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Question:

Could you tell me what deems someone fit to be able to provide a Certificate of Conformance on pressure control equipment? 

We assume you reference API specified equipment, if so, see "Why You Should Look For The API Monogram and License Number on API Products". API, through a quality audit of Monogram License Applicants, determines the qualifications of the Applicant, and his agents and/or employees, to manufacture equipment in full compliance or conformance with API Specifications. The manufacturer's rights to apply the API Monogram, deems him qualified. A manufacturer with an API License, granted the rights to apply the API Monogram, certifies conformance of new manufactured equipment by the application of the API Monogram on the equipment. New equipment purchasers often require documentation shipped with the equipment to give evidence of conformance to specified requirements.

As for equipment manufactured to standards other than API, or by manufacturers without such audit or license control, the qualification question would fall to the party or parties wishing to obtain the Certification of Conformance. A number of organizations exist as "Certifying Authorities." ABS, DNV, and Lloyds of London, have offices located around the world that have wide industry recognition for their oversight capability, and they offer services to audit facilities and determine qualifications.

If you wish to obtain some type of "Certificate of Conformance" for existing equipment after a period of field use, the issue becomes more subjective. New equipment conformance certification depends partly on destructive testing of samples which don't exist for field used equipment. WOODCO USA makes some recommendations for inspection and acceptance of existing equipment, see Field Non-destructive Qualification Testing of Pressure Control Equipment and Field Appraisal of Ring Grooves. Appropriateness of field or shop inspections of this type depend upon the accepting persons judgment as to how much testing and inspection confirms conformance. You may judge persons or companies making appraisal of existing equipment for such certification, qualified, if they have an API License to manufacture such equipment or have a quality program approved by a recognized  "Certification Authority." 

Information above, and in other parts of this Web Site, may help persons who really seek to know. If you have a question, and you think WOODCO USA may have the capacity to answer it, please use our Contact Us link and give us a chance to help.

WOODCO USA provides Web Site Tools for identification, estimating, and reference only. Do not use this information for manufacturing or inspection. Users of these tools should not use them as a substitute for professional engineering advice.  Anyone making use of the information presented does so at his own risk and assumes any and all liability resulting from such use.