A CWI is reviewing the final inspection report for a pressure vessel fabricated under ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 1. The report indicates that a critical radiographic examination (RT) was performed by a Level II technician who was certified by the fabricator's in-house program, but not by an independent ASNT NDT Level III. The project specification explicitly requires all NDT personnel to be certified to ASNT SNT-TC-1A, Level II or III, by an ASNT NDT Level III. What is the CWI's immediate course of action?
- AAccept the report, as the fabricator's in-house program is likely sufficient for their own technicians.
- BReject the RT report and declare the welds non-compliant until a properly certified technician re-performs the RT.
- CIssue a non-conformance report (NCR) and inform all relevant parties that the NDT results are invalid due to improper certification.
- DRequest clarification from the fabricator regarding the Level II technician's ASNT Level III certification, or lack thereof.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Issue a non-conformance report (NCR) and inform all relevant parties that the NDT results are invalid due to improper certification.
The project specification clearly outlines the certification requirements for NDT personnel (ASNT SNT-TC-1A, Level II or III, by an ASNT NDT Level III). A technician certified only by an in-house program, without the specified ASNT Level III oversight, means the NDT was performed by unqualified personnel according to the project requirements. The results are invalid, and an NCR must be issued immediately.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Accepting non-compliant NDT is a gross violation of CWI responsibility and code adherence.
- B. While re-performance is the eventual outcome, the immediate action is to declare the existing report invalid and issue an NCR, rather than just 'rejecting' the report.
- D. While clarification might be sought, the direct non-compliance with the clear specification makes the results invalid; clarification won't change the past fact of improper certification.
NDT Personnel Qualification Compliance
Verifying that Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) personnel hold the specific certifications (e.g., ASNT SNT-TC-1A Level II/III) required by project codes and specifications.
- Crucial for validity and acceptance of NDT results.
- Different codes/standards specify different qualification bodies.
- CWI must verify certification against project requirements.
Memory trick: NDT Certs Must Match Specs Exactly.