SAEP-1142

Previous Issue: 19 May 2009 Next Planned Update: 4 December 2019

Primary contact: Al-Mudaibegh, Isa Houmud (mudaibih) on +966-13-8801940

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2014. All rights reserved.

Engineering Procedure

SAEP-1142 4 December 2014

Qualification of Non-Saudi Aramco NDT Personnel

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Scope.................................................................. 2

2 Conflicts and Deviations..................................... 2

3 References.......................................................... 2

4 General............................................................... 3

5 Training............................................................... 4

6 Qualification of Examinations.............................. 5

7 Certification......................................................... 7 Appendix I - Approved National Certification Programs................................... 9

Appendix II - Individual Certification Techniques... 10

Appendix III - Saudi Aramco Required Practical Verification Examinations…......… 11

Document Responsibility: Non-Destructive Testing Standards Committee SAEP-1142

Issue Date: 4 December 2014

Next Planned Update: 4 December 2019 Qualification of Non-Saudi Aramco NDT Personnel

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1 Scope

This Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure (SAEP) establishes the minimum training,

examination, qualification, and certification requirements of contractor, subcontractor,

consultant, or other non-Saudi Aramco personnel performing, interpreting, or otherwise

affecting the results of Nondestructive Testing (NDT) operations during purchase,

construction, or maintenance of plant and equipment being purchased, constructed, or

operated for Saudi Aramco. Also, it provides minimum requirements for development

of NDT contractors’ written practices.

2 Conflicts and Deviations

2.1 Any conflicts between this procedure and other Saudi Aramco Engineering

Procedures (SAEP's), Engineering Standards (SAES’s), Materials System

Specifications (SAMSS's), Standard Drawings (SASD's), or industry standards,

codes, and forms shall be resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer

Representative through the Manager, Inspection Department of Saudi Aramco,

Dhahran.

2.2 Direct all requests to deviate from this procedure in writing to the Company or

Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302

and forward such requests to the Manager, Inspection Department of Saudi

Aramco, Dhahran.

3 References

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory

Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American National Standards Institute / The American Society for

Nondestructive Testing, Inc.

ANSI/ASNT CP-189 Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel

(2011 Edition)

ASNT SNT-TC-1A Recommended Practice for Personnel

Qualifications and Certification (2011 Edition)

https://standards.aramco.com.sa:10009/Public/StandardDocInfo.aspx?DocumentID=113090

https://standards.aramco.com.sa:10009/Public/StandardDocInfo.aspx?DocumentID=113090




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International Organization for Standardization

ISO 9712 Non-Destructive Testing - Qualification and

Certification of NDT Personnel (2012 Edition)

ISO/TR 25107 Non-destructive Testing - Guidelines for NDT

Training Syllabuses (2006 Edition)

ISO 17024 Conformity Assessment - General Requirements for

Bodies Operating Certification of Persons

(2012 Edition)

4 General

4.1 This procedure shall cover all or any of NDT methods and techniques and shall

include, but not be limited to, those listed in Appendix II.

4.2 Any organization (referred to as employer in the procedure) supplying,

employing or delegating NDT personnel shall have a written practice or

procedure covering NDT personnel training, experience, qualification and

certification. This written practice shall meet or exceed the minimum

requirements of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and/or ISO 9712 plus the additions and

clarifications outlined in this SAEP. However, NDT personnel performing NDT

out of kingdom (OOK) as a result of procurement of materials or equipment

obtained from OOK vendors using Purchase Orders directly from Saudi Aramco

or through construction contractors may be certified to a nationally recognized

program that complies with the requirements of ANSI/ASNT CP-189,

ANSI/ASNT SNT-TC-1A or ISO 9712. Appendix I contains a list of acceptable

NDT certification programs.

4.3 The employer’s NDT personnel qualification and certification procedure shall

be submitted to the Saudi Aramco Inspection Department for review and

approval prior to the commencement of any NDT activities.

4.4 All documentation shall be prepared in the English language.

4.5 Personnel responsible for interpretation of or affecting the results of NDT

operations shall be certified to a minimum of Level II per the certifying

employer’s written practice.

4.6 The written practice shall include and specify the qualification/certification

requirements for both conventional and advanced NDT methods and techniques.

4.7 All NDT procedures and documentations shall be prepared by certified NDT

Level III personnel. For NDT techniques that do not have Level III

certification, the individual shall have a NDT Level III in the method and

minimum Level II in the technique.




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4.8 Principal NDT Level III personnel shall be officially assigned by a written letter

from the employer, i.e., the owner or his representative such as general manager.

The letter shall include the main duties of the principal NDT Level III.

4.9 Proncipal NDT Level III shall be responsible for developing and approving all

NDT documentations, training and certification programs.

4.10 The principal NDT Level III shall officially assign other NDT Level IIIs within

his organization.

4.11 Obtaining NDT Level III services through an outside agency is acceptable. It is

the responsibility of the employer to evaluate the services provided by the

agency and ensure their compliance to this SAEP and applicable international

standards and codes referenced within this SAEP. Obtaining NDT Level III

services through individuals who don’t have official representation, i.e.,

commercially, is not acceptable and shall be through direct employment of the

NDT Level III individual(s).

5 Training

5.1 Training programs for any NDT method shall include at least the body of

knowledge shown in ANSI/ASNT CP-105 or the body of knowledge in

ISO/TR 25107.

5.2 The minimum required hours for training and experience shall be as shown in

Appendix A of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 or Tables 2 and 3 of ISO 9712 in the NDT

method being certified.

5.3 For NDT techniques that are not included in either ANSI/ASNT CP-189 or

ISO 9712, the employer shall develop required training programs and

certification requirements. These requirements shall be included in the

employer’s written practice.

5.4 If the current employer has not administered the training being claimed for

qualification, or the experience being claimed for qualification was not gained

with the current employer, the current employer shall verify the claimed training

and/or experience in writing from the previous employer(s) and retain the

verification on file. Any claimed training or experience that cannot be verified

and documented shall be considered invalid. The sum of claimed trainings and

experiences obtained through different employers is acceptable if it is meeting

the minimum training and experience requirements of ISO 9712 and

ANSI/ASNT CP-189.

5.5 The employer’s NDT instructors shall be assigned officially and in writing by

the principal NDT Level III. The NDT instructors shall meet the minimum




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requirements specified in ANSI/ASNT CP-189.

5.6 The employer shall establish the NDT training documentations and records in

compliance with the requirements of ISO 9712 and ANSI/ASNT CP-189.

The principal NDT Level III shall be responsible for the verification and

accuracy of these documents and records.

5.7 Saudi Aramco shall have the right to request submission of, or be granted access

to, any and all training, experience, qualification, and certification records

pertaining to NDT personnel. This applies to any organization covered under

the scope of this document.

Note: Saudi Aramco, at it own discrition, shall have the right to request from NDT contractors that their assigned NDT instructors and exam proctors set and pass Saudi Aramco NDT qualification exams in the applicable NDT metohds and/or technuqes. The exams can be written, practical or both.

5.8 At the end of each training, NDT technician shall set for and pass a final exam

covering the training topics and similar to the method exam ( practical, specific

and general exams) to receive credit for the training and training period as

prerequisite for the methods certification exam. Training exam shall not be

considered as method exam. For in-house employer training examinations, all

exams shall be graded using red ink.

5.9 All training exams and attendance records, i.e. hours, shall be reviewed and

approved by employer’s principal NDT Level III. For computer based exams,

principal NDT Level III shall sign on printed copy of the exam.

5.10 NDT employer shall have one page training certificate that fulfill the training

record requirements addressed in ANSI/ASNT CP-189, Section 9.2.1.

Attendance sheet shall not be accepted as evidence of training completion.

Sample certification form shall be attached to NDT organization’s written

practice.

5.11 Training certificates obtained through third party training organizations that

comply with ISO 9712 and ISO/TR 25107 shall waive the requirements stated in

5.10.

6 Qualification Examinations

6.1 Access to qualification materials shall be limited and the qualification

examinations shall be maintained in secure files. The principal NDT Level III

shall be responsible of control and security of NDT examination materials and

resources. Training course materials and examinations shall be available for

review or assessment by Saudi Aramco Inspection Department.




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6.2 Written Examination

6.2.1 Written qualification examinations shall contain questions covering at

least the body of knowledge of ANSI/ASNT CP-105 or ISO/TR 25107

in the method being examined.

6.2.2 For NDT techniques that are not included in either ANSI/ASNT CP-189

or ISO 9712, the employer shall develop required qualification programs

and certification requirements. These requirements shall be included in

the employer’s written practice. Training and experience hours shall be

identified using guidelines of ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and/or ISO 9712.

6.2.3 Questions used in general examinations for Level I and Level II

personnel shall be similar in type and difficulty to those published by

ASNT. Questions shall not be used verbatim from the ASNT published

lists or other resources, e.g., internet sites. Examinations shall be

established from a database of questions that ensures that no two

candidates receive more that 25% of identical questions during any

individual examination session.

6.2.4 Specific examinations shall be tailored to NDT techniques listed in

Appendix II. The specific examination shall also cover experience and

knowledge of recognized standards and codes for the technique being

used.

6.3 Practical Examinations

6.3.1 The employer shall establish adequate inventory of practical examination

test samples, considering all provided NDT services for both methods

and techniques.

6.3.2 Each practical examination test sample shall have a unique serial number

and associated certified answer key document.

6.3.3 Access to the practical examination test samples and their answer keys

shall be limited to and controlled by the employer’s principal NDT

Level III. Access to delegated NDT Level III shall be documented

through official letter issued and signed by the principal NDT Level III.

6.4 Visual Acuity Examinations

6.4.1 Vision examinations shall be performed annually. The examinations

shall be documented and retained in the individual files.

6.4.2 Vision test shall be conducted in accordance with ANSI/ASNT CP-189

or ISO 9712. Vision examinations form shall be prepared and attached




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to the written practice.

6.4.3 Saudi Aramco shall have the right, at its own discretion, to request

contractor’s individuals taking Saudi Aramco verification examinations,

to pass a visual acuity verification examinations administered by Saudi

Aramco.

6.5 Saudi Aramco shall have the right, at its own discretion, to request employers’

NDT Level II personnel, as well as any individuals interpreting or influencing

the interpretation of NDT results, to set for and pass Saudi Aramco qualification

verification exams, written and/or practical. The verification examination shall

be administered by Saudi Aramco.

6.6 Saudi Aramco shall have the right, at its own discretion, to request employers’

NDT Level III personnel to set for and pass Saudi Aramco qualification

verification exam, written and/or practical, for NDT Level III. The verification

examination shall be administered by Saudi Aramco.

7 Certification

7.1 NDT Level I and II certifications shall be issued as per the requirements of

ANSI/ASNT CP-198 and/or ISO 9712.

7.2 NDT certification format shall be developed and approved by the employer’s

principal NDT Level III. Copy of the approved certification format shall be

included in the employer’s written practice.

7.3 Individual NDT methods may be subdivided into specialized techniques as listed

in Appendix III; performance qualification may be required in each of the

applicable specialized techniques at the discretion of Saudi Aramco Inspection

Department.

7.4 Limited certifications in NDT techniques are acceptable providing the training

and experience requirements are established as per ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and

ISO 9712.

7.5 Personnel performing or evaluating NDT results shall be certified, at least to

Level II, in the NDT method or specialized technique being used.

7.6 NDT certification validity shall not exceed 5 years.

7.7 If the employer accepts third party internationally recognized NDT certification

then, this shall be clearly addressed in his written practice.




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Commentary Note:

NDT individuals who are working directly under the supervison of Saudi Aramco Inspection Department/Operation Inspection Division, and provided through NDT service contracts or Supplemental Manpower contracts, i.e., SMP, can be certified by Saudi Aramco as per SAEP-1140. The certification is considered valid as long as the individual has a valid contract, i.e., Released Purchase Order (RPO), with Saudi Aramco. Once the RPO is expired or not renewed, the certification is void. The issued certification shall not be used outsoide Saudi Aramco at any time. The certification shall be returned to Saudi Aramco Inspection Department upon end of contract or termination of services.

7.8 Recertification

7.8.1 Level I and Level II personnel shall be recertified every five (5) years in

accordance to the employer's written practice. The recertification shall

be based on setting for and passing written and practical examination.

Recertification by demonstration of experience is not acceptable.

7.8.2 The employer recertification program shall meet the recertification

requirements as stated in ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and/or ISO 9712.

7.8.3 For third party issued NDT certifications, the recertification

requirements shall be as per the requirements of ISO 9712.

7.8.2 NDT Level III personnel shall be recertified by employer through

verification of the individual's NDT Level III certificate validity in each

method for which recertification is sought.

Revision Summary

4 December 2014 Revised the Next Planned Update, reaffirmed the content of the document, and reissued as major revision.




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Appendix I - Accepted NDT Certification Programs

The following Certification Programs for NDT personnel are acceptable:

ANSI/ASNT NDT and ACCP

PCN Scheme

CSWIP Scheme

Other NDT certification schemes meeting the requirements of ISO 9712, ISO 17024

and ISO/TR 25107 for qualification and certification of individuals.

Note: Supporting documents for the NDT certification scheme shall be submitted to Saudi Aramco for evaluation and acceptance.




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Appendix II - Individual Certification Methods/Techniques

Training and Certification shall be required in the following methods and sub methods.

This list shall be subject to revision at any time and reference should be made to the

NDT Standards Committee for the latest revision:

Visual Testing

Magnetic Particle Testing

Liquid Penetrant Testing

Radiographic Testing (Manual & Automated)

Radiographic Film Interpretation

Ultrasonic Testing (Automated Corrosion Mapping, i.e., ambient/high temperature and

SWC/HIC)

Ultrasonic Testing (Automated Pipeline Girth Weld Inspection)

Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (Plate & Pipe - Manual)

Ultrasonic Shear Wave Testing (Branch Connection (TKY) - Manual)

Ultrasonic Testing (Manual & Automated Phased Array)

Ultrasonic Testing (Time of Flight Diffraction (ToFD))

Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT)

Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer (EMAT)

Eddy Current Testing

Remote Field Eddy Current Testing

MFL Tubing Testing

MFL Tank Floor Testing

Infrared Testing

Acoustic Emission Testing (Tank Floors)

Acoustic Emission Testing (Loading Arms)

Acoustic Emission Testing (Valve Leakage)

Acoustic Emission Testing (Pressure Retaining Systems)

Guided Wave Inspection




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Appendix III - Saudi Aramco Required NDT Verification Examinations

MUT Manual UT (Shear Wave)

ToFD Time of Flight Diffraction

UTDI Ultrasonic Testing Data Interpreter

ACFM Alternating Current Field Measurement

ECT Eddy Current Testing

RFT Remote Field Testing

RTFI Radiographic Testing Film Interpreter

RT Radiography Testing

UTGW UT Guided Wave

AUT-P/L Automated UT Pipeline Girth Weld Scanning

AE Acoustic Emission – Tanks, Loading Arms and Valve Leakage

MFL-Tube Magnetic Flux Leakage Tube Examination

UTPA UT Phased Array

MFL Magnetic Flux Leakage

IRIS Internal Rotary Inspection System

LOTIS Laser Optic Tube Inspection System

EMAT Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducer

SLOFEC Saturated Low Frequency Eddy Current

DRT/CRT Digital RT/ Computerized RT

AUTCM AUT Corrosion Mapping, Ambient/High Temp.

AUT SWC/HIC AUT Stepwise Cracks/Hydrogen Induced Cracks

MFL-Tank Magnetic Flux Leakage Tank Floor Examination

Notes:

1. Other NDT techniques that are not listed in the above table may require Saudi Aramco qualification examination. Saudi Aramco Inspection Department shall be consulted in case the NDT technique sought for qualification is not listed.

2. The NDT verification examination result should indicate the area of application on the NDT approval such as;

Plate/Shell

Piping

Pipeline

Nozzle

Branch connections, i.e., T, K and/or Y.

General

Others (needs to be specified)

Documents

SAEP-1142