ADNOC AGES Standards for QC Inspectors: Complete Guide (2026)

If you're working on ADNOC projects in Abu Dhabi or the wider UAE, you must comply with AGES (Approved Generic Engineering Standards) — ADNOC's mandatory technical standards. This guide walks you through every AGES standard a QC inspector needs to know, across all disciplines.

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What Are ADNOC AGES Standards?

AGES = Approved Generic Engineering Standards — the technical baseline for all ADNOC onshore and offshore projects. They are:

• Mandatory — not optional
• Supplementary to international codes (ASME, API, ASTM, IEC)
• Stricter than the base code in most cases
• Auditable — non-compliance is a project hold point

Every QC inspector on an ADNOC project must know which AGES applies to their discipline and how it changes the inspection requirements.

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AGES Standards by Discipline

Civil & Structural: AGES-CV-01

AGES-CV-01 governs civil and structural engineering. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Concrete	Mix design approval, 28-day cube tests, third-party lab
Rebar	Mill test certificates, traceability, cover verification
Structural steel	AWS D1.1 fabrication, bolt torque, NDT per inspection level
Foundations	Geotech report, bearing capacity, as-built verification
Documentation	ITP, QA/QC plan, as-built drawings, material certificates

Stricter than ACI/AISC: AGES-CV-01 often requires third-party inspection on critical structural elements and additional hold points beyond the international code.

Piping: AGES-PI-01

AGES-PI-01 governs piping engineering. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Material	ADNOC-approved vendor list, MTC (EN 10204 3.1/3.2)
Welding	ASME B31.3 + AGES additions (stricter NDT extent)
NDT	Often 10–20% RT minimum (vs 5% B31.3)
PWHT	Mandatory at lower thickness thresholds
Hydrotest	1.5× design pressure, potable water for stainless
Coating	Per AGES-CO-01 (see below)

Key difference from B31.3: AGES-PI-01 increases NDT extent and adds ADNOC-specific documentation (welding maps, welder logs, traceability).

Coating & Painting: AGES-CO-01

AGES-CO-01 governs coating. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Surface prep	Minimum Sa 2.5 (SSPC-SP10) for external steel
Inspector	NACE/AMPP CIP Level 2 minimum
DFT	Per system, SSPC-PA2 measurement
Holiday test	Mandatory on immersion and buried service
Environmental	Temp, RH, dew point recorded every shift
Records	Coating log, batch traceability, environmental log

Welding: AGES-W-001

AGES-W-001 governs welding. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
WPS/PQR	ASME Section IX + ADNOC additions
Welder qualification	Valid cert, ADNOC-recognized testing
NDT personnel	Certified to ASNT SNT-TC-1A or ISO 9712
PWHT	Per material and thickness, documented
Hardness	Sour service per NACE MR0175
Records	Welding procedure, welder logs, NDT reports

Electrical & Instrumentation: AGES-E-01

AGES-E-01 governs electrical and I&C. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Cables	ADNOC-approved type, insulation resistance test
Earthing	Resistance <1 Ω (typically), continuity verified
Hazardous areas	IEC 60079 compliance, Ex certification
Instrumentation	Calibration certificates, loop testing
Records	Calibration logs, test sheets, as-built loop drawings

Mechanical & Static Equipment: AGES-M-01

AGES-M-01 governs mechanical equipment. Key QC requirements:

Area	Requirement
Pressure vessels	ASME Section VIII + ADNOC additions
Tanks	API 650 fabrication, hydrotest
Rotating equipment	Alignment, vibration test, run-in test
Documentation	Manufacturer data report, as-built, test records

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The ADNOC Inspection Workflow

Step 1: ITP Development

Every ADNOC project requires an ITP (Inspection and Test Plan) that references:

• The applicable AGES standard
• The international code (ASME, API, ASTM)
• Hold (H), Witness (W), and Review (R) points
• Acceptance criteria
• Documentation required

Step 2: Material Approval

All materials must come from the ADNOC-approved vendor list and have:

• MTC (EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2)
• Heat number traceability
• Compliance certificate to the AGES standard

Step 3: Inspection and NDT

• NDT extent per AGES (often stricter than the base code)
• NDT personnel certified to ASNT SNT-TC-1A or ISO 9712
• Calibrated equipment — calibration certificates in date

Step 4: Documentation and Handover

ADNOC requires a complete QA/QC dossier at handover:

• ITP with all sign-offs
• NCR register and closure records
• NDT reports
• Material certificates
• As-built drawings
• Test reports (hydrotest, coating, electrical)
• Welder and NDT personnel certificates

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ADNOC vs Aramco: Key Differences

Aspect	ADNOC (AGES)	Aramco (SAES)
Naming	AGES-XX-0X	SAES-X-0XX
Scope	All disciplines	All disciplines
NDT extent	Often 10–20%	Often 10–20%
Inspector qualification	International cert + ADNOC approval	International cert + Aramco approval
Documentation	Full dossier at handover	Full dossier + Aramco-specific forms
Vendor list	ADNOC-approved	Aramco-approved

Both require dual compliance with the international code and the client standard.

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Common ADNOC Interview Questions

1. What AGES standards apply to your discipline?

Answer with the specific standard for your role — e.g., for a piping inspector: "AGES-PI-01 for piping, AGES-W-001 for welding, and AGES-CO-01 for coating of piping."

2. How does AGES-PI-01 differ from ASME B31.3?

"AGES-PI-01 supplements B31.3. It increases the minimum NDT extent from 5% to 10–20%, adds ADNOC-specific documentation requirements like welding maps and welder logs, and requires materials from the ADNOC-approved vendor list with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 MTCs."

3. What documentation is required at ADNOC project handover?

"A complete QA/QC dossier: ITP with sign-offs, NCR register, NDT reports, material certificates with heat traceability, as-built drawings, hydrotest and coating reports, and welder/NDT personnel certificates."

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Final Tips for ADNOC QC Interviews

1. Know your AGES standard number — interviewers will ask
2. Understand how AGES supplements (not replaces) the international code
3. Be ready to explain the ITP and hold points
4. Mention the ADNOC-approved vendor list
5. Carry your international certification (CSWIP, AWS, API, NACE, ACI)
6. Be ready for documentation questions — ADNOC is documentation-heavy

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Practice ADNOC AGES Questions with SkillJet.co

SkillJet.co's QC Inspector Simulator includes:

• ✅ All 6 QC disciplines with ADNOC AGES overlays
• ✅ Code-based inspection scenarios with AGES-specific requirements
• ✅ Aramco SAES overlays for comparison
• ✅ Real-time readiness scoring

Start your free QC diagnostic →