Pressure-retaining items can be registered with the National Board, requiring certain uniform quality standards be achieved certifying the manufacturing, testing, and inspection process.
[2] Each year, representatives from around the world travel to the National Board Testing Laboratory north of Columbus, Ohio to measure the performance of their company’s pressure relieving devices.
A pressure relief device meeting new construction standards and specifications permits the manufacturer to apply the National Board NB mark to new equipment.
Additionally, it indicates the quality system has been audited and the equipment meets internationally recognized standards for preventing potential overpressure conditions in boilers and pressure vessels.
[3] The National Board lab supports industry research and development by testing new designs, serving as a comparative standard for other laboratories, validating new concepts, and – upon jurisdiction request – assist in boiler and pressure vessel incident investigations.