Procedure and Technical Specification For Type Acceptance Testing (Tat) of Gaskets
Procedure and Technical Specification For Type Acceptance Testing (Tat) of Gaskets
February 2016
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                                                                                                   MESC SPE 85/300
                                                                                                      February 2016
                                                                                                             Page 2
PREFACE
MESC (Materials and Equipment Standards and Code) SPE documents reflect the views, at the time of publication, of:
                                  Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (Shell GSI)
                                                         and/or
                               Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. (SIEP)
                                                         and/or
                                            other Shell Service Companies.
They are based on the experience acquired during their involvement with the design, construction, operation and
maintenance of processing units and facilities, and they are supplemented with the experience of Shell Operating Units.
Where appropriate they are based on, or reference is made to, international, regional, national and industry standards.
The objective is to set the recommended standard for good design and engineering practice applied by Shell companies
operating an oil refinery, gas handling installation, chemical plant, oil and gas production facility, or any other such
facility, and thereby to achieve maximum technical and economic benefit from standardization.
The information set forth in these publications is provided to Shell companies for their consideration and decision to
implement. This is of particular importance where MESC SPEs may not cover every requirement or diversity of condition
at each locality. The system of MESC SPEs is expected to be sufficiently flexible to allow individual Operating Units to
adapt the information set forth in MESC SPEs to their own environment and requirements.
When Contractors or Manufacturers/Suppliers use MESC SPEs they shall be solely responsible for the quality of work
and the attainment of the required design and engineering standards. In particular, for those requirements not
specifically covered, the Principal will expect them to follow those practices, which will achieve the same level of
integrity as reflected in the MESC SPEs. If in doubt, the Contractor or Manufacturer/Supplier shall, without detracting
from his own responsibility, consult the Principal or its technical advisor.
The right to use MESC SPEs is granted by Shell GSI, in most cases under Service Agreements primarily with Shell
companies and other companies receiving technical advice and services from Shell GSI or another Shell Service
Company. Consequently, three categories of users of MESC SPEs can be distinguished:
1)      Operating Units having a Service Agreement with Shell GSI or other Shell Service Company. The use of MESC
        SPEs by these Operating Units is subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the relevant Service
        Agreement.
2)      Other parties who are authorized to use MESC SPEs subject to appropriate contractual arrangements (whether
        as part of a Service Agreement or otherwise).
3)      Contractors/subcontractors and Manufacturers/Suppliers under a contract with users referred to under 1) or 2)
        which requires that tenders for projects, materials supplied or - generally - work performed on behalf of the said
        users comply with the relevant standards.
Subject to any particular terms and conditions as may be set forth in specific agreements with users, Shell GSI
disclaims any liability of whatsoever nature for any damage (including injury or death) suffered by any company or
person whomsoever as a result of or in connection with the use, application or implementation of any MESC SPE,
combination of MESC SPEs or any part thereof, even if it is wholly or partly caused by negligence on the part of Shell
GSI or other Shell Service Company. The benefit of this disclaimer shall inure in all respects to Shell GSI and/or any
Shell Service Company, or companies affiliated to these companies, that may issue MESC SPEs or require the use of
MESC SPEs.
Without prejudice to any specific terms in respect of confidentiality under relevant contractual arrangements, MESC
SPEs shall not, without the prior written consent of Shell GSI, be disclosed by users to any company or person
whomsoever and the MESC SPEs shall be used exclusively for the purpose for which they have been provided to the
user. They shall be returned after use, including any copies, which shall only be made by users with the express prior
written consent of Shell GSI. The copyright of MESC SPEs vests in Shell GSI. Users shall arrange for MESC SPEs to
be held in safe custody and Shell GSI may at any time require information satisfactory to them in order to ascertain how
users implement this requirement.
All administrative queries should be directed to the MESC SPE Administrator in Shell GSI.
                                                                                                                     MESC SPE 85/300
                                                                                                                        February 2016
                                                                                                                               Page 3
                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I     INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 4
1.1        SCOPE........................................................................................................................ 4
1.2        DISTRIBUTION, INTENDED USE AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS ......... 4
1.3        DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................. 4
1.4        ABBREVIATIONS ....................................................................................................... 4
1.5        CHANGES SINCE PREVIOUS EDITION ................................................................... 4
1.6        COMMENTS ON THIS MESC SPE ............................................................................ 5
PART II    PROCEDURE AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ................................................ 6
1.         INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 6
2.         GENERAL CONDITIONS ........................................................................................... 6
2.1        TAT COSTS ................................................................................................................ 6
2.2        TAT AT MANUFACTURER’S FACILITY .................................................................... 6
2.3        TAT AT OUTSIDE TEST FACILITY ........................................................................... 6
2.4        TAMAP ACCEPTANCE .............................................................................................. 6
2.5        CONFLICT OF REQUIREMENTS .............................................................................. 7
2.5.1      Order of precedence ................................................................................................... 7
2.5.2      Conflict or inconsistency ............................................................................................. 7
2.5.3      Statutory requirements ................................................................................................ 7
2.6        CONFIDENTIALITY .................................................................................................... 7
3.         TEST REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................. 7
3.1        PRIOR TO TESTING .................................................................................................. 7
3.1.1      Test rig ........................................................................................................................ 7
3.1.2      Sample selection ......................................................................................................... 8
3.1.3      Test conditions ............................................................................................................ 8
3.2        TYPE OF TESTS ........................................................................................................ 9
3.3        TEST PROCEDURE ................................................................................................... 9
3.3.1      Visual examination ...................................................................................................... 9
3.3.2      Fugitive Emissions ...................................................................................................... 9
3.3.3      Fire test ..................................................................................................................... 10
3.3.4      Room Temperature Operation Tightness Test (ROTT) ............................................ 10
3.3.5      High Temperature Operational Tightness Test (HOTT) ........................................... 10
3.3.6      Hot Blowout Test ....................................................................................................... 11
3.3.7      Aged Tensile Relaxation Screening (ATRS)............................................................. 12
3.3.8      Medium Resistance Test .......................................................................................... 12
3.3.9      Glue Identification ..................................................................................................... 12
3.3.10     Cold Compression .................................................................................................... 12
3.3.11     Cold Compression / Hot Recovery Test ................................................................... 13
3.3.12     Leak Test .................................................................................................................. 13
3.3.13     Gasket adhesion ....................................................................................................... 13
3.3.14     BAM .......................................................................................................................... 13
3.3.15     Electrical isolation .................................................................................................. 13
3.4        CERTIFICATION ...................................................................................................... 14
3.5        ACCEPTANCE ......................................................................................................... 14
3.6        REAPPROVAL ......................................................................................................... 14
PART III   REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 15
                                                                               MESC SPE 85/300
                                                                                  February 2016
                                                                                         Page 4
PART I INTRODUCTION
1.1   SCOPE
      This MESC SPE specifies requirements for Type Acceptance Testing of flat, covered
      serrated metal (Camprofile) and spiral wound gaskets, and metal reinforced electrical
      insulation gaskets.
1.3   DEFINITIONS
      The Contractor is the party that carries out all or part of the design, engineering,
      procurement, construction, commissioning or management of a project, or operation or
      maintenance of a facility. The Principal may undertake all or part of the duties of the
      Contractor.
      The Manufacturer/Supplier is the party that manufactures or supplies equipment and
      services to perform the duties specified by the Contractor.
      The Principal is the party that initiates the project and ultimately pays for its design and
      construction. The Principal will generally specify the technical requirements. The Principal
      may also include an agent or consultant authorised to act for, and on behalf of, the
      Principal.
      The word shall indicates a requirement.
      The word should indicates a recommendation.
1.4   ABBREVIATIONS
      ATRS                       Aged Tensile Relaxation Screening
      HOBT                       Hot Blowout Test
      HOTT                       High Temperature Operational Tightness Test
      ROTT                       Room Temperature Operational Tightness Test
      STAR                       Supplier Technical Assessment Record
      TAMAP                      Technically Accepted Manufacturers and Products
      TTRL                       Tightness Testing Research Laboratory
1.     INTRODUCTION
       Gaskets shall be certified to Supplier Technical Assessment Record (STAR) level 2 in the
       Shell Global Solutions Technically Accepted Manufacturers and Products (TAMAP)
       database.
       The Type Acceptance Test (TAT) is installed to verify the design, performance and
       technical integrity of the gaskets and manufacturing plant. The design of the gaskets shall
       meet the applicable international design standard as amended and supplemented by the
       applicable MESC SPE requirements.
       This MESC SPE covers the gasket types as per Table 1.
2. GENERAL CONDITIONS
2.6     CONFIDENTIALITY
        Shell Global Solutions will keep confidential all information submitted by the Manufacturer
        and will not disclose any information to any third parties without the written approval from
        the Manufacturer.
3. TEST REQUIREMENTS
Type of tests
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Electrical Isolation
                                                         Visual examination
Fugitive Emissions
Screening (ATRS)
Glue Identification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Gasket Adhesion
                                                                                                                                                                           Hot Blowout Test
Relaxation Test
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Recovery Test
                          Cover layer material
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Leak Test
                                                                                                   Fire test
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              BAM
        Gasket type
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       3.3..15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 3.3.10
3.3.11
3.3.12
3.3.13
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3.3.14
                                                         3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.3.5
3.3.6
3.3.7
3.3.8
3.3.9
                          Graphite
                                                                  •                    •               •                     •                             •                                                                                               •                                                                                       •
    serrated metal
       Covered
                          PTFE
                                                                  •                    •                                     •                             •                                                                                               •
                          Mica,
                                                                  •                    •               •                     •                             •                                                                                               •                                                                                       •
                          Vermiculite
                          Graphite
                                                                  •                    •               •                     •                             •                       •                      •                                                •                                                                        •              •
                          PTFE,
                                                                  •                    •                                     •                             •                       •                      •                         •                                                  •                           •                •
                          ePTFE
                                                   1
                          Aramid
                                                                  •                    •                                     •                             •                       •                      •                         •                                                  •                           •                •              •
        Flat sheet
                          Elastomer
                                                                  •                    •                                     •                             •                       •                      •                         •                                                  •                           •                •              •
                          types
                          Metal
                          reinforced
                          Mica
                                                                  •                    •               •                     •                             •                       •                      •                                                                                                                                        •
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         MESC SPE 85/300
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            February 2016
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Page 9
Type of tests
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Electrical Isolation
                                                     Visual examination
Fugitive Emissions
Screening (ATRS)
Glue Identification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Gasket Adhesion
                                                                                                                                                                       Hot Blowout Test
Relaxation Test
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Recovery Test
                              Cover layer material
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Leak Test
                                                                                               Fire test
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          BAM
          Gasket type
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   3.3..15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             3.3.10
3.3.11
3.3.12
3.3.13
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3.3.14
                                                     3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.3.5
3.3.6
3.3.7
3.3.8
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3.3.9
                             Graphite
                                                              •                    •               •                     •                             •                                                                                                                                                                                       •             •
          Spiral wound
                             PTFE
                                                              •                    •                                     •                             •
                             Mica,
                                                              •                    •               •                     •                             •                                                                                                                                                                                       •             •
                             Vermiculite
                             Metal
                             reinforced                       •                    •                                     •                             •                       •                                                                       •                                                                                       •                                 •
          Isolation
GRE
                             Fire safe
                                                              •                    •               •                     •                             •                       •                                                                       •                                                                                       •                                 •
1 Aramid gaskets (Man Made Mineral Fibres - MMMF) are not recommended, due to a potential health concern
        To ensure the tightness of the gasketed joint after installation, within the operating window
        as per the MESC Buying Description.
        Test condition:
        Rated pressure at both ambient and maximum design temperature, with helium as test
        fluid.
        Procedure:
        Test shall be carried out in accordance with Annex B of ISO 15848-1. The bagging method
        is also acceptable.
        Retightening of flange bolts or reloading of the gasket is prohibited.
        Recordings:
        Emission class at ambient and maximum design temperature.
        Acceptance criteria:
        The leakage rate and applicable emission class shall be as per Table 4.
        To determine the gasket tightness at maximum design temperature with the exception of
        the mica/vermiculite sheet gasket where testing will be carried out at 538 °C
        (1000 °F).
        Test condition:
        Rated pressure at maximum design temperature, with helium as test fluid.
        Procedure:
        1.   Increase test temperature to maximum design temperature at a rate of 100 °C (212 °F)
             per hour.
        2.   Increase test pressure up to the rated pressure at maximum design temperature and
             stabilise this condition for 1 hour (isolate test fluid from test rig).
        3.   Decrease test temperature until ambient temperature.
        4.   Increase test temperature to maximum design temperature at a rate of 100 °C (212 °F)
             per hour and stabilise the reached test situation for 1 hour.
        5.   Repeat step 3.
        6.   Repeat step 4 and step 5 for 2 times and record the pressure drop during the final
             cycle.
        Recordings:
        Pressure, temperature and pressure drop.
        Acceptance criteria:
        The maximum pressure loss during the final cycle is 1 bar (14.5 psi).
         Pressure where gasket blowout occurs shall be > 1.5 x maximum pressure at maximum
         design temperature.
         HOBT-2
         Temperature where gasket blowout occurs shall be > 290°C (550°F)
         Acceptance criteria:
         Not applicable (informative).
3.3.14   BAM
         Purpose:
         To ensure compatibility with oxygen at maximum design temperature.
         Test condition, procedure, recordings and acceptance criteria:
         Test shall be carried out in accordance with BGI Merkblatt M034-1.
3.4   CERTIFICATION
      For gaskets using metal parts, each metal part shall have an inspection test certificate and
      test report in accordance with ISO 10474 -3.1B.
      For gaskets using graphite, a certificate containing at least the chemical composition shall
      be provided.
      In case welding is applied to the gasket, the welding procedure shall be supplied.
3.5   ACCEPTANCE
      When all tests as described in clause 3.3 have been successfully passed and all certificates
      provided, the gasket will be accepted. Shell Global Solutions will notify the Manufacturer, in
      writing, of the acceptance or rejection of gaskets.
3.6   REAPPROVAL
      Changes to any item will not void the qualification of gaskets in TAMAP for which
      this TAT procedure was intended to qualify, provided that the Manufacturer notifies
      Shell Global Solutions and complies with any additional requirements Shell Global
      Solutions may specify.
      Shell Global Solutions has the right to request a re-test if the qualification of gaskets
      in TAMAP has been voided. The re-test shall be subject to the same requirements as
      specified in this MESC SPE. Unless agreed otherwise, the re-test shall take place at
      the same testing facility where the previous test was carried out.
                                                                                            MESC SPE 85/300
                                                                                               February 2016
                                                                                                    Page 15
SHELL STANDARDS
Covered serrated metal (Camprofile) gaskets to                           MESC SPE 85/100
EN 12560-6
Non-metallic flat gaskets, with or without insert to ASME                MESC SPE 85/101
B16.21
Spiral wound gaskets to ASME B16.20                                      MESC SPE 85/103
AMERICAN STANDARDS
Fire test for end connections                                            API 6FB
Issued by:
American Petroleum Institute
Publications and Distribution Section
1220 L Street Northwest
Washington DC 20005
USA
Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings NPS 1/2 Through                        ASME B16.5
NPS 24
Metallic gaskets for pipe flanges, ring joint, spiral wound              ASME B16.20
and jacketed
Non-metallic Flat Gaskets for Pipe Flanges                               ASME B16.21
Issued by:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASME International
Three Park Avenue, M/S 10E
New York, NY 10016
USA
EUROPEAN STANDARDS
Flanges and their joints – Gaskets for class-designated      EN 12560-6
flanges. Part 6: Covered serrated metal gaskets for use
with steel flanges
Flanges and their joints – Gasket parameters and test        EN 13555
procedures relevant to the design rules for gasketed
circular flange connections
Issued by:
Commité Européen de Normalisation
Secrétariat Central
Rue de Stassart 36
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium
GERMAN STANDARDS
Liste der nichtmetallischen Materialien                      BGI Merkblatt M034-1
Issued by:
Jedermann Verlag GmbH
Postfach 103140
69021 Heidelberg
Germany
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Steel and Steel Products - Inspection Documents              ISO 10474
Industrial valves Measurement, test and qualification        ISO 15848-1
procedures for fugitive emissions.
Part 1: Classification system and qualification procedures
for type testing of valves
Issued by:
ISO Central Secretariat
1, ch. de la Voie-Creuse
Case postale 56
CH-1211 Genève 20
Switzerland
Copies can also be obtained from national standards
organizations.