Piping inspection ASME B31.3...

[engr2GW]

Hi all,

Based on paragraph 340.4 of ASME B31.3, I have a question about the Owner's/Operator's inspector:
Background: we have contract welding companies or personnel weld our piping and gathering lines from wellhead to production equipment to sales, the code requires or recommends the owner (not the contractor, erector, fabricator) to have an inspector who can inspect the construction/welds and also examine and monitor test.

Question: Based on the qualification, can a construction foreman, a well tender or pumper, a field technician or any other field/operations personnel who has the years of experience in the industry and with or without a university degree act as an inspector is the person is given basic training like
1. visual inspection skills
2. Non-destructive examination; x-ray, etc interpretation...
3. Weld defects
4. Supervision of and/or understand of test results (NDE, hydro-static, etc)
5. Knowledge of governing codes .....etc

Question if because our construction is not very much and may not require someone to do exclusively that.

Thank you.

 

[salmon2]

Sounds like you can't justify a full time inspector, then probably can't justify all the equipments needed as well. How about a 3rd party inspection/inspector and this should fulfill B31.3 as it is an independent inspection.

 

[metengr]

Question: Based on the qualification, can a construction foreman, a well tender or pumper, a field technician or any other field/operations personnel who has the years of experience in the industry and with or without a university degree act as an inspector is the person is given basic training like...

In the spirit of how this section was written, no. Re-read subparagraph (b) of 340.4. Experience needs to be in either design, fabrication or inspection, and not simply "working" in industry. I would hire an Inspector and have them train a designated person. Over time, they can learn and log experience time to perform this duty on their own.

 

[stanweld]

mysarah,
Agree with metengr; however, those properly trained individuals may be delegated by the owner's Inspector to perform an inspection function in accordance with 340.4(c).