scope:

Defines a method of penetrant testing used to detect discontinuities, e.g. cracks, laps, folds, porosity and lack of fusion, which are open to the surface of the material to be tested. It is chiefly applied to metal materials, but can also be performed on other materials, provided that they are not attacked by the test media and they are not excessively porous. The examination shall be carried out or supervised by competent personnel qualified and certified according to a system agreed upon by the contracting parties. This standard is not intended to be used for acceptance criteria and gives no information relating to the suitability of individual test systems for specific applications. The term "discontinuity" is used here in the sense that no evaluation concerning acceptability or non-acceptability is included.