Inspection & testing

What We Test, and What You Get Back

A supplier's word means nothing; the certificate does. Here is every test we perform, the standard it is performed to, what comes back on the paperwork, and when you should specify it. Nothing on this page is offered that we cannot deliver.

14TESTS

7CATEGORIES

100%HEAT NUMBERED

How to read this

Three columns that matter

Every test below is listed the same way, because a test without its standard and its deliverable is not a capability claim — it is a marketing line.

Standard

The document the test is performed to. Where a standard is named, we work to it rather than to a house method. If your contract names a different standard, that one governs and we will work to it.

What you receive

The document that reaches you. On most routine tests this is the mill test report; on NDT and on inspection carried out at our works, it is a separate report referencing the heat number.

When

Whether the test is standard for the order or something you have to ask for. We would rather you ask for it up front than discover after delivery that the paperwork does not carry what your inspector needs.

Chemical analysis

Optical emission spectrometry

The alloy is sampled from the melt and the finished product and analysed for every element the specification calls for, including the trace elements that control corrosion behaviour and the residuals that control inclusion quality.

Standard ASTM A 751/A 751M for steel products; E 527 for UNS numbering and chemical analysis practice

You receive Heat analysis and product analysis on the mill test report

When Every order. Where the specification requires it, the two analyses are reported separately so you can see the permitted variation between melt and material.

Combustion analysis for carbon and sulphur

Carbon and sulphur are burned off in an oxygen stream and measured from the combustion products. These two elements set the weldability, the machinability and the corrosion behaviour of most grades, and they are the elements most likely to be out of specification.

Standard ASTM A 751/A 751M

You receive Reported on the mill test report alongside the spectrometry results

When Every order, particularly for the low-carbon grades where the upper limit is tight.

Mechanical testing

Tensile testing

A test specimen is pulled to failure. Yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and reduction of area are measured. The result depends on the section size and the product form, so the standard specifies the specimen geometry for each.

Standard ASTM E 8/E 8M for the test method; ASTM A 370 for the procedure applied to steel and alloy products

You receive Mill test report, stated against the section size supplied

When Every order. Specify the section size when you need the property at a particular diameter rather than at the test specimen.

Hardness testing

Indentation hardness by Brinell, Rockwell or Vickers, depending on the grade and the condition. For cold-worked and aged material this is the quickest confirmation that the delivered condition is the one ordered.

Standard ASTM E 10 for Brinell; E 18 for Rockwell; E 384 for Vickers and microhardness

You receive Reported on the mill test report, or as a separate certificate

When Every order in a cold-worked or aged condition. Particularly important for sour service, where a hardness limit applies.

Charpy impact testing

A notched specimen is broken at a specified temperature and the energy absorbed is measured. This is the test that tells you whether the material will behave at low temperature.

Standard ASTM E 23 for the method; ASTM A 370 for the procedure

You receive Mill test report where the specification requires it

When Low-temperature service, pressure equipment to ASME Section III or Section VIII Div. 1, and any specification that calls for it.

Grain size determination

The grain structure is measured against the ASTM grain size scale. For austenitic stainless and nickel-base alloys this controls the creep life, because grain boundary sliding is what causes creep rupture.

Standard ASTM E 112 for the comparison method; E 112 for the grain size scale

You receive Reported on the mill test report when the specification requires a stated grain size

When High-temperature service on austenitic and nickel-base grades. If the drawing states a grain size, it is not optional.

Non-destructive testing

Ultrasonic testing

An ultrasonic pulse is sent into the material and the reflected signal is read to locate internal reflectors. It finds flaws that surface methods cannot reach.

Standard ASTM A 388/A 388M for austenitic steel pipe; A 1084 for the characterisation of defects and the standard ultrasonic practice

You receive Ultrasonic test report, referenced to the heat number and the map of the part

When Forged and heavy-section parts, and any application where the specification makes it mandatory. On forgings it is usually the only method that will find internal defects.

Dye penetrant testing

A penetrant is applied to a clean surface, allowed to enter any surface-breaking defect, and then drawn out onto a developer. It finds fine surface cracks that would not be visible.

Standard ASTM E 165/E 165M for the liquid penetrant method; E 1417 for the standard practice and the penetrant system

You receive Penetrant test report with the procedure and acceptance criteria referenced

When Forgings, welds and machined parts where surface integrity governs — fatigue-loaded parts, pressure boundaries, and anything with a machined surface.

Radiographic testing

The part is exposed to a gamma or X-ray source and the film shows internal density variation. It is the only method that shows the actual internal condition as a picture.

Standard ASTM E 142 radiography practice; E 747 for gamma radiography of steel castings up to 50 mm

You receive Radiographs with the exposure record, referenced to the heat number

When Where the specification requires it, commonly for pressure-retaining forgings and weld procedure qualification. Arranged through an accredited testing house.

Magnetic particle testing

A magnetised field is applied and ferrous particles are drawn to any surface or near-surface discontinuity. It is the most sensitive method for cracks in ferromagnetic material.

Standard ASTM E 1444 for the magnetic particle method; E 709 for the practice

You receive Magnetic particle test report

When Ferromagnetic grades only — carbon and low-alloy steels, and martensitic stainless. It is not applicable to austenitic stainless or nickel-base alloys, and we will say so rather than issue a report that means nothing.

Material verification

Positive material identification

A handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer confirms the alloy of the material in front of you. It catches the error that a warehouse mistake would otherwise hide until the part is in service.

Standard ASTM E 1476 for the method; practice applied per the plant procedure

You receive PMI report listing each item checked, or a release note when PMI is applied as part of the inspection

When On request, and as standard on mixed-batch work and on parts where material identity has to survive an audit.

Dimensional

Dimensional inspection

The finished part is measured against the drawing, with the instrument, the tolerance and the sampling plan recorded.

Standard ISO 1101 for geometric tolerancing, applied to the drawing

You receive Dimensional inspection report

When On machined parts, and on any part where the drawing carries geometric tolerances that need to be evidenced.

Heat treatment

Solution annealing and ageing

The material is heated to a specified temperature, held, and cooled at a controlled rate. Solution annealing sets the grain and the corrosion behaviour; ageing precipitates the strengthening phase. The temperatures are not interchangeable between grades.

Standard Per the material specification; ASTM A 370 for the testing that follows

You receive Heat treatment certificate stating the actual cycle temperatures and the results of the mechanical tests that confirm it

When Every order where the specification calls for a defined condition. The certificate states the cycle actually used, not a nominal one.

Traceability

Heat number traceability

One heat number follows the material from the mill report through cutting, forming, heat treatment and machining to the finished part. It appears on the report and on the despatch paperwork.

Standard Applied per the material specification and the order documentation

You receive The heat number appears on the certificate and on the despatch note

When Every order. This is the single item that makes any other document answerable years later.

Third party

Inspection by your own house

We work with the inspection house your customer nominates — SGS, BV, TUV, Lloyd's, Intertek or a customer-appointed inspector. Release before shipment can be arranged; the cost and the timing are agreed in the order so there is no surprise at the point of despatch.

Documentation you can specify

EN 10204 Type 3.1 certification, issued by us
EN 10204 Type 3.2 certification, witnessed by an inspection body
Inspection release by a nominated third party
Supplementary inspection at a defined frequency against your own specification
NDT, PMI, grain size and hardness as separate certificates

Standards we work to

EN ISO 6892-1 for tensile testing
EN ISO 6509 for hardness testing
ASTM A 370 for mechanical testing of steel and alloy products
ASTM A 262, A 923 and A 1084 for corrosion, defect and ultrasonic assessment
ASTM E 112 for grain size
ASTM E 165/E 165M for liquid penetrant testing
ASTM E 1444 for magnetic particle testing
ASTM E 1476 for X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
PED 2014/68/EU where the application is pressure equipment

Ask about a specific test Quality & certification