Brazilian certification system for NDT and welding inspectors, and usual requirements for welding documents

This document was prepared to explain the Brazilian system for qualification and certifications of Non Destructive Test personnel and welding inspectors, and thereafter will help to define how our documentation system and the relationship with subcontractors regarding welding and NDE documents will work, for Brazilian welding works.

1 NDE personnel In Brazil, the NDE personnel are qualified according to the code NBR NM ISO 9712 Non-destructive testing Qualification and certification of personnel and the responsible organization to qualify the inspectors is called ABENDI (Brazilian association of nondestructive tests and inspection). This system is called SNQC-END (national system of qualification and certification nondestructive testing) and the qualified professional has a number that can be checked at www.abendi.org.br if this professional is really qualified and if the qualification is valid.
EXAMPLE: If you check the number 10.451 will appear: Name: JOAO VITOR BARBOSA SILVA SNQC-END: 10.451 LP-N2-G Qualified Method: LP-N2-G (penetrant liquid inspector)

There are two levels of NDT inspectors. (for PT, MT, RT, UT and more)

LEVEL 2: The person responsible to make the tests and interpret the results and judge as acceptable or not, according to the approved procedure. Is the responsible to prepare and sign the reports.

Example: o o o o o LP-N2-G (penetrant liquid inspector) PM-N2-S-Y (magnetic particle inspector) EV-N2-S (welding visual examination inspector) US-N2-S2.1 (ultrasound inspector welding examination) US-N1-ME (ultrasound inspector thickness measure)

LEVEL 3: The responsible to prepare and sign the procedures for nondestructive testing, according to the method that he is qualified. In some cases, is who will coordinate the NDT services and the inspectors team.

Example: o o o LP-N3 (penetrant liquid) EV-N3 (welding visual examination) PM-N3 (magnetic particle)

Documents: Procedures and Reports

The example below shows how the procedures and reports are signed:

1 Welding Inspectors In Brazil, the welding inspectors are qualified according to de code NBR 14842 Requirements for qualification and certification of welding inspectors and the responsible organization to qualify the inspectors is called FBTS (Brazilian foundation of welding technology). This system is called SNQC-IS (national system of qualification and certification welding inspectors, in Portuguese IS means Inspetores de Soldagem) and the qualified professional has a number that can be checked at www.fbts.org.br if this professional is really qualified and if the qualification is valid.
EXAMPLE: If you check the number 8794 will appear: Name: JOAO VITOR BARBOSA SILVA SNQC-IS: 8794 N1 Qualified Method: welding inspector level 1

There are two levels of Welding Inspectors, 1 and 2:

LEVEL 1: The professional hired by the subcontractor who is responsible to follow the welding works and assure that the procedure are being used, makes visual inspection, analyzes the charts of PWHT, receive welding consumables and materials, doing the respective inspection, to execute the hardness test on welded joints if required, follows the welders tests qualification and another tasks depending on the scope of the service.

All subcontractors doing welding services needs to have their own welding inspector level 1. The quantity required will depend of the size on the work.

LEVEL 2: The responsible to qualify the welding procedures, preparing and signing the welding documents (WPSs, PQRs, WPQRs, List of qualified welders) according to the code that he is qualified. The welding inspector level 2 can sign only welding documents regarding the code that he is qualified, and should be punished if does not respect this condition.

Applicable Codes API 1104 API 650 ASME B31.1 ASME B31.3 ASME B31.4 ASME B31.8 ASME B31.2 ASME VIII DIV 1 ASME VIII DIV 2 AWS D1.1
Example: o If you will build a oil storage tank, will be necessary a welding inspector level 2 qualified at least in two codes, in this case API 650 (for the tank) and the welding procedures for ladder and platform assemblies, handrails, stairways, and other miscellaneous assemblies, but not their attachments to the tank, shall comply with either AWS D1.1. Usually the subcontractors doing welding services have a welding inspector level 2 as a consultant. Depending on the size of the work could be necessary that the subcontractor hire a welding inspector level 2 for full time job.

In cases where the contractor has the qualified WPSs, like POSCO on the CSP project, the subcontractors need the welding inspector level 2 to qualify welders and weld machine operators, who will prepare the applicable documents. So, this professional could be paid to do only this kind of service.

The welding inspector level 2 (Brazilian system) could be compared to the welding engineer (international system AWS or IIW)

Documents: Procedures and Reports

The example below shows how the procedures and reports are signed: