NDT for Pressure Vessels and Tanks in Belgium
Expert non-destructive testing for pressure vessels, storage tanks and heat exchangers — ensuring structural integrity, regulatory compliance and safe operation of your critical equipment.
Inspection of Pressure Vessels and Storage Tanks
Pressure vessels, storage tanks and heat exchangers are among the most safety-critical items of equipment in any industrial installation. Operating under internal pressure, at elevated or cryogenic temperatures, and in contact with potentially hazardous fluids, these assets must maintain their structural integrity throughout their entire service life. Failure of a pressure vessel can have devastating consequences — from uncontrolled release of hazardous substances to explosive decompression — making rigorous inspection and testing an absolute necessity.
LCNDTEST provides comprehensive non-destructive testing services for all types of vessels and tanks, from small compressed air receivers to large-scale petrochemical reactors and atmospheric storage tanks. Based in Nivelles, Belgium, our certified inspection teams operate across the entire country and throughout Europe, supporting vessel manufacturers during fabrication, assisting plant operators with in-service inspection programmes, and performing the examinations required for periodic requalification under Belgian and European pressure equipment regulations.
Our inspection scope covers every stage of the vessel lifecycle: material verification during procurement, weld inspection during fabrication, pre-service pressure testing, in-service condition assessment, fitness-for-service evaluation, and repair or alteration verification. By combining multiple NDT methods with our in-depth knowledge of the applicable codes and standards — including EN 13445, ASME Section VIII, API 510, API 653 and the PED 2014/68/EU — LCNDTEST delivers the reliable, documented inspection results that you need to operate safely, maintain regulatory compliance and optimise the service life of your pressure equipment.
Adapted Inspection Methods
- Visual Testing (VT) for comprehensive external and internal examination of vessel shells, heads, nozzles, attachments and internals — identifying corrosion, erosion, cracking, bulging, distortion and other visible degradation
- Ultrasonic Thickness Measurement for systematic wall thickness surveys and corrosion mapping on vessel shells, heads and nozzles, providing the quantitative data needed for remaining life calculations
- Ultrasonic Testing (UT) including Phased Array and TOFD for volumetric examination of longitudinal and circumferential shell welds, nozzle-to-shell welds and other critical welded joints
- Radiographic Testing (RT) for weld quality verification during fabrication and in-service examination of vessel welds where radiographic sensitivity is advantageous
- Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) for the detection of surface and near-surface cracks on ferritic steel vessels, particularly at high-stress locations such as nozzle corners, shell-to-head junctions and attachment welds
- Penetrant Testing (PT) for surface crack detection on austenitic stainless steel vessels, clad surfaces, non-ferrous components and overlay welds
- Hydrostatic and Pneumatic Pressure Testing for proof testing of new vessels, requalification of in-service equipment and verification of repairs and alterations
- Positive Material Identification (PMI) to verify the correct alloy grade of vessel components, particularly in corrosive or high-temperature services where material selection is critical to equipment reliability
Standards and Regulations
LCNDTEST performs vessel and tank inspections in full compliance with the applicable European and international codes and standards. For new fabrication, our inspections follow EN 13445 (unfired pressure vessels), ASME Section VIII (pressure vessels), EN 12952 and EN 12953 (boilers), and the essential safety requirements of the PED 2014/68/EU. For in-service inspection, we apply the requirements of API 510 (pressure vessel inspection code), API 653 (tank inspection, repair, alteration and reconstruction), and EEMUA 159 (users guide to the maintenance and inspection of aboveground vertical cylindrical steel storage tanks). Fitness-for-service assessments are conducted in accordance with API 579-1/ASME FFS-1. All our technicians are certified to EN ISO 9712.