Inspection Duties
The AI's authority is personal and cannot be delegated. This domain tests the qualifications that make a signature valid and the duties that must be performed before it is given.
Qualifications
The AI holds a National Board commission, is employed by an ASME-accredited Authorized Inspection Agency under a written inspection agreement, and is independent of the manufacturer. Commissions are renewed on a three-year cycle and depend on active inspection work.
Duties before signing
- Review design calculations and drawings for code compliance.
- Verify materials against the Certified Material Test Reports and the marking on the item.
- Verify WPS, PQR, and welder qualifications cover the actual production work.
- Verify NDE was performed by qualified personnel using Section V technique, with acceptance judged by the construction code.
- Witness the hydrostatic test: confirm test pressure, gauge range and calibration, water temperature, and that the item is clean and properly supported.
- Confirm the item is complete - all welding, heat treatment, NDE, and testing finished - before signing the Manufacturer's Data Report and permitting stamping.
- Reject or withhold certification for any nonconformity; the AI has both the authority and the duty to do so.
Worked example. The AI is asked to witness a Div. 1 hydro test at 228 psig. The only gauge is 0–1000 psig, and its calibration sticker is eight months old. Reasoning: the gauge range should not exceed about four times the test pressure, and 1000 psig is roughly 4.4 times 228 psig; the calibration is also outside the required six-month interval. Finding: reject the gauge setup, obtain a suitable calibrated gauge, and re-run the test before signing.
Traps. Signing on the manufacturer's assurance rather than personal verification; witnessing a test on a vessel with unfinished welds; skipping gauge range and calibration checks; accepting welder certificates without continuity; treating the AI's role as advisory.