Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Procedure

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The Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler provides a sample inspection and testing
procedure during the manufacturing process. You might need to review water tube boiler inspection
and test plan with this procedure.

This content covers all necessary stages in the

production of the water tube boilers from the
examination of the material, fabrication, welding
inspection, dimensional inspection, NDE,
hydrostatic testing to the final inspection,
preservation and packing to despatch to the site.

You need to take this point in account this article is

written for a typical Water Tube Boiler and might
not be complete for special cases.

All Water Tube Boiler inspections and tests are

carried out against the approved drawings,
purchase order specifications, purchasers or company standards, and within the practices and
rules of the country, state or province and any government decrees, laws, ordinance or regulation
as may apply.

The applicable codes and specifications for the Water Tube Boiler which is under construction
process are:

Design code
Purchase order specification
Purchaser's standards
Approved drawings

And the applicable codes and standards are:

ASME I
ASME V
ASME IX

The applicable codes and standard may be based other international standards such as BS 1113
and etc. This content is general and can be useful if even the design code is different from ASME
Code.

Required Documents for Third Party Inspector Review:

The list of documents normally is agreed in the Pre Inspection meeting which is hold several weeks
before actual commencement of inspection work. The parties which are participated in this meeting
are manufacture, purchaser and third party inspection agency representatives.

This already explained in the Inspection and Test Plan for Water Tube Boiler article.

These are the list of documents which are normally agreed to be presented to the inspector:
 Water Tube Boiler Manufacture Quality Control Plan
Water Tube Boiler Inspection and test plan
Water Tube Boiler Data Sheet
Water Tube Boiler Approved Drawings
Water Tube Boiler Strength calculation sheets
Water Tube Boiler Material Test Reports
Water Tube Boiler Welding Specification Procedures (WPS) and Procedure Qualification
Records(PQR)
Water Tube Boiler Welding Map
Water Tube Boiler Repair Procedure
Water Tube Boiler Welders Qualifications Reports
Water Tube Boiler NDE procedures i.e. RT, PT, UT, MT, PMI
Water Tube Boiler NDE Personnel qualifications Reports
Water Tube Boiler Heat treatment procedure
Water Tube Boiler Calibration Certificates for Test Equipment
Water Tube Boiler Hydrostatic Testing Procedure and Water Quality Document
Water Tube Boiler Preparation and Painting Procedure
Water Tube Boiler Preservation, Packing and Shipping Procedure
Water Tube Boiler Packing List

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Material Inspection

The first actual inspection work in the Water Tube Boiler is raw materials inspection. Based the
ASME Code providing material test reports for Water Tube Boiler plates is mandatory, for other
components only the marking inspection will be enough.

But if purchase order has mandated the MTR to be provided for all components such as tubes,
nozzle pipes, fittings and etc. then the manufacture need to provide them as well.

The original or authenticated copies of mill certificates for plates normally are available at
manufacturer's premises. The third party inspector examines these certificates for compliance with
specifications and where appropriate, drawings.

The review includes checks on:

Certificate No.
Heat or cast No.
Chemical composition.
Mechanical properties.
Heat treated condition.
NDE applied and results.

Then the inspector witnesses the plate material identification on the certificates against plate
marking. It is also necessary to check with Water Tube Boiler drawing datasheet, material list and
other specification as appropriate.

The transfer identification to cut off plates also needs to be checked.

Visual inspection for surface finish and probable defects are done and dimensional compliance
with specification need also to be controlled.

When the third party inspector carried out the material inspection, then provides inspection visit
report, the report contains following items:

Confirmation of satisfactory document review

 Record of the endorsement of certification reviewed/witnessed
Record of all non-conformities
Record of any tests witnessed and the result

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Fabrication

When the Water Tube Boiler material inspection carried out and result was satisfactory or non-
conformities closed by remedial action, then Water Tube Boiler manufacture will be authorised to
start fabrication.

The third party Inspector checks following points on Water Tube Boiler based on the inspection and
test plan (ITP) which is already agreed between purchaser and Water Tube Boiler manufacture.

The inspection scope is determined in ITP, some clients prefer to have stringent control and put the
TPI inspector in more “hold points” in fabrication activities and some others may take lesser “hold
points” and put TPI much more in the review document.

This depend to the inspection budget which client assign for inspection, much more inspection will
have much more costs and less risks and conversely less more inspection will have less costs but
more risks.

For more detail review Inspection and Test Plan for Water Tube Boiler article. There is draft ITP in
this article which I believe it is the best practice for Water Tube Boiler inspection.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Welded Drums and Headers Fabrications

The water tube boiler third party inspector does following inspection in mud and steam drums as
well as headers:

Please note these components (Drums and Headers) in water tube boiler are similar to the
pressure vessel, more detail information provided on Pressure Vessel Inspection Procedure article.

Review welding procedures specification, procedure qualification records and welders

performance qualification records
Review welding map against welding procedures specification
Inspect cut plate visually and dimensionally and paying particular attention to material
identification marks and identifies material to be used for the test plates.
Dimensionally inspect weld fit up and visually examine edges of weld preparation to ensure
that they are free from defects which may affect the welded seam.
Verify/witness NDE of weldpreparation if required by code.
Visually inspect all drum/header longitudinal and circumferential weld seams and review
radiograph and ultrasonic test reports.
Dimensional check on attachments and compensation plates, nozzles etc.
Verify completion of welding to a satisfactory standard and review records of post weld heat
treatment.
Verify that all weld test plates have been completed and properly identified.
Witness hydrostatic Testing
Internal and external final visual inspection.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Tubes and Integral Piping

The third party inspector inspects following points:

 Review welding procedures specification, procedure qualification records and welders
performance qualification records
Review welding map against welding procedures specification
Check tubes and piping material identification.
Witness tubes and integral pipes fit up before welding.
Verify completion of welding to a satisfactory standard and that the specified NDE procedures
have been completed and accepted.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Post Hydrostatic Testing

The Third party inspector makes sure:

After depressurisation, boiler components have been drained and dried to meet specified
requirements.
Stamping of Inspection authority stamps, have been been carried out in approved area, as
required by client/code.
Stamps used are low stress type.
Application of desiccant/preservative has been directed in client's specification.

If third party inspector is not in the hold or witness point for these stages in the project ITP, then will
review water tube boiler manufacture quality control report in his/her coming visit or in final
inspection day.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Final Assembly

The third party inspector checks cleanliness and dryness of all components and recheck nozzles,
support and bracket locations and orientations against assembly drawings.

He/she also checks for deformation of tubes, attachments, flanges, etc. and report if necessary.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Name Plate Checking

The third party inspector checks the water tube boiler name plate and makes sure:

Material is compatible.
Contents of marking are in accordance with approved drawing and specifications and
authority stamped as required.
Name plate is mounted on a bracket welded to a specified area of boiler, in accordance with
the code requirement.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler Painting and Coating

Surface preparation for painting is checked for the following points, according to specification by
third party inspector:

Chloride Testing and Solvent Cleaning (if required)

Cleaning method (SSPC 5, SSPC 10, SSPC 7, etc.)
Surface Profile Measurement Test
Freedom from weld spatter, blow-holes and other defects and dust test
Dry film thickness is checked according to specification
Surface condition need to be free from pin-holes, runs damage and other discontinuity

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler Spares, Loose Items, Tools and Accessories:
The third party inspector controls spares, loose items, tools and accessories and make visual and
dimensional inspection for materials, workmanship and quantity according to purchase order
specification and packing list.

Marking and/or Tag need to be checked for identification.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Reporting:

Third party inspector provides Inspection Visit Report (IVR) after each visit as well as a final report
summarising the activities carried out during the boiler production in accordance with the contract
requirements and circulated within the time limits specified in the contract.

The report is in the format required by the client and clearly indicates final acceptance or rejection
of the water tube boiler.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Release Note:

When required by the contract or purchase order a release note is issued by third party agency and
given to the manufacturer when the water tube boiler have been finally accepted.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler Packing, Marking and Shipping:

The following points is checked by the third party inspector:

Cleanliness and dryness of water tube boiler

Rust prevention for all machined surfaces
Protection for cover for all opening and protruding parts
Packing style and suitably for overseas transportation
Shipping marks and other markings and notificationof welding prohibited, etc.

Third Party Inspection for Water Tube Boiler - Final Book (Dossier)
The following final documents are reviewed and signed off by third party inspector:

As built, drawings if required, Manufacturer's data reports, Material certificate or certified mill test
reports for all pressure parts, Material list or map, Welder record for each seam or map, Heat
treatment records (Temperature-time record chart during PWHT), Dimensional record, NDE
records, Production test record/mock test record, Alloy verification records, (if
required), Hydrostatic test record, Pneumatic test record Hardness test record, Post weld heat
treatment NDE, if specified, Name plate or other marks, Packing list, Spare parts and tool list