# Non-destructive testing (NDT)

> Non-destructive testing (NDT) is the inspection of materials, welds, components or structures for defects and properties without damaging them or taking them out of service.

- Source: https://amps.global/glossary/non-destructive-testing/
- Type: Glossary
- Published: 2026-09-05
- Tags: NDT, inspection

## Key facts

- Common methods: visual (VT), ultrasonic (UT), radiographic (RT), magnetic particle (MT), liquid penetrant (PT), eddy current (ET), leak (LT), acoustic emission (AE), thermography (IRT)
- Personnel are qualified in levels 1, 2 and 3 under schemes such as ISO 9712 or the employer-based SNT-TC-1A
- Inspection bodies are typically accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 or ISO/IEC 17025 by NATA (Australia) or IANZ (New Zealand)
- Typical deliverable: a method-specific report with acceptance criteria from a code such as ASME V, AWS D1.1 or AS/NZS 1554

Also known as: NDT, non-destructive examination, NDE, non-destructive inspection.

## What it covers

NDT examines an object for cracks, porosity, corrosion, lack of fusion, thickness loss or material properties while leaving it fit for service. It is used on welds, pressure equipment, pipelines, storage tanks, structural steel, castings, forgings, composites and lifting gear across oil and gas, energy, mining, manufacturing, construction and transport.

Each method exploits a different physical principle: sound (UT), penetrating radiation (RT), magnetism (MT), capillary action (PT), electromagnetic induction (ET), light (VT) or heat (IRT). Most inspections combine a surface method with a volumetric method, and every method has procedures, calibration requirements and acceptance criteria defined by the governing code.

## Who does it

NDT is performed by certified technicians working for inspection service companies or in-house inspection departments of asset owners. Certification follows ISO 9712 (central, third-party) or a written practice under SNT-TC-1A (employer-based). The company itself is usually accredited by a national body, NATA in Australia and IANZ in New Zealand, to ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection or ISO/IEC 17025 for testing.

## The business side of NDT

An NDT job is a small project: an enquiry and quote, a work order, technicians with the right certificates and calibrated equipment, on-site testing, a report against acceptance criteria, timesheets and an invoice. Records of certificates, calibrations, reports and revisions are what auditors and clients ask for.

## NDT in AMPS

AMPS is job and asset management software built around this workflow for NDT and inspection companies in Australia and New Zealand. AMPS runs the job pipeline from creation and assignment through execution, reporting, timesheets and closure; a job marked ready for invoicing is visible to administrative staff in real time and the invoice is created in Xero. AMPS keeps personnel and equipment certificates on dedicated personnel and equipment pages, and its flag system warns one month before a certificate, calibration document or scheduled inspection falls due, so managers always know what is missing or expiring. In AMPS, reports are produced from your own Microsoft Word templates through the template engine: job data such as the client, purchase order number, equipment serial numbers, location and dates is filled in automatically, an AI assistant can tidy the wording, the report can be signed in AMPS, and the finished Word file is saved in the job's report folder in your OneDrive, SharePoint or Google Drive.

## Related pages

- [Managing NDT jobs on AMPS](https://amps.global/case-studies/01-ndt-jobs-and-assets/)
- [NDT & inspection management software](https://amps.global/solutions/ndt-inspection-management-software/)
- [Ultrasonic testing (UT)](https://amps.global/glossary/ultrasonic-testing/)
- [ISO/IEC 17020](https://amps.global/glossary/iso-iec-17020/)

## Sources

- [Nondestructive testing on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondestructive_testing)
- [ASNT - American Society for Nondestructive Testing](https://www.asnt.org/)
- [BINDT - British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing](https://www.bindt.org/)