Radiographic testing cost per weld, per film and per crew day

What drives radiographic testing pricing

• Number of welds. Setup, controlled area and the crew trip are the same for 20 welds and 200. A large batch drops the price per weld by a third or more.
• Wall thickness and diameter. Thick walls need a stronger source and longer exposures, and big pipe needs double wall shots or several views per weld.
• Source. Ir-192 isotope work is portable and common in the field but needs source handling and a radiation safety program. X-ray sets avoid the isotope and give a quicker stop, at a higher day rate.
• Access and timing. Radiography needs a cleared exclusion zone, so many jobs run at night or on weekends, which carries a shift premium.
• Film or digital. Digital shortens the wait for results and the archive, and it costs more per image on small jobs.
• Acceptance code and report. Reading to ASME B31.3, API 1104 or AWS D1.1 with a signed weld by weld report costs more than a pass or fail list.
• Repairs. Rejected welds get cut out or ground, rewelded and shot again, and every retest is billed.

Illustrative budgets with the scope added up

These examples show how the pieces combine. They are planning illustrations, not offers.

• A fabrication shop sends 40 small castings, three views each, to a lab. Roughly $3,000 to $12,000 depending on part size and grade.
• A process piping spool package with 60 welds, 100% RT, 4 to 8 inch pipe. Roughly $4,500 to $12,000 including mobilization.
• A pipeline tie in with 12 butt welds on 24 inch pipe, field crew with night shift. Roughly $2,500 to $6,000 plus travel.
• A shutdown repair program with 30 welds shot, half retested after repair. Roughly $3,500 to $9,000, with the retest share the main swing.

Per image, per weld or per crew day

Per image pricing suits shops and labs, where parts come to the exposure room. Per weld pricing suits field work with a known weld list, because the contractor takes the risk of setup and repeats. Per crew day suits unknown or changing scopes, such as a shutdown, and gives you flexibility at the cost of paying for idle time. Ask for a not to exceed total either way, and write down how standby during permits and exclusion zone delays is billed.

Charges to settle before the crew arrives

• Minimum charge, often a half or full day even for a few welds.
• Night or weekend premium for work in a cleared area.
• Source handling, transport permits and radiation safety officer time.
• Retests after repairs, and who pays when a weld fails twice.
• Archive and image transfer, especially digital files and the retention period.
• Film interpretation by a Level II or Level III, billed separately by some companies.

How to lower radiographic testing cost without losing coverage

Batch welds into one window and send the weld list, isometrics and acceptance code before the crew quotes. Check whether the code allows ultrasonic testing or phased array on part of the list, since ultrasonic testing services often cost less per weld and need no exclusion zone. Plan a single retest window rather than several callbacks. Ask whether a digital archive is included, because paying later for old film copies is a common surprise. Teams that must also track the radiation licenses, safety training dates and calibration records of every crew they hire can keep them in one place with compliance management software before the work starts.

What to send for comparable radiographic testing quotes

• Weld list or isometrics, pipe size and schedule, material and number of welds.
• Code and acceptance table, for example ASME B31.3, API 1104 or AWS D1.1, and the percentage to examine.
• Film or digital, and the image archive and report format you need.
• Site, access, working hours and whether an exclusion zone can be set.
• Qualification of the interpreter, for example ASNT Level II.
• Expected retests and the rule for who pays.
• Price per weld or image plus a not to exceed total, and the minimum charge and standby rule written out.

How much does radiographic testing cost?

Radiographic testing in the US usually costs $25 to $90 per image in a shop, $60 to $250 per weld in the field, and $1,800 to $3,500 per two person crew day. Minimum charges of $500 to $1,500 and night or rush premiums apply on small or urgent jobs.

How much does weld X-ray cost per weld?

A weld X-ray costs about $60 to $150 for pipe up to 6 inch and $100 to $250 for 8 to 24 inch pipe, with two or more views on larger sizes. Large batches, simple access and daytime work sit at the low end. Retests after repairs are billed again.

Is digital radiography more expensive than film?

Per image, digital usually costs 10 to 30 percent more on small jobs, and it removes film processing time and storage. On large programs the faster results and the digital archive often make it the cheaper choice overall.

How long does a radiographic test take?

A field crew usually shoots 10 to 30 welds a night depending on pipe size and wall thickness. Film needs development time, and digital shows results in minutes. Written reports arrive in one to five business days, and urgent findings are called in the same day.

Is ultrasonic testing cheaper than radiography?

Often yes for thick welds and large programs, because UT needs no exclusion zone and gives results immediately. Radiography leaves a permanent image and is required by some codes. Check what your construction code accepts before you switch.