We are delighted to announce that we will be holding ACCP Level II examinations (ISO 9712 accredited) on 23, 24, 25 & 26 April 2012 in Boksburg.

We can offer examinations in PT, MT, RT & UT. The cost of each examination is R 6900.00 (payable in advance). All payments and applications have to be finalized by 1 February 2012 to secure your place.

If you wish to have some refresher training, you are welcome to join any of our existing Level II course days (see schedule 2012) at a fee of R1200.00 per day.

For more information and/or an application form, please email Wendy on:
schoolnde@worldonline.co.za.

Levels of responsibility.

A Level I technician shall be able to:

• Select the correct equipment as per the technique sheet.
• Calibrate or test the conformance of equipment to the technique sheet.
• Perform the inspection in accordance with the instructions.
• Find the flaws.
• Locate those flaws accurately.
• Flaw sizing can be performed with MT & PT inspection methods.
• Accept or reject test pieces when provided with such instructions.
• Compile a report on those flaws with references and datum points.

A Level II technician shall be able to do all of the above and:

• Compile a works instruction or technique sheet. Have it approved by Level III.
• Select a NDT technique for a test method to be used.
• Translate codes into technique sheet for actual working conditions.
• Train and supervise trainees Level I’s & uncertified Level II’s
• Perform and supervise inspections.
• Compile training programs for trainees, Level I’s & Level II’s. Have it approved by Level III.
• Compile exam papers for trainees Level I’s & Level II’s. Have it approved by Level III.
• Perform flaw sizing.
• Identify the flaws.
• Accept responsibility for work done by a Level I’s & uncertified Level II’s while under his supervision.

Code of Ethics for Non-Destructive Testing Practitioners.

1. Upon my honour, I swear that I shall hold in sacred trust the rights and faith conferred upon me as a NDT practitioner.
2. As the safety and lives of others are dependent on my skill and judgement, I shall never knowingly subject others to risk which I would not willingly subject myself, nor those dear to me.
3. In discharging this trust, I pledge myself never to undertake work, or approve work which I believe beyond the limit of my knowledge.
4. Nor shall I allow any supervisor to persuade me to accept a work piece against my better judgement.
5. Nor shall I permit my judgement to be influenced by any form of personal gain.
6. Nor shall I accept a work piece about which I am in doubt, either as a result of an inspection performed by myself, or uncertainty in the ability of others.
7. I realise the grave responsibility which is mine as a qualified and certified NDT practitioner to exercise my judgement on the acceptability of work pieces.
8. I therefore pledge my unyielding adherence to those precepts of NDT for the dignity of my vocation.

REPORTING.

When writing a report the following must be remembered …

1. A report of any kind is a legal document and must be able to be used in a court of law. Your method application, inspection areas and limitations - if any - should be clearly described. If it’s not on paper, it didn’t happen.
2. You can be called to testify in a court of law on an inspection, at least 2 years after the inspection, even if you’ve changed employer. On critical inspections reports are stored for more than 10 years.
3. No open spaces will be allowed.
4. Your report will be used as reference by the next inspector that inspects that same piece. The aim is repeatability of inspections to monitor flaw growth.
5. At level I you are allowed to complete a report & put your name to it, but not sign it.
6. As a level II you may allow a level I to complete a report, but you put your name next to his and then sign it.
7. On hand written reports you may not use correction fluid - "tippex". Corrections made on a hand written report should be deleted, initialled and then corrected. It is messy, but legal.
8. Hand written reports shall be completed in black ink only.
9. Drawings may be made in pencil but the labelling shall be in ink. A drawing or a picture is a very welcome addition to a report. It does wonders in court!
10. Spelling does count in a legal document; get a dictionary!
11. DO NOT use abbreviations unless you know for a fact that your client will be familiar with those abbreviations, or clarify.
12. DO NOT SPECULATE ! Report only on what you find.
13. The statement “No cracks found.” is NOT accepted by clients! You are not only looking for cracks, what about other flaws? Also, only if you’ve studied metallurgy or have lots of experience in the manufacturing and maintenance fields and you can say without a doubt that, whatever flaw indication you have found is indeed a crack, then go for it. For the rest of us, refer to it as a linear indication or even a crack-like indication. “No defects found.” When there are acceptance criteria or even, “no relevant indications found”.
14. The statement “No defects found at time of test.” is NOT accepted by clients! Your report is dated anyway and you need to accept responsibility for your actions. Granted heat treatment, stress relieving and cyclic loads may cause flaws, fair enough; then state your results as; “no relevant indications found before heat treatment, or before shipment, or before commissioning.” “No defects found.” This is what clients pay for.
15. Do the job in such a way that the client asks for you next time.

QUALIFICATION and CERTIFICATION.

NDT personnel, before they can perform an NDT task independently (without supervision), have to be qualified and certified competent in a particular NDT method by the employer.

This is how it’s done:

• Firstly you have to have a high school education, with mathematics and science, and preferably technical drawings. You shouldn’t mind getting your hands dirty and there will probably be a lot of travelling involved. You also have to be medically fit: eye tests and blood cell count etc., for example when performing radiography. This is standard practice for all NDT methods.
• Secondly you have to gain practical experience in the particular method. For example you are looking at UT and RT, it is recommended that you have at least three months of practical experience before attending the Level I course.
• Then, after your Level I course, you have to have at least another three months of practical experience (for UT and RT) as a trainee before you may be certified as a Level I NDT Technician - You may now perform an NDT task independently. This period differs with each method of NDT.
• You may attend a Level II course in a particular method once you and your employer feel you are ready to take up a supervisory position. You will be responsible for training and supervising other NDT personnel. You will also accept responsibility for the actions of Level I and uncertified Level II technicians.
• But if you are going to be certified directly as a Level II inspector you will need at least nine month's practical experience as a trainee, under direct supervision of a certified Level II or III. Recommended for MT & PT only. This period differs with each method of NDT.
• You may attend a Level III “refresher” course in the particular method once you feel you are ready to take up a managerial position. (you need more than 4 years of experience.) You will be responsible for training, supervising and certifying other NDT personnel. You will also accept responsibility for the actions of Level I and Level II technicians. You will analyse codes, write procedures, approve technique sheets etc.

The certificates:
Having successfully passed the general exam, which is attaining 70% for the exam, you will be issued with a certificate as proof of theoretical training. This certificate never expires, like your matric certificate.

THIS IS YOUR QUALIFICATION CERTIFICATE.
THIS CERTIFICATE DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO CARRY OUT AN NDT INSPECTION INDEPENDENTLY. YOU ARE STILL A TRAINEE UNTIL THE COMPANY CERTIFIES YOU COMPETENT TO DO THE JOB.

Now for certification of competency or authority to SNT - TC - 1A, you will write three exams.

The GENERAL (qualification exam as above), SPECIFIC and a PRACTICAL exam, a pass mark of 70% is required in each aspect, BUT before you can be certified you need your general, specific and practical exams to make up a composite mark of no less than 80% aggregate. (Gen% + Spec% + Pract% ÷ 3 = more than 80%)

You also need the necessary on the job training and practical experience as deemed necessary by the company – your employer - and the company's Level III, in accordance with the company's Written Practice.

This written practice covers the qualification and certification of NDE personnel employed by the company. It is drawn up by the company and approved by the company's Level III or an appointed Level III from an outside agency.

• Remember you must retain your hours of experience if you wish to be certified and the best way to do this is to log your experience in an appropriate log book which should be verified by your supervisor on a regular basis.
• This log book is virtually your NDT CV and should be at hand at all times in the advent that your experience needs to be verified by a Level III or the client.
• In order for the employer to certify you competent to do the job independently he must ensure the following documentation is in place and available on file.
• Educational background.
• Proof of course training in the applicable method.
• Practical experience.
• Examination results, i.e. General, Specific and Practical.
• Physical capability, e.g. near vision accuracy and colour perception.

The completed certification document must be signed by the company representative and endorsed by the appointed Level III in order for the document to be valid.

Certification remains valid for a period of five years and terminates when you leave the company. Recertification for the company will be by examination i.e. General, Specific and Practical. Depending how this is stated in the company’s written practice.

However, should you remain with the same company recertification for another five years can be done on the basis of continued satisfactory performance, without examination.
Of course this all depends on the how it is laid down in the company's written practice.

Should you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate to ask your instructor for assistance.

“School Rules.”

1. Courses are run from 08h00 to +- 15h00.
2. Lunch time from +- 12h30 to 13h30.
3. Tea times @ +-10h00 and 14h00, with +- hourly breaks during the day.
4. Mobile phones are not to be used during lectures.
5. No eating and drinking allowed in the lecture rooms.
6. Cold drinks, crisps and chocolates can be purchased at reception.
7. Lunch may be ordered and paid for at reception before 11h00. For delivery at +- 12h30.
8. The coffee machine is available for all our students and guests, if you make a mess please clean it up. Report any problems to reception please.
9. Do not dump your unwanted cup of coffee into the dustbin.
10. The “panic stations” are used by all our students and guests; please leave it in the condition
    you would like to find it. Report any problems to reception please.
11. Do not dump your cigarette butts in the garden, use the containers provided.
12. Experience log books may be purchased at reception @ R. 200-00 each.
13. Scientific calculators may be purchased at reception @ R. 100-00 each.
14. Please use the allocated student parking. Read the writing on the wall ...
15. No speeding will be tolerated on our premises.
16. Pedestrians have the right of way.
17. No loud music played from your car or cell phone will be tolerated.
18. Exam results will be available on the Tuesday following the exams @ 12.30 and can be obtained telephonically when full payment have been received. We do not send out results.
19. It is illegal for any student to possess a SANDE exam paper outside of the exam room.
20. Extra classes are available @ R. 200/hour. Arrange with your instructor and pay at reception.
    No exam results will be made available until full payment is received for extra classes.
21. Certificate reprints are charged at R. 300-00 each.
22. It is an offence to alter any SANDE certificates; this will result in being banned from attending
    any further SANDE courses. We may also put your name on our website.
23. Missing more than 20% of classes for whatever reason, will result forfeiting the exams and a
    repeat of the course, however each case will be judged on it’s own merit.