[Documentation and Records] Who is responsible for ensuring that the material and applicator qualification test results are fully documented?

According to API Standard 936, the contractor holds the primary responsibility for the quality of the refractory installation work. This scope of responsibility explicitly includes performing and fully documenting the results of both material qualification tests and applicator qualification tests. The contractor must maintain these records as part of the overall installation documentation, which is then subject to review and verification by the inspector and approval by the owner. This ensures a clear chain of accountability for the quality control process during the installation.

A. Inspector: The inspector's role is to witness, verify, and review the contractor's documentation and procedures to ensure compliance with the standard, not to create the primary documentation.

B. Manufacturer: The manufacturer is responsible for providing material data sheets and batch test results for their product but is not responsible for documenting the contractor's on-site applicator qualification tests.

D. Owner: The owner specifies the project requirements, designates the inspector, and provides final acceptance, but they do not generate the detailed test documentation for the contractor's activities.

References:

1. American Petroleum Institute (API). (2014). API Standard 936: Refractory Installation Quality Control—Inspection and Testing Monolithic Refractory Linings and Materials (4th ed.).

Section 9.1: "The contractor shall maintain a record of the installation, which shall be available to the inspector."

Section 9.2 (c) and (d): This section lists the specific items that must be documented by the contractor, which include "material qualification test results" and "applicator qualification test results."

Section 4.3.1: "The contractor shall be responsible for the quality of the installation work, which shall meet the requirements of this standard and the owner’s specification."

Section 6.1: "The contractor shall qualify each application crew (see 3.1.2) for each refractory material and installation method used." This implies the contractor is responsible for the associated documentation.