Third-party inspection plays a critical role in guaranteeing mechanical integrity for nonmetallic equipment, but timing is everything. Plant managers often ask whether inspection effort is best focused in the fabricator's shop or during field installation.
In-shop pre-shipment inspections allow quality control engineers to verify laminate thickness, glass-to-resin ratio, cure hardness (Barcol hardness), and flanged dimensional tolerances before equipment ever leaves the factory floor.
Field installation inspections focus on secondary joint overlays, proper support alignment, gasket torque verification, and rigging safety. Combining shop and field quality assurance creates a seamless defense against early equipment failure.