INSPECTION & QA INSIGHTS
Practical guides on pressure vessel inspection, piping inspection, welding documentation, and third-party QA for operators, QA teams, and fabricators.
ARTICLES
Articles on API 510, API 570, WPS/PQR, and inspection planning for operators, QA teams, and fabricators.
API Inspection Costs in Canada: 2026 Pricing Guide
Pricing and budgeting for API 510, API 570, CWB welding inspection, WPS/PQR review, and source inspection services in Canada.
March 1, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleWPS vs PQR: What's the Difference and Why Both Matter
Explains the difference between Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQR) and why both are required for code compliance.
March 4, 2026 | 6 min read
Read articleWhat Is API 510 Inspection? A Certified Inspector's Complete Guide
API 510 governs in-service pressure vessel inspection. A certified inspector explains scope, when it applies, and ABSA requirements in Alberta.
March 7, 2026 | 9 min read
Read articleWhat Is an Inspection Test Plan (ITP)? A Complete Guide
An ITP defines hold points, witness points, and review points for fabrication projects. Explains structure and when third-party ITP review is required.
March 10, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleSource Inspection in India for Canadian Oil and Gas Operators
Guide to third-party source inspection in India, including hybrid remote + site visit scope and planning considerations for Canadian operators.
March 12, 2026 | 6 min read
Read articleRemote Document Review for Oil and Gas: How It Works and When to Use It
How remote document review works for WPS/PQR, ITP, and MTR packages. Covers scope, process, and when remote QA review is right for a project.
March 14, 2026 | 5 min read
Read articleAPI 510 vs API 570: What's the Difference and When You Need Both
API 510 covers pressure vessels; API 570 covers piping. Scope boundaries, interval differences, damage overlap, and when a project needs both.
March 17, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articlePressure Vessel Inspection Checklist: What API 510 Inspectors Look For
What API 510 inspectors look for in external and internal vessel examination, including NDE, documentation checks, and report deliverables.
March 19, 2026 | 6 min read
Read articleThird-Party vs In-House Inspection: Which Is Right for Your Project?
When a project requires a third-party inspector versus in-house QA. Covers regulatory requirements, credential gaps, and common hybrid approaches.
March 21, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleHow to Prepare for an API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspection
How to prepare for an API 510 inspection. Covers documentation, vessel preparation, site logistics, and common mistakes that cause delays.
March 24, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleSource Inspection in South Korea for Western Oil and Gas Clients
Guide to source inspection at Korea's major fabricators. Covers inspection scope, the hybrid remote and site visit model, and deliverables for western clients.
March 26, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleSource Inspection in China: Managing Quality Risk for ASME-Coded Equipment
China has ASME U-stamp fabricators, but the stamp alone is not sufficient. A guide to source inspection scope and how it is structured for Chinese manufacturers.
March 28, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleAPI Inspection in the UAE and Middle East: What Operators Need to Know
What ADNOC, Aramco, and Middle East operators require. Covers the ASME/API standards framework, remote document review scope, and when on-site TPI is needed.
March 30, 2026 | 6 min read
Read articleWhat Is ANAB ISO 17020 Accreditation and Why Does It Matter?
What ANAB ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation requires for inspection bodies, how it differs from ISO 9001, and what it means for report acceptance.
April 1, 2026 | 8 min read
Read article5 Reasons to Hire an ANAB-Accredited Inspector
Five practical reasons project teams specify ANAB-accredited inspection and what it changes in acceptance and documentation.
April 3, 2026 | 6 min read
Read articleHow to Choose the Right NDT Method: UT, RT, MT, PT, or VT
Practical comparison of UT, RT, MT, PT, and VT. Covers detection capabilities, code requirements, and when each NDT method is appropriate to specify.
April 7, 2026 | 9 min read
Read articleWhy Your NDE Procedures Need a Level III Review
ASME Section V requires Level III NDE procedure approval. What a review covers, common deficiencies, and what happens when a procedure fails in production.
April 9, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articlePAUT vs Conventional UT: When to Upgrade Your Inspection
Phased array UT versus contact UT: compares detection capability, cost, code acceptance, and when PAUT is the right choice for a project.
April 11, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articlePhased Array UT for Weld Inspection: A Practical Field Guide
How PAUT sector scanning works, what setup involves, how defects are detected and sized, and what a complete PAUT inspection package contains.
April 14, 2026 | 9 min read
Read articleHow to Develop NDE Procedures per ASME Section V
How to develop qualified NDE procedures under ASME Section V. Essential vs nonessential variables, common errors, and what a Level III review involves.
April 16, 2026 | 9 min read
Read articleNACE Coating Inspection for Oil and Gas: What You Need to Know
NACE/AMPP coating inspection in oil and gas: stages, CIP certification levels, hold points, and why a Level 2 inspector matters on complex projects.
April 18, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleTop 7 Coating Failures in Industrial Facilities and How to Prevent Them
Seven common industrial coating failure causes, how each presents, and how inspection catches them before they become field failures.
April 21, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleAPI 653 Tank Inspection: What Every Tank Owner Needs to Know
API 653 above-ground storage tank inspection: types, interval calculations, key assessment areas, and fitness-for-service basics for tank owners.
April 23, 2026 | 9 min read
Read articleHow to Calculate API 653 Inspection Intervals
How to calculate API 653 inspection intervals using corrosion rate data. Covers prescriptive and RBI-based approaches with a worked example.
April 25, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleNDT Methods for Steel Bridge Inspection: A Practical Overview
NDT methods for fatigue cracks and weld defects in steel bridges. How each is applied and what CSA S6 and AWS D1.5 require for fracture-critical inspection.
April 28, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleFracture-Critical Weld Inspection on Bridges: What Owners Must Know
What FCM designation means for bridge inspection, AWS D1.5 and CSA S6 requirements, which NDT methods apply, and why welding background matters.
April 30, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleHow to Develop a Welding Procedure (WPS) per ASME Section IX
Complete step-by-step guide to WPS development under ASME Section IX. Essential variables, P-numbers, F-numbers, PQR testing sequence, and PWHT considerations.
May 2, 2026 | 9 min read
Read article8 Common WPS Qualification Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Eight common WPS qualification errors under ASME Section IX, what causes them, and how to catch them before production welding begins.
May 5, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleISO 9001 vs API Q1: Which Standard Should Your Supplier Hold?
ISO 9001 vs API Q1 for oil and gas suppliers: requirements comparison, practical differences for pressure equipment procurement, and what to verify.
May 7, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleHow to Conduct a Vendor Audit for Oil and Gas Equipment
How to conduct a vendor audit for oil and gas equipment: what to check on-site, how to plan the audit, and how to structure the audit report.
May 9, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleASNT vs PCN Certification: Which NDT Scheme Should You Require?
ASNT SNT-TC-1A versus BINDT PCN: how each NDT scheme works, acceptance by region, and guidance on which to specify for your project.
May 12, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleAWS CWI vs CSWIP: Choosing the Right Welding Inspector
AWS CWI versus CSWIP: structural differences, geographic acceptance, and radiographic interpretation requirements. Guidance on when dual certification is useful.
May 14, 2026 | 8 min read
Read articleWhat Makes NDT Training Effective? A Level III Perspective
The gap between passing an NDT exam and reliable field inspection is real. What effective training programs emphasize and how to evaluate training quality.
May 16, 2026 | 7 min read
Read articleNEED A CERTIFIED INSPECTOR?
Norman QC provides independent API 510, API 570, and CWB Level 2 inspection services across Alberta and remotely worldwide. Contact for a scope discussion and fee estimate.