Houston Industries That Rely on TIG Welding
Houston is best known for energy, but its industrial base is much wider. These industries all buy precision TIG welding.
Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical
Refineries and chemical plants along the Houston Ship Channel and the Gulf Coast.
View page →
Space and Aerospace
Houston is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center and a growing commercial space industry.
View page →
Medical Devices
The Texas Medical Center, one of the largest medical complexes in the world, anchors a large life science base.
View page →
Food and Beverage
Food, beverage, and ingredient plants serving one of the largest metro areas in the country.
View page →Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Welding for Houston Plants
The Houston Ship Channel holds one of the largest clusters of refineries and chemical plants in the world. Their piping and pressure equipment must be welded to qualified procedures by qualified welders, with records the owner can audit.
See our oil, gas and petrochemical welding page and our pipe and pressure vessel welding service.
ASME Section IX Procedures
Section IX covers how weld procedures (WPS and PQR) and welders (WPQ) are qualified. It is used with construction codes like ASME B31.3 and Section VIII. Learn more in ASME Section IX for pressure vessel TIG welds.
ASME B31.3 Process Piping
Most plant piping is built to B31.3. It sets rules for design, examination and pressure testing.
ASME Stamps and R Repairs
Pressure vessels built to Section VIII need the ASME Certification Mark with a U designator. Repairs fall under the National Board R stamp.
TIG Root, Then Fill and Cap
A TIG root gives a clean, full-penetration inside surface on pipe. We purge stainless roots with argon to avoid oxidation.
Houston's space industry, anchored by NASA's Johnson Space Center, uses many of the same alloys and weld classes as aerospace work.
Materials and Testing for Houston Pipe and Pressure Work
Plant service brings chlorides, heat and pressure. Material and testing choices follow the line class and the owner's specs.
316L Stainless and Other Alloys
316L handles chlorides better than 304L because of its molybdenum. Compare fillers in ER308L vs. ER316L.
Avoiding Sensitization
Holding stainless in the 800 to 1600 °F range can cause intergranular corrosion. L grades and low heat input cut that risk. See carbide precipitation in stainless welds.
NDT and Pressure Testing
Code work can call for visual, penetrant, radiographic or ultrasonic testing plus a hydrostatic test.
Material Traceability
We tie each weld to its heat numbers and MTRs.
Common Pipe and Tube Welding Jobs in Houston Plants
These are the TIG welding jobs Houston plants most often send to an outside shop. See pipe and pressure vessel welding.
- ASME B31.3 process piping spools in stainless, carbon steel, and alloys
- Instrument and chemical injection tubing in small-bore stainless
- Piping for metering, injection, and filtration skids
- Nozzles, small vessels, and heat exchanger parts
- Sanitary lines for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical plants
The Port of Houston handles more foreign waterborne tonnage than any other U.S. port.
Shipping Spools Between Dallas and Houston
Spools built in a shop have to arrive ready to install. These steps protect the work on the trip down I-45.
About 240 Miles on I-45
Dallas to Houston is a one-day freight move, by flatbed or LTL carrier depending on spool size.
Crate and Brace Spools
Spools are braced so they cannot flex or roll, and long runs are supported along their length.
Cap Ends and Protect Faces
Pipe ends are capped and flange faces covered to keep out dirt and protect gasket surfaces and bevels.
Records Travel With the Job
Weld maps, MTRs, and NDE reports go with the shipment or ahead of it, so receiving inspection is not held up.
How to Get a TIG Welding Quote From Houston
Quoting works the same whether your plant is across town or across the country. Use the steps below, or go straight to the request a quote form.
- Send your drawings or models with the revision, material, and quantity
- Include isometrics, the line class, and the NDE, PWHT, and pressure test requirements
- Tell us the inspection, finish, and records you need, and your required date
- We review the drawing and ask any questions before we price it
- You get a written quote with price and lead time
Serving Houston and the Gulf Coast
Our Dallas shop connects to Houston on I-45, about 240 miles south. We serve plants along the Ship Channel and SH-225, the Bayport Industrial District, and the Energy Corridor along I-10 west.
Nearby service areas include Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Baytown, Channelview, Texas City, Pearland, Sugar Land, Katy and The Woodlands, reached via I-10, I-610, Beltway 8, I-69 and SH-146.
Service Area Around Houston, TX
Nearby cities: Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Baytown, Channelview, Galena Park, Texas City, Pearland, Sugar Land, Katy, The Woodlands.
Highways and industrial areas: I-45, I-10 (Katy Freeway), I-610 Loop, Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway), I-69 / US-59, SH-225 (Pasadena Freeway), SH-146, Houston Ship Channel, Bayport Industrial District, Energy Corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a shop in Houston?
Our main shop is in Dallas, about 240 miles north on I-45.
Can you weld to ASME Section IX and B31.3?
Send your line class, material and NDT needs, and we will match a qualified procedure.
Do you hold an ASME U stamp or National Board R stamp?
If your job needs a stamp, tell us up front so we can confirm we can take it.
What records ship with Houston pipe work?
Code piping jobs typically call for the WPS and PQR, welder qualifications, a weld map, MTRs, and NDE and pressure test reports. List what you need on your PO.
Can you support a plant turnaround?
Call us early at (346) 561-0862 with your dates and scope so we can plan labor and freight.
What is a piping line class?
A line class is a code in the owner's piping spec that defines the material, pressure rating, wall thickness, fittings, and welding and examination rules for a given service. It tells the fabricator exactly how each line must be built.
How are pipe spools shipped from Dallas to Houston?
Usually by flatbed or LTL freight, about 240 miles down I-45. Spools are braced, pipe ends are capped, and flange faces are covered so the spools arrive clean and undamaged.
What is a hydrostatic test?
A hydrostatic test fills the piping with water and raises it to a set pressure to prove it holds without leaking. For ASME B31.3 piping, the test pressure is at least 1.5 times the design pressure, adjusted for temperature.
