NBBI Pressure Equipment Inspector (PEI) cheat sheet

Jurisdictional scope is set by the adopting state or province; the ASME Code defines construction, while the NBIC governs in-service inspection, repair, and alteration of installed equipment.

Maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) is computed from the applicable ASME construction section using minimum measured thickness; a corroded area is evaluated at its thinnest reading, not an average.

Internal inspection interval for power boilers is typically 12 months; the inspector may recommend extension only where the jurisdiction's rules and the boiler's condition and history support it.

A hydrostatic test is normally held at 1.5 times MAWP for new construction; in-service tests follow the jurisdiction and NBIC, and the test gauge range should be roughly 1.5 to 4 times the test pressure.

Safety valve set pressure may not exceed the MAWP of the boiler or vessel it protects; capacity must equal or exceed the maximum steam or vapor generating capacity of the equipment.

For fired vessels, the inspector verifies combustion safeguards, flame failure response, low-water fuel cutoff, and try-cocks or gauge glass as required by the jurisdiction.

A pressure vessel with a quick-actuating (rapid-opening) closure requires an automatic pressure-relieving device or an interlock to prevent opening under pressure.

Unfired steam boilers and hot water heating boilers often carry longer internal inspection intervals (commonly 24 to 36 months) than power boilers, subject to jurisdiction rules.

Deficiencies that constitute an imminent hazard require immediate notification to the owner and the jurisdiction, with the certificate of inspection withheld or suspended until corrected.

The NBIC is organized into Parts: Part 1 installation, Part 2 inspection, Part 3 repairs and alterations, Part 4 heating boilers, Part 5 pressure vessels, Part 6 fiber-reinforced plastic vessels, and Part 7 water heaters.

A repair restores equipment to its original condition; an alteration changes the pressure-retaining item so that it differs from the original Code-stamped design.

Rerating to a higher pressure or temperature, changing the design configuration, or adding a nozzle in a pressure-retaining boundary is an alteration requiring a new or revised data report.

The NBIC does not itself establish design rules; it references the applicable ASME construction Code section (Section I, IV, VIII Div. 1 or 2, X, or XII) for design and material requirements.

Written authorization from the jurisdiction is required before performing an alteration; repairs to pressure-retaining items generally require an R Certificate holder and an R-1 form.

A Code interpretation is issued by the NBIC committee and applies to the specific wording asked; it does not retroactively change an existing stamped item.

Inspectors must distinguish a repair from routine maintenance such as replacing gaskets, packing, or non-pressure-retaining parts, which do not require an R-1.

The NBIC requires that a repair or alteration be documented and the documentation retained by the owner; the inspector verifies records exist and are consistent with the work performed.

When the NBIC and the jurisdiction's adopted rules conflict, the jurisdiction's adopted regulation governs inspection and certification of installed equipment.

Thickness readings must be taken at grid points on corroded areas; the minimum reading establishes the remaining wall for MAWP calculation, not the mean.

Weld repairs on pressure-retaining items require qualified welders, qualified procedures (WPS/PQR), and post-repair nondestructive examination as specified by the NBIC and the applicable Code section.

A post-weld heat treatment requirement is triggered by material thickness, material specification, or the applicable Code section; the inspector verifies the treatment was performed before final NDE.

Hydrostatic testing after a repair is performed at the MAWP times the applicable factor, and the inspector confirms the test pressure is held and no leakage or permanent deformation occurs.

An inspector should record the condition of the pressure-relieving device, its set pressure, and the date of last test; a valve that cannot be tested must be documented as such.

Repairs to a welded joint on a boiler or vessel require the repair organization to hold the appropriate certificate of authorization (R for repairs, VR for valve repairs).

When a defect is found, the inspector must determine whether it is a Code deficiency, a repair, or an alteration, because the documentation and authorization path differ for each.

Non-destructive examination methods such as radiography, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and liquid penetrant are selected based on the material, joint configuration, and the Code section invoked.

An inspector's report should include the method, extent, and results of any NDE, the measured thicknesses, and the basis for the MAWP conclusion.

The manufacturer's data report is the construction record; it identifies the Code section, the MAWP, the design temperature, the materials, and the authorized inspector's signature.

An R-1 form documents a repair or alteration; an R-2 form documents a repair or alteration performed without a new data report in some jurisdictions.

The NB registration number (National Board number) is assigned when the item is registered with the National Board; the number is stamped on the item and appears on the data report.

The NB mark and the R, VR, and other accreditation marks may only be applied by holders of the corresponding certificate of authorization; the inspector verifies the mark matches the certificate scope.

A data report must be signed by an authorized inspector employed by an ASME-accredited inspection agency; the inspector's commission and endorsement must be current.

When an item is rerated, a new or revised data report is prepared and the item is registered with the new MAWP and design parameters.

The inspector verifies that the stamping on the item matches the data report: Code symbol, MAWP, design temperature, and NB number must agree.

Registration is not a substitute for inspection; it records construction, while the certificate of inspection authorizes operation under the jurisdiction.

An accreditation mark applied outside the scope of the certificate of authorization is a nonconformance that the inspector must document and report.