Air Cooled Heat Exchangers Inspection Checklist

IPE Engineering Practice IPE-EP-8-1-4C

Document number: IPE-EP-8-1-4C · Section: 8 — Heat Transfer Equipment

THE MANUFACTURER OF EQUIPMENT PURCHASED BY IPE COMPANY SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MEETING ALL APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF THE IPE ENGINEERING PRACTICE AND OTHER DOCUMENTS REFERENCED THEREIN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ITEMS ARE INSPECTED BY A IPE REPRESENTATIVE.

REFERENCES

THE LATEST EDITION OF THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE REFERRED TO HEREIN

IPE ENGINEERING PRACTICES

EP 7-1-5 WELDING REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESSURE VESSLES EP 8-1-4 AIR COOLED HEAT EXCHANGERS

EP 10-3-1 SHOP PAINTING

API

API 661 AIR COOLED HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR GENERAL PLANT SERVICE

FREQUENCY OF CONTACT BY THE INSPECTOR (CHECK ONE)

LEVEL L: ON CALL BY FABRICATOR LEVEL 2: ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS LEVEL 3: EVERY WEEK

LEVEL 4: DAILY

LEVEL 5: RESIDENT

LEVEL 6. OTHER, SPECIFY

LEVEL OF INSPECTION BY THE INSPECTOR (CHECK ONE)

LEVEL L: PREFABRICATION MEETING, DOCUMENT REVIEW, AND FINAL INSPECTION

LEVEL 2: PREFABRICATION MEETING, DOCUMENT REVIEW. REVIEW ITEMS. AND FINAL INSPECTION L EVEL 3: PREFABRICATION MEETING. DOCUMENT REVIEW, REVIEW ITEMS. WITNESS POINTS, AND FINAL INSPECTION

LEVEL 4: PREFABRICATION MEETING, DOCUMENT REVIEW, REVIEW ITEMS, WITNESS POINTS, HOLD POINTS, AND FINAL INSPECTION

LEVEL 5. OTHER, SPECIFY

DOCUMENT REVIEW (SHOP INSPECTOR SHALL REVIEW)

	DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION (REFERENCES TO EP 8-1-4 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)	INSPECTOR’S INITIALS (REVIEW COMPLETE)	DATE
	IPE PURCHASE DOCUMENTS
	DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS
	MANUFACTURERS FINAL RECORDS (3.2.1)
	QUALITY CONTROL MANUAL
	MANUFACTURER’S DATA REPORT (3.2.3)
	NON ANSI B16.5 FORGING MATERIAL PROPERTIES
	QUALITY CONTROL PLAN
	MATERIAL RECEIVING SIGN-OFF
	IMPACT TEST REPORTS
	MATERIAL TEST REPORTS
	TEST EQUIPMENT CALIBRATION CERTIFICATIONS
	WELDING PROCEDURE SPECS (API 661:6.1.1.2)
	WELDER QUALIFICATION RECORDS (API 661:6.1.1.2)
	WELDER TRACEABILITY DOCUMENT
	NDE PROCEDURES
	NDE TEST REPORTS
	NDE PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION
	FABRICATION PLAN/SHOP TRAVELER
	IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL DIMENSIONS
	DAILY COATING INSPECTION REPORT (EP 10-3-1:10.8)
	SUB-CONTRACTOR Q/C REPORTS
	NAME PLATE RUBBINGS (7.5)
	AUTHORIZED WAIVERS AND/OR DEVIATIONS REVIEW
	REVIEW OF SUBORDERS OF UNPRICED PURCHASE ORDERS TO SUB- VENDORS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH IPE ENGINEERING PRACTICE

GENERAL FABRICATION INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS (ALL FABRICATED EQUIPMENT)

R CHECK: THE SHOP INSPECTOR SHALL REVIEW DOCUMENTED RESULTS OF INSPECTION PERFORMED BY VENDOR'S INSPFCTOR OR SUBCONTRACTED INSPECTOR.

W CHECK: INDICATES THE SHOP INSPECTOR SHALL WITNESS ITEMS DURING FABRICATION SHOP SHALL NOTIFY INSPECTOR 2 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF FABRICATION POINT BUT NEED NOT HOLD PRODUCTION FOR INSPECTION.

H CHECK: INDICATES THE SHOP INSPECTOR SHALL INSPECT ITEMS DURING HOLD ON FABRICATION. SHOP SHALL NOTIFY INSPECTOR FIVE DAYS IN ADVANCE OF FABRICATION POINT AND SHALL NOT CONTINUE AFFECTED PRODUCTION UNTIL INSPECTOR PERFORMS AND IMPROVES FABRICATION AFTER INDICATED INSPECTION.

R	W	H	INSPECTION/TESTING ACTIVITY (REFERENCES TO EP 8-1-4 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)	INSPECTOR’S INITIALS (REVIEW COMPLETE)	DATE
			FIT-UPS WELD ROOTS/WELD BEVELS
			GENERAL FABRICATION CHECKS (API 661:7.2)
			GENERAL WELDING FABRICATION CHECKS (API 661:7.2)
			PWHT PREPARATIONS (EP 7-1-5)
			REVIEW OF COLD WORKED PARTS PWHT REQUIREMENTS (6.2.8)
			NAMEPLATE REQUIREMENTS (7.5)
			TUBE HOLE DIAMETERS AND TOLERANCES (API 661: 6.3.1 AND AS AMENDED BY EP 8-1-4)
			EXPANSION OF TUBES INTO TUBE HOLES (6.3.3)
			TUBE HOLE GROOVE DIMENSIONS (API 661: 6.3.2)
			ALIGNMENT AND TOLERANCE CHECKS (API 661: 6.6)
			CLEANLINESS CHECK PRIOR TO FINAL INSPECTION (7.1)
			PMI OF ALL APPLICABLE MATERIALS (7.1.7)
			RT LOCATION SELECTION (API 661: 7.2.2 – 7.2.6 AND AS MODIFIED IN EP 8-1-4)
			RT OF WELDS IN COLD WORKED PARTS
			MT/PT OF ROOT AND FINAL WELDS (API 661: 7.2.7-12)
			NDE OF REPAIRS
			WELD HARDNESS CHECKS (API 661: 7.2.14)
			PRESSURE TESTING (7.3)
			MOTOR REQUIREMENTS (4.2.7)
			SHOP RUN-IN AND VIBRATION MONITORING (7.4)
			PREPARATION FOR SHIPMENT (API 661: 8.0)

GENERAL FABRICATION INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS (ALL FABRICATED EQUIPMENT)

R	W	H	INSPECTION/TESTING ACTIVITY	INSPECTOR’S INITIALS (REVIEW COMPLETE)	DATE
WELDING INSPECTION (SEE EP 7-1-5)	WELDING INSPECTION (SEE EP 7-1-5)	WELDING INSPECTION (SEE EP 7-1-5)	WELDING INSPECTION (SEE EP 7-1-5)	WELDING INSPECTION (SEE EP 7-1-5)	WELDING INSPECTION (SEE EP 7-1-5)
			WELDING PROCESS REQUIREMENTS (6.2,3,4,5,6)
			WELDER PERFORMANCE QUALIFICATION TESTS (7.0)
			WELD JOINT DESIGN (8.0)
			PREHEAT AND INTERPASS REQUIREMENTS (9.1)
			FILLER METAL REQUIREMENTS (9.2)
			WELDING TECHNIQUE REQUIREMENTS (9.3)
			WELDER IDENTIFICATION (9.4)
			PWHT REQUIREMENTS(10.0)
			TUBE WELDS 2 PASS WITH THROAT THICKNESS EQUAL TO TUBE THICKNESS



EXTERIOR COATING INSPECTION WHEN REQUIRED (SEE EP 10-3-1)	EXTERIOR COATING INSPECTION WHEN REQUIRED (SEE EP 10-3-1)	EXTERIOR COATING INSPECTION WHEN REQUIRED (SEE EP 10-3-1)	EXTERIOR COATING INSPECTION WHEN REQUIRED (SEE EP 10-3-1)	EXTERIOR COATING INSPECTION WHEN REQUIRED (SEE EP 10-3-1)	EXTERIOR COATING INSPECTION WHEN REQUIRED (SEE EP 10-3-1)
			SAND BLASTED SURFACES (10.5)
			COATINGS PREPARATION (10.6)
			WET FILM THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS (10.13)
			DRY FILM THICKNESS MEASUREMENTS (10.11)
			HOLIDAY TESTING OF COATING (10.15)

INSPECTOR SIGN-OFF	INSPECTOR SIGN-OFF	INSPECTOR SIGN-OFF	INSPECTOR SIGN-OFF
INITIALS	NAME	COMPANY	SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

SUMMARY:

© 2026 Inflection Point Engineering, LLC. All rights reserved. The content of this page — including calculation methods, reference data, written analysis, interactive tools, and source code — is the intellectual property of Inflection Point Engineering, LLC and is protected under applicable copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, modification, or derivative use in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written consent.

Disclaimer. This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Calculations, reference data, and methodologies are based on published standards and accepted engineering practice but are not a substitute for engineering judgment, site-specific analysis, or review by a licensed Professional Engineer. Inflection Point Engineering, LLC makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for a particular purpose of any content presented here, and shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from its use. Users assume all risk associated with applying this content to real-world design, operations, or decisions.