1. Non-Destructive Testing: New Methods and Qualification of Personnel
TAIEX Workshop on the implementation of the
Pressure Equipment Directive (PED)
Bucharest, 27 February - 1 March 2007

2. contractor:
Who has qualified your NDT personnel?

3. Annex I chapter 3.1.3 3.1.3. Non-destructive tests
For pressure equipment, non-destructive tests of
permanent joints must be carried out by suitable
qualified personnel.
For pressure equipment in categories III and IV, the
personnel must be approved by a third-party organization
recognized by a Member State pursuant to Article 13.
qualified personnel.

4. Recommended Practice No.
SNT-TC-1A
1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 or 2001 Edition
EN 473:
Non destructive testing - Qualification and certification of NDT personnel -
General principles
Certification by
employer
third-party organisation
SNT-TC-1A
EN 473
ISO 9712
ISO 9712:
Non destructive testing - Qualification and certification of NDT personnel
and
Technical
Corrigendum 1:

5. Certification by employer third-party organisation SNT-TC-1A EN 473
ISO 9712
employer maintains
system for qualification,
certification and
surveillance of NDT
personnel
employer uses external system
for qualification, certification and surveillance of NDT personnel of
a certification body
employer authorises NDT personnel

6. Certification by employer third-party organisation SNT-TC-1A EN 473
ISO 9712
Adopted to company
needs
Direct surveillance
Quite flexible
Proved independence from company interests
EU / worldwide recognised
Handsome system for SMEs

7. EN 473 EN 473 / ISO 9712 NDT methods: AT Acoustic emission
ET Eddy current
LT Leak testing
MT Magnetic testing
PT Penetrant testing
RT Radiographic testing
UT Ultrasonic testing
VT Visual testing
EN 473
Applicable for other
NDT methods
infrared thermographic testing and strain testing

8. EN 473 / ISO 9712 Requirements: Certification body
Comply with ISO / IEC Conformity assessment
General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons
Authorised qualifying bodies
Examination centre
Employer

9. EN 473 / ISO 9712 Requirements (cont.): Qualification levels
Competence of level 1, 2 and 3 personnel
Responsibilities of level 1, 2 and 3 personnel
level 1: perform test acc. written practice, documentation
level 2: level 1 + select technique, design written practice
level 3: level1+2 + select method, define procedures and criteria, manage qualification examination, …

10. EN 473 / ISO 9712 Requirements (cont.): Certification Training
Industrial experience
Qualification examinations
Certificates

11. EN 473 / ISO 9712 Problems: Content of training not defined
Syllabus
- IAEA-TECDOC-628 revision 1 Training guidelines in non-destructive testing techniques; 2002 edition
- ISO/TR 25107: Non-destructive testing - Guidelines for NDT training syllabuses
No regulations for other methods e.g. such as:
UT wall thickness measurement
RT film evaluation
EN 473 not fully harmonised with ISO 9712
EN 473 not applied by all industrial sectors

12. EN 473 / ISO 9712 Benefits: Widely distributed in Europe
over certificates
Broad acceptance
Reference in product standards
EN 13445
Unfired pressure vessels
Part 5 - Inspection and Testing

13. Central Office of Safety of the German Länder
In Germany:
Notified by ZLS
Central Office of Safety of the German Länder
ISO / IEC “delta”
Annex I chapter 3.1.3
Non-destructive tests
For pressure equipment, non-destructive tests of
permanent joints must be carried out by suitable
qualified personnel.
For pressure equipment in categories III and IV, the
personnel must be approved by a third-party organization
recognized by a Member State pursuant to Article 13.

14. www.efndt.org Certification Body seeking recognition of its system
EFNDT Multilateral Recognition of NDT Personnel Certification Schemes
Certification Body seeking recognition of its system
National NDT society being member of EFNDT or ICNDT
Compliance with EFNDT Code of Practice
Accreditation by EA signatory member
or Recognition by governmental department/agency
or Audit by EFNDT Certification Executive Committee (CEC)
EN 473
ISO 9712
ISO / IEC 17024

15. Digital Techniques Radiology with Computer Radiography Radiology with
Real Time Detectors

16. Image plates versus radiographic film
Much larger dynamic range
Large wall thickness differences with one “shoot”
Reduced exposure time
Reduced dose rate
Multiple use
No chemistry, no dark room
Scan time 10 sec to 120 sec

17. Image plates versus radiographic film
EN : Non-destructive testing
Industrial computed radiography with storage phosphor imaging plates
Part 1: Classification of systems
EN : Non-destructive testing
Industrial computed radiography with storage phosphor imaging plates
Part 2: General principles for testing of metallic materials using X-rays and gamma rays

18. Image plates

19. Realt time detectors Varian flat panel Detector radiation produces
light flashes which
are stored in
photo diodes
output via transistors

20. } Qualification Digital Radiology Qualification and certification acc.
film-less radiographic testing
multi-sectorial
Level 1
Level 2 }
Qualification and certification
acc.
EN 473

21. contractor:
Who has qualified your NDT personnel?