However, once built and installed, the postconstruction regulation for this equipment is left to the auspices of local governmental jurisdictions that have adopted the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC). Like the ASME code, the NBIC was created for the purpose of promoting safety by establishing uniform rules related to the inspection and repair of equipment built to the ASME code. Provided that a pressure component is affixed with an ASME symbol and it is satisfactorily inspected and repaired in accordance with the NBIC, it is generally recognized that the object is considered suitable for continued service.
Since the inception of the ASME Code and the NBIC, this protocol for safety has successfully demonstrated its effectiveness over the years by reducing the incidence and severity of industrial accidents related to boilers and pressure vessel equipment. However, while the overall safety has improved, this doctrine does not provide the type of information necessary for establishing life extension considerations in support of asset management decisions.