ASME BPVC.V-2025 Section V — Nondestructive Examination

About this publication

Product Description

ASME BPVC.V-2025, Section V — Nondestructive Examination is the 2025 edition of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code section that establishes methods and technical requirements for nondestructive examination used throughout ASME Code construction, inspection and inservice applications. Section V provides the procedures, techniques, equipment requirements, calibration practices, examination requirements and documentation framework used to detect and characterize discontinuities without destroying or permanently damaging the component being examined.

The Section supports numerous ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code construction sections and other referencing codes and standards. Its requirements are used by manufacturers, fabricators, Authorized Inspectors, NDE organizations, examination personnel, engineering firms, repair organizations and owners responsible for verifying the quality and integrity of boilers, pressure vessels, piping, nuclear components and other pressure-retaining equipment.

Role of Section V Within the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

Section V is principally an examination-method Code section. It establishes how applicable nondestructive examinations are to be performed when they are required by another ASME BPVC section or referencing document.

The construction or referencing Code generally determines when an examination is required, what extent of examination must be performed and what acceptance criteria apply. Section V supplies the examination method, technique, equipment, calibration, procedural and documentation requirements needed to carry out that examination. This relationship is important because Section V is not a stand-alone construction code for a pressure vessel or boiler.

2025 Edition Structure

ASME BPVC Section V-2025 is organized into three major subsections:

• Subsection A — Nondestructive Methods of Examination, containing ASME-developed examination requirements and techniques;

• Subsection B — Documents Adopted by Section V, containing adopted standards for radiography, ultrasonics, penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, eddy current testing, acoustic emission and other methods;

• Subsection C — Nondestructive Methods and Techniques for Inservice Examination, containing methods developed specifically for inservice examination applications.

Subsection A — Nondestructive Methods of Examination

Subsection A contains the principal examination-method articles used when Section V is invoked by another Code section or referencing standard. The articles establish general examination requirements and method-specific provisions for equipment, procedures, calibration, examination, evaluation and records.

Article 1 — General Requirements

Article 1 establishes requirements common to the nondestructive examination methods contained in Subsection A. It addresses the scope of Section V, general responsibilities, equipment, examination procedures, calibration, examinations and inspections, evaluation and records or documentation.

The 2025 edition also includes a mandatory glossary of nondestructive examination terminology and supplemental personnel-qualification requirements for NDE certification. These general provisions help ensure that examination procedures and records use consistent terminology and that required personnel qualifications can be coordinated with the referencing Code.

NDE Personnel Qualification

Section V recognizes that the reliability of an examination depends not only on equipment but also on properly qualified personnel. The general requirements and mandatory appendices establish requirements that work together with the personnel-certification provisions specified by the referencing Code or examination program.

Examination Procedures

Written procedures are a major element of Section V. Method-specific articles identify variables and technical information that must be controlled or documented so an examination can be repeated using the same qualified approach.

Procedure requirements can address equipment, probes or search units, examination surfaces, calibration blocks, scanning patterns, examination coverage, lighting, sensitivity, instrument settings, evaluation techniques and documentation, depending on the NDE method involved.

Article 2 — Radiographic Examination

Article 2 establishes requirements for radiographic examination. It addresses equipment and materials, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation for radiographic techniques used to reveal internal discontinuities in welds, castings and other pressure-equipment components.

Radiography uses penetrating radiation to create an image corresponding to variations in material thickness, density or internal condition. The article provides the technical framework used with film and applicable digital imaging techniques when radiographic examination is specified by a referencing Code.

Image Quality Indicators

Radiographic examination requirements include use of image quality indicators, or IQIs, to demonstrate required image sensitivity. Section V includes provisions and supporting appendices addressing IQI selection and placement for different examination geometries.

Digital Radiography

The Section includes requirements for digital detector systems and supporting adopted standards relevant to computed and digital radiographic techniques. Digital examination still requires controlled image quality, calibration, procedure and documentation rather than merely substituting a digital detector for conventional film.

In-Motion Radiography

Mandatory provisions cover in-motion radiographic examination for applications where the relative movement of the examination object or imaging system forms part of the examination technique.

Article 3 — Full Matrix Capture

The 2025 edition contains a dedicated Article 3 — Full Matrix Capture. Full matrix capture, or FMC, is an advanced ultrasonic data-acquisition technique in which combinations of transmitting and receiving elements in an ultrasonic array are used to collect a comprehensive data set for subsequent processing and imaging.

The article addresses equipment, examination techniques, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation. It also includes mandatory requirements for procedure qualification involving flaw sizing and categorization and supporting provisions for examination of welds using FMC.

Major 2025 Structural Change

The official 2025 Summary of Changes identifies Article 3 as a significant reorganization. Material previously located in an Article 4 mandatory appendix was revised and redesignated as the dedicated Full Matrix Capture article. This makes FMC substantially more visible as a distinct examination method within Section V.

Article 4 — Ultrasonic Examination Methods for Welds

Article 4 establishes ultrasonic examination requirements for welds. It addresses equipment, techniques, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation for ultrasonic testing used to detect, locate and characterize discontinuities.

Ultrasonic examination introduces high-frequency sound into the component and evaluates returned signals to determine the location and characteristics of reflectors. Section V provides the technical framework for both conventional and advanced ultrasonic techniques used in Code examinations.

Pulse-Echo Ultrasonic Examination

Conventional pulse-echo techniques remain an important part of Article 4. Examination procedures establish the search-unit configuration, calibration basis, scanning requirements and evaluation methods used for the applicable weld geometry.

Phased-Array Ultrasonic Testing

Section V includes requirements and appendices for phased-array ultrasonic testing. Phased-array systems electronically control multiple elements within an array probe to generate and steer ultrasonic beams, allowing examination coverage and imaging that differ from conventional single-element methods.

Time of Flight Diffraction

Article 4 supporting appendices include requirements associated with Time of Flight Diffraction, commonly abbreviated TOFD. TOFD uses diffraction signals from discontinuity tips and is widely applied to weld examination and flaw-sizing applications when permitted by the referencing Code.

Manual Linear Phased Array and Linear Scanning

The Section contains specific procedure provisions associated with manual linear phased-array raster scanning and phased-array linear scanning. These requirements establish examination controls needed when advanced array techniques are used instead of conventional UT.

Workmanship-Based Acceptance Applications

Mandatory appendices provide ultrasonic examination requirements used with workmanship-based acceptance criteria when referenced by the governing Code.

Fracture-Mechanics-Based Applications

Section V also contains ultrasonic examination requirements supporting fracture-mechanics-based acceptance criteria. These applications require reliable flaw detection, characterization and sizing because examination results may be used directly in engineering assessments.

HDPE Ultrasonic Examination

Article 4 includes specialized requirements for ultrasonic examination of high-density polyethylene, recognizing that ultrasonic behavior and examination techniques for polymer materials differ from those used for metallic welds.

Article 5 — Ultrasonic Examination Methods for Materials

Article 5 addresses ultrasonic examination of materials rather than completed welds. It establishes requirements for equipment, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation for material examinations.

Mandatory supporting provisions include ultrasonic examination of pumps and valves and inservice examination of bolts. The material-examination article complements the extensive adopted ultrasonic standards contained in Subsection B.

Article 6 — Liquid Penetrant Examination

Article 6 establishes requirements for liquid penetrant examination of surface-breaking discontinuities in nonporous materials. The method can be used on both ferrous and nonferrous materials where the surface condition is suitable.

The article addresses examination equipment, materials, surface preparation, technique, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation. Penetrant examinations can use visible or fluorescent penetrant systems depending on the specified technique.

Visible and Fluorescent Techniques

Section V controls the application and viewing conditions required for the applicable penetrant process. Fluorescent techniques use UV-A illumination, while visible techniques depend on adequate visible light and contrast between the indication and examination background.

Nonstandard Temperatures

Mandatory provisions address qualification of penetrant examination techniques used at temperatures outside the standard temperature range, where penetrant behavior and examination sensitivity can differ.

Article 7 — Magnetic Particle Examination

Article 7 establishes magnetic particle examination requirements for locating surface and near-surface discontinuities in ferromagnetic materials. It addresses equipment, miscellaneous requirements, technique, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation.

The method magnetizes the examination area and uses magnetic particles to reveal leakage fields associated with discontinuities. Section V provides requirements for magnetization techniques, examination media and viewing conditions as applicable to the selected technique.

AC Yoke and Other Techniques

Supporting appendices include requirements for magnetic particle examination using AC yoke techniques and provisions addressing examinations through applicable nonferromagnetic coatings.

UV-A Terminology

The 2025 edition updates terminology associated with fluorescent examinations by replacing older references to black light with the more technically precise term UV-A.

Article 8 — Eddy Current Examination

Article 8 covers eddy current examination. Eddy current techniques use electromagnetic induction to detect changes in conductive materials associated with discontinuities, geometry, material properties or wall condition.

The Section contains extensive mandatory appendices for eddy current applications, including examination of nonferromagnetic heat-exchanger tubing, coated ferromagnetic materials, external-coil examination of tubular products, coating-thickness measurements and examination of surface-connected discontinuities.

Eddy Current Array Examination

Supporting requirements include eddy current array techniques for detection and evaluation of surface-breaking flaws in ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic materials and welds.

Tangential Field Techniques

The Section also contains requirements for tangential-field examination techniques used to detect and evaluate surface-breaking discontinuities in conductive materials and welds.

Article 9 — Visual Examination

Article 9 provides requirements for visual examination, one of the most fundamental NDE methods used in Code inspection. Requirements address equipment, surface preparation, examination technique, evaluation and documentation.

Visual examination can identify surface conditions, dimensional irregularities, workmanship problems and visible discontinuities. Although comparatively simple in equipment, Code visual examinations still require controlled technique and suitable viewing conditions.

Article 10 — Leak Testing

Article 10 establishes general requirements for leak testing and contains numerous mandatory appendices addressing specific leak-test techniques.

Leak testing may be used to detect and, depending on the method, quantify leakage through pressure boundaries, joints and seals. Technique selection depends on the sensitivity required, test conditions and requirements of the referencing Code.

Bubble Testing

Mandatory appendices include bubble-test techniques using pressure or vacuum conditions. These methods provide visual evidence of leakage through formation of bubbles at leak locations.

Tracer Gas and Helium Methods

Section V includes helium mass spectrometer and other tracer-gas techniques for applications requiring greater leak-detection sensitivity.

Ultrasonic Leak Detection

A dedicated mandatory appendix addresses ultrasonic leak-detector testing using acoustic energy produced by leakage.

Articles 11 and 12 — Acoustic Emission Examination

Article 11 addresses acoustic emission examination of fiber-reinforced plastic vessels, while Article 12 addresses acoustic emission examination of metallic vessels during pressure testing.

Acoustic emission techniques detect transient elastic waves produced by active sources within a material. Instead of scanning every point individually, strategically located sensors monitor acoustic activity while the component is subjected to controlled loading or pressure conditions.

Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Vessels

Article 11 provides equipment, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation requirements tailored to acoustic emission examination of FRP vessels.

Metallic Vessels During Pressure Testing

Article 12 provides corresponding requirements for metallic vessels examined during pressure testing. Mandatory appendices address instrumentation performance, calibration, cross-referencing and assessment of acoustic-emission system sensitivity.

Article 14 — Examination System Qualification

Article 14 addresses qualification of an examination system where performance demonstration is required. It treats the personnel, procedures and equipment collectively as an examination system rather than assessing those elements independently.

The article covers application requirements, conduct of qualification demonstrations, calibration, examination, evaluation and documentation. A mandatory appendix provides ultrasonic performance-demonstration criteria.

Article 16 — Magnetic Flux Leakage Examination

Article 16 covers magnetic flux leakage, or MFL, examination. MFL magnetizes ferromagnetic material and detects leakage fields caused by changes in wall thickness or discontinuities.

The article establishes general requirements for equipment, calibration, examination, evaluation and records when MFL is invoked for Code examination.

Article 17 — Remote Field Testing

Article 17 establishes requirements for the Remote Field Testing, or RFT, examination method. RFT is an electromagnetic technique commonly associated with examination of ferromagnetic tubing, including heat-exchanger tubing.

The article addresses equipment, examination technique, calibration, evaluation and documentation needed to apply the method consistently.

Article 20 — Computed Tomography Examination

Article 20 addresses computed tomography examination. CT techniques use multiple radiographic projections and computational reconstruction to generate cross-sectional or volumetric information about a component.

The article establishes requirements for equipment, detector pixel correction, examination, evaluation and documentation where computed tomography is permitted by the applicable referencing document.

Subsection B — Documents Adopted by Section V

Subsection B incorporates a large collection of recognized examination standards that have been accepted for use within Section V. These adopted documents are not automatically mandatory in every application; they apply when referenced by Subsection A or by another applicable Code or referencing document.

Where requirements of Subsection A and an adopted Subsection B document conflict, Section V establishes the relationship governing their use.

Article 22 — Radiographic Standards

Article 22 includes adopted standards covering industrial radiographic film, image quality indicators, film processing, radiographic examination of castings, radiographic source characterization, radioscopy, digital radiological data and computed radiography.

Article 23 — Ultrasonic Standards

Article 23 includes adopted ultrasonic standards covering examination of forgings, steel plate, castings, aluminum plate, pipe and tubing, welded pipe, ultrasonic equipment performance, manual pulse-echo thickness measurement, phased-array instrument performance and phased-array weld examination.

Among the widely used references incorporated into Article 23 is SE-797/SE-797M for manual ultrasonic pulse-echo thickness measurement, a method extensively used for corrosion monitoring and remaining-thickness assessment.

Article 24 — Liquid Penetrant Standards

Article 24 includes adopted standards supporting liquid penetrant examination, including general penetrant practice requirements and standards covering UV-A and visible-light sources and LED UV-A lamp performance.

Article 25 — Magnetic Particle Standard

Article 25 adopts supporting standards for magnetic particle testing, including requirements used to select and control magnetic particle examination practices.

Article 26 — Eddy Current Standard

Article 26 contains adopted eddy current standards, including examination requirements for copper and copper-alloy tubing.

Article 29 — Acoustic Emission Standards

Article 29 includes adopted standards for acoustic-emission sensors, instrumentation, sensor-response verification, examination of FRP vessels and piping, continuous monitoring of metallic pressure boundaries and leak detection using surface-mounted acoustic-emission sensors.

Article 31 — Alternating Current Field Measurement

Article 31 includes the adopted standard covering examination of welds by the alternating current field measurement technique.

Article 32 — Remote Field Testing

Article 32 incorporates the adopted remote-field testing standard for in-situ examination of ferromagnetic heat-exchanger tubing.

Article 33 — Guided Wave Standards

Article 33 includes guided-wave testing standards covering aboveground steel piping using piezoelectric and magnetostrictive transduction techniques.

Subsection C — Nondestructive Methods and Techniques for Inservice Examination

The 2025 edition includes a substantial Subsection C devoted specifically to nondestructive methods and techniques for inservice examination. This section allows examination technology to be applied to operating or aging equipment under requirements tailored to condition assessment rather than original construction alone.

Inservice General Requirements

Part MT establishes general requirements for equipment, procedures, calibration, examinations, evaluation and documentation used with Subsection C methods.

Inservice Radiographic Examination

Article MT-2 addresses radiographic examination of equipment already in service. Supporting requirements include a tangential radiographic examination technique for evaluating corrosion or erosion.

Inservice Full Matrix Capture

Article MT-3 addresses application of full matrix capture to inservice examination and includes procedure-qualification requirements for flaw sizing and categorization.

Inservice Eddy Current Examination

Article MT-8 provides extensive requirements for inservice eddy current examination, including heat-exchanger tubing, coated ferromagnetic materials, tubular products, coating thickness, surface discontinuities, eddy current arrays and tangential-field techniques.

Inservice Visual Examination

Article MT-9 provides visual-examination requirements intended for inservice applications and addresses equipment, examination technique, calibration, evaluation and documentation.

Continuous Acoustic Emission Monitoring

Article MT-13 addresses acoustic-emission techniques for continuous monitoring of pressure-boundary components. Supporting appendices include applications involving nuclear components, nonnuclear metallic components, nonmetallic components, limited-zone monitoring, hostile environments and leak detection.

Inservice Examination System Qualification

Article MT-14 establishes examination-system qualification requirements for inservice applications where demonstration of the complete personnel-procedure-equipment system is required.

Inservice Alternating Current Field Measurement

Article MT-15 provides requirements for the Alternating Current Field Measurement Technique, or ACFMT, in inservice examination applications.

2025 Edition Changes

ASME BPVC.V-2025 revises and supersedes the 2023 edition. The official Summary of Changes identifies revisions throughout the examination articles, mandatory appendices and inservice requirements.

Dedicated Full Matrix Capture Article

One of the most visible structural changes is the creation of the dedicated Article 3 for Full Matrix Capture. The 2025 Summary of Changes identifies the previous Article 4 Mandatory Appendix XI material as revised and redesignated into this article.

Updated Radiographic Requirements

The 2025 edition revises several Article 2 radiographic provisions involving examination and evaluation and updates supporting digital radiography requirements.

Updated Ultrasonic Requirements

Article 4 and supporting appendices continue to incorporate advanced ultrasonic techniques including phased array, TOFD, full matrix capture-related interfaces, workmanship-based acceptance examinations and fracture-mechanics-based examinations.

Updated UV-A Terminology

The 2025 edition replaces older 'black light' terminology with UV-A terminology throughout applicable examination provisions, reflecting current NDE lighting terminology.

Expanded Inservice Examination Organization

The inservice portion of Section V provides dedicated methods for radiography, full matrix capture, eddy current, visual examination, acoustic emission monitoring, examination-system qualification and ACFM techniques.

Relationship to Other ASME Codes

Section V is referenced by multiple portions of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, including requirements governing boilers, pressure vessels, nuclear components, transport tanks and other pressure-retaining equipment. It is also used by inspection, repair and certification programs that reference ASME examination techniques.

For example, a pressure-vessel construction requirement may specify radiographic or ultrasonic examination and establish the extent and acceptance criteria, while Section V supplies the detailed examination procedure and technique requirements.

Use in ASME Certification Programs

ASME identifies BPVC Section V as a required Code book for numerous certification scopes where nondestructive examination forms part of the manufacturer's authorized work. It is therefore an important reference for ASME certificate holders, applicants and quality-control organizations involved with Code construction.

Use in API Inspector Certification and Inservice Inspection

Selected portions of Section V are also referenced in API inspector certification programs and pressure-equipment inspection practices. Commonly referenced methods include radiography, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle examination and ultrasonic thickness measurement.

Who Should Use ASME BPVC Section V

• Nondestructive examination engineers and technicians

• NDE Level II and Level III personnel

• Authorized Inspectors and Authorized Inspection Agencies

• Boiler and pressure vessel manufacturers

• Pressure-equipment and piping fabricators

• Welding inspectors

• Quality assurance and quality control personnel

• Mechanical integrity and asset-integrity professionals

• Pressure vessel and boiler engineers

• Nuclear component manufacturers and inspection organizations

• Repair and alteration organizations

• Engineering consultants

• ASME certificate holders and certification applicants

• API pressure-equipment inspector candidates and inspection professionals

Why Section V Matters

Nondestructive examination allows manufacturers and inspectors to evaluate pressure-retaining materials, welds and components without destroying the item being examined. Reliable NDE is therefore central to quality assurance in Code construction and to continued integrity assessment of equipment already in service.

Section V provides the common technical framework needed to perform those examinations consistently. It controls examination procedures, equipment, calibration, sensitivity, technique, evaluation and documentation while allowing the governing construction or inspection Code to determine when examinations are required and what acceptance criteria apply.

Product Features

• 2025 edition of ASME BPVC Section V

• 1,125-page nondestructive examination reference

• Covers radiographic examination

• Includes dedicated Full Matrix Capture requirements

• Covers ultrasonic examination of welds and materials

• Includes phased-array UT and TOFD supporting requirements

• Covers liquid penetrant examination

• Covers magnetic particle examination

• Covers eddy current examination

• Covers visual examination

• Provides extensive leak-testing methods

• Covers acoustic emission examination of FRP and metallic vessels

• Includes examination-system qualification requirements

• Covers magnetic flux leakage

• Covers remote field testing

• Covers computed tomography

• Includes adopted radiographic and ultrasonic standards

• Includes guided-wave and ACFM supporting standards

• Contains dedicated inservice examination methods and techniques

• Includes general requirements for NDE personnel qualification and documentation

• American National Standard

Product Details

• Standard: ASME BPVC.V-2025

• Section: Section V

• Title: Nondestructive Examination

• Publisher: ASME International

• Edition: 2025 Edition

• Date of Issuance: July 1, 2025

• Print ISBN: 9780791877197

• Page Count: 1,125

• ASME Order Number: 500050

• ANSI Status: American National Standard

• Committee: ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Committee on Nondestructive Examination

• Previous Edition: ASME BPVC.V-2023

• Language: English

• Publication Type: Code / Nondestructive Examination Standard

Edition Status and Errata Note

ASME BPVC.V-2025 is the current edition of Section V and supersedes the 2023 edition. It was issued July 1, 2025 and is currently identified by ASME as remaining in effect. ASME has placed Section V on stabilized maintenance, meaning the current edition remains active while requests and recommendations for changes can still be submitted and considered.

Four errata records have been issued for the 2025 edition, dated July 2025, September 2025, October 2025 and December 2025. Users applying the Code should consult current ASME or authorized catalog records for applicable errata in addition to the base publication.