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Accreditation of Non Destructive Testing & variances in Asia pacific region

Conference Paper · March 2013

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Vinodh kumar Babu Sajeesh Kumar Babu

City University of Hong Kong City University of Hong Kong
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ACCREDITATION OF NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING & VARIANCES
IN ASIA PACIFIC REGION
1
Sajeesh Kumar BABU, Vinodh Kumar BABU, Ronny ANDALAS
1.Hon Secretary, NDTSS, Singapore, skbabu@ndtss.org.sg
2. Director, WENS Quality Assurance Pvt. Ltd, vkumar@wensgroup.com
3. Director, Yayasan Pendidikan IKBAL M YOS, ronny.andalas@ikbalmyos.com

ABSTRACT:

Non Destructive Testing plays a vital role in the quality control of a product/process in various
applications. As the Industries are seeking quality assured NDT Services,Growing need of Accredited
Non Destructive testing services are in common within Construction, Utilities, Petrochemical, and Oil
& Gas industry.
Although Accreditation plays an important role in the globalization & free trade, the variances in its
practice would jeopardize the free trade and would need testing/inspection at the manufacturer & at
customer to satisfy the regulatory requirements.
This papers aims to review the various accreditation systems operated by national accreditation body
in the field of Non Destructive Testing & discuss the variances in accreditation requirements adopted
by Accreditation bodies. Accreditation bodies could produce the common technical criteria or
guidelines in the field of non -destructive testing accreditation which would narrow the gap of such
variances.

VARIATION IN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:

In general most of the CAB’s chose ISO/IEC 17025 as an accreditation standard; some countries
choose ISO/IEC 17020 as an accreditation standard. To gain accreditation as a laboratory or inspection
body the organization should have a stong quality management system in line with one of this
international standard. Generally there will be Quality manual, set of mandatory procedures, system
forms, and quality system records. The assessors not only review the system criteria but apply greater
emphasis on technical criteria. Each country has its own way of reviewing the technical requirement.In
order to gain accreditation the below table summarizes the management system adopted by accredited
organization in various countries in the region.

Country National ISO/IEC 17025:2005 ISO/IEC 17020

Accreditation Body
Member States
Australia NATA

Peoples Republic of China CNAS

Hong Kong HKAS-HOKLAS

India NABL

Indonesia KAN

Japan JAB

South Korea KOLAS

Malaysia SM-LAB/MIBAS
Singapore SAC-SINGLAS

Thailand BLA-DSS

United States of America A2LA

Table 1: Standard used for Accreditation

It is obvious most of the accredited laboratories are conducting Nondestructive to ISO/IEC 17025,
some countries as seen on the table 1 are conducting NDT to ISO/IEC 17020 , which is basically an
inspection body scheme, the IB scheme eliminate the uncertainty element hence some countries utilize
this standard

AREA OF ACCREDITATION:

In General each countries got their own requirements to detail the area of accreditation in Non-
destructive Testing, the below table would give us an idea of the area of accreditation followed by
individual member countries

Country/ National Field of Accreditation Remarks

Accreditation Body
Member States
Australia NATA Non Destructive Testing

Peoples Republic of CNAS Non Destructive Testing However sometimes

China NDT is classified
under products –
Steel, weld, metallic
materials

Hong Kong HKAS-HOKLAS Construction Materials NDT Test is

classified under
products

India NABL Non Destructive Testing

Indonesia KAN Inspection Field NDT Methods listed

for various products

South Korea KOLAS Non Destructive Testing

Malaysia MIBAS Non Destructive Testing

Singapore SAC-SINGLAS Non Destructive Testing

Thailand BLA-DSS Non Destructive Testing

United States of A2LA Non Destructive Testing

America

Table 2: Classification of Area of Accreditation

TEST STANDARDS FOR NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING:

NDT is applied to most of the materials & industry. NDT applies broad based standards from the
American (ASTM) to European ISO Standards (EN ISO), the testing criteria, personnel and equipment
varies widely to both the schemes.

In order to have complete traceability, all the elements needs to be followed to the root of the standard.
In practice some of the accrediting bodies are not following the traceability to the standard. For e. g
requirement of EN 473/ISO9712 personnel certification for EN/ISO standards, allowing employer
based certification for European standards, although the standard requires third party certification. Not
calibrating the equipment’s to EN requirements for the testing performed in accordance with EN
standards (e.g Ultrasonic flaw detectors). Technical assessors may go through specific requirements by
the standard in evaluating laboratories.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION:

The below table compares the requirement laid down by accreditation bodies for NDT Testing
professional which is moving towards central or third party certification.

Country / Member State Accrediting Body Acceptable Standard for Personnel

Certification
Australia NATA Specified – Third Party Certification

Peoples Republic of China CNAS Not Specified ( In General ASNT/ChsNDT

certification)

Hong Kong HKAS-HOKLAS Specified – Third Party Certification

(PCN/ACCP or Equivalent)

India NABL Specified – Third Party (ISNT) & In house

certification

Indonesia KAN Specified – Third Party Certification

( EN473/ISO9712 /Equivalent)

Malaysia MIBAS Specified – Certified to DSD

(MHR)/ISO9712/EN473

Singapore SAC-SINGLAS Specified – Third party certification for

Signatory & employer based certification
for operators

United States of America A2LA Not Specified, Left to Application Standard

Table 3 – General Personnel requirements

SPECIFIC PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS FOR SIGNATORIES & OPERATORS

The below table lists the specific requirements for personnel signing the test reports and operators
performing the test at site or laboratory,

Approved Signatory Operator

NATA - Australia ISO 9712 Level 3 ISO 9712 Level 2

SNT – TC-1A Level 3 SNT – TC-1A Level 2

( provided managed by testing ( provided managed by testing
body & audited externally by body & audited externally by
ISO 9712 holder) ISO 9712 holder)

Qualifications recognized by
Client

Hong Kong - HOKLAS Person holding a valid Person holding a valid

certificate of Level 3 issued by certificate of Level 2 issued by
recognized certification scheme recognized certification scheme
(e.g PCN /ACCP /Equivalent) (e.g PCN /ACCP /Equivalent)

Singapore - SINGLAS ASNT level 3, ACCP Level 2 & Qualification recognized by

3, AINDT Level 2 & 3, PCN client, generally SNT-TC-1A
Level 2& 3, CSWIP Level 2&3
PAUT – External Certification

China - CNAL ChsNDT / ASNT Level 3 or Trained & Competent

equivalent

India - NABL ISNT/ASNT qualification – No ISNT/ASNT qualification –

Level specified, Technical Level II
officer shall possess science
/Engg graduate & should have
capability to possess Level III

Malaysia-MIBAS No Specific Requirement Qualified and certified by the

NCB (DSD, MHR),
Independent body certified to
ISO 9712/EN473

Indonesia For KAN approved signatories, SNI 19-6364-2000 equivalent

they shall be those to ISO 9712 or EN 473 or of a
independently certified issued standard that can be
by a recognized certification demonstrated to be equivalent to
bodies in Non-Destructive these standards are acceptable to
Testing (Personnel KAN
Certification NDT Level 3)

Table 4: Specific Personnel Requirements

EQUIPMENT & CALIBRATION REQUIREMENTS:

The equipment & calibration requirements vary across the member states towards the local client
needs and application needs. It would be difficult to harmonize the calibration requirements of every
single tools used in Non Destructive Test. However major measuring equipment’s should have a
universal requirement of Calibration, the below table provides some of the best practices followed in
the industry.

Ultrasonic Testing

Equipment Type Frequency

Ultrasonic Flaw detector Competent Laboratory 2 years

( Accredited /NMI) –
ASTME1324/EN12668

Reference Test Blocks Competent Laboratory 8 Years

( Accredited /NMI)

Field Working Blocks ( Block 1 Competent Laboratory Initial

(V1), Block 2 (V2), DAC Etc ( Accredited /NMI)

In house
1 year

Probes & Sensory Elements In house Each time prior to use

Radiographic Testing

Focal Spot In house – Standard test 1 year

method

Densitometer In house- Using Traceable 90 days

density strip

Surface NDT Methods – MT/PT/VT

Light Intensity Using calibrated light meter Before test

( 1 year) or using external
checked Lamp

Magnetization Yoke 90 days ( Lifting weight)

Ammeter Yearly

Field Strength meter Yearly

Gauss meter Yearly

Powders / Magnetic Ink Solid content, contaminants, Batch test

function (ISO 9934 block)
 Table 5: Calibration Requirements

CONCLUSION
Here with we could conclude that there is a broad differences in the practice of Non -destructive
testing accreditation criteria within the region. A regional guideline for accreditation for Non
Destructive laboratories would be essential to bridge the gaps in practices. These guidelines would be
helpful for peer assessment within accreditation bodies to improve cross border trade & acceptance of
test reports in Asia pacific region. The below are some recommendation could be listed in the
guideline

Accreditation Standard – Implement ISO 17025 as the standard of accreditation,

Area of Accreditation – A separate area for NON DESTRUCIVE TESTING should be available
Auditing Practices – Improvement of Auditing practices to achieve full lot traceability to American
or ISO standards or National Standards.
Personnel Certification – Operators test to American standard should obtain ASNT Level II + SNT
TC 1A Level II or ACCP Level II or ISO 9712 Level II
Operators to ISO / European standards should be certified to EN ISO 9712, the same applies to
Signatory, certified to Level III.
Equipment/Calibration- Recommendation for Equipment calibration should be made available in the
guideline.
Uncertainty Estimation- Model for Uncertainty calculation for NDT Measurements.

REFERENCES
1. The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation – R212 Specific Requirements:
Nondestructive Testing Laboratory Accreditation program
2. NATA Publication – Supplementary Requirements for accreditation – July 2011
3. HOKLAS Supplementary Criteria No.15-Construction Material Test Category-Accreditation
of Non – destructive test for (1)- Steel and Metal. (2)- Welding of Steel and Metal
4. NABL- Specific Criteria for Non Destructive Testing Laboratories –NABL 108
5. Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme Publication- Technical Notes (NDT 001,
NDT002, NDT 003)
6. KAN Requirement for Accreditation of Inspection bodies performing NDT (KAN-R-LI-07)
7. Standards Malaysia -SC 1.5- Specific Criteria for Accreditation of Mechanical Testing &
NDT
8. Standards Malayisa-MTR2- MIBAS Technical Requirements for Accreditation for Non
Destructive Testing

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