ASME Section V NDT Requirements: Complete Code Reference Guide [2026]

Master ASME Section V with this complete reference guide. Learn all examination articles, mandatory vs. non-mandatory appendices, acceptance criteria, and how to ensure code compliance in your NDT program.

By Anoop Rayavarapu, ASNT NDT Level III · March 15, 2026

Introduction to ASME Section V

ASME Section V is the authoritative standard governing nondestructive testing methods, procedures, and acceptance criteria across all ASME pressure equipment applications. Understanding Section V is mandatory for anyone involved in NDT of ASME-constructed equipment including boilers, pressure vessels, piping systems, and reactor components. Compliance with Section V requirements ensures examination quality, reliability, and code-mandated safety margins.

This comprehensive guide covers all 12 Articles of Section V, differentiates mandatory from non-mandatory appendices, explains examination requirements by method, details acceptance criteria frameworks, and addresses common audit findings that repeatedly appear in facility inspections and regulatory reviews.

Structure of ASME Section V

ASME Section V is organized into 12 examination articles, each covering a specific NDT method or technique: Visual Examination (VT), Ultrasonic Examination (UT), Radiographic Examination (RT), Magnetic Particle Examination (MT), Liquid Penetrant Examination (PT), Eddy Current Examination (ET), Acoustic Emission Examination (AE), Leak Detection (LD), Thermal/Infrared Examination (TE), Ultrasonic Examination Alternative Methods, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), and Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD).

The 2023 edition introduced expanded coverage of advanced techniques while strengthening fundamental requirements. Each Article follows a consistent structure: scope, applicable code references, personnel qualifications, equipment specifications, procedure requirements, examination setup, acceptance criteria, and reporting.

Article 1: Visual Examination (VT)

Visual examination is the foundation of all NDT programs. Section V recognizes three levels of visual examination. VT-1 is performed before fabrication, assembly, and heat treatment. VT-2 is conducted during fabrication stages. VT-3 is performed after all fabrication is complete but before service.

Section V mandates that Visual Examination personnel have documented training specific to their assigned VT level and the applicable Code section. Minimum illumination requirements are strictly specified. Documentation must include inspection date, inspector identification, defects noted, and acceptance/rejection determination.

Article 2: Ultrasonic Examination (UT)

Ultrasonic examination is the most widely applied NDT method in ASME applications, covering weld inspection, thickness measurement, and flaw detection in plate and forgings. Section V requires Level II or Level III certification per ASNT CP-189, SNT-TC-1A, or equivalent per ISO 9712. A certified Level III must approve all UT procedures before implementation.

Every UT examination must be performed to a written, approved procedure that documents applicable standards, equipment specifications, surface preparation, scanning patterns, calibration settings, acceptance criteria, and documentation requirements.

Articles 3-9: Additional NDT Methods

ASME Section V covers radiographic examination (RT) for detecting internal defects and providing independent confirmation of weld quality. Magnetic particle testing (MT) detects surface and near-surface ferrous material defects. Liquid penetrant examination (PT) detects surface-breaking defects in ferrous and non-ferrous materials. Eddy current examination (ET) detects surface and near-surface defects in electrically conductive materials. Acoustic emission (AE) detects stress waves from crack growth. Leak detection (LD) verifies pressure boundary integrity. Thermal imaging (TE) detects temperature variations indicative of defects.

Articles 11 and 12: Advanced UT Methods

Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT, Article 11) uses multi-element probes to create steerable, focused ultrasonic beams. PAUT advantages include sector scanning without physical probe manipulation, improved defect characterization through multiple angles, and faster coverage than conventional UT. Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD, Article 12) provides excellent height measurement accuracy for detected defects, with height sizing accuracy approaching 0.5mm.

Mandatory vs. Non-Mandatory Appendices

Mandatory Appendices (must be complied with) include: Reference Standards for UT, MT, PT, ET; Radiographic Film and Digital Radiography Quality Criteria; and UT Calibration and Reference Standards. Non-Mandatory Appendices provide guidance documents, not required but recommended, such as Alternative UT Methods Guidance, Common Indications and Their Significance, and PAUT and TOFD Technical Guidance.

Common Audit Findings and Compliance Issues

Missing or expired Level II/III certifications for NDT personnel is the most frequent audit finding. Section V explicitly requires current certification for all individuals performing examinations. Written procedures lacking required detail or examining to generic procedures in non-standard applications violates Section V requirements. Using expired or incorrect reference standards compromises examination reliability. Missing calibration records for UT and ET equipment represents significant non-compliance.

Developing a Section V Compliance Program

Effective ASME Section V compliance requires systematic management: documenting all Level II and Level III certifications, creating application-specific procedures, maintaining calibrated NDT equipment with documented records, inventorying all reference standards, implementing quality audits, ensuring training and communication, and establishing systems for retaining examination reports.

Conclusion

ASME Section V is the foundation of safe, reliable pressure equipment operation. Compliance with its requirements ensures that NDT examinations detect defects reliably, characterize them accurately, and apply appropriate acceptance criteria. Organizations that maintain rigorous Section V compliance programs gain confidence in their equipment integrity while avoiding costly rework, audit non-compliance, and safety risks.

At Atlantis NDT, our Level III certified professionals have extensive Section V experience across fabrication quality assurance and in-service inspection. We develop application-specific procedures and conduct compliance audits.

Contact us to develop or audit your ASME Section V compliance program and ensure your NDT operations meet the latest Code standards.

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ASME Section V Article map — and where the acceptance criteria actually come from
Examination method	Section V Article (Subsection A)	Personnel qualification basis	Acceptance criteria set by
Radiographic examination (RT)	Article 2	SNT-TC-1A, CP-189 or ISO 9712 Level II	Section VIII Div 1 (vessels), Section I (boilers), B31.3 (process piping)
Ultrasonic examination of welds	Article 4	Level II, procedure approved by a Level III	The referencing construction code
Ultrasonic examination of materials and thickness	Article 5	Level II	Referencing code for new build; API 510/570/653 in service
Liquid penetrant examination (PT)	Article 6	Level II	The referencing construction code
Magnetic particle examination (MT)	Article 7	Level II	The referencing construction code
Eddy current examination (ET)	Article 8	Level II	The referencing construction code
Visual examination (VT)	Article 9	Level II with documented current vision test	The referencing construction code
Leak testing (LT)	Article 10	Level II	The referencing construction code

ASME Section V Article map — and where the acceptance criteria actually come from

Examination method

Section V Article (Subsection A)

Personnel qualification basis

Acceptance criteria set by

Radiographic examination (RT)

Article 2

SNT-TC-1A, CP-189 or ISO 9712 Level II

Section VIII Div 1 (vessels), Section I (boilers), B31.3 (process piping)

Ultrasonic examination of welds

Article 4

Level II, procedure approved by a Level III

The referencing construction code

Ultrasonic examination of materials and thickness

Article 5

Level II

Referencing code for new build; API 510/570/653 in service

Liquid penetrant examination (PT)

Article 6

Level II

The referencing construction code

Magnetic particle examination (MT)

Article 7

Level II

The referencing construction code

Eddy current examination (ET)

Article 8

Level II

The referencing construction code

Visual examination (VT)

Article 9

Level II with documented current vision test

The referencing construction code

Leak testing (LT)

Article 10

Level II

The referencing construction code

Does Section V set the acceptance criteria for weld defects?

No. Section V defines how an examination is performed — equipment, calibration, technique, personnel, written procedure and reporting. Whether an indication is acceptable comes from the referencing construction code: Section VIII Division 1 for pressure vessels, Section I for power boilers, B31.1 for power piping, B31.3 for process piping. A procedure citing Section V perfectly can still apply the wrong acceptance criteria.

Where do PAUT and TOFD sit in Section V?

Inside Article 4, ultrasonic examination of welds, as appendices — not as standalone articles. That trips people up because both are marketed as separate methods. Articles 11 and 12 are acoustic emission: Article 11 covers fibre-reinforced plastic vessels, Article 12 covers metallic vessels during pressure testing. Writing PAUT as Article 11 in a procedure is a straightforward audit finding.

Which edition applies to a weld examined in 2019?

The edition in force when the work was performed and accepted. New work moves to a newer edition from an effective date the organisation records and controls, and historical dispositions stay assessed under the edition then applicable. Re-assessing a 2019 weld against the 2023 edition invalidates the original acceptance decision and creates a far larger problem than it solves.

Who has to approve an NDE procedure?

A certified Level III, and the certification basis has to be stated — SNT-TC-1A, CP-189 or ISO 9712. The procedure must be specific to the materials, thickness ranges and configurations in scope. A single generic procedure written to cover everything a shop might ever examine is the second most common finding after expired or missing personnel certifications.

What separates a mandatory from a non-mandatory appendix?

Enforceability. A mandatory appendix is part of the requirement — reference standards, calibration blocks, radiographic image quality criteria — and departing from it is a code violation. A non-mandatory appendix is guidance: interpretation aids, technique advice, examples of indications. Auditors check mandatory appendices against your procedure line by line; non-mandatory ones matter only once your procedure invokes them.

How do Section V and Section IX records connect during an audit?

Through weld identity. Section IX governs the WPS, PQR and welder performance qualification; Section V governs the examination of the weld those documents produced. An audit that opens with an NDE report almost always ends in the Section IX file, so keeping both record sets keyed to the same weld number turns a multi-day retrieval into minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ASME Section V cover?

Section V of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code contains the nondestructive examination methods themselves, article by article: Article 2 radiography, Article 4 ultrasonic examination of welds, Article 5 ultrasonic thickness measurement, Article 6 liquid penetrant, Article 7 magnetic particle, Article 8 eddy current, Article 9 visual, Article 10 leak testing, and Articles 11 and 12 acoustic emission. It defines how an examination is performed, not whether the result is acceptable.

Where do acceptance criteria come from if not Section V?

From the referencing code section — Section VIII Division 1 for pressure vessels, Section I for power boilers, B31.1 or B31.3 for piping, and so on. This split catches people out regularly: a procedure can cite Section V correctly and still apply the wrong acceptance criteria, which is one of the most common findings in a procedure review.

Does Section V require written procedures?

Yes. Each article specifies the elements a written procedure must address, and several require the procedure to be demonstrated or qualified. Procedures also have to be specific to the materials, thickness ranges and configurations in scope — a single generic procedure covering everything the shop might ever examine will not survive scrutiny.

How do Section V and Section IX relate?

Section IX governs welding and brazing qualification — the WPS, PQR and welder performance qualification. Section V governs the examination of the resulting weld. Both are usually in play on the same joint, and an audit that starts with an NDE report frequently ends up in the Section IX records, so keeping the two record sets linked to the same weld identity saves considerable time.

Which edition applies to work already performed?

The edition in force when the work was performed and accepted. New work moves to a new edition from a defined effective date recorded by the organisation; historical dispositions stay assessed under the edition then applicable. Retrospectively applying a new edition invalidates the original acceptance decision and creates a far larger problem than it solves.