Impact of the PER on SAQCC

Competent Persons and a

reminder of certification
requirements, continuing
professional development and
ethical responsibilities
CT Branch
February 2011
Changes in responsibilities
for periodic inspection from
VUP to PER
VUP Responsibility for periodic inspections
Responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the User.
Constraints applying to User were

Had to use a SAQCC CP certified inspector

Obligated to ensure inspector had appropriate
knowledge and experience for the specific job of
inspection


PER Responsibility for periodic inspections
Regulation 11
User may inspect Category 1 Equipment (SANS 347
categorisation) Are you familiar with SANS 347?
Higher categories must be inspected by an AIA In-
Service (AIA-IS) From April 2011
Inspection task has to be performed by an authorised
person

AIA-IS has to ensure the authorised person
Is certified by SAQCC CP
Has appropriate experience and knowledge for the
specific task
PER Responsibility for periodic inspections
Notes of caution

There is a shift of responsibility (and accountability)
to the AIA-IS as a body specialising in periodic
inspections

Not permissible for an AIA-IS to use a non-certified
inspector to perform work which is signed-off by a
certified CP
Requirements for AIA-IS approval
Requirements for appointment as an AIA-IS by Dept. of
Labour have recently been clarified and include

SANAS assessment will be required prior to DoL
approval

SANAS will use SANS 10227 and ISO 17020 as the
standards applicable for AIA-IS assessments
First lets deal with the issue
of whether an individual
become an AIA-In Service?


SANS 10227 requirements
SANS 10227:2007
Criteria for the operation of inspection
authorities performing inspection
in terms of the
Pressure Equipment Regulations
SANS 10227 Requirements for an AIA-In Service
Permanent staff will need to include:

Technical Manager (degree, T4, Cert. Eng. or B Tech)

At least 1 Certified CP (PV/SG certified depending on
scope of activities)

Can be the same person!
SANS 10227 Requirements for an AIA-In Service
The AIA In-Service management system will need to
include documented procedures for the following:

Step by step activities of an in-service inspection and
how each step is carried out.
Re-certification and re-rating equipment.
Dispensation of internal inspections or hydro tests.
Storage and filing of records.
Stamping the nameplate, if necessary
Stamp control
SANS 10227 Requirements for an AIA-In Service
The AIA In-Service Personnel will need to comply with
Table 1 requirements for:

Design Verifier (Pr Eng, Pr Tech, Pr Cert Eng + 4 years
experience)
Technical Manager (Degree, T4, Cert Eng, B Tech + 4
years experience)
Inspector (SAQCC CP)



SANS 10227 Requirements for AIA-IS approval?
SUMMARY

SANS 10227 requirements are not over the top and
are appropriate to an AIA-IS because:

An AIA-IS deals with complex in-service issues including
down-rating and re-certifying equipment.

The AIA-IS will need to have most of the competencies
associated with traditional AIAs including a design
evaluation
ISO 17020 requirements
SANS 17020:1998
General criteria for the operation
of various types of bodies
performing inspection
Has been incorporated into SANS 10227 since 2007
Until recently SANAS did not audit compliance with ISO 17020 as PER
was not enacted

SANS 17020
Administrative requirements e.g. legally identifiable body
(SAN10227 specifically excludes sole proprietor)

Independence, impartiality and integrity e.g. commercial influence
cannot influence inspection results
Confidentiality
Organisation and management
Quality system
Personnel e.g. appropriate qualifications
SANS 17020 Content
Facilities and equipment
Inspection methods and procedures
Handling inspection samples and items
Records
Inspection reports and inspection certificates
SANS 17020 Content (cont.)
Subcontracting (obligations on the inspection body)
AIA shall itself normally perform work it contracts to undertake
Advise the client of its intention to subcontract and the
subcontractor has to be acceptable to the client
Demonstrate subcontractors competence for service performed
Maintain a register of all subcontracted work
Record and retain details of investigation of competence and
compliance of subcontractors
When subcontracting specialised activities must have access to
alternative resource able to independently assess results of
subcontracted activities and retains responsibility for determination
of conformity
SANS 17020 Content (cont.)
Complaints and Appeals

Co-operation (inspection body expected to share experiences with
other inspection bodies)

SANS 17020 Content (cont.)
ISO 17020 Requirements for AIA-IS approval?
SUMMARY


Compliance with ISO 17020 would be extremely
demanding for an individual

Can an individual become an
AIA-IS?
Can an individual CP become an AIA-IS?
Theoretically yes but in reality it is just about
impossible

The reality is that the vast majority of CPs will need
to find employment with an AIA-IS from April this
year
What changes to the
SAQCC CP system have the
PER prompted?
Changes to the SAQCC CP Certification scheme?
Certification criteria remain the same

Physical capability

Successful completion of approved training course

Supervised practical training
SAQCC CP Certification Criteria
Physical capability

Satisfactory vision in at least one eye

Ability to access vessels through manholes

Any other deficiency which prevents the applicant
from performing inspection duties
SAQCC CP Certification Criteria
Successful completion of approved training course

SAIW course and examination is approved by
SAQCC CP
SAQCC CP Certification Criteria
Supervised practical training

Minimum periods are applicable

Minimum number of vessels is applicable

Credits for educational and trade qualifications
reduce training period
SAQCC CP Certification Criteria
Education qualifications or
industrial certifications
Minimum training period Practical experience requirement
N2/ Std 8 /Gr 10 or lower 5 years (10 vessels) Minimum of 10 boilers and 10 pressure
vessels for each category of certification
N3 / Matric / Gr 12
N4
N5
3 years (10 vessels) As above
Technikon S4
N6 / S3
G.C.C.
IPE
BSc or B.Tech
1 year (10 vessels) As above
Note (1) Post schooling qualifications such N4, N5, N6, S3, S4, BSc degree should be in
mechanical engineering, metallurgy or other relevant engineering or engineering science
discipline. Qualifications are subject to review by the certification body.
Note (2) Applicants who have successfully completed a trade test or apprenticeship contract as a
boilermaker, welder, blacksmith, fitter, millwright and fitter & turner are given a 1 year
credit with the proviso the minimum training period is not less than one year.
Changes to the SAQCC CP Certification scheme?
Certification categories remain the same

Pressure vessels
Unlimited scope
Limited scope air receivers with and without
physical access, accumulators, medical or other
small autoclaves

Boilers (renamed Steam Generators)
Unlimited scope
Changes to the SAQCC CP Certification scheme?
Training course requirements have been changed
significantly to address

longstanding concerns about the inadequacy of the
scope and depth of training

the clear allocation of responsibilities of the AIA-IS
and the CP in job of work

Changes to the SAQCC CP Certification scheme?
There is one change to supervised practical training
requirement

When a certification candidate is already certified in one
of the unlimited categories of equipment the duration of
supervised experience required for certification in the
other unlimited category is reduced to 1 year irrespective
of the educational qualification level
What are the new SAQCC
CP training requirements?
New SAQCC CP PV and SG training requirements
CP PV CP PV
Existing Syllabus New Syllabus
Process Plant
1 Week 4 Weeks
for limited for unlimited PV
PV certification Plus Certification
Foundation Course
Welding and NDT
New Syllabus
1 Week
CP Steam Generator CP Steam Generator
Existing Syllabus Mandatory New Syllabus
additional Additional Theory
1 Week 1 Week
New CP training scheme requirements

Persons intending to apply for limited PV certification
will need to attend only weeks 1 and 2 of the PV
stream. Those intending to apply for Unlimited will
need to attend all 6 weeks

Persons intending to apply for Steam Generator
certification will need to attend all three weeks of the
Steam Generator stream
When and how were the new courses introduced?
New course requirements came into effect from January
2011

Industry experts worked with SAIW to develop new
course material

SAIW lecturers have been trained by industry experts
and have undertaken bridging exams covering the
new material
Will changes to the SAQCC
CP system impact on
existing certified persons?
What will happen to existing certified persons?
All existing certifications will be retained

Renewals and recertification will be treated as
they are currently
How long is certification
valid?
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Validity of certification

Certification is valid for 9 years

But

Certification must be renewed after 3 years then again
after 6 years else it lapses

After 9 years in total certification expires and an
application for recertification must be submitted
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Requirements for 3 year and 6 year renewals are
the same
Evidence of continued satisfactory eye sight
Evidence that you have inspected at least ten vessels
(CP-PV) or six boilers (CP-B) in three years
Evidence of at least 24 hours CPD in the three year
period of certification

Additional Requirements for re-certification
As above plus there is also a requirement to pass an
examination which will assess awareness of changes to
regulations and codes
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Re-newal and recertification applications

Apply using SAQCC CP form for periodic renewal or
recertification
Apply at least 3 months before certification lapses
Any inspections carried out after the expiry date stated on
the certificate are not valid and you are acting
fraudulently
If you apply late usually no penalty will be applied for up
to three months after expiry date on your certificate
After three months you may be asked to attend a
professional interview and penalties will apply
Continuing professional
development
SAQCC CP Certification Rules

CPD requirements
Structured or developmental activities where each
hour is recognised as a CPD hour (minimum 25% of
the total CPD credits must be this type)

Semi-structured activities where two hours are
recognised as a CPD hour (maximum 50% of total
CPD credits shall be of this type)

Unstructured activities where each four hours are
recognised as a CPD hour (maximum 25% of total
CPD credits shall be of this type
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Examples of structured CPD activities
Attendance at approved conferences, seminars, technical
meetings presented by professional institutions
Presentations at approved technical events
Preparation of technical articles for publication
Approved teaching or lecturing
In-house training on a formal recorded and auditable
programme
Further education studies relevant to field of certification
Approved relevant short courses
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Examples of semi-structured CPD activities

Further education studies not necessarily directly
related to CP activities

Private study of relevant publications and journals
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Examples of unstructured CPD activities

Private study involving distance learning

Attendance at technical meetings within an employer
organisation (excludes progress, planning and
production meetings)

Competent person ethical

responsibilities
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Code of Ethics is aimed at

Protecting the public and users and workers operating
pressurised equipment

Reinforcing the professional standards expected of
Competent Persons

Enhancing the professional standing of Competent
Persons
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Examples of requirements of the Code of Ethics
Do not undertake work for which you do not have
the necessary experience and dont go beyond
your scope of learning and capability e.g. dont de-
rate equipment and return to service this is the job
of expert engineers

Do not sign an equipment inspection and test report
if you have not personally performed the work e.g.
dont allow anyone else to perform work and then
sign off a report protect your signature jealously
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Examples of requirements of the Code of Ethics
Where warranted make use of specialists e.g. it is your
responsibility to identify and report corrosion damage
but not to decide on useful remaining service life

Indicate to your employer adverse consequences if
your advice is overruled by a non-technical authority
or supervisor e.g. dont be bullied for commercial
convenience
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Failure to comply with the Code
of Ethics can have very serious
consequences.

Maintain your integrity.

SUMMARY
SUMMARY
From April the individual CP will disappear
Many AIAs have included in-service inspection in their
scope of activities informally in the past. Now they are
required to demonstrate their capabilities for these
activities by assessment
PER enhances the status of AIAs significantly and there is
an expectation of professionalism by the regulatory
authorities
AIA-IS will take on the legal responsibility for inspections
so they should be extremely careful about their
relationship with contracting CPs
SUMMARY

The changes made by SAQCC CP are intended to
improve the competence of CP inspectors and support
AIA-IS companies in meeting their responsibilities

Existing CPs are unaffected by changes to the
certification training requirements

CPs must enhance their standing through professionalism
and ethical responsibility