NVIC 11-92: Coast Guard acceptance of NBIC for repairs

United States COMDTPUB Pl67000-4 Coast Guard NVIC 11-92 23 Oct 1992 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 11-92 Electronic Version For Distribution on the World Wide Web Subj: Guidance for Acceptance of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) for Repairs and Alterations to Boilers and Pressure Vessels

Guidance for Acceptance of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) for Repairs and Alterations to Boilers and Pressure Vessels — PURPOSE. This circular provides guidance for Coast Guard acceptance of the National Board

Inspection Code (NBIC) used by accredited repair organizations conducting repairs and alterations to pressure vessels and boilers subject to inspection by the Coast Guard under Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations., Subchapter F - Marine Engineering (46 CFR Parts 50-64).

Guidance for Acceptance of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) for Repairs and Alterations to Boilers and Pressure Vessels — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.

Guidance for Acceptance of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) for Repairs and Alterations to Boilers and Pressure Vessels — DISCUSSION.

a. In 1968, the Coast Guard adopted the American Society of Mechanical Engineers'

(ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code as the construction standard for pressure vessels and boilers.

In 1982, adoption of the ASME Code was extended to include the ASME Code stamp to replace previous requirements for plan approval and shop inspection by the Coast Guard of class I, II, and III pressure vessels not containing hazardous substances.

Later, in 1985, adoption of the ASME Code and the ASME Code stamp was expanded to include boilers.

As a result, boilers and pressure vessels with the A, E, H, S, U and UM stamps are accepted with minimal Coast Guard involvement, accelerating the approval process and allowing Coast Guard inspection resources to be reinvested in other inspection areas.

Current regulations require Coast Guard plan review, inspection, and testing of repairs and alterations to pressure vessels and boilers. b.

The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) is composed of chief inspectors of states and municipalities in the United States and of provinces of Canada that have adopted the ASME Code.

Since its organization in 1919, the NBBI has functioned to uniformly administer the rules of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

The NBBI repair and alteration program was conceived as a natural follow-on to the ASME program since ASME's jurisdiction ceases at completion of initial construction.

The National Board program is similar in function and parallels the ASME program for new construction.

The NBBI requires repairs and alterations to be in accordance with its own standards and the ASME Code.

Only accredited repair organizations may perform repairs and alterations.

Most repair organizations also hold one or more ASME stamps.

Accreditation includes establishment of a Quality Assurance (QA) program, and periodic audits by the National Board.

At completion of the repair, the repair organization must prepare and sign a form similar to the ASME Manufacturer’s Data Report.

All repair work is monitored and inspected by an authorized third party inspector who must establish his/her credentials through rigorous examinations.

These inspectors are the NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 11-92 same people who perform inspections during new construction under the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

There are more than 2000 inspectors authorized to perform inspections.

Once the repairs or alterations are given final acceptance by the inspector, the item is marked by the accredited repair organization. c.

The success of the ASME Code stamp program confirms the validity of third party inspection of boilers and pressure vessels.

Pressure vessels containing hazardous materials as cargoes and pressure vessels in low temperature service are included in the NBIC acceptance program when they bear an ASME Code stamp because of their excellent performance record.

Acceptance of the NBIC will streamline Coast Guard acceptance of repairs and alterations, improve efficiency, and result in manpower savings for the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center (MSC) and the local Officer-in-Charge Marine Inspection (OCMI).

Guidance for Acceptance of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) for Repairs and Alterations to Boilers and Pressure Vessels — IMPLEMENTATION.

a. Coast Guard acceptance of the NBIC for repairs and alterations to boilers and pressure vessels, including pressure vessels containing hazardous materials as cargo and pressure vessels in low temperature service will be based on the guidance contained in this circular. Acceptance of the NBIC applies only to boilers and pressure vessels marked with an ASME Code stamp. Older boilers, pressure vessels, and cargo tanks marked only with the Coast Guard symbol are currently not included. [Note: G-MTH is working with the National Board to accept the Coast Guard symbol as equivalent to an ASME stamp, and thus bring older boilers, pressure vessels, and cargo tanks into the National Board program.] b. Plan review and inspection for repairs and alterations will continue to be conducted by the Coast Guard when specifically requested by the boiler or pressure vessel owner or user or when deemed necessary by the OCMI. -c. A regulatory change will be initiated to adopt the NBIC for repairs and alterations to boilers and pressure vessels inspected by the Coast Guard, including pressure vessels containing hazardous materials as cargo. End: (1) Guide for Acceptance of the NBIC for Repairs and Alterations (2) Sample Application for National Board "R" Certificate of Authorization (3) Sample Certificates of Authorization (4) Sample Form R-l, Report of Welded Repair or Alteration