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NRC INSPECTION MANUAL EMCB

INSPECTION PROCEDURE 57090

NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION PROCEDURE RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION

PROCEDURE REVIEW/WORK OBSERVATION/RECORD REVIEW

PROGRAM APPLICABILITY: 2512, 2515

SALP FUNCTIONAL AREA: MAINTENANCE SURVEILLANCE (SOMS)

57090-01 INSPECTION OBJECTIVES

01.01 To determine whether radiographic examination procedures

used by the licensee/contractor meet the applicable AWS/ASME Code,

regulatory, specification and contract requirements.

01.02 To determine through direct observation whether the

radiographic examination is being conducted by properly qualified

personnel in accordance with qualified procedures and the

licensee's/contractor's approved QA program.

01.03 To review a sample of radiographs, records, and digital

radiographic images, if any, to determine whether they are

prepared, evaluated, and maintained in accordance with applicable

commitments and/or requirements.

57090-02 INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

02.01 Procedure Review

a. Review the active radiographic procedure(s) and ascertain

whether it has (they have) been issued and approved in

accordance with the licensee's/contractor's QA program.

b. For each radiographic procedure, ascertain whether the

examination variables are defined and whether these variables

are controlled within the limits specified by the applicable

Code and other specification/contract requirements.

To accomplish this, determine whether the radiographic

examination procedure contains information or references a

general radiographic procedure or supplementary instructions

sufficient to assure that the following parameters are

specified and controlled within the limits permitted by the
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applicable Code and other additional specification

requirements.

1. Material and weld surface condition requirements

(irregularities, 
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weld ripples, surface finish, etc.).

2. Types of material to be radiographed.

3. Material thickness range.

4. Type of radiation source, effective focal spot or

effective source size, X-ray equipment voltage rating and

equipment manufacturer, as applicable.

5. Film brand or type and number of films in cassette.

6. Minimum source to film distance.

7. Blocking or masking technique, if used.

8. Type and thickness of intensifying screens and filters.

9. Exposure conditions for procedure qualification, if

applicable.

10. Radiographic film processing requirements.

11. Quality of radiographs - limits on mechanical, chemical

or other blemishes, such as fogging, process marks,

scratches, finger marks, loss of detail or false

indications.

12. Film density limits for single and composite viewing.

13. Use of densitometers for assuring compliance with film

density requirements.

14. System of radiograph identification.

15. Use of location markers.

16. Records for showing film and source location with

reference to the part being radiographed.

17. Use of intensifying screens.

18. Methods of reducing and testing for backscatter.

19. Description of or reference to the welding procedure.

20. Material type and thickness restrictions for isotope

radiography.

21. Geometrical unsharpness limitations.

22. Selection and use of penetrameters including:

(a) Penetrameter design

(b) Selection of essential hole
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(c) Penetrameter thickness including special

requirements for single and double wall viewing

(d) Penetrameter placement including special

requirements for single and double wall viewing

(e) Number of penetrameters

(f) Shims under penetrameters

23. Radiographic technique requirements for double wall

viewing.

24. Qualification of radiographic procedure (radiographs

taken to demonstrate procedure capability).

25. Requirements for evaluation and disposition of

radiographs.

26. Records requirements.

c. For each digital radiographic image procedure, ascertain that

the procedure meets the requirements of the NRC Generic

Letter 88-18, "Plant Record Storage on Optical Disks" and

ASME Section V, Article 2, Mandatory Appendix, "Digital

Image Acquisition, Display, and Storage for Radiography and

Radioscopy." 

02.02 Work Observation. Observe the performance of a

radiographic examination including processing of the film for a

randomly selected weld sample of at least three but not more than

ten welds and conduct the following reviews:

a. Determine whether the applicable drawings, instructions, or

travelers clearly specify the examination procedure to be

used and that a copy of this procedure is available in the

area where the examination is being performed.

b. Identify for subsequent record review the personnel

performing radiography and evaluate the examination results

to ascertain whether they are qualified to perform the

assigned task.

c. Determine whether the required equipment and materials (as

specified in the examination procedures) are available at the

work station. Identify materials/equipment serial number(s)

for subsequent reviews of calibration records and

certifications as required.

d. Determine whether the specific areas, locations, and extent

of examination are clearly defined.

e. Determine whether the examination attributes (as applicable)

are as specified and consistent with the limits or ranges

given in paragraph 02.01b.

f. Determine whether the radiographic film is being processed in
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accordance with the applicable procedure requirements and

that processed film is free of chemical and mechanical

blemishes which could interfere with interpretation.

02.03 Record Review

a. Review a randomly selected sample of at least 10 but no more

than 30 accepted radiographic films and determine if the

radiographic quality is in accordance with the applicable

procedure and Code requirements. Specifically, verify the

following:

1. Penetrameter type, size, placement

2. Penetrameter sensitivity

3. Film density, density variation

4. Film identification

5. Film quality

6. Weld coverage (overlap)

b. Review qualification records for all RT inspection personnel

and ascertain whether the qualification records properly

reflect the following:

1. Employer's name

2. Person certified

3. Activity qualified to perform

4. Level of qualification

5. Effective period of certification

6. Signature of employer's designated

7. Basis used for certification

8. Annual visual acuity, color vision examination and

periodic recertification

c. Review equipment and material certification and calibration

records for materials and equipment (densitometer

penetrameter) identified in paragraph 02.02.c. to ascertain

whether the documents are retrievable, complete and accurate.

d. Review a randomly selected sample of at least 10 but no more

than 30 accepted digital radiographic images and determine

whether the digital image quality is in accordance with the

applicable procedure requirements.

57090-03 INSPECTION GUIDANCE
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General Guidance

a. The recommended inspection schedule listed below applies to

inspection of a nuclear construction site and other long-term

inspection efforts. For short-duration projects and vendor

inspections, a different schedule may be more practical.

Inspection May Be Started Must Be Started

Must Be Completed

1st Inspection After Work is ------- ----- Before work is

10% complete.

25% complete.

2nd Inspection After work is Before work is

Before start up

75% complete. 90% complete.

of the plant.

b. Applicable portions of the SAR should be reviewed to

determine licensee commitments relative to nondestructive

examination of components and equipment. The applicable Code

editions and special requirements will generally be indicated

in specification, drawings and/or construction QA manuals.

The inspector is responsible for determining the acceptance

criteria for each individual application.

c. Inspection of radiographic examination as outlined in this

procedure can be described as a three-phase, progressive

review: First, a general audit is made of the applicable RT

procedure to verify that it is properly prepared, approved

and qualified in accordance with the applicable Code and

contract requirements. Secondly, the use of the procedure is

observed to verify that the work is planned, scheduled and

accomplished in accordance with the licensee's/contractor's

QA program and that personnel performing the examination are

properly qualified. Finally, records are reviewed to verify

that they are complete, accurate and retrievable. It is

preferable to complete all phases of the procedure during a

single inspection. However, this may not be possible since

there may be no radiographic examination in progress during

a particular inspection. Under such circumstances,

completion of a specific phase of the procedure may be

deferred and resumed during a subsequent inspection.

d. Findings from this inspection activity should address each

element as being satisfactory, being unresolved and requiring

resolution, or being in violation and requiring correction.

When significant inadequacies are identified indicating

possible generic deficiencies, the issue should be addressed

at the appropriate level of licensee management.

Specific Guidance. 
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The specific guidance listed below provides additional information

to clarify the inspection requirements listed in paragraph 02.01.

03.01 Procedure Review. The radiographic examination method

described in Section III or V of the ASME Code is applicable to

most conditions encountered during fabrication. However, the Code

recognizes that special conditions may be encountered which require

modification of these techniques. If modified procedures are used,

they must be equivalent or superior to the code techniques. Such

special procedures must also be proven by demonstration to be

capable of detecting discontinuities to at least the same extent of

the applicable Code technique under normal conditions. This

applies to all nondestructive examination procedures used to meet

Code acceptance criteria.

03.02 Work Observation. The actual number and location of

welds to be inspected should be selected by the inspector. The

selected number of welds scheduled for observation should be

adequate to permit an effective evaluation of the inspected

radiographic examination activities.

In addition, the sample selection should include considerations

such as number of NDE techniques or contractors performing the work

at the manufacturing facility or plant site (construction or

modification), combination of systems, weld configurations and

difficulties to perform the required NDE.

Qualification of NDE personnel involved in the performance,

evaluation or supervision of nondestructive examination should meet

the qualification requirements set forth in the applicable Codes

and standards referenced in the licensee SAR. Qualification

certificates, visual acuity, color vision examination, and periodic

recertification should be included in the licensee's or

contractor's procedures.

03.03 Record Review. No guidance.

57090-04 RESOURCE ESTIMATE

This inspection should require about 24 hours of direct inspection

effort to complete. 

57090-05 REFERENCES

1. 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Criterion IX.

2. ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III and V.

3. Society for Nondestructive Testing - Recommended Practice

No. SNT-TC-1A and Supplements.

4. Regulatory Guide 1.88 - Collection, Storage and

Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant QA Records.
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5. Regulatory Guide 1.19 - Nondestructive Examination of

Primary Containment Liner Welds.

6. Regulatory Guide 1.58 - Qualification of Nuclear Power

Plant Inspection, Examination and Testing Personnel.

7. ANSI N45.2.9 - Requirements for Collection, Storage and

Maintenance of QA Records for Nuclear Power Plants.

8. ANSI N45.2.6 - Qualification of Inspection, Examination

and Testing Personnel.

9. Generic Letter 88-18.

10. Article 2, Mandatory Appendix to Section V of the ASME

Code.

END