🔩 Internal discontinuities of welded joints 6 mm thick and above — ultrasonic testing by the time-of-flight diffraction technique (TOFD), testing levels A–D, PN-EN ISO 10863

Materials and NDT PN-EN ISO 10863

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. The scope from the PKN catalogue card, quoted in full: "This document specifies the application of the time-of-flight diffraction technique (TOFD) to the semi- or fully automated testing of welded joints of metallic materials with a thickness equal to or greater than 6 mm. It applies to full-penetration welded joints of simple geometry in plates, pipes and vessels, where both the weld and the parent material are low-alloyed carbon steel. Where specified and agreed, TOFD can also be used for other types of material that exhibit low ultrasonic attenuation (especially that due to scatter). Where material-dependent ultrasonic parameters are specified in this document, they are based on steels having a sound velocity of (5 920 ± 50) m/s for longitudinal waves and (3 255 ± 30) m/s for transverse waves. This fact has to be taken into account when testing materials with a different sound velocity. This document refers to the basic standard ISO 16828 and provides guidance on the specific capabilities and limitations of TOFD for the detection, location, sizing and characterization of discontinuities in welded joints. TOFD can be used as a stand-alone method or in combination with other non-destructive testing (NDT) methods or techniques, for manufacturing inspection and for in-service inspection. This document specifies four testing levels (A, B, C, D) in accordance with ISO 17635, corresponding to an increasing level of testing reliability. Guidance on the selection of testing levels is given. This document permits assessment of TOFD indications for acceptance purposes. This assessment is based on the evaluation of transmitted, reflected and diffracted ultrasonic signals within a generated TOFD image. This document does not include acceptance levels for discontinuities." (our translation of the Polish card).

STATUS (state of the card on 29 September 2026). The card of PN-EN ISO 10863:2020-12 (English version) has no withdrawal note — the standard is CURRENT. Published 04-12-2020, 50 pages, PKN technical committee KT 165 (Welding and Allied Processes), ICS 25.160.40; "Introduces: EN ISO 10863:2020 [IDT], ISO 10863:2020 [IDT]"; "Supersedes: PN-EN ISO 10863:2011 - English version". The PKN search for "10863" (29 September 2026) shows both editions; 2011 ("… Use of time-of-flight diffraction technique (TOFD)") labelled "Wycofana" (withdrawn).

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17 September 2026, read on 28 September 2026). All records of number 10863: 15 entries at 14 laboratories (AB 001 — two). Forms: "PN-EN ISO 10863:2020-12" — 11 laboratories (AB 313 also records the withdrawn 2011 edition next to it); without the year — AB 608 and AB 1881; "PN EN ISO 10863:2020-12" without a hyphen — AB 1927. The "Laboratories" tab searches for records BEGINNING with "PN-EN ISO 10863" and will show 13 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 29 September 2026: 13; AB 1927 remains outside it. Current scopes on the PCA website (read on 29 September 2026, issues from 23 April 2025 to 4 August 2026): all entries stand in the valid issues and none is suspended; the full records of the reference documents agree with the copy.

OBJECT AND DETERMINATION. "Welded joints of metallic materials" (in various wordings) — 12 laboratories; AB 042 — welded joints of metals and their alloys; AB 001 — a collective entry: welded joints from 6 mm, internal discontinuities of metallurgical products from 6 to 400 mm and PE welded joints from 6 mm (with PN-EN ISO 16828:2014-06 and PN-EN 13100-3:2006). Determination: internal discontinuities (also "welding imperfections" at AB 1429); the thickness "from 6 mm" is recorded by AB 001, AB 042, AB 608, AB 1141, AB 1336 and AB 1938. Technique — ultrasonic method, with TOFD stated explicitly at AB 042, AB 1141, AB 1336, AB 1881, AB 1938 and AB 1970.

ALONGSIDE THIS STANDARD. In the same entries: PN-EN ISO 16828 (TOFD — general principles; usually the 2014-06 edition, which according to the PKN card was withdrawn on 08-01-2026 and superseded by PN-EN ISO 16828:2026-01; at AB 313 both editions) — AB 001, AB 313, AB 608, AB 1336, AB 1425, AB 1429, AB 1767 and AB 1927; PN-EN ISO 17640 (ultrasonic testing of welds) — AB 1425, AB 1429, AB 1754, AB 1767, AB 1927; PN-EN ISO 13588 (phased array technique) — AB 313, AB 608, AB 1425, AB 1429, AB 1754, AB 1927; PN-EN ISO 16810 and PN-EN ISO 23864 — AB 1927; PN-EN 13100-3 (welds of thermoplastics) — AB 001. Our copy has no entries with the TOFD technique without this standard.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — PKN sells it (50 pages). We do not give the choice of probes and their spacing, sensitivity settings, requirements for the individual testing levels, the way the TOFD image is evaluated or acceptance criteria (the standard contains none — card).

Method principle

According to the card, the time-of-flight diffraction technique (TOFD) is used for semi- or fully automated testing of welded joints 6 mm thick and above, and indications are assessed on the basis of transmitted, reflected and diffracted signals in the generated TOFD image; material-dependent parameters are based on steel (longitudinal wave velocity (5 920 ± 50) m/s, transverse (3 255 ± 30) m/s). The standard specifies four testing levels A–D according to ISO 17635 but contains no acceptance levels for discontinuities. We DO NOT GIVE the settings and the choice of probes — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Manufacturing inspection and in-service inspection of welded joints in plates, pipes and vessels 6 mm thick and above — in the scopes of 14 laboratories
• Supplementing other non-destructive testing methods (card) — in the scopes together with PN-EN ISO 17640 and PN-EN ISO 13588

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 10863:2020-12 (wersja angielska; wprowadza EN ISO 10863:2020 [IDT] i ISO 10863:2020 [IDT])

Title (PL)

Badania nieniszczące spoin — Badania ultradźwiękowe — Zastosowanie techniki czasu przejścia wiązki dyfrakcyjnej (TOFD)

Title (EN)

Non-destructive testing of welds — Ultrasonic testing — Use of time-of-flight diffraction technique (TOFD)

Step-by-step procedure

1. Status of the document

   PKN card: PN-EN ISO 10863:2020-12 is current and superseded the 2011 edition (state of the card on 29 September 2026).

2. Testing level

   Choice of level A, B, C or D according to ISO 17635 (card: the standard gives guidance on the choice).

3. Testing

   Semi- or fully automated scanning of the joint with the TOFD technique; settings NOT GIVEN.

4. Assessment

   Assessment of transmitted, reflected and diffracted signals in the TOFD image; acceptance levels — outside this standard (card).

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Testing on structures and vessels — health and safety for work at height and in confined spaces according to the plant rules
• NOTE ON SUBSTANCE: the standard contains no acceptance levels (card) — the order must name the document with the acceptance criteria

Frequently asked questions