Boiler and Pressure Vessel certification

[jaap de vries]

I would like to know what steps I need to take to become a certified pressure vessel designer builder and user. I searched the ASME website pretty extensively and there are a bunch of courses offered but it is hard to find anything specific on becoming certified.

 

[Q_Goest]

Hi jaap,
I’m not the most expert on this, but I suppose if no one else answers I’ll take a shot at this.

A person or individual is not certified to design pressure vessels as far as I know. This is something only a design and manufacturing organization (business) is certified to do. ASME itself doesn’t certify any person or company. An engineer working for a pressure vessel manufacturer can’t simply design and build a vessel on their own because it’s not the individual who possesses the certification (also known as a “stamp”). Similarly, an engineer who starts working for a company that manufactures pressure vessels doesn’t need to obtain any special certification since it is the company he/she works for that is authorized to ‘stamp’ a vessel.

ASME only creates the specification on how to design pressure vessels, also known as Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code. There are 2 main codes, Division 1 and Division 2. Most manufacturers use Div 1 because it is the easiest to work with. Div 2 is mostly used for very high pressure vessels and mass produced vessels.

If a manufacturer can design and assemble a vessel per ASME BPV Code, and if they want to certify that the vessel has been designed and built per the code, the manufacturer has to request certification from the National Board. Here’s the link to their web site:
https://www.nationalboard.org/NationalBoard/Default.aspx

The National Board is the organization a company has to go through for certification, though I’ve never been directly involved with it so I can’t tell you for sure what all the steps are in obtaining a stamp. When a vessel is built however, the National Board will send an inspector to site to verify all the documentation for the design, assembly, pressure testing and inspection of the vessel has been properly performed. Only then does the manufacturer get to apply the stamp and secure a serial number for the vessel.

If you need more, I could ask around where I work or talk to some of our vessel suppliers. Take a look at the National Board website and see what you find. If you can report back on what you find, that would be nice too so that others can benefit.

 

[jaap de vries]

Goest,

I really appreciate it it is sometimes a bit confusing and my motto is that if I can't "google" the answer within an hour I give it a shot here and I know you have answered related questions in the past.

From an industries perspective, there does not seem to be allot of talk around these neck of the woods with regards to coding, standards, etc.
Might be an idea for a new topic under engineering. Anyhow, it all makes a bit more sense now.

I am sure the certification request comes at a price. Let me take a look at what this board says over the weekend.