If a fabrication process does not include heating operations, what does the code imply regarding inspections?

The statement that if a fabrication process does not include heating operations, then no special inspections are required, aligns with the guidelines typically outlined in structural steel codes. In practices where heating processes such as welding or thermal cutting are involved, additional inspections are mandated to ensure the integrity and quality of the work, as these processes can introduce complexities such as thermal stresses, distortions, or metallurgical changes that must be monitored.

However, when the fabrication process does not include heating operations, such as in simpler processes like machining or assembling pre-manufactured components, the potential risks associated with welding and heating are minimized. As a result, the code recognizes that such processes can operate without the need for special inspections, making them less burdensome in terms of regulatory oversight. This allows for a more straightforward inspection approach, focusing on basic compliance rather than intensive scrutiny.

While other choices suggest varying levels of inspection where either inspections are always necessary, inspections may be reduced, or must follow standard procedures, the absence of heating operations significantly lowers the need for those added inspection measures, thus supporting the assertion that no special inspections are required.