concerning the accessibility or ability of the weld to be examined
with non-destructive testing methods.
2 General
The application of non-destructive testing is highly dependent on the geometrical conditions (among others) of
the component, the configuration and accessibility of the joint.
This is particularly true for volumetric methods, radiographic and ultrasonic testing.
The methods for surface testing visual, magnetic particle, penetrant and eddy current are primarily dependent
on the surface conditions and accessibility.
There are a very wide range of geometrical conditions. This Technical Report shows examples for general
non-destructive evaluation of welded joints in Table 1. More specific examples for the evaluation of different
weld types representing various applications are shown in Table 2.
The examples are intended to give guidance when planning for non-destructive testing during design and
fabrication.
The examples in this Technical Report can be used for specifying non-destructive methods in accordance with
EN 12062.
3 Evaluation of a design for non-destructive testing
The following tables show the suitability of the non-destructive testing methods for different types of joint
configuration.
Each serial number starts with a joint configuration, showing:
a) the least acceptable configuration for testing;
b) a better joint configuration for testing;
c) the best configuration;
d) more modifications.
The letters following the serial number define the different test methods:
 visual testing  VT;
 ultrasonic testing  UT;
 radiographic testing RT;
 magnetic particle testing MT;
 penetrant testing  PT.
The following conventions are also used:
 + implies that the method is applicable and that the results will satisfy ordinary requirements;
 (+) implies that the method has a limited application. The method should be supplemented with another
method;
 - implies that the method cannot be used or that the results are not sufficient.
It should be noted that in ultrasonic testing the direction of the sound beam, and in radiography the direction of
the radiation beam relative to the anticipated imperfections, is very important.
The metallurgical structure of a material, its thickness, surface finish and geometry can have a significant
affect on the non-destructive test method.
Table 1 — General evaluation of welded joints
Serial Example NDT method Remarks
no.
VT UT RT MT PT
1a + - (+) + +
1b + (+) + + +
1c + + + + +
1d + + + + +
2a + + + + +
2b + + + + +
3a + (+) (+) + +
3b + + (+) + +
4a
+ (+) (+) + +
(to be continued)
Table 1 (concluded)
Serial Example NDT method Remarks
no.
VT UT RT MT PT
4b + + + + +
5a
+ + + + +
...