The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors was founded in 1919 and has been dedicated to promoting safety in the industry. In addition to numerous other activities, the organization publishes the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC). This guidance was first published in 1946 as a guide for chief inspectors. It has since become an internationally recognized standard, adopted by most U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions. The NBIC provides standards in four sections: (1) installation, (2) inspection, (3) repair and/or alteration, and (4) pressure relief devices. The code is revised every two years, and the 2021 version was released in July.
The following is a summary of key changes to the NBIC code.