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 InService (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 let’s 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
SANS 17020
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 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
SANS 17020 Content (cont.)
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)
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
4 Weeks
1 Week
for limited
PV certification
Plus
for unlimited PV
Certification
Foundation Course
Welding and NDT
New Syllabus
1 Week
CP Steam Generator
Existing Syllabus
1 Week
Mandatory
additional
CP Steam Generator
New Syllabus
Additional Theory
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 don’t go beyond
your scope of learning and capability e.g. don’t derate 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
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
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