Industry
Most countries have one or more organizations (“standards bodies”) that develop and publish technical
industrial standards. Some don't, and those usually reference existing codes and standards for their
manufacturing, fabrication and construction projects. In the United States, these organizations are usually
independent organizations from private industry, but in many countries they are government agencies.
The listing below, which is not all-inclusive, provides examples of some of the standards bodies that are
commonly used by NDT personnel.
Below the name and web address of each standards body is a brief description of that body. These are
examples of some of the NDT-related codes, standards or specifications published by that organization.
The websites of most of these bodies have a “publications” link that can be used to find other codes and
standards published by that body. All of the organizations listed here use industry subject-matter experts
and a consensus process in the development of their codes and standards.
A “guide” is a compendium of information or series of options that does not recommend a specific course
of action. A guide increases the awareness of information and approaches in a given subject area.
A “practice” is a definitive set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations or functions
that does not produce a test result. Examples of practices include, but are not limited to: application,
assessment, cleaning, collection, decontamination, inspection, installation, preparation, sampling,
screening and training.
A "test method" is a definitive procedure that produces a test result. Examples of test methods include,
but are not limited to: identification, measurement and evaluation of one or more qualities, characteristics
or properties.
Some of the more commonly used ASTM NDT standards are as follows. Additional standards can be
found in the ASTM Annual Book of Standards, Volume 03.03.
ASTM E165: Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Examination for General Industry
ASTM E1417: Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Testing
Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Testing using the Lipophilic Post-Emulsifiable
ASTM E1208:
Process
ASTM E1209: Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Testing using the Water-Washable Process
Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Testing using the Hydrophilic Post-
ASTM E1210:
Emulsifiable Process
ASTM E1219: Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Testing using the Solvent-Removable Process
ASTM E213: Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Testing of Metal Pipe and Tubing
ASTM E999: Guide for Controlling the Quality of Industrial Radiographic Film Processing
The Table of Contents for ASTM Volume 03.03 (2012) and ordering information can be found
online HERE.
I. Power Boilers
II. Materials
V. Nondestructive Examination
VI. Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
The BPVC is now published biennially in odd-numbered years without addenda in the intervening
year.
ASME B31.1, Power Piping. This code contains requirements for piping systems typically found in electric
power-generating stations, industrial institutional plants, geothermal heating systems, and heating and
cooling systems.
ASME B31.3, Process Piping. This Code contains requirements for piping typically found in petroleum
refineries; chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, paper, semiconductor and cryogenic plants; and related
processing-plant terminals.
ASME standards can be purchased through the ASME catalog page HERE.
API 510: Pressure Vessel Inspection Code: In-Service Inspection, Rating, Repair and Alteration
Piping Inspection Codes: In-service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration of Piping
API 570:
Systems
API
Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities
1104:
REGULATORY AGENCIES
In instances where there are extreme issues involving public safety, the U.S. government may create
regulations above and beyond those provided by industry codes and standards. Two such examples of
this are the control and use of radioactive materials and the transport of hazardous liquids and gasses.
The government agencies responsible for oversight on these two subjects are the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (USNRC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), respectively.
The regulations for both of these organizations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
There are 50 “Titles” in the CFR, with the USNRC regulations being under Title 10, Energy, and the
USDOT regulations being under Title 49, Transportation.
The USNRC portion of Title 10 is Parts 1-50. As a minimum, radiographers should be familiar with the
following parts:
Title 10, Part 34 (10CFR34): Licenses for industrial radiography and radiation safety requirements for
industrial radiographic operations;
10CFR20: Standards for protection against radiation; and
10CFR21: Reporting of defects and noncompliance.
These NRC regulations apply to radioactive materials only; the NRC does not address radiation such as
X-radiation, which is generated by electromagnetic means. Electromagnetic radiation is governed by the
Suggested State Regulations for Control of Radiation (SSRCR), which is addressed below.
The USDOT portion of Title 49 is under Parts 186-199, and the hazardous liquids and gasses Parts are
as follows:
49CFR192: Transportation of natural and other gas by pipeline: minimum Federal safety standards; and
49CFR195: Transportation of hazardous liquids by pipeline.