Inspection, Examination, and testing for ASME B31.3, 31.4, and 31.8

[engr2GW]

Hi,
1. In ASME B31.3; in chapter VI-Inspection, examination, and testing. It doesn't say anything about inspection as it relates to actual work being done to the new construction, but rather talks about the inpector, but it does talk about NDE under examination including visual, x-ray, magnetic, etc, and also talks about hydrotest and pneumatic tests. Does that mean that the inpectino part of the B31.3 code is just for the description of who's qualified to be an inspector, and what does he/she do in this code OR is the inspector the one that does the examination or just inspects/supervises it.

2. In B31.4; in chapter VI-Inspection and testing. The same thing as above; it just stipulates the qualification of the inspector, but makes detail explaination of the NDE, hydrostatic testing, visual, etc. Does it mean the inspector does the other examination or should be able to supervise it. Or is inspection and examination used interchangeably, is there any post-construction work of quality control done that is called inspection, I see explaination of examination and testing, but not inspection.

3. In B31.8; in chapter IV-Design, Installation, and Testing. here it uses the term "visual inspection"

So;
Is inspection thesame or different from examination.

AND,
Can someone pls let me know if the summary below is a fair partial summary of the three codes
1. B31.3
a. Inspection: qualifying who's to.....???
b. Examination: Non-destructive, e.g. x-ray, visual, magnetic, etc
c. Testing: Hydrostatic and pneumatic, pressure/leak,

2. B31.4
a. Inspection: qualifying who's to....???
b. examination; NDE, e.g. x-ray, visual, etc
c. testing: Hydro, pressure/leak,

3. B31.8
a. Inspection = examination???
b. examination; Non-destructive, e.g. visual, xray, etc... if any??
c. Testing: hydro, pneumatic, pressure/leak,..


Thanks for your help.

 

[metengr]

I am going to make this as straight forward as possible. First go to the source regarding definitions;

from B31.3 2008
340.1 General
This Code distinguishes between examination (see
para. 341) and inspection. Inspection applies to functions
performed for the owner by the owner ’s Inspector
or the Inspector’s delegates. References in this Code
to the “Inspector” are to the owner’s Inspector or the
Inspector’s delegates.

What are an Inspector's duties? Duties as agreed upon between the Inspector and Engineer.

340.2 Responsibility for Inspection
It is the owner’s responsibility, exercised through the
owner’s Inspector, to verify that all required examinations
and testing have been completed and to inspect
the piping to the extent necessary to be satisfied that it
conforms to all applicable examination requirements of
the Code and of the engineering design.

341 EXAMINATION
341.1 General
Examination applies to quality control functions performed
by the manufacturer (for components only),
fabricator, or erector. Reference in this Code to an examiner
is to a person who performs quality control
examinations.

B31.1
Visual examination as
defined in para. 100.2 shall be performed in accordance
with the methods described in Section V, Article 9, of
102 the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Visual examinations
may be conducted, as necessary, during the
fabrication and erection of piping components to provide
verification that the design and WPS requirements
are being met. In addition, visual examination shall be
performed to verify that all completed welds in pipe
and piping components comply with the acceptance
standards specified in (A) below or with the limitations
on imperfections specified in the material specification
under which the pipe or component was furnished.

 

[enmax]

The duties of the supplier and his inspection/QA/QC department, the purchaser's inspector and any third party inspection authority should be defined in a Quality Plan or Inspection and Test Plan. This should detail every manufacturing stage as well as all the examinations, testing, witnessing, etc. to be carried out by whom and at what frequency.

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/terry-roberts/28/a9a/a10

 

[engr2GW]

So, the operating company or owner still need to have an inspector to look at the testing and examination work done by the erector, examiner, contractor, etc? can this person be the operator's construction foreman or is there some kind of certification qualification like the CWI that inspects welder's qualification?

 

[enmax]

One of the purposes of the Quality Plan or Inspection and Test Plan is to resolve the questions you are asking. Each of the parties involved defines precisely what they are doing, how often, and by whom - the people carrying out the various inspections, tests and examinations must be suitable qualified and experienced. It also helps to avoid duplication of inspections, exmainations, etc by the different parties. The purchaser would approve the plan to ensure all the necessary activities required by the specification are carried out but also any additional ones that he may feel necessary. It also gives him the opportunity to check that activities are being carried out by qualified people. The plan is signed off against each activity as it's completed thereby supplying written evidence that all quality related activities have been completed - very useful to demonstrate compliance to regulators and end users.

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/terry-roberts/28/a9a/a10