GENERAL NDT PROCEDURE FOR

VISUAL INSPECTION
 DOCUMENT NAME: General NDT Procedure for Visual Inspection

DOCUMENT NUMBER: TE/SOP/NDT/VT/2024

ISSUE NO: 01

Name/ Designation Signature Date

Reviewed & //
approved by:
 AMENDMENT SHEET

Sr. Signature Signature Signature

No Rev. Issued Page Amendment/s made (Prepared (Reviewed (Approve
No. On no. by) by) d by)
 Table of Contents

Section TITLE Page

1 Scope 3

2 Reference 3

3 Equipment 4

4 Technique 4

5 Inspection of Surface Conditions (Welds) 4

6 Inspection of Surface Conditions (Structures & Components) 6

7 Method of Examination (Welds) 6

8 Method of Examination (Structures & Components) 9

9 Acceptance Standards (Butt Welds) 17

10 Acceptance Standards (Fillet Welds) 20

11 Acceptance Standards (Structures & Components) 20

12 Personnel Qualification 21

13 Reporting 23

14 Attachments – TE/L-1/Rev-0 format 23

Attachment
Appendix
Description
A Acceptance and Rejection Criteria as Per ASME Section III & VIII Div.1

B Acceptance and Rejection Criteria as Per ASME B31.1

C Acceptance and Rejection Criteria as Per ASME B31.3
D Acceptance and Rejection Criteria as Per API 1104
1. SCOPE:
This procedure defines the method of Visual Examination of:
1.1. Materials, Components and Structures as they exist in Industries and assess their Structural Integrity,
Extent of Coating Breakdown & Corrosion condition.
1.2. Welds used in Pressure Vessels, Tanks & Piping’s etc.

2. REFERENCE:
2.1. ASME Sec - V and Sec - VIII Division 1/ Edition 2017
2.2. ASTM D610 (Edition 2008) – Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel
Surfaces
2.3. BS EN ISO 4628 (Edition 2003)

3. EQUIPMENT:
3.1. Equipment used for visual examination shall include.

a) Measuring instruments and gauges

b) Templates for measuring Edge preparation and fillet welds.

c) Spirit levels

d) Magnifying lenses and Mirrors

e) Shims

f) Plumb

g) Focus Lights

h) Light meter
3.2. 3.2 Wherever required, calibrated instruments shall be used for examination.

4. TECHNIQUE:
4.1. Direct visual examination shall be used.
4.2. If required, mirrors and magnifying lenses will be used to improve the angle of vision and to assist
examination.
4.3. The minimum light intensity at the examination surface will be 1000 Lux.

5. NSPECTION FOR SURFACE CONDITIONS: (For Weldments)

Before Welding:
5.1. Surface prepared by gas cutting or arc cutting for welding shall be uniform and smooth and shall be
free of all loose scale and slag accumulations.
5.2. The surface to be welded shall be clean and free of scale, rust, oil, grease, slag, detrimental oxides,
and other deleterious foreign materials.
5.3. Weld set-up and alignment shall be checked to confirm with detailed weld drawings.
During Welding:
5.4. Weld Profile, as they are formed during weld, shall be checked to confirm with required
specifications.
5.5. Records shall be kept for welding parameters used & ensure that it is in line with PQR/WPS
requirements.
 After Welding:
5.6. As welded surfaces are permitted. However, the surface of the welds shall be sufficiently free
from coarse ripples, grooves, overlaps, abrupt ridges and valleys.
5.7. Weld reinforcement shall be checked at random locations to ensure its within specified
standards/codes requirements.
5.8. The surfaces of the finished welds shall be suitable to permit proper interpretation of
radiographic and other required nondestructive examination.
5.9. The surface of the fillet weld shall merge smoothly with the surfaces joined.
5.10. Inspection for surface defects like porosity, undercuts, burn-through etc. and
reporting/recording.

6. INSPECTION FOR SURFACE CONDITIONS: (STRUCTURES & COMPONENTS)

6.1. Find out the exact location details of the components to be inspected and record the details.
6.2. Observe the components & record the following details:
6.3. Extent of Coating Breakdown.
6.4. Structural Category – Damage assessment
6.5. Corrosion Condition & Mode of Corrosion
6.6. 6.2.4 Leaks from pipes, valves, flanged fittings & all those components which carry liquids.

7. METHOD OF EXAMINATION: (WELDMENTS)

7.1. The material specification and dimensions shall be verified based on applicable drawing.
7.2. Edge preparation and weld fit up ·shall be verified with respect to the applicable drawing &
WPS.
7.3. Fit up alignment shall be verified using steel rules and spirit level.
7.4. Groove angle and root gap shall be verified using templates.
7.5. Employment of qualified welder and usage of correct welding consumables shall be verified
with List of Qualified Welders' and WPS.
7.6. Weld surface(s) shall be verified for the finish and cleanliness.
7.7. Fillet welds shall be verified using fillet gauges.
7.8. Cleanliness of Inside bore shall be inspected using hand lamp or Torch light.

8. METHOD OF EXAMINATION: (STRUCTURES & COMPONENTS)

8.1. Get the proper ‘Scope of Inspection’ from Client.
8.2. If the Scope is not clear, ask the concerned personnel for more details.
8.3. Wherever necessary, get the P&ID of the systems for better understanding of components &
layout.
8.4. Inspect the structures from all possible angles and locations.
8.5. If light condition is not proper, use Torch or Focus lights.
8.6. Use magnifying lens for looking at minute details.
8.7. Record all the observations systematically for preparing reports.
8.8. Shoot pictures with photography camera of those locations, structures & components which
shall be reported.

9. 9.0 ACCEPTANCE STANDARD: (For BUTT WELDS)

9.1. Cracks, Pin holes and lack of fusion are not acceptable.
9.2. Alignment tolerance shall not exceed the value given in Table-I below
 TABLE -I
Alignment Tolerance (in accordance with ASME Section VIII, Div.1)

Joint Categories
Section Thickness (mm) A B, C and D
Up to 13.0, incI. 1/4 t 1/4 t
Over 13.0 to 19.0, incl. 3.2mm 1/4 t
Over 19.0 to 38.0, incl. 3.2mm 4.8mm
Over 38.0 to 51.0, incl. 3.2mm 1/8 t
Over 51.0 Lesser of 1/16 t or 10 mm Lesser of 1/8 t or 19mm
9.3. The reduction in thickness shall not reduce the material of the adjoining surfaces below the
minimum required thickness at any point.
9.4. The reduction in thickness shall not exceed 0.8 mm or 10% of the nominal thickness of the
adjoining surface, whichever is less.
9.5. Concavity due to the welding process on the root side of a single welded circumferential butt
weld is permitted, when the resulting thickness of the weld is at least equal to the thickness of
the thinner member of the two sections being joined and the contour of the concavity is
smooth.
9.6. The Thickness of the weld reinforcement on each face shall not exceed the value given in Table II
Table – II (Thickness of weld reinforcement) Ref: ASME Section VIII, Div.1

Maximum Reinforcement (mm)

Material Nominal Thickness Categories B & C Butt welds Other Welds
Less than 2.4 2.4 0.8
2.4 to 4.8, incl. 3.2 1.6
Over 4.8 to 13.0, incl. 4.0 2.4
Over 13.0 to 25.0, incI. 4.8 2.4

10. ACCEPTANCE STANDARD: (For FILLET WELDS)

10.1. Fillet welds shall meet the requirements of applicable drawing.
10.2. The reduction of the thickness of the base metal due to the welding process at the
edges of the fillet weld shall be as per clause 9.3 and 9.4 mentioned above.

11. ACCEPTANCE STANDARD: (For STRUCTURES & COMPONENTS)

11.1. Acceptance or Rejection of components shall be in accordance with Client’s
specifications.

12. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION

12.1. Examination shall be conducted by personnel trained and qualified to a minimum of
Level-I/II as per ASNT SNT TC-1A program in Visual Testing.

13. REPORTING
13.1. After the completion of the visual examination, the results shall be entered in the
Visual Inspection Report as per the format given below.
14. Attachments:
14.1. Report Format TE /Rev-1 (for structures & components)