9 Certification by Data Reports and Stamping Available to Purchase

In order for the Code to be effective, there must be some means of assuring that it has been followed. Each phase of the work of designing, manufacturing, and assembling the boiler or component to which the ASME Code symbol is applied must be done in accordance with the Code (see Chapter 8, Third Party Inspection, regarding CSP-53, Protection of The ASME Mark). Assurance that a boiler is constructed to the Code is provided, in part, by a process called Code certification. In the simplest case of a complete boiler unit made by a single manufacturer, the manufacturer must certify on a form called a Manufacturer's Data Report Form that all work done by the manufacturer or others responsible to the manufacturer complies with all requirements of the Code. When some portion is performed by others not responsible to the manufacturer, the manufacturer must obtain the other organization's Code certification. In addition, the manufacturer must stamp the boiler with a Code symbol, which signifies that it has been constructed in accordance with the Code. Certification thus is an integral part of a quality assurance program which establishes that:

1. The organization that did the work held an appropriate ASME Certificate of Authorization to use a Code symbol;

2. The organization has certified compliance with the Code rules by signing and furnishing the appropriate Manufacturer's Data Report Form;

3. The organization has applied the Code symbol stamp to identify the work covered by its Data Report Form;

4. An Authorized Inspector or Certified Individual has confirmed by signing the Data Report Form that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the work complied with the applicable Code rules.