Vessel Repair with no U1 form 1

[KWG53]

I've been asked to build a new shell section for a "BEM" type exchanger & reuse the existing channels. Problem is he has no U1 data report form....is this legal ?
Can I build this as the original or is it deemed new conctruction ?

Thanks

 

[Rich2001]

Quite the conundrum! As far as being legal, the answer is yes and no.

You might be able to make the repair but you can only certfy your repair not the whole assembly, however your AI and the Chief Inspector for the State or your jurisdiction must approve. Understand that this task is arduous... the paperwork, time and effort. In most cases it is easier and more economical to build a new Heat Exchanger. You clients Insurance carrier may not approve.

What happend to the U-1? never signed, or issued etc? Was it registered with the National Board?

 

[KWG53]

This is not my unit, the U1 was issued & lost,but it was before the National Board requirement so we cannot get a copy. the manufacturer probably has a copy but he won't give it to us

 

[Rich2001]

Without a copy of the data report you do not have postive material identification. The risk are too high, do not take the job. Remember while a doctor making a mistake may kill one person an mistake by an engineer may kill dozens.

 

[weldtek]

Is there a legible nameplate on the vessel?

 

[KWG53]

Yes the nameplate is intact

 

[JoeTank]

KWG53,
It is not unusual for a manufacturer not to provide a copy of the U1 Data report to a repair contractor. They normally only give them to the owner, if it is the orginal client. Therefore, I suggest that you have the vessel owner formally request a copy directly from the manufacturer. It's harder for them to say NO to the owner / client.

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants

http://www.tankindustry.com

 

[KWG53]

We tried that, they say they have no record.....the unit is 30yrs old

 

[weldtek]

OK, so the nameplate says it's a legitimate vessel. From your earlier post the vessel was not NB registered. You can confirm this with a quick look at the nameplate. If it were, of course you could simply order a form from NB, but if not you will need some design criteria from the user. Assuming that this is a job you want to take on, get your A.I. involved and discuss with him/her. There's probably several ways you could proceed, either as a repair or by making a new Part with a U2 /A Form. There will be some differences depending on which track you take, but be aware as Rich2001 points out, anytime a fabricator works on a vessel there is liability involved. I'm assuming your firm is capable of vessel design work.

 

[deanc]

Possible path:
1.Define your repair and write a proposal.
2.Obtain a Code book from the year of constuction and redo calcs.
3.Cut sample coupon for material analysis. Mechs. and chems.
4.Run it past your AIA,Local Jurisdiction,Vessel Insurance carrier,and of course the owner.
5.See Part RC of the NBIC. RC-1020

 

[Rich2001]

To add to deanc post

Add enough into your proposal to cover your cost when you have to be disposed.

You might think it far fetched, but here is a true story:

Approximately twenty (20) years ago I was in a similar situation. The client, a small specialty chemical facility, had a reactor that due to corrosion required repairs to be preformed. Though the vessel had a national board number the U-1 data report from the fabricator was unsigned . The original fabricator never signed the report, the fabrication was never witnessed by an AI and never submitted it to the National Board, (BTW the fabricator is no longer in business.) Several years latter the client had a run away exothermic reaction that resulted in an explosion that rained a cocktail of halogenated hydrocarbons over a residential development several miles away. Investigators swarmed all over, examining every piece of evidence, looking for mismanagement, improper repair, lack of inspections, lack of training et cetera. After all these years, there is still an ongoing legal battle with the EPA.

I did something right by resigning prior to my employer repairing this vessel and its’ transmogrification into a _________state special, though I had no pay check for several weeks until I started with another firm, at the time I wasn’t sure if I did the correct thing. Incidentally, my old employer is no longer in business, one of the field crews failed to properly install a thermowell causing flammable gas to leak through the instrumentation lines into a control room causing multi-millions dollars of damage.

 

[weldtek]

Rich2001
Quite an experience indeed. Did the explosion take place after the vessel was repaired?

 

[GenB]

If the vessel has the Code Stamp with the Natl Bd #, your are entitled of obtaining a data report,
If the Mfr did not registered it is it problem, you contact the Ntl Bd and they can enforce the Mfr or start an investigation of why it was not registered.
If you do not have a Ntl Bd # your Jurisdiction can authorize nthe work at their discretion with or w/o an R Stamp, or even with a U stamp.
GB

 

[aclark]

I work for a jursdiction that did not require N B registration untill 1995. However we did regester the vessels since 1953. Is this vessel regestered with the State? If so the State can require the Manuf. to provide the State with a copy of the MDR. The State could then give a copy to you. If you are really lucky the State may already have a copy. Its worth a try