1. Impact of the PER on SAQCC Competent Persons and a reminder of certification requirements, continuing professional development and ethical responsibilities
CT Branch
February 2011

2. Changes in responsibilities for periodic inspection from VUP to PER

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 and ISO as the standards applicable for AIA-IS assessments

7. First let’s deal with the issue of whether an individual become an AIA-In Service?

8. SANS requirements

9. Pressure Equipment Regulations
SANS 10227:2007
Criteria for the operation of inspection authorities performing inspection
in terms of the
Pressure Equipment Regulations

10. 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!

11. 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

12. 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)

13. SANS 10227 Requirements for AIA-IS approval?
SUMMARY
SANS 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

14. ISO requirements

15. SANS 17020:1998 General criteria for the operation
of various types of bodies
performing inspection

16. SANS 17020 Has been incorporated into SANS 10227 since 2007
Until recently SANAS did not audit compliance with ISO as PER
was not enacted

17. SANS Content
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

18. SANS 17020 Content (cont.) Facilities and equipment
Inspection methods and procedures
Handling inspection samples and items
Records
Inspection reports and inspection certificates

19. SANS 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

20. SANS 17020 Content (cont.) Complaints and Appeals
Co-operation (inspection body expected to share experiences with
other inspection bodies)

21. ISO 17020 Requirements for AIA-IS approval?
SUMMARY
Compliance with ISO would be extremely
demanding for an individual

22. Can an individual become an AIA-IS?

23. 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

24. What changes to the SAQCC CP system have the PER prompted?

25. Changes to the SAQCC CP Certification scheme?
Certification criteria remain the same
Physical capability
Successful completion of approved training course
Supervised practical training

26. 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

27. SAQCC CP Certification Criteria
Successful completion of approved training course
SAIW course and examination is approved by SAQCC CP

28. 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

29. 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)
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.

30. 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)

31. 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

32. 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

33. What are the new SAQCC CP training requirements?

34. New SAQCC CP PV and SG training requirements

35. 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

36. 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

37. Will changes to the SAQCC CP system impact on existing certified persons?

38. What will happen to existing certified persons?
All existing certifications will be retained
Renewals and recertification will be treated as they are currently

39. How long is certification valid?

40. But 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. Continuing professional development

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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)

48. Competent person ethical
responsibilities

49. 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

50. 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 don’t go beyond
your scope of learning and capability e.g. don’t 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.
don’t allow anyone else to perform work and then
sign off a report – protect your signature jealously

51. 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. don’t be bullied for commercial
convenience

52. Failure to comply with the Code of Ethics can have very serious
SAQCC CP Certification Rules
Failure to comply with the Code
of Ethics can have very serious
consequences.
Maintain your integrity.

53. SUMMARY

54. 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

55. 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