scope:

This Defence Standard specifies the minimum requirement for the manufacture and repair of steel welded joints for marine applications by the Electron Beam Welding (EBW) process. It is applicable to those materials which are known (or have been shown by weld trial tests), to be compatible with the characteristics of the EBW process.

The Defence Standard also details the requirements for the testing and inspection of electron beam welded joints.

The Defence Standard covers the EBW (and the associated pre-heat and post-heat treatments where necessary) of components produced in casting, plate, bar, sheet, strip, pipe, tube and forging products, or in other forms which may be approved by the Design Authority.

This Defence Standard is primarily concerned with EBW in high-vacuum chambers, but the procedures may be adapted for use in intermediate, reduced pressure or 'out of vacuum' welding, providing such processes are pre-qualified by weld procedure tests. The relevant levels of reduced pressure; intermediate and high vacuums ('vacuum levels') are defined in clause 4 of this standard.

EBW is applicable to the manufacture of equipment which may be required for operation in all levels of system importance, where system importance is specified by the Design Authority and defined in clause 4 of this standard.

The Design Authority is responsible for ensuring that the design of components is compatible with the electron beam technique.