An inspection request does not need to be long. It does need to answer a few basic questions. When those answers are missing, the first email often turns into a week of follow-ups: Which standard applies? How many welds are included? Is the area safe to access? What should the report contain?
Whether you are planning fabrication work in Georgetown or maintenance support for an offshore facility, the details below will help an NDT provider scope the job properly and give you a useful quotation.
Start with the work itself
Describe the component or structure in plain language. “Twelve carbon-steel pipe spools” is more useful than “piping inspection.” Include the material, approximate dimensions, weld or component numbers, and the stage of the work. An inspection before installation can look very different from an inspection after years in service.
Attach the drawings or weld map if you have them. If documents are still being revised, say which revision you sent. That small note can prevent two teams from working from different inspection scopes.
Name the method—and the reason for it
If the specification calls for ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle testing, liquid penetrant testing, or another method, include that requirement. If you are not sure which method is appropriate, explain what you need to learn. Are you looking for surface cracks, checking wall thickness, or investigating an indication found during visual examination?
The right method depends on the material, geometry, suspected flaw, surface condition, and access. A good provider should discuss those constraints rather than simply repeating the method named in the first email.
Do not leave acceptance criteria for later
Finding an indication and deciding whether it is acceptable are two separate tasks. Send the applicable code, project specification, procedure, or client requirement before work begins. Include the edition or revision where it matters.
If acceptance criteria have not yet been agreed, flag that as an open item. It is much easier to resolve at the planning stage than after a report has been issued.
Explain the site conditions
Fieldwork can be delayed by conditions that are invisible on a drawing. Tell the inspection team about work at height, confined spaces, hot surfaces, offshore transfers, restricted areas, lighting, power availability, and required permits. Mention who will provide access equipment and whether another contractor must isolate or prepare the component.
Surface preparation matters too. Coating removal, cleaning, and weld cap condition can affect both the examination and the schedule.
Be clear about timing and reporting
Give the required inspection window, but also explain what drives it. A fabrication hold point, vessel departure, shutdown date, or client witness may each require a different plan. State whether preliminary findings are needed immediately and when the signed report is expected.
If the report must follow a client template, include a weld register, identify indications on a drawing, or carry specific approval details, provide that requirement with the request.
A simple request checklist
- Component, material, quantity, and identification numbers
- Current drawings, weld maps, and relevant procedures
- Required method and the purpose of the examination
- Applicable code and acceptance criteria
- Location, access, surface condition, and permit requirements
- Inspection dates, hold points, and client witness requirements
- Report format, supporting records, and delivery deadline
Send this information at the start and the quotation is more likely to reflect the real job. It also gives both teams a clear baseline if the scope changes later.
Planning an examination? Review our NDT and NDE services or send the available project details through our contact page. If something on the checklist is still unknown, tell us that too—it is part of normal project planning.