Special/Critical Inspections

The inspections under this category can be broadly classified as follows:

• Structural Steel Fabrication Inspections
• Structural Steel and High Strength Bolting Inspections
• Cold Formed Steel Inspections
• Aluminum Inspections
• Stainless Steel Inspections
• Piping System Inspections (Fuel Gas, Steam, High Temp Hot Water)
• Non Destructive Testing ( Radiographic Testing, Ultrasonic Testing, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing, Dye Penetrant Testing, Eddy Current Testing, Video Borescope Inspections
• Soil percolation / water infiltration testing
• Inspection of subgrade and foundation work

Fabrication Shop Inspection (Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Piping Spools)

Inspection of welds often starts a fabrication facility. In many instances the fabrication is carried out of state, and in some cases abroad. AEIS has the expertise and resources to cover most locations and we have on numerous occasions dispatched our personnel out of state and overseas. Attempts are made to use local resources, where possible, after proper vetting.

Approved shop drawings and project specifications will be sent to our inspection staff and we will monitor your project to meet code and specification requirements.

Our reports will be supported with photographs and individual piece numbers for the steel members that were inspected each day. Our staff will coordinate directly with the shop staff to perform all non-destructive testing required of the specifications and track any deficiency until corrective work is completed and acceptable.

For all welding work, verification of appropriate Welding Procedure Specifications, supporting Procedure Qualification Records, and Welder Performance Qualification Records is crucial. These documents are verified against the approved drawings and codes by our inspectors. Thereafter, all essential welding variables/ parameters are monitored. Welds that receive adequate checks prior to welding, in-process, and post welding usually exhibit minimal discontinuities in subsequent nondestructive testing.

• Shop Steel Fabrication
• Non-destructive testing of shop welds; Magnetic particle, Dye Penetrant, Ultrasonic or Radiography.
• Coatings Inspection of fabricated components by SSPC/ NACE Level 1/ 2/ 3 Inspectors.

Geotechnical References

• Perform or monitor subsurface investigations such as borings and test pits. Provide engineering reports that comply with NYCBC 1803.6 for the design professional’s use for the design of foundation work. Furnish a completed NYCBC TR4 technical report (or other as required by local building agency).
• Sampling of soils via standard penetration test (SPT) or split barrel.
• Sampling of soils via thin walled-tube for geotechnical evaluation.
• Determine flow of groundwater through soils by performing a soil percolation test or a double ring-infiltrometer test if required by the design professional.
• Testing the quality of in-place soils by performing an in-situ California bearing ratio (CBR) test. This is the most commonly requested test by the design professional for the evaluation and design of flexible pavement components such as base and subbase courses.
• Monitor pile installation and record results to comply with local codes. Furnish a completed NYCBC TR5 technical report.
• Monitor helical pile installations and providea NYCBC TR5H technical report.
• Inspection of the methods employed to protect the sides of an excavation (e.g. sheeting, shoring and bracing). To avoid settlement of an existing adjacent structure due to the presence of an excavation area, the contractor must not remove any lateral support from the existing structure. A plan is to be submitted by the contractor, signed by a Professional Engineer, and AEIS will inspect to verify the submitted plan is followed to avoid damage to existing structure.
• Underpinning may be required as part of as part of the excavation process. AEIS engineers will ensure the underpinning system is installed as designed.
• Determination of in-place density and moisture content of soils & soil aggregates by nuclear methods (shallow depth).

Typical Geotechnical references in project specifications:

• Perform or monitor subsurface investigations such as borings and test pits. Provide engineering reports that comply with NYCBC 1803.6 for the design professional’s use for the design of foundation work. Furnish a completed NYCBC TR4 technical report (or other as required by local building agency).
• Sampling of soils via standard penetration test (SPT) or split barrel.
• Sampling of soils via thin walled-tube for geotechnical evaluation.
• Determine flow of groundwater through soils by performing a soil percolation test or a double ring-infiltrometer test if required by the design professional.

New York City Building Code section references(Partial listing):

• NYC BC 1704.7.4 Structural tests and special inspections - Special inspection of soils investigations, borings and test pits.
• NYC BC 1704.8.5
• NYC BC 1704.8 Structural tests and special inspections - Pile foundations
• NYC BC 1704.20 Structural Stability
• 1704.20.1, 1704.20.2, 1704.20.3, 1704.21.1, 1808.4, 18.4.1 thru 1804.5.1, 1804.2 thru 1808.4.3.3, 1808.5, 1808.5.1 thru 1808.5.8.