Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
(OP)
Hi all, according to B31.3, the inspector is independent of the fabrication company or erector, and inspection does not releive the fabricator from providing examination services and reports to the owner's ispector...The code almost assumes (in my understanding) that the fabricator/welding company has a QC or x-ray personnel.
My question is: if my fabricators does not have QC department or x-ray techs, and I hire an independent third party NDE company who have an inspector, does the inspector working for the NDE company (but not the welding company) constitute a confict or mis-application of code? I'm asking because it appears that B31.3 distinguishes between inspction and examination and the codes makes it sound like the examination is exclusively the fabricators responsibility while the inspection is the owners.
Simply, can I have a welding company, and have a seperate NDE company working for me to do x-ray/examination and/or testing and have the same NDE inspection (sign off on) the construction and it's examination result?
THANKS A LOT.
My question is: if my fabricators does not have QC department or x-ray techs, and I hire an independent third party NDE company who have an inspector, does the inspector working for the NDE company (but not the welding company) constitute a confict or mis-application of code? I'm asking because it appears that B31.3 distinguishes between inspction and examination and the codes makes it sound like the examination is exclusively the fabricators responsibility while the inspection is the owners.
Simply, can I have a welding company, and have a seperate NDE company working for me to do x-ray/examination and/or testing and have the same NDE inspection (sign off on) the construction and it's examination result?
THANKS A LOT.
As much as possible, do it right the first time...





RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
From "BigInch's Extremely simple theory of everything."
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
No
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
In the US, it's a matter for negotiation and agreement between owner and fabricator, as BigInch says.
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
I wasn't asking if the NDE tech. is the same as the inspector? I'm simply asking is they can be from the same part/company as long as they're independent of the welding/fabrication company. I don't see a conflict of interest, do you? The code says the inspection should be independent of the of the erector, but doesn't say that for inspection and examination.
As much as possible, do it right the first time...
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
As much as possible, do it right the first time...
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
NDT techs are typically just that - techs. Their work is to be presented to the Owner's Inspector for approval, so having the same guy 'shooting' your X-rays / RT's and also approving them is a conflict of interest. They would be inspecting their own work.
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
As much as possible, do it right the first time...
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
First, though, I agree that it really doesn't matter who 'actually' employes the RT tech. If his film is clear enough to see the required IQI - image quality indicator - and is within the density requirements, it doesn't matter who he is employed by.
The bigger item is that the Owner's Inspector for B31.3 piping systems is responsible for verifying that the pipe, fittings, and valves used meet Code and the Owner's specs. That all welding procedures - WPS's - have been approved, and are bieng followed by the welders. That all welders have certification papers that cover the weld process [Mig, Tig, Stick - GMAW, GTAW, SMAW], the material type and thickness they are working on, and that they are using the filler metal(s) prescribed by the WPS. That the appropriate number of RT's are shot on all buttwelders, and that the appropriate number of visual inspections are performed on socketwelds. That the pipe lines are adequatly supported and restrained. based on the size of the pipe, the line spec, and the operating temperatures. Finally, that the lines are all hydro tested to the appropriate pressures, that no sections of pipe get missed in the hydro testing, that the test water is drained and the lines flushed to a satisfactory level of cleanliness for Start-up.
Almost all RT techs are not competent, educated or experienced enough to fufill all of these minimum requirements. I'm not disparaging techs, just that most Inspector's duties are outside of a tech's job discription and level of training.
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
As much as possible, do it right the first time...
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
Per ASME B31.3, 340.4 (a), "The owner's Inspector shall not represent nor be an employee of the piping manufacturer, fabricator , or erector unless the owner is also the manufacturer, fabricator or erector."
It is understood that owners may have deviated from the above requirements; however, to do so is not without risk should a catastrophic incident occur in a piping system so inspected.
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
Absolutly. Two different scopes of work, from a [hopefully] disinterested 3rd-party. No real overlap, as the Inspector is predominately checking the clairity and density of the RT's the tech(s) have shot, to predetermined standards. No opinions necessary or required.
RE: Inspection, examination, and testing...ASME B31.3
As much as possible, do it right the first time...