Final acceptance is done by the AI (Authorized Inspector) who may be employed by a company such as Hartford, Factory Mutual, etc.. That is the person that has final acceptance authority as far as data reports go.

A manufacturers or stamp holders inspector (or any other representative) can qualify welders and inspect welds etc. within the requirements of that organizations quality system. That person may also be the manufacturers representative that signs the area on the manufacturers data reports.

ANY manufacturers designated representative can test welders, prepare and test PQRS, write WPS's etc. That person does not have to be an "Inspector" of any kind or even in the quality control organization as far as I know. That same person may be used to perform in-process inspections prior to AI inspection , verify and review material test reports, assure that welder records are properly maintained, prepare weld maps etc...


Have a nice day

G Austin

This is a fairly complex issue. The simple answer is yes, a CWI may qualify welders and accept weldments using any of the ASME Codes EXCEPT ASME Section III, Subsection NF - in which case the accepting party must be qualified under ASNT-SNT-TC-1A. Under ASME Codes, one must separate the terms "Examiner" and "Inspector." The "Examiner" can be a CWI or another person with training and/or experience which would qualify them to properly exam welds. The "Inspector" is an Authorized Inspector (National Board qualified) who works under either an Insurance entity or some other authorized body. All NDE (other than visual) must be performed by ANST qualified NDE technicians, for ASME III, Subsection NF discussed earlier ~ that document considers visual weld examination as an NDE Method (the only ASME Code I am aware of that does such). Authorized Inspectors (AI's) are required any time a manufacturer is required to prepare Code Data Stamps and install a "Name Plate" or "Code Stamp" on the item(s) they produce. Under several states and countries ASME Code is considered law in fabrication practices. Hope this helps. Any rebuttal?

brande, I hope you've read the responses here. An AWS CWI may sign and accept ASME weldments ~ in fact one doesn't even need to be a CWI in order to do so. I believe you may have been confusing the contractor or fabricators inspector with the authorized inspector.

As an ASME-AI and an AWS-CWI let me try and clarify for all of you. Welding Inspection is a job and Boiler Inspection is a job. The two don't necessarily meet, although both have similar knowledge requirements. The AWS is a code and ASME is a code, but they both build diferent items. Both codes stipulate that the manufactuter is responsible for his work. To build an item under the ASME code and for it to be "Code Stamped" the shop must be approved by the ASME and that also means having a contract with an insurance company that uses AI's that were certified by the National Board. Building a job to the AWS is more a contractural item and inspection parties must be agreed upon between both sidesof the contract.
Want to be an AI? Contact your local ASME approved insurance company, most have course that will then send you to the State run exams. Want to be a CWI? Take an AWS test.
Daon

llpcode,
Please stop by a little more often if possible. Your expertise would be very welcome. This may be an AWS site but many conversations deal with ASME issues.