R-1 Report Missing the Authorized Inspector Signature
An R stamp holder repaired a crack in the shell of a 250-psig steam boiler with a welded patch and post-weld heat treatment. The authorized inspector witnessed the final examination and reviewed the radiographs, but left the inspection agency before signing the R-1 report. The owner's insurer is demanding the completed report within five days. The shop's quality manager proposes to issue the R-1 with the signature of the shop's own QC inspector and to send a copy to the National Board, arguing that the repair is complete and the radiographs are acceptable. The jurisdiction requires the repair report to be filed with the state boiler section within 30 days of completion. The shop also has not yet given the owner a copy of the report. The inspection agency says a replacement inspector can review the file in about two weeks.
1. Can the shop issue the R-1 with its own QC inspector's signature? Why or why not?
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No. The R-1 report requires certification by the authorized inspector who reviewed the repair against the applicable requirements. The shop's own QC inspector is not a substitute for the authorized inspector, even if that person is competent and even if the radiographs are acceptable. Signing the R-1 without the authorized inspector's certification would misrepresent the inspection status and could be treated as a false report.
The correct path is for the inspection agency to assign a replacement authorized inspector to review the file, the examination records, and the repair documentation. If the replacement inspector accepts the work, that inspector signs the R-1. The shop should not backdate the report or use its own signature to meet the insurer's deadline.
2. What is the correct distribution and registration for the R-1 report, including the National Board and the state?
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The R stamp holder completes the R-1 and provides a copy to the owner. It also files the report with the jurisdiction as required; in this case the state boiler section requires filing within 30 days of completion. The shop retains its record copy as required by its QC manual and NBIC.
Sending a copy to the National Board does not substitute for the authorized inspector's signature, and R-1 repair reports are not registered with the National Board in the same way as new-construction manufacturer data reports. The shop should not tell the insurer that National Board receipt makes the report valid. The report becomes complete when the authorized inspector signs it and the required distribution and filing are made.
3. How should the shop handle the insurer's five-day demand and the two-week inspector delay?
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The shop should communicate honestly with the owner and insurer: the repair is complete, but the R-1 cannot be certified until a replacement authorized inspector reviews and signs it. The shop can provide an interim status letter that does not purport to be the R-1, and it can ask the inspection agency to expedite the review. If the state filing deadline is at risk, the shop should contact the state boiler section to explain the delay and ask for guidance rather than filing an incomplete or improperly signed report.
The shop should also correct the underlying process issue, such as requiring inspector sign-off before the inspector leaves or ensuring a backup inspector is identified. The owner may need to adjust the insurance deadline, but the shop should not solve the problem by issuing a document that lacks the required certification.