AFRICAN FUSION—MARCH2014
9
SAIW bulletin board
Appreciation of NDT for engineers
Digital radiography (RT), one of themodernNDT techniques.
G
rowing industrial demand; increas-
ing operational parameters; the
extension of in service maintenance
schedules and operating life expec-
tancy; and the use of new equipment
and materials is causing engineers to
find it increasinglydifficult tomaintain
operational capability while still con-
taining fabrication and maintenance
costs. This is aggravated by a lack of
knowledge of welding technology and
related applied sciences, such as non-
destructive testing.
Non-destructive testing
(NDT)
includes a wide group of testing tech-
niques used in industry to assess the
properties of amaterial and to identify
discontinuities within components or
systems, without causing damage or
inhibitingoperation. BecauseNDTdoes
not permanently alter the article being
inspected, it isahighlyvaluable testing
technique that can save both money
and time in product research, design,
manufacture, quality assessment, op-
erational evaluation andmaintenance.
Industrial sectors such as power
generation, petrochemical, mining,
aviation, transport, sugar andpulpand
paper, useNDT extensively to provide
sufficient information to facilitate
sound engineeringdecisions andprac-
tices. CommonNDTmethods include
ultrasonic (UT),magneticparticle test-
ing (MT), dye penetrant testing (PT),
radiographic testing (RT), as well as
visual and eddy-current testing.
The SAIW’s new ‘
Appreciation
of NDT for Engineers’
course aims
to provide personnel involved in the
design,manufacture, fabrication, instal-
lation, operation and maintenance of
engineering components – managers
and supervisors responsible for plant
operation and product delivery, aswell
as engineers and engineers in train-
ing – with a basic understanding of
the various NDT methods and when
and how they are applied within the
manufacture, fabrication, operationand
maintenancephasesof industrial plants
or components.
The SAIW is presenting this course
on a public basis in all the major cen-
tres throughout the year, but is also
willing to arrange on-site courses for
engineering or fabrication companies
that wish to train all of their own staff,
dependingon thenumber of candidates
and the availability of resources. Cur-
rently, courses are scheduled to run in
Johannesburg from 7 to 11 April, in
Cape Town from14 to17April, and in
Durban from 22 to 25 April. For more
information or to enrol for this course,
contact RebeccaMotloung at SAIW.
Competent persons training course
Annual general meeting: 9May
T
he SAIWAnnual General Meetingwill be held on Friday 9May at 15:30.
Members are calledupon to attend thisAGM as a significant proposal will
be tabled to adopt a resolution tobecome a registeredNot for Profit Company
(NPC) in compliance with the New Companies Act of 2011.
Also on the agendawill be council and committee elections and the Presi-
dent’s report. It is thereforedoubly important formembers toattendandensure
stability andparticipation indirecting the futureof the industry they operate in.
Themeetingwill beheldat theSAIWheadofficeauditoriumat 52Western
Boulevard, Johannesburg.
T
heSAIWCompetentPersonscours-
es are ideal for persons intending
towork as inspectors for an Approved
Inspection Authority (AIA), which has
in-service inspection included in the
scopeof its accreditationandapproval
by the Department of Labour (DOL).
These courses are also suitable for
engineering personnel responsible for
in-service inspection requirements
according to the Pressure Equipment
Regulations (PER). The qualification
will ensure that the user’s responsibil-
ity in terms of the in-service inspection
requirements of the PER are appropri-
atelymanaged.
In-service competent persons per-
form the in-service inspections that are
required by the PER according to the
Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Competent persons are required to be
certified by the SAQCCCP certification
body, and successfully completing an
approved trainingcourse isanessential
requirement for certification.
Certification is available in two
categories – pressure vessels or steam
generators. In the case of pressure ves-
sels, thereare twobasicsub-categories;
limited or unlimited. Limited certifica-
tion is aimed at those personnel work-
ing only in the field of inspection of
compressor air receiversor smallmedi-
cal or other types of autoclaves. Other
pressure vessel inspectors working in
the industry, including those in refinery
andprocessor power generation indus-
tries, are required to have unlimited
certification.
In the case of steam generators,
certification may be in sub-categories
fired or unfired, depending on the
practical experience of the candidate.
Certification in the firedsub-category in-
cludescertification inunfiredequipment
whereas the reverse does not apply.
SAIW recommends that candidates
shouldhaveaminimumofGrade10or
an equivalent qualification and some
relevant experience in inspection or
operation of pressurised equipment,
but all candidates will be considered.
Coursesare run throughout theyear
in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape
Town. Formore informationor to enrol,
contact Lillian Pinat at SAIW on 011
298 2100.
