Fabricated structural steel inspection required? 1

[Beanbag1]

We just received a few tons of fabricated structural steel for the erection of a pipe rack at our chemical manufacturing plant in Texas. The fabricator is an AISC certified shop. Am I required by law to have this steel inspected by a qualified third party in order to erect it?

 

[gtaw]

It would depend on the code or local legal statues that apply where the installation took place.

Pipe racks usually fall under AISC which references AWS D1.1. AWS D1.1 leaves the decision to provide verification inspection up to the owner. Under AWS D1.1 the contractor is always responsible for visually inspecting of all welds.

What is specified in the project specifications?

Best regards - Al

 

[Jboggs]

If you are legally required to inspect, do you think "some guys I don't know on an online forum said inspection isn't required" would be a valid defense? Probably not. Your question is of a legal nature, not engineering. Go to legal sources familiar with your jurisdiction.

 

[FACS]

We don't know.... are you?

 

[JStephen]

As far as I know- generally, in Texas, if you're in a city limit, that city will have a building code, and that may include items such as this, with inspection per the applicable steel code.
If you're not in a city limit, there's usually not a building code. (There is a statewide building code, but only applicable to commercial buildings.)
Also double check OSHA rules and your own corporate policies.

 

[gtaw]

You should also check your insurance policy. I had more than one client tell me they didn't have to meet ASME requirements because they were not a jurisdiction state. When I told them to check their policy, sure enough, they had to be ASME compliant or they voided their coverage.

Best regards - Al