ARTICLE 9

VISUAL EXAMINATION

T-910 SCOPE TABLE T-921 04

REQUIREMENTS OF A VISUAL EXAMINATION
(a) This Article contains methods and requirements PROCEDURE
for visual examination applicable when specified by a
Non-
referencing Code Section. Specific visual examination
Essential Essential
procedures required for every type of examination are Requirement (As Applicable) Variable Variable
not included in this Article, because there are many appli-
cations where visual examinations are required. Some Change in Technique used
Direct to or from translucent X
examples of these applications include nondestructive
Direct to remote X
examinations, leak testing, in-service examinations and Remote visual aids X
fabrication procedures. Personnel performance requirements,
(b) The requirements of Article 1, General Require- when required X
ments, apply when visual examination, in accordance Lighting intensity (decrease only) X
Configurations to be examined and base
with Article 9, is required by a referencing Code Section.
material product forms (pipe, plate,
(c) Definitions of terms for visual examination appear forgings, etc.) X
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
preparation X
Equipment or devices used for a direct
technique X
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
shall, as a minimum, contain the requirements listed in
Table T-921. The written procedure shall establish a sin- be considered as a method for procedure demonstration.
gle value, or range of values, for each requirement. The condition or artificial imperfection should be in the
least discernable location on the area surface to be exam-
04 T-921.2 Procedure Qualification. When procedure
ined to validate the procedure.
qualification is specified, a change of a requirement in
Table T-921 identified as an essential variable shall
require requalification of the written procedure by demon- T-922 Personnel Requirements
stration. A change of a requirement identified as a nones-
The user of this Article shall be responsible for
sential variable does not require requalification of the
assigning qualified personnel to perform visual examina-
written procedure. All changes of essential or nonessen-
tions to the requirements of this Article. At the option of
tial variables from those specified within the written pro-
the manufacturer, he may maintain one certification for
cedure shall require revision of, or an addendum to, the
each product, or several separate signed records based
written procedure.
on the area or type of work, or both combined. Where
T-921.3 Demonstration. The procedure shall contain impractical to use specialized visual examination person-
or reference a report of what was used to deomonstrate nel, knowledgeable and trained personnel, having limited
that the examination procedure was adequate. In general, qualifications, may be used to perform specific examina-
a fine line 132 in. (0.8 mm) or less in width, an artificial tions, and to sign the report forms. Personnel performing
imperfection or a simulated condition, located on the examinations shall be qualified in accordance with
surface or a similar surface to that to be examined, may requirements of the referencing Code Section.

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 T-923 ARTICLE 9 VISUAL EXAMINATION T-993

T-923 Physical Requirements T-954 Translucent Visual Examination

Personnel shall have an annual vision test to assure Translucent visual examination is a supplement of
natural or corrected near distance acuity such that they direct visual examination. The method of translucent
are capable of reading standard J-1 letters on standard visual examination uses the aid of artificial lighting,
Jaeger test type charts for near vision. Equivalent near which can be contained in an illuminator that produces
vision tests are acceptable. directional 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
T-930 EQUIPMENT ambient lighting must be so arranged that there are no
surface glares or reflections from the surface under exami-
Equipment used for visual examination techniques, for nation and shall be less than the light applied through
example, direct, remote, or translucent, shall have the the area or region under examination. The artificial light
capabilities as specified in the procedure. Capabilities source shall have sufficient intensity to permit candling
include, but are not limited to viewing, magnifying, iden- any translucent laminate thickness variations.
tifying, measuring, and/or recording observations in
accordance with requirements of the referencing Code T-980 EVALUATION
Section. T-980.1 All examinations shall be evaluated in terms
of the acceptance standards of the referencing Code
Section.
T-950 TECHNIQUE
T-980.2 An examination checklist shall be used to
T-951 Applications plan visual examination and to verify that the required
Visual examination is generally used to determine such visual observations were performed. This checklist estab-
things as the surface condition of the part, alignment of lishes minimum examination requirements and does not
mating surfaces, shape, or evidence of leaking. In addi- indicate the maximum examination which the Manufac-
tion, visual examination is used to determine a composite turer may perform in process.
materials (translucent laminate) subsurface conditions.
T-990 DOCUMENTATION
T-991 Report of Examination
T-952 Direct Visual Examination T-991.1 A written report of the examination shall
Direct visual examination may usually be made when contain the following information:
access is sufficient to place the eye within 24 in. (600 (a) the date of the examination;
mm) of the surface to be examined and at an angle not (b) procedure identification and revision used;
less than 30 deg. to the surface to be examined. Mirrors (c) technique used;
may be used to improve the angle of vision, and aids such (d) results of the examination;
as a magnifying lens may be used to assist examinations. (e) examination personnel identity, and, when required
Illumination (natural or supplemental white light) for the by the referencing Code Section, qualification level;
specific part, component, vessel, or section thereof being (f) identification of the part or component examined.
examined is required. The minimum light intensity at the T-991.2 Even though dimensions, etc., were recorded
examination surface/site shall be 100 footcandles (1000 in the process of visual examination to aid in the evalua-
lux). The light source, technique used, and light level tion, there need not be documentation of each viewing
verification is required to be demonstrated one time, docu- or each dimensional check. Documentation shall include
mented, and maintained on file. all observation and dimensional checks specified by the
referencing Code Section.
T-953 Remote Visual Examination T-992 Performance Documentation
In some cases, remote visual examination may have Documentation of performance demonstration shall be
to be substituted for direct examination. Remote visual completed when required by the referencing Code
examination may use visual aids such as mirrors, tele- Section.
scopes, borescopes, fiber optics, cameras, or other suitable
instruments. Such systems shall have a resolution capabil- T-993 Record Maintenance
ity at least equivalent to that obtainable by direct visual Records shall be maintained as required by the refer-
observation. encing Code Section.

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 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
technique using visual aids to improve the viewing capa-
I-910 SCOPE
bility, e.g., magnifying aids, borescopes, video probes,
This Mandatory Appendix is used for the purpose of fiber optics, etc.
establishing standard terms and definitions of terms lux (Lx) a unit of illumination equal to the direct
related to Visual Examination which appear in Article 9. illumination on a surface that is everywhere one meter
from a uniform point source of one candle intensity or
equal to one lumen per square meter
I-920 GENERAL remote visual examination a visual examination
(a) Article 30, SE-1316, Section 9, provides the defi- technique used with visual aids for conditions where the
nition of footcandle (fc). area to be examined is inaccessible for direct visual exam-
(b) Definitions of terms for visual examination and ination
other methods appear in Article 1, Mandatory Appendix surface glare reflections of artificial light that inter-
I, Glossary of Terms for Nondestructive Examination. fere with visual examination
(c) The following Code terms are used in conjunction translucent laminate a series of glass reinforced
with Article 9: layers, bonded together, and having capabilities of trans-
artificial flaw an intentional imperfection placed on mitting light
the surface of a material to depict a representative flaw translucent visual examination a technique using
condition artificial lighting intensity to permit viewing of translu-
auxiliary lighting an artificial light source used as cent laminate thickness variations (also called candling)
a visual aid to improve viewing conditions and visual visual examination a nondestructive examination
perception method used to evaluate an item by observation, such as:
candling see translucent visual examination the correct assembly, surface conditions, or cleanliness
direct visual examination a visual examination tech- of 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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