An inspection and test plan (ITP) is a short document, agreed before manufacture, that lists every inspection and test for an order, when it happens, who performs it and who must be present. For pipe fittings it turns the material standard, the dimensional standard and the project specification into a sequence everyone can follow – and it is the document the final inspector will sign against.
What an ITP Contains
Each line of an ITP normally records:
- Activity – for example raw material identification, forming, heat treatment, dimensional check.
- Reference document – the standard clause, procedure or drawing that defines the requirement.
- Acceptance criteria – the tolerance or test result that counts as a pass.
- Inspection point for the manufacturer, the buyer and any third-party inspector.
- Record – the report or certificate produced.
Hold, Witness and Review Points
| Point | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hold (H) | Work must stop until the named party has inspected and released it. |
| Witness (W) | The named party is notified and may attend; work can continue if they choose not to. |
| Review (R) | The named party reviews the records rather than attending in person. |
| Perform (P) | The party that carries out the activity. |
Keep hold points for the steps that cannot be checked later – for example a hydrostatic test or a heat treatment chart review – and use review points for everything that leaves a complete record.
A Typical ITP Sequence for Fittings
- Review of purchase order, drawings and procedures.
- Raw material identification and mill certificate review (heat numbers, chemistry, mechanical properties).
- Forming or forging, and welding with qualified procedures for welded fittings.
- Heat treatment, with furnace charts where required.
- Non-destructive testing specified by the order – for example radiography of welded seams, dye penetrant or ultrasonic testing.
- Positive material identification (PMI), where specified.
- Dimensional and visual inspection against ASME B16.9, B16.11 or the approved drawing.
- Marking, cleaning, end protection and packing.
- Final document review and release – EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certificates and inspection reports.
Agree It Before Manufacture
Send the ITP with the purchase order or ask the supplier to submit one for approval. Agree the notice period for witness points, who the third-party inspector is, and the format of the final document package. Changes after production starts usually cost time.
Related guides: dimensional inspection of delivered fittings, PMI, MTC and heat traceability, drawing approval before manufacture and reading an EN 10204 3.1 MTC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a hold point and a witness point?
At a hold point, work stops until the named party has inspected and released it. At a witness point, the party is notified and may attend, but work can continue if they do not.
Who prepares the ITP for a fittings order?
Usually the manufacturer prepares it from the buyer’s requirements and the buyer approves it, adding their own and any third-party inspector’s hold and witness points.
Does every fittings order need an ITP?
Not always. Small orders of standard fittings are often accepted on certificates and receiving inspection, but project orders with NDT, PMI or third-party inspection normally require one.
