ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) & NDT Examination Guide
Comprehensive reference catalog for ASME Section V (Nondestructive Examination), ASME Section VIII (Pressure Vessels), ASME B31 Process & Power Piping Codes, Section IX Welding, and PCC-2/FFS-1 Post-Construction integrity rules.
Explore API standards (510/570/653) cross-referenced with ASME Section V NDE calibration and acceptance criteria.
Ultrasonic Examination Methods for Welds
Mandatory rules for ultrasonic examination (UT, PAUT, TOFD) of welds in ferritic and austenitic pressure vessels and piping.
Calibration block fabrication, sweep range linearity, DAC curve generation, flaw sizing (20% DAC / -6dB drop), and S-scan overlays.
- T-420 General Examination Requirements & Equipment Qualification
- T-434 Calibration Blocks (P-Numbers & Thickness Ratios)
- T-470 Examination Specifications for Manual & Phased Array UT
- +2 additional mandatory sections
Radiographic Examination (RT & CR/DR)
Requirements for industrial radiography utilizing X-ray, Gamma-ray (Iridium-192, Cobalt-60, Selenium-75), Computed Radiography (CR), and Digital Radiography (DR).
Image Quality Indicator (IQI/Penetrameter) selection, film density limits (1.8 - 4.0 H&D), geometric unsharpness (Ug), and digital detector array (DDA) calibration.
- T-220 General Requirements & Radiation Source Selection
- T-233 Image Quality Indicators (Hole-type & Wire IQIs per ASTM E747)
- T-274 Geometric Unsharpness Limitations
- +2 additional mandatory sections
Surface Examination: Liquid Penetrant (PT) & Magnetic Particle (MT)
Mandatory examination procedures for detecting surface-breaking flaws using visible/fluorescent solvent-removable liquid penetrant and AC/DC magnetic yokes.
Surface preparation, developer dwell times, black light intensity (≥1000 µW/cm² at 15 inches), yoke lifting power (≥10 lbs AC / ≥40 lbs DC), and particle concentration.
- Art. 6 T-640 Penetrant Materials & Dwell Times (5 to 30 mins)
- Art. 6 T-676 Interpretation & Temperature Range (40°F to 125°F)
- Art. 7 T-750 Magnetization Technique (Continuous Yoke Method)
- +1 additional mandatory sections
Eddy Current Examination (ET) of Nonferrous Heat Exchanger Tubing
Standard practice for electromagnetic examination of seamless copper, brass, stainless steel, and titanium heat exchanger tubes.
Bobbin coil calibration, phase angle rotation (OD wall loss vs ID pitting), ASME calibration reference tube notches, and strip chart signal interpretation.
- T-820 Equipment Specifications & Multi-Frequency Mix Calibration
- T-830 Calibration Reference Standards (ASME Sec V Art 8 Standards)
- T-870 Tube Wall Thickness Sizing & Defect Depth Evaluation
- +1 additional mandatory sections
Leak Testing Methods (LT)
Testing methods to detect and measure gas/fluid leakage through vessel boundaries, seals, and welded containment envelopes.
Bubble testing (direct pressure / vacuum box), halogen diode detection, mass spectrometer helium leak detector (MSLD), and pressure change monitoring.
- T-1030 Direct Pressure Bubble Test (Solution Application)
- T-1040 Vacuum Box Test Method for Tank Bottoms & Flat Surfaces
- T-1050 Helium Hood & Sniffer Probe Testing (High Sensitivity)
Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels
The global standard for design, fabrication, inspection, and certification of unfired pressure vessels operating above 15 psig.
Maximum allowable stress values, joint efficiency (E=1.0 for Full RT/UT, E=0.85 for Spot RT), hydrostatic/pneumatic test pressures (1.3x MAWP), and pressure relief.
- UG-93 NDE Requirements for Plate & Forgings
- UW-51 Full Radiographic Examination & Ultrasonic Acceptance Criteria
- UW-52 Spot Radiographic Examination Sampling Rules
- +2 additional mandatory sections
Pressure Vessels: Alternative Rules (Design by Analysis)
Alternative rules allowing higher allowable stress intensities through detailed stress analysis (FEA) and stringent mandatory NDE requirements.
Fatigue analysis, elastic-plastic failure evaluation, mandatory 100% volumetric examination of category A/B weld joints, and Time-of-Flight Diffraction (TOFD) mandatory sizing.
- Part 7: Examination Requirements & Acceptance Standards
- Section 7.5: Volumetric Examination (Phased Array UT & TOFD)
- Section 7.4: Surface Examination (100% MT/PT on all pressure retaining welds)
Rules for Construction of Power Boilers
Rules for high-pressure steam boilers, superheaters, economizers, and boiler external piping (BEP) operating above 15 psig.
Material selection for high-temperature creep, mandatory 100% RT/UT of drum longitudinal seams, and hydrostatic pressure testing (1.5x MAWP).
- PG-90 Inspection & Examination Provisions
- PW-11 Radiographic Examination of Butt Welded Joints
- PW-27 Welding Process Restrictions & Qualification Requirements
Process Piping Code (Petrochemical & Refineries)
Comprehensive piping code covering chemical plants, petroleum refineries, offshore platforms, and pharmaceutical processing units.
Fluid service categories (Normal, Category D, Severe Cyclic, High Pressure), visual examination degrees (minimum 5% random examination), and hydrotesting.
- Chapter VI: Examination, Inspection, and Testing
- Paragraph 341.4: Extent of Required Examination (Visual 100%, Volumetric 5% to 100%)
- Table 341.3.2: Acceptance Criteria for Welds and Examination Methods
- +1 additional mandatory sections
Power Piping Code (Electric Power Stations)
Piping code for electric power generating stations, industrial power plants, institutional plants, and district heating systems.
High energy piping (HEP) oversight, main steam and hot reheat line examinations, creep damage tracking, and 100% RT/UT on high pressure/temperature lines.
- Chapter VI: Inspection, Examination, and Testing
- Paragraph 136: Mandatory NDE Extent (100% RT/UT for steam lines > 100 psi / > 750°F)
- Table 136.4: Mandatory NDE Rules and Flaw Acceptance Standards
Pipeline Transportation Systems (Liquid Hydrocarbons & Gas Transmission)
Codes for design, construction, inspection, and testing of cross-country liquid petroleum pipelines (B31.4) and gas transmission pipelines (B31.8).
Girth weld 100% inspection in high-consequence areas (HCA), Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT) per API 1104 / ASME Sec V, and inline inspection (ILI pigging).
- B31.4 Chapter VI: Inspection and Testing
- B31.8 Chapter IV: Operating and Maintenance Procedures (Integrity Management)
- Mandatory NDT for Location Class 3 and 4 Pipeline Sections
Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
Mandatory rules for inservice inspection, testing, and repair of Class 1, 2, and 3 light-water cooled nuclear power plant components.
Performance Demonstration Initiative (PDI) ultrasonic examiner qualification, reactor pressure vessel nozzle inspection, and flaw evaluation (IWB-3500 / IWB-3600).
- Subarticle IWA-2200 Examination Methods (Visual VT-1, VT-2, VT-3, Surface, Volumetric)
- Appendix VIII: Performance Demonstration for Ultrasonic Examination Systems (PDI Qualified Examiners)
- IWB-3500 Acceptance Standards for Flaw Indications
Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications
The universal code governing qualification of welders, welding operators, brazers, and the procedures (WPS / PQR) used in construction.
Essential and non-essential variables, coupon mechanical testing, and volumetric NDE (RT or UT) as a substitute for mechanical bend tests.
- QW-191 Radiographic and Ultrasonic Examination of Welder Qualification Coupons
- QW-300 Welder Qualification Standards
- QW-450 Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens
Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping
Standard for repair of pressure equipment, piping, pipelines, and storage tanks after initial commissioning.
Welded repairs, mechanical repairs (clamps/enclosures), non-metallic composite wraps (carbon fiber), and post-repair NDT examination.
- Article 201: Butt-Welded Insert Plates in Pressure Components
- Article 401: Non-Metallic Composite Repair Systems for Pipelines & Piping (ISO 24817 / ASME PCC-2)
- Article 501: Pressure and Leak Testing of Repaired Equipment
Fitness-For-Service (FFS Evaluation)
Joint ASME/API standard providing quantitative engineering assessments to demonstrate structural integrity of equipment containing flaws or damage.
Level 1, 2, and 3 FFS assessments for general wall loss, localized thinning, pitting, blisters, crack-like flaws, and fire damage.
- Part 4: Assessment of General Metal Loss (Grid UT Data)
- Part 5: Assessment of Local Metal Loss (High-Resolution NDT Mapping)
- Part 9: Assessment of Crack-Like Flaws (TOFD / PAUT Flaw Sizing Inputs)
Need Level III Examination Procedures or Calibration Standard Blocks?
ASME Section V requires written examination procedures qualified per Article 1 & Article 4 (PAUT/UT), Article 2 (Radiography), and Article 8 (Eddy Current). Calibration blocks must strictly mirror component P-numbers and nominal wall thicknesses.
ASME vs. API Code Relationship
API in-service inspection codes (API 510, API 570, API 653) rely directly on ASME Section V for mandatory NDT examination procedures, and ASME Section VIII / B31.3 for rerating calculations.