When you need an R-Stamp certified contractor

Not every weld on a boiler or pressure vessel requires an R-Stamp holder, but many do.

Here's how to tell the difference, and what happens if the wrong contractor does the work.

When R-Stamp certification is required

• Any repair or alteration to a boiler, or to a Section VIII, Division 1 pressure vessel, that affects a
  pressure-retaining part (welding on the shell, heads, nozzles, tubes, or other pressure boundary)
  generally has to be done under an R-Stamp Certificate of Authorization, following the National Board
  Inspection Code and inspected by an Authorized Inspection Agency.
• Repairs and alterations to piping covered by the same certificate follow the same rule.
• Work that changes a unit's rating, capacity, or intended service is an alteration, not a routine repair,
  and needs the same R-Stamp process.
• Jurisdictions can require the work be reported and, in some cases, approved before or after it's done.

When it isn't required

• Routine maintenance that doesn't touch a pressure-retaining part, such as external cleaning,
  insulation, or replacing non-pressure controls, typically doesn't require an R-Stamp holder.
• New construction of a boiler or pressure vessel uses a different certificate (such as an S, U, or PP
  Stamp) from the manufacturer, not an R-Stamp, which applies to repairs and alterations of equipment
  already in service.

Why it matters

Using a contractor without a current R-Stamp for work that requires one can put your equipment out of
service until it's redone correctly, and can void the inspection and insurance record on the unit. See why
the right stamp matters for the risks in more detail.

Not sure which category your job falls into?

Call 973-247-2800 or send us the equipment nameplate information and a description of what needs
repair, and we'll tell you plainly whether it needs an R-Stamp repair.

Not sure if your job needs an R-Stamp contractor? Ask us.

Tell us about your equipment and we'll tell you what it needs.