Radiographic Testing With Answers by Morning
Volumetric weld inspection for piping, vessels and structures — certified crews, code-compliant interpretation, Alberta-wide.
Radiographic Testing (RT) Services
Radiographic testing images the full volume of a weld or casting — not just its surface — using penetrating radiation to expose porosity, slag inclusions, lack of fusion, and cracks hidden inside the material. CIC provides industrial radiography for piping, pressure vessels, structural welds and castings across Alberta, with certified crews and interpretation you can hand straight to your engineer of record.
What Radiographic Testing Detects
RT is a volumetric method: it finds internal porosity, slag and tungsten inclusions, incomplete penetration, lack of fusion, burn-through and internal cracks, and produces a permanent image record of every weld shot. That permanent record is why radiography remains the reference method on pipelines, pressure piping and code fabrication — the film is the proof.
RT or Ultrasonics? Choosing Your Volumetric Method
Radiography excels on butt welds, thin-to-medium wall thicknesses, and anywhere a permanent visual record is required or the client specifies it. Phased array UT (PAUT) avoids radiation exclusion zones, works during ongoing construction, and often wins on thick sections and turnaround speed. CIC provides both, so the recommendation you get is based on your joint configuration, code and schedule — not on the only tool we own.
Field Radiography, Managed Safely
Radiation safety is non-negotiable. CIC radiography crews operate under a strict radiation safety program — controlled exclusion zones, monitoring, and licensed exposure device operation — planned around your site so shooting windows don't stall the rest of your crews. Night and shutdown windows are routine for us: welds shot after shift, film interpreted, and results in your hands by morning.
Codes, Interpretation and Reporting
Exposures and technique follow ASME Section V; acceptance runs to your governing code — ASME B31.3 process piping, ASME Section VIII vessels, CSA W59 structural, or API standards on vessel and tank work. Certified personnel interpret every exposure, and reports document technique, sensitivity (IQI), and disposition per joint, so audits and third-party reviews go smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between x-ray and gamma radiography?
Both produce the same kind of volumetric image. Gamma sources (like iridium-192) are compact and portable — the standard for field piping work — while X-ray tubes offer adjustable energy suited to shop conditions. The joint thickness, geometry and site constraints determine which source your job needs.
How disruptive is radiography to an active site?
Less than most planners fear. Exclusion zones apply only during exposures, and experienced crews sequence shots into night shifts, breaks or shutdown windows. We coordinate barriers, monitoring and timing with your site supervision so production keeps moving.
How fast do we get results?
Interpretation typically follows the shift that shot the welds — overnight work is read for morning. For repair-and-reshoot cycles during tie-ins and turnarounds, crews stay until the joint closes. Call 780-468-4593 with your window and weld count.