ASME Certification – 8 Steps to Obtaining an ASME Certificate

Finspection | 11.12.2024 | Articles

In this article, we discuss how to obtain an ASME certificate, also known as an ASME manufacturing license. It should be clarified that ASME codes are a broad concept. In this article, we address ASME BPVC, sometimes abbreviated as B&PV Code, which stands for Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

The ASME certificate is site-specific and is issued to one address. Therefore, the license is not valid at other locations of the same company (if more than 1.6 km away from the licensed address). If a license is desired for multiple addresses within the same company’s operations, it must be applied for separately at each physical address. In this article, the applicant refers to the manufacturer.

The ASME BPVC, published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, is a widely recognized collection of standards and guidelines concerning the design, construction, and operation of boilers, pressure vessels, and other process equipment. The ASME code serves as a global model, ensuring the safety, reliability, and operational efficiency of equipment and pressure vessels. The code is continuously updated by nearly 1,000 voluntary technical experts. The boiler and pressure vessel sections have long been considered essential in power generation, petrochemicals, transportation, and other industries.

ASME published its first standard, “Code for the Conduct of Trials of Steam Boilers,” in 1884. This later evolved into “Rules for the Construction of Stationary Boilers and for Allowable Working Pressure,” with the first edition of the now-legendary ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code published in 1914 and officially released in 1915.

Over the years, the code was expanded to cover other mechanical systems, such as nuclear power plants, pipelines, elevators, and cranes. This expansion reflected the need for comprehensive safety guidelines in increasingly diverse engineering applications.

The ASME code quickly gained recognition among engineering circles for its strict technical standards and safety focus. U.S. states and local governments began adopting the code, making it mandatory for constructing and operating various mechanical systems.

Technical committees, consisting of experienced professionals and experts, continuously review, update, and develop the code’s requirements to reflect technological advancements and industry needs. This ensures that the ASME code remains up-to-date and reflects best practices and the latest knowledge across different engineering disciplines.

Finspection, in collaboration with TÜV Thüringen, offers official ASME Authorized Inspection Agency (AIA) inspection services in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Estonia.

With our in-house personnel, we provide ASME AIA inspection services required by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.

We offer all necessary AIA inspection services domestically to achieve ASME certification. Our personnel hold Authorized Inspector (AI), Authorized Inspector Supervisor (AIS), and Repair Inspector (R) qualifications for repair work. Measured by resources, years of experience, and qualifications, we are Finland’s leading company providing AIA inspection services.

• Section I, Power Boilers
• Section IV, Heating Boilers
• Section VIII Div.1, 2 & 3, Pressure Vessels
• Section X, Fiber Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
• Section XII, Transport Tanks
• ASME B31.1 – Power Piping
• NBIC – National Board Inspection Code

Explore our extensive range of services on our partner’s website. There, you’ll find a wealth of useful information, including convenient online calculation tools. We assist in all procedures required to achieve ASME certification.

The applicant must select an ASME-accredited Authorized Inspection Agency (AIA), such as [TÜV Thüringen e.V., represented by Finspection Oy]. An Inspection Service Agreement must be signed with this agency.

• Option 1: Online via the CA Connect platform (recommended by ASME).
• Option 2: Download the application form from the ASME website, fill in the required details, and send the form to ASME by mail.

Submitting the Accreditation and Certification Agreement to ASME
The application must specify the agreed AIA and suitable audit dates, which have already been coordinated with the AIA.

ASME will begin processing the application only after all fees have been paid and the service agreement with the AIA has been submitted.

The necessary code books can be obtained:

• Option 1: As an electronic version from the ASME website (includes a list of all suppliers).
• Option 2: As a printed version from the ASME website.

The applicant must prepare and implement a quality system in accordance with the ASME code. This includes:

• Scheduling all necessary actions that must be completed before the ASME certification audit (ASME Joint Review).
• Preparing a Quality Control Manual.
• Preparing work instructions (e.g., pressure testing, manufacturing inspections, heat treatment, etc.).
• Selecting a demonstration product representing production for the certification audit.
• Preparing design documents: design calculations, drawings, and material lists.
• Procedure qualification: Welding qualifications (PQR, WPS) and NDE (VT, PT, MT, UT, RT, etc.).
• Personnel qualification: Welders, operators, and NDE personnel (NDE can be partially or fully subcontracted). Qualification of design and welding supervisory personnel.
• Demonstrating NDE procedures to the AI.
• Preparing an Inspection and Test Plan (ITP / Traveller).
• Ordering materials.
• Manufacturing a demonstration product representing production according to the Quality Control Manual, including: Material ordering and receipt, Approval of Material Test Reports (MTR) and releasing material for production, Dimensional inspections, Welding supervision and Inspections and testing.
• Preparing the Manufacturer’s Data Report (MDR).

An accredited inspection agency will perform a pre-audit at least 3–4 weeks before the ASME Joint Review audit, conducted by an Authorized Inspector Supervisor (AIS) and Authorized Inspector (AI). The pre-audit helps identify potential deficiencies and provides the applicant with an opportunity to take corrective actions before the main audit. Experience has shown that conducting a pre-audit is highly beneficial, as it reveals deficiencies and deviations in the quality system. The pre-audit allows the applicant to better prepare for the actual certification audit.

The ASME Joint Review is conducted as a two-day audit at the applicant’s premises. The audit team (ASME & AIA: ASME Team Leader, AIS, and AI) evaluates compliance with the ASME code’s quality control requirements. After the audit, the ASME team leader submits a report to the ASME committee, which decides on the issuance of the certificate.

After a successful certification audit, the applicant will receive an ASME Certificate of Authorization and the ASME certification mark (ASME Stamp) within approximately 4–6 weeks. The certificate is valid for up to three years and must be renewed in a timely manner to remain valid. The National Board (NB) issues its own certificate to the applicant for registering pressure equipment if the application has been submitted and a copy of the ASME certificate has been provided to the NB. The NB also issues additional certificates, such as the “R” certificate, if it was part of the certification audit.

After a successful certification audit, the manufacturer is authorized to produce pressure equipment as specified in the scope of the license, stamp it with the ASME mark, and register it with the National Board (NB) in North America. Simply holding an ASME certificate does not authorize stamping or signing the Manufacturer’s Data Report (MDR). The manufacturer must follow the ASME Quality Control Manual, and the AI employed by the AIA must inspect all pressure equipment according to ASME code requirements. As a rule, all equipment must be inspected in terms of design, manufacturing, inspection, and testing.

The ASME Certificate of Authorization often opens doors for manufacturers in export markets. In many cases, simply displaying the certificate serves as a strong reference for the company’s expertise and quality, which is highly valued worldwide. The ASME BPVC (Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code) is the leading internationally accepted standard for the design, manufacturing, and testing of pressure equipment worldwide. ASME code-compliant pressure equipment is used in over 100 countries globally.

ASME maintains a database listing all ASME certificate holders – “ASME Certificate Holder Search.”

If you’re interested in the costs of obtaining a certificate, the table below provides an estimate of fixed fees. Internal costs for applicants are always part of the process and can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The applicant’s level of expertise and previous experience with similar equipment play a crucial role when building an ASME-compliant quality system. In some cases, welding qualifications may already be in place, but generally, expanding pressure equipment manufacturing under the ASME code requires additional welding qualifications.

The Joint Review prepayment mentioned below is a fixed price and includes the costs of the ASME Team Leader for the certification audit and travel. Under normal circumstances, this amount covers a two-day audit, and any remaining balance is refunded to the applicant. For the AIA’s portion, we are happy to provide a quote once we know the scope of the requested certificates.

We are happy to assist you if your company needs support in obtaining an ASME certificate. Contact us to assess your needs. Finspection offers comprehensive services in ASME inspections and certification processes, including training services for your entire staff. We also have extensive experience with ASME+PED pressure equipment if CE marking is required for ASME-designed equipment.

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