SYSTEM OF NDT SPECIALISTS CERTIFICATION IN RUSSIA

Prof. V.V. Klyuev President of RSNTTD, Director of JSC “Spektr-Grupp”; Build. 1, 35 Usacheva St., Moscow 119048, Russia; e-mail: spektr-msia.co.ru), Prof. F.R. Sosnin, Director, Independent Certification Center “SpektrSert” of JSC “MSIA “Spectrum”; Build. 1, 35 Usacheva St., Moscow 119048, Russia; e-mail: uc@spektr-msia.co.ru Dr. I.Yu. Pushkina Executive Secretary RSNTTD, Independent Certification Center “SpektrSert” of JSC “MSIA “Spectrum”; Build. 1, 35 Usacheva St., Moscow 119048, Russia; e-mail: uc@spektr-msia.co.ru) Abstract. In the various branches of industries in Russia some 50 thousands NDT specialists are working to provide services in the field of NDT and Technical Diagnostics (TD). To provide high quality of products and services it is required to have highly qualified personnel at all phases of production and industrial objects operation. In Russia, different bodies notified by authorities are involved in certification of products, services and specialists, including NDT. These notified organizations implement several schemes and most of them are in compliance not only with Russian regulating documents but with International and European norms and standards also. In the paper, the basic principles and new approaches for NDT specialists’ certification procedures are presented. Keywords: certification, NDT, scheme, Russia 1. Introduction

In the various branches of industries in Russia some 50 thousands NDT specialists are working to provide services in

the field of NDT and Technical Diagnostics (TD). About 500 specialists have Ph.D. or Doctor degree; some 200 companies and firms manufacture NDT instruments and means and develop regulating documents relevant to the type of industry or activity. To provide high quality of products and services it is required to have highly qualified personnel at all phases of production and industrial objects operation. In Russia, different bodies notified by authorities are involved in certification of products, services and specialists, including NDT. These notified organizations implement several schemes. All of them comply with Russian legislation acts, documents and norms. At the same time Russia – is the part of the world community that is why it is naturally implementing International and European norms and standards. Most schemes relevant to qualifi-cation and certification of NDT specialists comply with requirements of EN473 and ISO 97012 standards. Nevertheless, some of specialists due to needs of industry and in accordance with requests of the employers have certificates that meet requirements of ASNT SNT-NC-1A program and standard MIL-STD-410 (USA). The certificates following mentioned American schemes are issued by specialized employer’s certifying centers and based on exams conducted by NDT level III specialists certified in ASNT centers. Now in Russia their no any centers providing certification in accordance with Ameri-can programs or schemes like ASNT SNT-NC-1A or ASNT ACCP. However, there is a need for this kind of services. In such a way, Russia, like many other countries all over the world, faces the task to harmonize and to work out criteria for recognition of certificates obtained by specialists from different certification centers implementing various certification schemes of qualification and certification of NDT personnel. As it was mentioned above most official schemes implemented by Russian certification bodies are based on standards EN473 and ISO 9712 while American regulating documents are im-plemented by employers in accordance with internal company’s requirements and that is why the authors revise only the schemes based first of all on Russian legislation documents and European and international standards.

2. Some historical facts

2.1. The stages of history of NDT in Russia and establishment of NDT Society The documented history of Soviet Union and hence Russian Society for NDT can be started from 1937. This year the

first meeting on NDT methods was held. Academician V.F. Mitkevich conducted it, at this meeting for the first time the goals of development of NDT methods and means were formulated. The next important event happened in 1958, when the State Scientific and Technical Committee of the USSR arranged a conference on non-destructive testing of welded joints.

In 1963 within the frameworks of State Committee of the Ministerial Council of the USSR on Science and Technology there was established special Scientific Council on the subject "New Welding Technologies and Welded Structures", under presidency of academician B.E. Paton. A section on NDT was set up within this council.

02 a 06 de Junho de 2003 / June 2 to 6 2003Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brasil

The Russian Society for NDT and Technical Diagnostics (RSNTTD) in its present status is a successor of the former Society on NDT of USSR established in 1989 on the basis of specialized scientific committees of the Academy of Science of the USSR. In September 1989, the first Constituent Congress approved the Status and structural organization of the Soci-ety was held. The USSR NDT Society contributed a lot to the development of the international relationships with similar societies all over the world; scientists actively participated in international NDT Conferences, published special books and magazines on NDT. 74% of members of the Society already at that time were located on the territory of the Russian Federa-tion – one of the Soviet republics.

The first Congress of the Russian NDT Society was held on December 6, 1991. It determined the goals and objectives of the Society in new terms when the USSR stopped to exist. Both the former USSR and present Russian NDT Societies took active part in the work of international standardization organizations and NDT institutions. One of the challenges fac-ing RSNTTD is harmonization of procedures for qualification and certification of personnel and products.

2.2. Establishment of the scheme of NDT specialists’ certification Activity to establish three level scheme of NDT specialists’ certification in Russia started in early 80th within the frames

of work of sub-committee “Specialists qualification” (Prof. A.K. Gurvich) of ISO TC 135 (Corr.-member Of RAS1 - Prof. V.V. Klyuev). In December 1986, Scientific Committee “Non-destructive physical methods of testing” of USSR Academy of Science (Corr.-member of USSR AS - V.E. Shcherbinin) approved first list of specialists of level III qualification for seven NDT methods. In this list, for example, 14 specialists from “MSIA “Spectrum” were included and this is specially mentioned because this company is leading not only in development of new NDT technique and instruments but is very active in certification area.

The activity within the field of NDT specialists’ certification becomes increasingly intensive during 1992-1997. This can be explained by the following. Only within the territory of Russia, there are more than 100 thousands of potentially haz-ardous facilities, including 1500 nuclear power facilities and 3000 of chemical and biological ones. Naturally the basic area of NDT methods and means implementation is industry and especially potentially hazardous facilities and installations. Under term “the potentially hazardous facility” the various objects, structures and installations are meant. Within Russia there are several authorized by authorities’ bodies supervising safety issues. Such specialized bodies exist within Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Nuclear Power, Ministry of railway roads, Marine Ministry, Airspace Ministry, etc. All of them have areas where specialists providing NDT services exist. The schemes of NDT personnel certification within the areas of su-pervising bodies’ competence can vary. In such a way in Russia like in many other countries, there are several NDT person-nel certification schemes, but most of them are harmonized with EN 473. The certification of specialists is carried out by special Independent Certification Centers. Totally in Russia there are some 25 such centers.

Further in the paper will be revised one of such schemes that was developed by Russian Society for NDT and Technical Diagnostics (RSNTTD) and implemented within the system of industrial safety established by special Supervising body named Federal Mining and Industrial Safety Inspection (Gosgortekhnadzor or GGTN) of Russian Federation. This is a very well developed system that is mandatory for potentially hazardous facilities. The main goal of this scheme is to provide safe operation of industrial facilities at all stages of their life. Partly it is in good compliance with ISO 97012 and EN473, partly it is stricter. Any Russian or foreign company operating hazardous facility has to have personnel certified in accordance with this scheme. The NDT personnel certification scheme is a part of this global “industrial safety” scheme as it is evident that you cannot provide safe operation of industrial object without proper input products examination, without in-service inspection and technical diagnostics

Former USSR and present Russia have wide, well-developed and comprehensive industry, due to dramatic economical changes in the country during last 10 years special importance gained issues of industrial safety. It is difficult to imagine one is able to provide safe operation of industrial installations and structures without highly qualified and skilful specialists able to implement in there work NDT technique. Because of understanding of safety issues importance in July 1997 was approved and put in force the federal law "Industrial safety of hazardous production facilities". This law took into account the international experience in this area. The law made an important impact on development of documents regulating indus-trial activity including those relevant to NDT implementation and qualification and certification of NDT specialists provid-ing inspection services of products, systems, etc.

In the same 1997 year the Intergovernmental Council for standardization, metrology and certification of C.I.S. accepted and approved the standard GOST 30489-97 that is equivalent translation of EN 473. Moreover, on November 25, 1997 GOSSTANDART2 of Russian Federation registered the Scheme for voluntary NDT personnel certification developed and implemented by Russian Society for NDT and Technical Diagnostics (RSNTTD).

1 RAS – Russian Academy of Science 2 GOSSTANDART – State Standard and Metrology Body of Russian Federation, approving Russian standards that have abbreviation GOST.

3. Industrial Safety Expertise System In accordance with modern requirements imposed on the basic elements of the NDT System it should comprise the fol-

lowing elements: • Personnel; • Departments and laboratories; • Methodical documentation; • NDT means and instruments. The NDT system is regulated by the certification procedures relevant to certification of: • NDT Personnel in accordance with his qualification, completeness and quality of performed test works; • NDT laboratories; • Guidelines and regulating documents for NDT, expertise of completeness and sufficiency of NDT procedures; • NDT means and instruments. In accordance with requirements of legislation documents, rules, regulations and standards of Russian Federation as

well as in accordance with basic statements of international standards, the management of the NDT system should be car-ried out and based on the latest scientific-technical developments and positive experience of industrial utilities.

When establishing such a system the basic requirements were taken from statements stipulated in the standards: ISO 9000:2000; ISO 9001:2000; ISO 9004:2000; ISO/IEC 17025:2000 as well as from European standards: EN45013; EN 473:2000.

The NDT system works, as it was mentioned above, within the frames of the Industrial Safety Expertise System and at the same time it is its integral part.

The principal scheme and structure of Industrial Safety Expertise System and its management system and participants of accreditation process are presented in figures 1 & 2.

On the top of the system and all schemes is the GGTN of Russia and its territorial bureaus (local authorities and inspec-tions) conducting all activities related to the industrial safety. Besides this top management body in the System their several other elements:

Industrial Safety Expertise System of GGTN of Russia; NDT Control Board; Council of experts; Sub-system for NDT personnel certification; Sub-system for NDT laboratories certification; Sub-systems for the NDT procedures and methodical documentation certification; Sub-systems for the NDT equipment certification; Independent bodies for the NDT specialists’ certification; Independent bodies for the NDT laboratories certification; Independent bodies for the NDT procedures and methodical documentation certification; Independent bodies for the NDT equipment certification.

With the final goal to improve safety during operation of technical installations, buildings, structure, etc., and keeping in mind that this goal can not be achieved without qualified personnel the GGTN approved on January 23, 2002 new rules “Rules of NDT personnel certification” (Latin version of Russian abbreviation is PB 03-440-02). In accordance with this document, Independent Certification Bodies (ICB) accredited within the NDT system performs the certification of person-nel. The requirements imposed on ICB and accreditation procedure are presented in the document “Provision about Inde-pendent NDT Personnel’ Certification Body” approved by Supervisory Council of Industrial Safety Expertise System com-prising NDT system like an integral part.

The PB 03-440-02 document, in general, is harmonized with EN473, but still have some differences, for example, pe-riod of validity of I & II level certificates is 3 years, the list of industrial sectors (objects to be tested) is not the same as in EN473.

4. NDT personnel voluntary certification system The voluntary system of NDT personnel certification was developed to pursue the regulations for certification in Russia

that is subject to Federal Decree # 222 of February 26, 1997 "On the Program of Social Reforms in the Russian Federation for the Period of 1996-2000" and the Laws of the Russian Federation "On Protection of Consumer Rights", "On Certifica-tion of Products and Services", "On Standardization", the Regulations for Certifications in the Russian Federation, State Standards GOST R 51000.1-95, GOST R51000.2-95, GOST R 51000.9-97, GOST 30489 (EN 473:1992).

The system covers NDT personnel certification that carried out with the aim to obtain reliable information on the products quality via assessment of personnel competence and qualification that is confirmed by the relevant competence certificates. The NDT personnel voluntary certification is performed on applications by enterprises or candidates.

GGTN of RUSSIA

Local authorities

Inspections

Licensing Approval of expertise con-

clusion

ACCREDITATION SCHEME

Council of experts

Com

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nce

co

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issi

on

Com

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ion

on ru

les

Cont

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coun

cil

Coo

rdin

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g Bo

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ial

Safe

ty»2

Bran

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ions

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issi

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App

ellat

ion

com

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sulti

ng

Boa

rd

Supervisory Council

Independent Bodies on methodical docu- ments certification

Independent Bodies on equipment certifica-tion

Independent Bodies on laboratories certifi-cation

Independent Bodies on personnel certification

Fig. 1. General scheme of industrial safety expertise system including Bodies participating in accreditation

The system is based on ISO/IEC documents and basic ISO and EN standards.

GGTN of RUSSIA

Local Bureaus Inspections

System of Industrial Safety Expertise

Controlling Council Systems of NDT means and instruments certification

Sub-system for NDT personnel

certification

Sub-system for NDT laboratories certifi-

cation

Sub-system for NDT procedures certification

Sub-system for NDT equipment certification

Supervision within the frames of valid licenses

Licensing Information

Figure 2. Chart of the NDT management system

Organizational structure of RSNTTD system of NDT personnel voluntary certification is presented in Fig. 3. In fact this system provides voluntary accreditation of Independent NDT personnel certification centers.

Fig. 3

The members of this system are: The central agency of RSNTTD; accredited authorized Bodies for NDT personnel cer-tification; enterprises and organizations employing certified personnel; employees of enterprises and organizations engaged in NDT.

At the moment in Russia there are 14 independent certification centers accredited within the frames of voluntary system described above and providing NDT personnel certification.

This system helps to involve experts that are highly qualified and competent in NDT and Technical Diagnostics area and to increase the role of NDT in industry.

Also it is necessary to mention that two Russian centers have European accreditation via German Accreditation Asso-ciation TGA.

It is well known that within different, existing in various countries, schemes of NDT personnel qualification and certifi-cation – different requirements are imposed on competence of the candidates. In Tab. (1) are presented general require-ments used in system established by GGTN and similar to those existing within voluntary system described above.

Table 1. General requirements imposed on candidates’ qualification

Level Education, qualification & training Professional skill Competence area

I

Secondary education, at least 80 h of specialized courses Operator

Performance of specific products tests in accordance with test proce-dures under supervision of level II & III personnel

II Secondary or higher education, spe-cialized courses based on program approved by ICB

Controller (Inspector) Independent implementation of NDT and assessment of tested object qual-ity, knowledge of NDT documents

III Secondary or higher technical educa-tion Technologist

Competence in all aspects of NDT activity (method) for which certifi-cate is obtained

An example of scheme of Independent Certification Center (ICC) work is presented in fig. 4. Some statistics presented in Tab. (2) & (3) demonstrate the number of certified NDT specialists and distribution of spe-

cialists within industrial sector. The only remark should be done that industrial sectors and types of tested products pre-sented relative to European standard. In Russia the classification of industrial sectors and tested objects differs from interna-tional one.

4. Perspectives of development of NDT specialists’ certification system

In the nearest future Russia plans to join WTrO and it means that country has to adjust its regulating system to remove administrative and technical barriers for free trade operations. Establishment of common market in Europe required devel-opment and introduction of harmonized rules of technical regulation, of minimization of state control.

The basic goal of technical regulation is to work out compulsory technical requirements imposed on products safety. The norms determine consumer properties and quality of the products are voluntary, i.e. the products’ quality is controlled by market itself. Since 1987 more that 20 Directives prepared by EC were put in force, these documents were prepared and approved on the basis of new global approaches. At the same time some 2000 old style directives are still valid and imple-mented.

In the resolution of EC of 1985 the following principles of technical regulation are stipulated: - the requirements that determine product safety are stipulated at the legislation level; - technical specification of product that presents its consumer properties establish the basis of agreed stan-

dards; - implementation of agreed or other standards are voluntary; the manufacture has the right to implement

any technical requirements that are not in contradiction with compulsory requirements; - the products manufactured in accordance with requirements of agreed standards have preference in com-

parison with other products. Russia has to change its regulating system in accordance with new approaches used all over the world, it means that the

technical regulation should be changed and adjusted in accordance with listed above principles. The first step made by Rus-sia is approval of new federal law #184-FZ of December 27, 2002 “On technical regulation”. Due to this new law in the nearest seven years regulating documents, rules and norms should be revised in accordance with new approaches.

This law introduce such a term as “technical regulations (in Russian it sounds ‘reglament’ or standing order)”. The law stipulates that some “technical standing order” should be approved at the level of Federal law and in some cases such a document can be introduced by the Government Decree. In technical standing order are formulated the compulsory re-quirements imposed on:

• objects that are subject to technical regulation (this can be products, processes, production methods, operation and utilization);

• types of assessment of compliance to compulsory requirements; • terminology; • package;

Table 2

TOTAL NUMBER OF CERTIFIED OPERATORS IN RUSSIA AS PER 31.12.2001

Cas

tings

(c)

Forg

ings

(f)

Wel

ds (w

)

Tube

s &

Pipe

s (t)

Wro

ught

pr

oduc

ts

(wp)

Met

al

Man

ufac

.

Met

allic

pr

oduc

ts

Pres

sure

ve

ssel

s

Pre

& In

Se

rvic

e In

spec

tion

Aer

osp.

Rai

lway

s

Ship

build

Oth

ers

Tot

al

Level 1 133 94 471 487 63 140 265 57 1333 68 1000 81 778 4970

Level 2 245 168 5010 1170 75 193 1296 907 6970 1150 137 84 542 17947

Level 3 60 47 568 45 12 17 180 99 197 106 12 5 14 1362

TOTAL 438 309 6049 1702 150 350 1741 1063 8500 1324 1149 170 1334 24279

Table 3

TOTAL NUMBER OF VALID CERTIFICATIONS IN RUSSIA AS PER 31.12.2001

Lev

el

Methods Castings (c)

Forgings (f)

Welds (w)

Tubes &

Pipes (t)

Wrought products

(wp)

Metal Manufac.

Metallic products

Pressure vessels

Pre & In Service

Inspection Aerosp. Railways Shipbuild Others

Tot

al

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 UT 16 89 301 200 36 97 90 12 172 28 737 50 358 2186

MT 10 19 0 63 17 67 50 11 451 13 554 3 190 1448 1

PT 24 0 0 25 16 28 30 6 640 17 0 2 140 928

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

ET 0 0 0 96 9 0 18 0 245 5 39 0 102 514

RT 30 0 165 10 0 0 17 13 84 4 0 8 0 331

AT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 6

VT 0 0 0 0 0 11 28 0 67 6 79 14 0 205

1

Others 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 6 39

Total 80 108 466 394 78 203 233 42 1698 73 1409 77 796 5657

UT 27 177 3661 405 43 117 300 162 1877 257 72 26 215 7339

MT 23 18 0 200 24 81 340 122 2301 135 0 12 98 3354

PT 48 0 0 132 17 65 313 62 3205 372 4 10 56 4284

ET 0 0 0 370 6 0 81 0 300 393 0 0 100 1250

RT 196 0 1833 100 0 0 120 182 764 14 0 13 15 3237

AT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 0 28

VT 0 0 0 48 0 17 56 123 303 5 4 42 9 607

2

Others 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 187 0 0 0 25 212

Total 294 195 5494 1255 90 280 1210 651 8965 1176 80 103 518 20311

UT 4 31 287 20 7 13 64 20 44 25 8 2 1 526

MT 2 12 0 7 4 7 31 14 53 47 0 1 0 178

PT 18 0 0 2 3 3 32 10 74 36 0 1 1 180

ET 0 0 0 11 1 0 9 0 19 24 0 0 0 64

RT 38 0 129 8 0 0 24 18 36 18 0 2 1 274

AT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 7

VT 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 11 25 1 0 0 0 46

3

Others 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 12

Total 62 43 416 48 15 25 167 73 258 151 8 6 15 1287

TOTAL 436 346 6376 1697 183 508 1610 766 10921 1400 1497 186 1329 27255

• construction; • type of performance etc.

The most important thing is that this document covers is not only requirements towards products but towards processes and methods of production, operation and utilization.

Fig. 4 The philosophy of the new law “On technical regulation” is as follows:

- The mandatory requirements are stipulated only in the documents named Technical standing order and the rec-ommended ones – in standards;

- Technical standing orders and standards are based on international and internationally recognized standards and norms;

- The opinion of all interested parties should be taken into account during development of new set of regulating documents;

- Federal Bodies of executive authorities do not have any more power to establish mandatory requirements within the area of technical regulation.

In the new documents should be stipulated forms of compliance assessment and such an assessment can be both manda-tory and voluntary. It means that Manufacture has the right to choose the most convenient option.

Special attention in the law is paid to the necessity to carry out any assessment or certification by Independent test or certification centers. From now for any Supervising Body or Institution it is forbidden to provide both the development of mandatory requirements and assessment of this requirement fulfillment. Still the responsibility to supervise the fulfillment

INSPECTED OBJECTS

ULTRASONIC (UT)

ACOUSTIC- EMISSION (AE)

RADIOGRAPHY (RT)

MAGNETIC (MT)

EDDY-CURRENT (ET)

PENETRANT (PT)

VISUAL (VT) & MEASUR-ING

VIBRODIAGNOSTICS

THERMAL

NDT METHODS

PRESSURE EQUIPMENT

GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM

LIFTING MECHANISMS

OIL & GAS INDUSTRY EQUIPMENT

EQUIPMENT AT EXPLO-SION, FIRE & CHEMICAL

HAZARD FACILITIES

JSC “MSIA “Spectrum”

Independent Certification Body for NDT Per-

sonnel Certification “SPEK-TRSert”

I LEVEL

II LEVEL

III LEVEL

QUALIFICATION LEVELS

ACCREDITATION AREA OF NDT PERSONNEL INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION BODY

“SPECTRSert” OF JSC “MSIA “SPECTRUM”

and compliance to the requirements of newly developed documents will be responsibility of specially appointed by authori-ties supervising executive bodies.

All stated above means that in the nearest future in Russia the system of NDT personnel certification also should be ad-justed in accordance with new requirements and approaches. For sure the experience of international institutions used by RSNTTD will make this transition period smoother.

Summary

The role of NDT in the modern world is continuously increasing, it is clear that non-destructive testing and specialists

providing services within the field of NDT play important part in safe operation even in spite of the fact that not all employ-ers agree with this statement, as such services have strong influence on the final costs and not obvious for final users who pay money. But in some cases, when technogenic disasters with transboundary effects happen, it is too late to talk about money, as not only money are lost but people lives and damage to environment with long term consequences. From the other side not only Russia but many other countries face the problem that due to lack of finances the old equipment can not be replaced by new one that is why more and more employers start to understand that NDT is of vital technical and eco-nomical importance.

The efficiency and workability of NDT means are checked by metrological certification and periodical verification. Something similar can be said about NDT specialists. The level of professional competence of NDT personnel can be ap-proved by certification and periodical verification of professional level. The NDT personnel certification is of great impor-tance as this is a sort of warranty: that non-destructive testing is efficiently implemented and, hence, the installation or facil-ity maintained by these personnel will operate safely and will not create any danger to society and environment.

The problems facing Russian NDT community: (a) - to increase the number of Independent Certification Bodies ac-credited by European or internationally recognized accreditation centers, i.e. to have more specialists with certificates rec-ognized in other countries; (b) – be more active and efficient in the process of European and International harmonization, especially in issues connected with requirements towards examination questions and test specimens.