There may come a day when one of our pressure vessels will need some work done on it, and when that day comes, we need to ensure the contractor doing the work holds an “R Stamp” from The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. The “R” stands for “repair” and anyone who makes repairs OR alters a boiler, pressure vessel, and other pressure-retaining items MUST have a current “R Stamp.”
The National Board offers the Certificate of Authorization and R symbol stamp for the repair and/or alteration of boilers, pressure vessels, and other pressure-retaining items. Requirements are described in NB-415, Accreditation of R Repair Organizations.
Organizations seeking a National Board R Certificate of Authorization must complete NB-12, Application for the National Board R Certificate of Authorization and:
- have and maintain an inspection agreement with an authorized inspection agency,
- have a written quality system that complies with the requirements of the current edition of the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) and includes the expected scope of activities,
- have the current edition of all parts of the NBIC. Organizations have the option of using either a printed version or an electronic version, including a subscription from a National Board licensed reseller, to fulfill this requirement; and,
- have available a copy of the code of construction appropriate for the intended scope of work.
Prior to issuance of a National Board R Certificate of Authorization, the organization, and its facilities are subject to an onsite review of its quality system.
The 2015 and 2017 NBIC define the following critical terms for us in regards to the “R Stamp”:
Alteration – A change in the item described on the original Manufacturer’s Data Report which affects the pressure containing capability of the pressure-retaining item. (See NBIC Part 3, 3.4.3 Examples of Alteration) Nonphysical changes such as an increase in the maximum allowable working pressure (internal or external), increase in design temperature, or a reduction in minimum temperature of a pressure-retaining item shall be considered an alteration.
Pressure-Retaining Items (PRI) – Any boiler, pressure vessel, piping, or material used for the containment of pressure, either internal or external. The pressure may be obtained from an external source, or by the application of heat from a direct source, or any combination thereof.
Repair – The work necessary to restore pressure-retaining items to a safe and satisfactory operating condition.
CLICK HERE for the NBIC