"Examination for leakage" Class MC vessel

[xnh11]

ASME Section III, Div 1, Subsect NE, requires an "examination for leakage" (NE-6324, -6224) during the pneumatic or hydrostatic pressure test of a Class MC vessel. Does anyone have experience complying with this requirement by *other than* (or in addition to) bubble testing? Thanks.

 

[vpl]

Yep. Flashlight, eyes, qualified person. Don't do the inspection at a flat run. If at all possible, get on good terms with your NRC materials inspectors. There's some that really love to teach techniques for finding leaks.

Patricia Lougheed

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[Duwe6]

Set up cable-climber buggies at each of the vert seams, and soap from bottom to top. A CB&I crew did all of St. Lucie in about 3 hours, and we did all "our" penetrations in just under 1.5 hours. Easy, peasy. We had 3ea. ANI's on site, but this was late in the hydro/pneumatic testing of the plant, and they were very comfortable that everybody involved was competent, dilligent, and honest. I dont'remember any AI staying past the long-seam testing, and he stayed on the ground.

I'm not impuning our ANI's. When we hydroed the Class I system, they touched almost every weld, and made certain that we did indeed touch 100% of every weld.