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Technical Note SS-01: Sep 2006 Page 1 of 8

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THEACCREDITATION OF INSPECTION

BODIES IN STRUCTURAL STEELWORK

ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR INSPECTION BODIES

Technical Note - SS 01 : September 2006The SAC Accreditation Programme is managed by SPRING Singapore

All rights reserved

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The purpose of inspections is to determine the conditions of structuralsteelworks for conformance with standards or other normative documents

and/or general requirements.

1.2 The field of structural steelwork inspection covers the inspection of variousstages of structural steelwork fabrication, erection and protection. It mayinclude review of relevant procedures and processes prior to any inspectionactivities.

1.3 This technical note (SS-01) should be read in conjunction with document IB01 Terms and Conditions, ISO/IEC 17020 and government regulations.

1.4 Supplementary information for specific areas of inspection may be published

as other Technical Notes.

2. MEASURING EQUIPMENT

2.1 All measuring and testing equipment shall be appropriate for the particularinspection to be performed.

3. CALIBRATION OF EQUIPMENT

3.1 Inspectors shall ensure that all equipment used during inspection work arecalibrated and traceable to the SI unit. Calibration shall be performed by anaccredited laboratory1or the National Measurement Institute who is a memberof the BIPM MRA2 where possible. The inspection body should wherepossible refer to the recommended calibration interval of equipment asspecified in relevant SAC-SINGLAS Technical Notes3.

3.2 Sensitive equipment shall be verified for functionality after they are setup atthe test or inspection site.

1Recognised accredited laboratories refer to those accredited by SAC-SINGLAS or its MRA partners

2BIPM MRA refers to listing of signatories maintained by the International Bureau of Weights andMeasures (BIPM) and publicly available on the BIPM website: http://www.bipm.fr

3Relevant SAC-SINGLAS Technical Notes include MET 001, MECH 001 and NDT 003

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4. TESTING

4.1 Analytical testing as define in IAF/ILAC-A4: 2004 Guidance on theApplication of ISO/IEC 17020 is a laboratory activity and therefore does not

come within the scope of ISO/IEC 17020. Examples of analytical testing arechemical or metallurgical analysis.

4.2 Where analytical testing is required to support the evaluation, the inspectionbody shall ensure that the testing is performed by an accredited laboratory.

4.3 With the exception of Type B inspection body, where an organisation isproviding analytical testing and inspection for the same project, theorganisation has to ensure that there is sufficient independence between thetwo activities (e.g. inspection activities and testing activities should not beheaded by the same person).

4.4 Functional testing as defines in IAF/ILAC-A4: 2004 forms a normal part of theactivities of an inspection body and is therefore within the scope of ISO/IEC17020. An example of functional testing is mock-up test.

5. INSPECTION PERSONNEL

5.1 STAFF

5.1.1 Inspection bodies shall ensure that their inspectors are medically fit for theirscope of inspection.

5.1.2 Inspectors shall be suitably qualified and have sufficient relevant experiencein their scope of inspection.

5.1.3 Inspectors should have appropriate experience and knowledge in thefollowing scope of inspection. Example: in welding metallurgies, fabricationand erection procedures and processes, destructive and non-destructivetesting. Welding inspectors should have general knowledge in protectivetreatment systems.

5.1.4 Inspectors must be familiar with the relevant standards or codes used in theinspection activities.

5.2 QUALIFICATION CATEGORIES FOR INSPECTORS

Inspectors shall satisfy the requirements of one of the following categories.

5.2.1 Category A

Senior Welding Inspector shall as a minimum have the following:

a. Senior Welding Inspector Qualification; AWS, Senior CertifiedWelding Inspector, or

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TWI, Senior Welding Inspector, or

BINDT, Weld Inspection Level 3

and

b. At least 4 years relevant experience in building structural steelwork.

5.2.2 Category B

Welding inspectors shall as a minimum have the following:

a. Welding Inspector Qualification;

AWS, Certified Welding Inspector, or

TWI, Welding Inspector, or


and

b. At least 4 years in relevant experience in building structural steelwork.

5.2.3 Category C

Assistant Welding Inspector shall as a minimum have the following:

a. Assistant Welding Inspector Qualification; AWS, Certified Associate Welding Inspector, or

TWI, Visual Welding Inspector, or


and

b. At least 2 years relevant experience in building structural steelwork.

5.2.4 Category C inspectors are to inspect under the direct supervision of either acategory B or category A inspector.

5.2.5 Category C inspectors will not be granted as authorized signatories.

5.2.6 Inspection report shall be signed by authorized signatories and shall includenames of category C inspectors involved in the inspection works.

5.3 SCOPE OF INSPECTION

5.3.1 The scope of inspection listed in Table 1 and Table 2 are extracted fromNational Productivity and Quality Specification (NPQS). The inspection list isnot exhaustive and users may add areas of inspection based on their ownneeds.

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5.3.2 Table 1 lists the typical scope of inspection performed by inspectors.

1 Review the quality manual

2 Pre-inspection meeting and surveillance of fabricator facilities/plants

3 Review fabrication and erection procedures

4. Review of welding procedures specification, procedure qualificationrecords, welder and welding operator qualification records.

5 Verify weld joints for inspection and testing. Witness non-destructivetesting if required. Review all results for compliance to codes andstandard.

6 Review all documents and records including but not limiting toDimensions, Procedures and Testing.

7 Verify all welding procedure and welder qualification records at site.

8 Review of material test certificates/records, verify or inspect materialand witness pre-treatment processes, if any.

9 Inspect delivered structural members for damage due to handling andtransportation.

10 Perform visual inspection and verify dimensional records.

11 Inspect the assembly of structural members at erection site prior towelding.

12 Witness cutting/edge joint preparations, verify joint geometry and

inspect fit-up conditions.13 Verify that welding processes are carried out in accordance with the

approved welding procedures, codes/standards and relevantdocuments.

14 Verify the weld joints for site testing. Witness NDT for site testing ifrequired. Review all results for compliance to codes and standards.

15 Inspect all welds.

16 Final inspection of all structural members.

5.3.3 Category A inspectors are expected to perform inspection listed under Item 1to item 16 of Table 1.

5.3.4 Category B inspectors are expected to perform inspection listed under Item 4to Item 16 of Table 1.

5.3.5 Category C inspectors are expected to perform inspection listed under Item 4to Item 16 of Table 1 under the supervision of Category A or Category Binspector.

5.3.6 Table 2 lists the additional scope of inspection which is not covered in Table

1. The inspectors are allowed to perform this scope of inspection provided

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they have the relevant qualifications or experiences in the particular area ofinspection.

1 Review inspection & test plans.

2 Witness procedure trail of stud welding process.3 Witness/check bolts tightening.

4 Witness fireproofing mock-up test as well as laboratory tests.

5 Witness and inspect the application of fireproofing works.

6 Witness blasting & painting processes.

7 Inspect painted product.

8 Witness galvanizing processes.

9 Inspect galvanizing works.

10 Inspect all remaining site painting/galvanizing and witness repairing ofall protective treatment works.

6. INSPECTION METHODS AND PROCEDURES

6.1 The inspection body shall spell in detail procedures and instructions to beused, the application of the appropriate regulations, codes of practice,standards, specifications, guidance documents and customer requirements.

6.2 Where risk assessment techniques are used to establish the nature and

frequency of inspections, the inspection body shall document the techniquesused in procedures including a demonstrable justification for using thetechnique.

6.3 Standards and codes, and other technical literature applicable to the design,construction, operation and inspection of structural steelworks and theircomponents within the accredited scope shall be maintained up to date andbe readily available to the staff.

7. FORMAT OF ACCREDITATION SCOPE

Only specific inspection types would be covered in the scope of accreditation.An example of the accreditation scope is attached in Appendix 1.

8. REFERENCE

ISO/IEC 17020 General criteria for the performance of various types ofbodies performing inspection.

IAF/ILAC-A4-2004 Guidance on the Application of ISO/IEC 17020

National Productivity and Quality specifications (NPQS) (C5-10 & C5-20)

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American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welding Inspectors (AWS QC 1)

TWI Certification Ltd - Certification Scheme for Welding and InspectionPersonnel (CSWIP-WI-6-92).

The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) Certification ofPersonnel for Weld Inspection (PCN WI)

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Appendix 1

Inspection body : Type A or B or C

Items, materials orproducts to be inspected

Specific Type ofInspection

Standards/Codes orSpecific InspectionMethod

Examples :Building StructuralSteelworkMaterials :carbon steel or stainlesssteel or aluminium, etc.,

a. structural steelworkinspection

b. coating inspection

Examples :

a. Project Quality Planb. Facilities /Plant Auditc. Fabrication/erection

procedures reviewd. Welding procedurese. Welders qualificationf. Dimensional inspectiong. Inspection of weldsh. Bolts tightening

i. Fire proofing inspectionj. Paint application

inspectionk. Galvanizing inspection

Examples :

a) AWS D1.1 StructuralWelding Code - Steelb) AWS D1.6 StructuralWelding Code StainlessSteel

c) AWS D1.2 StructuralWelding Code Aluminiumd) BS EN 1011 Pt 1 -General guidance for arcweldinge) BS EN 1011 Pt 2 -Ferritic Stainless Steelf) BS EN 1011 Pt 3 Stainless Steelg) BS EN 1011 Pt 4 Aluminium & AluminiumAlloy

NOTE :

Type A inspection bodyThe inspection body providing third party services.

Type B inspection bodyThe inspection body which forms a separate and identifiable part of an organisationinvolved in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, use or maintenance of theitem it inspects and has been established to supply inspection services to its parentorganisation.

Type C inspection bodyThe inspection body which is involved in the design, manufacture, supply,installation, use or maintenance of the items it inspects or of similar competitiveitems and may supply inspection services to other parties not being its parentorganisation.

Documents

SS01 Sep06