ARTICLE 9 2011a SECTION V

ARTICLE 9
VISUAL EXAMINATION

T-910 SCOPE TABLE T-921

REQUIREMENTS OF A VISUAL EXAMINATION
(a) This Article contains methods and requirements for PROCEDURE
visual examination applicable when specified by a referenc-
Non-
ing Code Section. Specific visual examination procedures
Essential Essential
required for every type of examination are not included in Requirement (As Applicable) Variable Variable
this Article, because there are many applications where
visual examinations are required. Some examples of these Change in technique used
Direct to or from translucent X
applications include nondestructive examinations, leak
Direct to remote X
testing, in-service examinations and fabrication proce- Remote visual aids X
dures. Personnel performance requirements, X
(b) The requirements of Article 1, General Require- when required
Lighting intensity (decrease only) X
ments, apply when visual examination, in accordance with
Configurations to be examined and base X
Article 9, is required by a referencing Code Section. material product forms (pipe, plate,
(c) Definitions of terms for visual examination appear forg ings, etc.>
in Article 1, Appendix I - Glossary of Terms in Nonde- Lighting equipment X
structive Examination, and Article 9, Appendix I. Methods or tools used for surface X
preparation
Equipment or devices used for a direct X
technique
T-920 GENERAL Sequence of examination X
T-921 Written Procedure Requirements Personnel qualifications X

T -921.1 Requirements. Visual examinations shall be

performed in accordance with a written procedure, which
condition or artificial imperfection should be in the least
shall, as a minimum, contain the requirements listed in
discernable location on the area surface to be examined to
Table T -921. The written procedure shall establish a single
validate the procedure.
value, or range of values, for each requirement.
T -921.2 Procedure Qualification. When procedure T922 Personnel Requirements
qualification is specified by the referencing Code Section, The user of this Article shall be responsible for assigning
a change of a requirement in Table T -921 identified as an qualified personnel to perform visual examinations to the
essential variable shall require requalification of the written requirements of this Article. At the option of the manufac-
procedure by demonstration. A change of a requirement turer, he may maintain one certification for each product,
identified as a nonessential variable does not require requal- or several separate signed records based on the area or
ification of the written procedure. All changes of essential type of work, or both combined. Where impractical to use
or nonessential variables from those specified within the specialized visual examination personnel, knowledgeable
written procedure shall require revision of, or an addendum and trained personnel, having limited qualifications, may
to, the written procedure. be used to perform specific examinations, and to sign the
T -921.3 Demonstration. The procedure shall contain report forms. Personnel performing examinations shall be
or reference a report of what was used to demonstrate that qualified in accordance with requirements of the referenc-
the examination procedure was adequate. In general, a ing Code Section.
fine line ~2 in. (0.8 mm) or less in width, an artificial
imperfection or a simulated condition, located on the sur- T-923 Physical Requirements
face or a similar surface to that to be examined, may be Personnel shall have an annual vision test to assure
considered as a method for procedure demonstration. The natural or corrected near distance acuity such that they are

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capable of reading standard J-I letters on standard Jaeger examination uses the aid of artificial lighting, which can
test type charts for near vision. Equivalent near vision tests be contained in an illuminator that produces directional
are acceptable. lighting. The illuminator shall provide light of an intensity
that will illuminate and diffuse the light evenly through
the area or region under examination. The ambient lighting
T930 EQUIPMENT must be so arranged that there are no surface glares or
Equipment used for visual examination techniques, for reflections from the surface under examination and shall
example, direct, remote, or translucent, shall have the capa- be less than the light applied through the area or region
bilities as specified in the procedure. Capabilities include, under examination. The artificial light source shall have
but are not limited to viewing, magnifying, identifying, sufficient intensity to permit "candling" any translucent
measuring, and/or recording observations in accordance laminate thickness variations.
with requirements of the referencing Code Section.

T-950 TECHNIQUE T-980 EVALUATION

T-951 Applications T -980.1 All examinations shall be evaluated in terms of
the acceptance standards of the referencing Code Section.
Visual examination is generally used to determine such
things as the surface condition of the part, alignment of T -980.2 An examination checklist shall be used to plan
mating surfaces, shape, or evidence of leaking. In addition, visual examination and to verify that the required visual
visual examination is used to determine a composite materi- observations were performed. This checklist establishes
al's (translucent laminate) subsurface conditions. minimum examination requirements and does not indicate
the maximum examination which the Manufacturer may
T-952 Direct Visual Examination perform in process.
Direct visual examination may usually be made when
access is sufficient to place the eye within 24 in. (600 mm)
of the surface to be examined and at an angle not less than T-990 DOCUMENTATION
30 deg to the surface to be examined. Mirrors may be T -991 Report of Examination
used to improve the angle of vision, and aids such as
T -991.1 A written report of the examination shall con-
a magnifying lens may be used to assist examinations.
tain the following information:
Illumination (natural or supplemental white light) for the
specific part, component, vessel, or section thereof being (a) the date of the examination
examined is required. The minimum light intensity at the (b) procedure identification and revision used
examination surface/site shall be 100 footcandles (c) technique used
(1000 lux). The light source, technique used, and light (d) results of the examination
level verification is required to be demonstrated one time, (e) examination personnel identity, and, when required
documented, and maintained on file. by the referencing Code Section, qualification level
Cr) identification of the part or component examined
T-953 Remote Visual Examination
In some cases, remote visual examination may have T -991.2 Even though dimensions, etc., were recorded
to be substituted for direct examination. Remote visual in the process of visual examination to aid in the evaluation,
examination may use visual aids such as mirrors, tele- there need not be documentation of each viewing or each
scopes, borescopes, fiber optics, cameras, or other suitable dimensional check. Documentation shall include all obser-
instruments. Such systems shall have a resolution capabil- vation and dimensional checks specified by the referencing
ity at least equivalent to that obtainable by direct visual Code Section.
observation.

T-954 Translucent Visual Examination T-993 Record Maintenance

Translucent visual examination is a supplement of direct Records shall be maintained as required by the referenc-
visual examination. The method of translucent visual ing Code Section.

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ARTICLE 9 2011a SECTION V

ARTICLE 9
MANDATORY APPENDIX

APPENDIX I - GLOSSARY OF (excluding light source, mirrors, and/or corrective lenses).

TERMS FOR VISUAL EXAMINATION enhanced visual examination: a visual examination tech-
SCOPE nique using visual aids to improve the viewing capability,
1-910
e.g., magnifying aids, borescopes, video probes, fiber
This Mandatory Appendix is used for the purpose of optics, etc.
establishing standard terms and definitions of terms related lux (Lx): a unit of illumination equal to the direct illumi-
to Visual Examination which appear in Article 9. nation on a surface that is everywhere one meter from a
uniform point source of one candle intensity or equal to
1-920 GENERAL one lumen per square meter.
remote visual examination: a visual examination tech-
(a) Article 30, SE-1316, Section 9, provides the defini-
nique used with visual aids for conditions where the area to
tion of footcandle (fc).
be examined is inaccessible for direct visual examination.
(b) Definitions of terms for visual examination and other
suiface glare: reflections of artificial light that interfere
methods appear in Article 1, Mandatory Appendix I, Glos-
with visual examination.
sary of Terms for Nondestructive Examination.
(c) The following Code terms are used in conjunction translucent laminate: a series of glass reinforced layers,
with Article 9: bonded together, and having capabilities of transmitting
artificial flaw: an intentional imperfection placed on the light.
surface of a material to depict a representative flaw con- translucent visual examination: a technique using artifi-
dition. ciallighting intensity to permit viewing of translucent lami-
auxiliary lighting: an artificial light source used as a nate thickness variations (also called candling).
visual aid to improve viewing conditions and visual per- visual examination: a nondestructive examination
ception. method used to evaluate an item by observation, such as:
candling: see translucent visual examination. the correct assembly, surface conditions, or cleanliness of
direct visual examination: a visual examination tech- materials, parts, and components used in the fabrication
nique performed by eye and without any visual aids and construction of ASME Code vessels and hardware.

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