Customer-Assigned Third-Party PT Inspection Completed for CF8M Butterfly Valve Castings

The third-party inspector arrived early at the foundry, tasked with supervising the preliminary penetration test on the butterfly valve casting intended for our end user- San Diego County Water Authority, also known as SDCWA. Acting as an independent authority, the inspector’s role was to ensure that the inspection process adhered strictly to applicable quality standards and that any potential surface defects were accurately identified and documented.

The procedure began with a careful visual examination of the casting. The inspector observed surface conditions, noting areas that required closer attention due to minor irregularities from the casting process. Following this, the surface was thoroughly cleaned to remove oil, dust, and any contaminants that could interfere with the penetration testing process.

Once prepared, the penetrant liquid was evenly applied across critical area of the valve body, particularly around flange faces, sealing edges, and thicker sections prone to shrinkage defects. The inspector closely monitored dwell time to ensure compliance with the specified procedure. After sufficient time had passed, excess penetrant was carefully removed, and a developer was applied to draw out any trapped penetrant from surface-breaking flaws.

As the developer set, the inspector conducted a detailed evaluation under appropriate lighting conditions. Several minor indications were observed, primarily superficial in nature, with no evidence of critical defects such as cracks or porosity exceeding acceptable limits. Each indication was measured, recorded, and assessed against the relevant acceptance criteria.

Throughout the process, the inspector maintained clear communication with our quality team, emphasizing transparency and traceability. A preliminary report was compiled on-site, summarizing findings and confirming that the casting met the required standards for this stage of inspection.

The supervision provided assurance to our end user that the butterfly valve casting is progressing through quality control with diligence, consistency, and adherence to industry best practices.