INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS

What Is Radiographic Testing?

Radiographic testing (RT) sends a radiation source through the item being inspected and records what comes out the other side. The source is either an X-ray set or a sealed gamma source such as Iridium-192, and the radiation that passes through the weld is captured on film or on a digital detector. Where the metal is sound, the image is an even grey. Where there is a void, an inclusion or a crack, less metal absorbs the beam, so that spot shows up as a darker or lighter patch on the radiograph. In short, RT lets you read the inside of a weld as a density change without cutting anything open, which is why it remains one of the most trusted volumetric methods on pipework and pressure equipment.

Film vs Digital Radiography

Traditional film radiography exposes industrial X-ray film, which is then processed in chemicals and read on a light box. It gives excellent detail and a permanent record, and it still suits remote field work and archival jobs. Computed radiography (CR) uses a reusable phosphor plate that is scanned into a digital image, while digital detector arrays (DDR) capture the radiograph straight to a screen. The digital routes give faster turnaround, easier storage and simple sharing of results, and they cut the chemicals out of the workflow. Which one fits depends on the job, the access and the code you are working to. We help you choose rather than push a single approach.

What RT Finds and Where It Is Used

Radiography is a volumetric method, so it is at its best on buried weld flaws: porosity, slag inclusions, lack of fusion and cracking through the body of a joint. That makes it a natural fit for butt welds in pressure piping, vessels and structural steel where an internal defect could become a leak or a failure. On thicker sections or where geometry makes film tricky, RT is often paired with ultrasonic inspection or phased array ultrasonic testing to confirm sizing and get full coverage of the weld volume.

Radiation Safety and Exclusion Zones

Radiography is controlled, licensed work. Every exposure sets up an exclusion zone that nobody else can enter while the source is out, with barriers, warning signs and continuous dose monitoring around the area. Our technicians hold the required radiation-safety licensing and work to AS/NZS 2243.4 and the relevant ARPANSA and state regulatory requirements. Because the exclusion zone stops other trades, we frequently run radiography during night shift or shutdown windows so the rest of the site can keep moving through the day.

Interpretation, Reporting and Film Auditing

A radiograph is only as good as the person reading it. Our technicians interpret each image against the acceptance criteria of the applicable construction code and write up clear, defensible reports that tell you what was found and where. We also provide independent film auditing for radiographs shot by other parties, giving you a second, impartial read where a result is disputed or where you need third-party assurance before sign-off.

Standards, Compliance and Why Choose APEC

APEC performs weld radiography to AS 2177 and to ISO 17636-1 for film or ISO 17636-2 for digital detector techniques, with image interpretation to the acceptance criteria of the applicable construction code. Radiation safety follows AS/NZS 2243.4 and the relevant ARPANSA and state licensing, and our technicians are certified to AS 3998 / ISO 9712. As a NATA-accredited inspection body, our radiographic testing and reporting hold up to client, regulator and insurer scrutiny. To talk through a job or request a quote, call our team directly.