NDT Questions, Answered Straight

Non-destructive testing (NDT) examines welds, materials and equipment for defects without damaging them — using radiation, sound, magnetism or dye instead of cutting. It verifies quality and code compliance while the component stays usable, which is why it underpins fabrication QC and in-service inspection alike.

NDT inspects the actual component that goes into service, leaving it intact. Destructive testing sacrifices a sample — bend tests, tensiles — to prove properties. They're partners, not rivals: weld procedures qualify destructively in our lab, then production welds verify non-destructively in the field.

Surface cracks in steel: MPI. Surface defects in stainless or aluminum: LPI. Internal weld quality: RT or PAUT. Thickness and corrosion: UT. Material identity: PMI. Our NDT services page has a fuller guide — or send us the spec and we'll match the method.

Pricing follows method, quantity and access: single-component checks are inexpensive; crew mobilizations and turnaround coverage are scoped campaigns. Nobody honest quotes NDT without seeing scope — send weld counts, drawings or a photo and we'll price it straight.

Edmonton lab work often starts same-day; field crews schedule to your window, including nights and shutdowns. Peak turnaround seasons (spring/fall) book ahead — the earlier the call, the better the crew fit.

Yes — field crews cover Alberta and Western Canada from Edmonton and satellite offices. Remote sites, camp jobs and multi-day campaigns are routine; travel is scoped into the quote so there are no surprises.

Check three things: certification (CGSB personnel matched to your code), capability breadth (can one vendor run every method your scope needs?), and independence (does anything bias their call?). Longevity helps too — a company that's answered to Alberta clients for 40 years has references you can actually call.

Because the alternative is grading your own homework. An independent company doesn't fabricate or repair what it inspects, so its accept/reject carries weight with owners, engineers and regulators — and survives disputes that flatten in-house reports.

Yes — CGSB certification by method and level for NDT personnel, with CWB and AWS credentials on the welding inspection side. Certification records are available for vendor files; see our certifications page for what each credential means.

Intervals come from API standards and your corrosion rates: formal external inspections typically run five-year cycles, internals commonly cap at ten years and shorten with the data. Full interval logic lives on our API 510, 570 and 653 pages.

Yes — welder qualification (CWB and ASME IX) and weld procedure qualification run through our own Edmonton lab, coupon to paperwork. Shops qualifying crews before a project should book block testing early.