Overview
ISO 24367:2023 - Non-destructive testing - Acoustic emission testing - Metallic pressure equipment establishes requirements for acoustic emission (AE) testing of metallic pressure equipment. The standard defines an AE testing (AT) technique, the classification and evaluation of AE results, and requirements for equipment, on-site operation and documentation. It applies to AE detection and monitoring of active sources in newly manufactured and in‑service pressure equipment, but does not apply to leak detection or continuous in‑service AE monitoring. ISO 24367:2023 is not intended as a stand‑alone NDT method; other non‑destructive testing (NDT) techniques are expected to verify and supplement AT results.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope and limits: AE for metallic pressure-bearing shells (boilers, pressure vessels, piping, safety valves); excludes leak detection workflows.
- Personnel qualification: Competence requirements for AE operators and analysts.
- Testing equipment: Specifications and verification for AE systems, sensors, signal/power cables, preamplifiers, filters, couplant and instruments; maintenance and calibration guidance.
- On-site operation: Pre‑test preparation (preliminary information, site investigation), sensor array design and mounting, pressurization sequences, determination of system testing threshold and attenuation curve.
- Instrument settings & checks: Sensitivity checks, verification of location systems, intensity analysis and stop criteria for live testing.
- Data handling: Data acquisition, on‑line and off‑line analysis, AE clustering and source location (zone/planar/computed methods).
- Classification & evaluation: Defined classification methods for AE sources, determination of activity/intensity, and interpretation rules to support decision making.
- Acceptance criteria & documentation: Requirements for test instructions, records and final test reports; Annex with sensor placement guidelines.
Applications and Who Uses It
ISO 24367:2023 is intended for practical use in:
- NDT service providers performing proof testing and manufacturing inspections
- Plant owners / asset integrity teams managing pressure vessels and piping
- Inspection bodies and regulators setting test procedures and acceptance criteria
- Maintenance and reliability engineers integrating AE results with other NDT methods
Use cases include locating active discontinuities in welds and parent metal during proof tests, supporting fitness-for-service decisions, and guiding follow‑up inspections using complementary NDT (UT, RT, PT).
Related Standards
ISO 24367 references and complements existing AE and NDT standards such as ISO 12714, ISO 12716, ISO/TR 13115, and relevant EN standards for AE equipment and AE location methods (e.g., EN 14584, EN 15495, EN 13477 series). These form a useful normative framework when implementing AE for metallic pressure equipment.