Questions about U-stamp
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1. Is it the case that the U stamp is applied by AI (or AIS) after the inspection is completed successfully by an authorized testing agency AI (or AIS)? 2. If the first question above is about AI being used for construction, then how can there still be statements such as: “The factory has obtained ASME certification and a U stamp”? If AI is used for construction, what’s the use of a factory having the qualification for U-grade steel?
It’s the same as domestic supervision and inspection – without a container manufacturing certificate, one cannot produce pressure vessels; and even with that certificate, supervision and inspection are required before the vessels can be released for sale.
The U-mark is kept by the manufacturing plant itself; once the equipment passes the AI inspection, the plant applies the U-mark under the supervision of AI
AI certification and the U stamp are not the same thing; just as domestic supervision certification and inspection by boiler testing agencies exist, products with a U stamp are registered with ASME, while those without such a U stamp are built in accordance with ASME standards, relying on AI certification
There’s another question: whether or not a U-stamp is used, does it have to be witnessed by AI?
First question: The U-stamp is applied by the manufacturer itself, with AI serving as a witness. Second question: Obtaining the U stamp indicates that ASME recognizes your company’s ability to produce products that comply with ASME VIII-1 standards. However, this does not mean that all products manufactured by your company can be stamped with the U stamp. The presence of the U stamp on a particular product or its nameplate signifies that that product has passed both internal inspections and AI inspections, thereby meeting the ASME VIII-1 standards. So, the normal process is as follows: if a factory wishes to produce ASME products with a U-stamp, it must first find a qualified AIA (ASME-approved inspection agency) and enter into an agreement for certification. The AIA will then assign an AI to help the factory establish its quality system and review the relevant documents. After that, the factory applies to ASME headquarters for joint verification. ASME headquarters will send a team leader for joint inspections, along with an AIS (chief inspector) from the AIA and the AI, to conduct a review of the factory’s prototype products and quality system over a period of 2–3 days. If the review is successful, the team leader will report the findings to ASME headquarters and give recommendations regarding whether to issue a certificate. ASME headquarters will then issue the certificate (i.e., the manufacturing authorization) and the U-stamp to the applying factory, based on the team leader’s recommendations. It’s not as you think – it’s not the AI that holds the U-shaped stamp; it can stamp the product arbitrarily as long as it considers it to be of good quality.
AI inspection is required only for those that need a U-stamp. . A U-stamp is not required. . It depends on what the buyer requests. .