Appendix 1

CSWIP Senior Welding Inspector

Question:
You are required to visit a site on which your inspection team have been working. The
fabrication is now completed in accordance with a nominated specification and is
awaiting your final inspection/approval.

Prior to signing the Certificate of Conformance;

1) What questions do you ask?

2) What measurements would you take?
3) What documents would you review?

Typical answer:
Prior to the site visit it is vital to spend some time planning the visit in order that a logical
approach be made and that important details are not overlooked. Knowledge of the
standard used and an idea of the service conditions would be useful in assessing the
fitness for purpose of the product. A list of all personnel in the inspection team(s) and
contact details of team leader(s) will ensure that relevant personnel are available to
answer questions as required. Types of questions may include any difficulties
encountered with the job, particularly attention being given to those concerning the
contractor. Further information regarding repair rates, safety standards on-site and the
general moral and standard of work amongst the inspection team(s) throughout
production. Any unusual incidents may also need to be investigated. The availability of
quality plans will help greatly in the planning of the audit. The review/audit of all relevant
documentation is a major requirement prior to signing any Certificate of Conformance
or compliance. In some major standards/codes the list of documents to be included
within the fabrication file are listed. In the absence of such the following could be
considered a basic guide to these documents for review/audit:

1) A review of the quality plan and inspection check list to ensure all stages are
completed and signed off.

2) Material certificates, mill test reports, and material traceability records are
documented and accepted. (This may include welding consumables.)

3) Process control procedures should be reviewed for adequacy, accuracy and

approval. These should include approved procedures for cutting, welding, repair,
NDT, heat treatment, coating etc.

4) Review of qualifications should include welder approvals, NDT operator or

technician approvals. All inspection approvals should be in date at time of
fabrication and as identified and described within the contract documents.

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5) Inspection reports should be reviewed and should include visual inspection, NDT,
dimensional control, painting/coating etc.

6) If the product is pressure containment ie pressure vessel or high pressure pipeline

etc. then hydrostatic testing procedures and a test report/acceptance reports should
be reviewed, along with test gauge calibration certificates and any associated
documentation.

7) As built drawings showing materials and weld maps should be reviewed for
completeness.

8) Finally, transit and tie down procedures should all have been approved by the
relevant engineer prior to the final acceptance of the product and issue of any signed
certificate of conformance.

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Reference to the specification
As-built weld maps weld traceability log
Weld numbers
Welder numbers
Material classification and certification
Welding procedure numbers (WPS PQRs) and documentation
Material traceability and material certificates
Consumable control procedures and consumable certificates
Welder’s register and all approval certificates
Weld visual inspection procedures and visual inspection reports
List of NDT operators and approval certificates
NDT procedures
NDT Procedures:
NDT reports
R/T report numbers
U/T report numbers
MPI report numbers
Dye/pen report numbers
Dimensional control procedures and dimensional control reports
PWHT procedures and PWHT reports + calibration certificates
Hydrotest procedures and hydrotest reports + calibration certificates
Painting procedures and painting conformance reports
Non-conformance reports
Load out procedure
Engineering queries
As-built drawings