Hold points and witness points
Witnessing is usually planned in an inspection and test plan (ITP), a table of every check in production with who does it and who watches.
| Hold point | Witness point | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Work stops until the buyer's inspector attends or waives in writing | The factory gives notice; if the inspector does not attend, work goes on |
| Typical use | Final pressure test, performance test, test before painting | Routine in-process checks |
| Notice | Agreed in the ITP, often a few working days | |
What a witness checks besides the result
- The parts tested are ones the inspector picked, with serial or heat numbers recorded.
- The method follows the standard or procedure in the order: pressure, hold time, load, speed, acceptance level.
- Gauges and instruments carry calibration certificates in date.
- For NDT, the technician holds a certificate for that method.
- Failures are recorded, not retested quietly until they pass.
Common witnessed tests are hydrostatic tests on valves and pipe, pump performance tests, PMI on alloy parts, NDT of castings and welds, motor insulation tests, and load or stability tests such as the tip-over test on furniture.
How Clear To Load uses it
Clear To Load inspectors witness tests run by the factory or by a third-party lab, check the set-up and record each result with photos in the report. We do not perform NDT or pressure tests ourselves, and we do not issue or co-sign EN 10204 3.2 certificates. A witness visit is booked by the man-day, like any inspection; long test programmes can need more than one day. See machinery, pumps and valves and castings and forgings.