PCN News

Certification Services Department – March 2024

Qualifications & Certification Talk

Leak testing certification

BINDT has received a number of requests for information on leak testing, specifically for assistance on organisations providing leak testing certification.

BS EN ISO 9712:2022 includes within its scope leak testing as a recognised method and, as such, BINDT would like to engage with its readership and ask: Does industry feel that there is a requirement for a leak testing certification scheme to be developed in accordance with the industry standard BS EN ISO 9712:2022 Non-Destructive Testing – Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel?

If you have any thoughts on this matter, please provide feedback to BINDT and PCN through Patrick Boulton (patrick.boulton@bindt.org) and Joe Heigold (joe.heigold@bindt.org), the Institute’s Technical and Certification Engineers.

Pressure Equipment Directive

The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) has received an appointment from CASL (an LRQA company), formerly WQ-iC Ltd, a recognised third-party organisation (RTPO) and notified body (NoBo No 2893) based in Dublin, Ireland.

BINDT implements a robust certification process with an EU27-recognised third-party organisation for the certification of non-destructive testing (NDT) personnel. This process is fully compliant with CEN/TR/15589 Route B requirements and allows BINDT/PCN to issue certification that is acceptable under the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU, Annex 1 § 3.1.3.

Any PCN certificate holder or initial candidate seeking examination in applicable sectors/methods listed below will automatically be examined to PED requirements and issued with PED-recognised certification following successful examination and once all eligibility criteria are met.

Sector	Method
2. Pre- and in-service 6. Welds	20. Eddy current
	21. Magnetic particle testing
	22. Liquid penetrant testing
	23. Visual testing
	24. Ultrasonic testing
	25. Radiography
	27. Time-of-flight diffraction
	28. Phased array
	29. Computer radiographic testing
	34. Radiographic interpreter
	35. Computer radiographic interpreter

For more information and a list of FAQs, visit: www.bindt.org/Certification/pressure-equipment-directive and www.inspectioncasl.com/704-2

Improvements to services

BINDT would like to assure its end-users, members and stakeholders that the Institute is working hard to ensure improvements are made to services offered. Some of its current projects are as follows:

Deliverables:
Revision of the PCN Scheme to the latest edition of BS EN ISO 9712
The Certification Services Department and the Industrial and Technical Department are working together with industry representatives to fully revise the PCN Scheme in line with the latest edition of BS EN ISO 9712. Although there are many changes to incorporate, BINDT aims to ensure there is no significant impact to PCN certificate holders and that this improves and streamlines the PCN Scheme overall.

Software development
BINDT is working on several projects to streamline certification processes. This includes external and internal application processes:
     Online Product Technology course for aspirant PCN certificate holders
     Internal application management system
     Online applications.

Resources
The Certification Services Department and the Industrial and Technical Department have recently conducted a recruitment drive and additional resources have been allocated to improve services including PCN and address new technologies and schemes.

Progress will be reported as it happens on this page.

Lost, stolen or withdrawn certificates

All employers, agencies and end-users are advised that PCN certificates are only valid when presented with a laminated wallet card bearing the image and signature of the certificate holder.

Withdrawn/suspended certificates:
All certification for the following individuals has been withdrawn, with a five-year ban on attempts at PCN examinations/certification:

Jarred Thomas, PCN number 307289, withdrawn from 12 September 2019
Erik Aulin, PCN number 212770, withdrawn from 28 July 2020
Mohd Ismail Dollah, PCN number 315893, withdrawn from 28 July 2020
Mohd Nasir, PCN number 304873, withdrawn from 11 February 2021
Mark Jeffry Celis, PCN number 332973, withdrawn from 7 June 2021
Rohith Tadakala, PCN number 336997, withdrawn from 8 December 2021
Ruslan Moh, (no PCN number), withdrawn from 15 February 2022
Salim Agus, PCN number 301251, withdrawn from 4 March 2022
Shahrilahzam Bin Maraideen, PCN number 306704, withdrawn from 4 March 2022
Daniel Danczyszyn, (no PCN number), withdrawn from 6 April 2022
Sebastian Lata, PCN number 212298, withdrawn from 7 June 2022
Mohamad Mohaizzat Bin Mohktar, (no PCN number), withdrawn from 21 July 2022.

The following individuals have been given a 12-month ban on attempts at PCN examinations/certification:

Kamrul Islam, PCN number 342269, 12-month ban on GMT examination attempts from 17 March 2023
Graham Knowles, PCN number 206215, 12-month ban on WUT Level 3 examination attempts from 25 April 2023
Busani Liberty Mangena, PCN number 344209, withdrawn from 20 June 2023 (until Russian sanctions lifted)
Andrei Prokopenko, PCN number 337219, withdrawn from 20 June 2023 (until Russian sanctions lifted)
Sergei Vyrelkin, PCN number 343684, withdrawn from 20 June 2023 (until Russian sanctions lifted)
Vinoth Govindharaj, PCN number 339072, withdrawn from 18 October 202
Dragan Andreevski (no PCN number), 12-month ban on all PCN examination attempts from 16 February 2024..

The following individuals have been given a permanent ban on attempts at PCN examinations/certification:

G Venkataraman – PCN number 309672
Francis Regis Joe – PCN number 302284
Biju Pappu – PCN number 325842
Venkaiah Vanka – PCN number 329274
C Thangachariman – PCN number 333686
Andrew Harvey (aka A J Lourdes) – PCN number 327730
K Kumaran – PCN number 317701
R Ganesh – PCN number 329206
G Narayanaswamy – PCN number 329278
K V Sivaramakrishnan – PCN number 313268
P Muthu Kumar – PCN number 328063
Suman Dey – PCN number 300332
Abdul Rahman – PCN number 210063
Lalitha Venkatesh (no PCN number).

Reinstatement of six-month prior to expiry requirement for supplementary certification from August 2023

BINDT has reinstated the six-month prior to expiry requirement for supplementary certification.

It is the responsibility of the certificate holder to initiate the procedure required for revalidation.

Please refer to PCN/GEN issue 19 and the relevant renewal/recertification forms, which can be found at: www.bindt.org/Certification/pcn-exam-requirements-and-document-download

Reinstatement of six-week prior to expiry requirement for supplementary certification from January 2023

BINDT has reinstated the six-month prior to expiry requirement for revalidation of certification via renewal or examination.

It is the responsibility of the certificate holder to initiate the procedure required for revalidation.

Please refer to PCN/GEN issue 19 and the relevant renewal/recertification forms, which can be found at: www.bindt.org/Certification/pcn-exam-requirements-and-document-downloa

PCN FAQ page

PCN has a frequently asked questions page on the BINDT website, which can be found at: www.bindt.org/certification/general-information/frequently-asked-questions-faq

For any other PCN-related questions, email: pcn@bindt.org

Verification of PCN applications

A large number of verification checks are carried out on information submitted in support of PCN applications. In the event that a deliberate attempt to deceive is detected, severe penalties will be applied; please refer to document CP27 ‘Code of ethics for PCN certificate holders’, available at: www.bindt.org/downloads/cp27.pdf

If in doubt about the validity of the information you are providing, seek the advice of BINDT Certification Records Office staff at: pcn@bindt.org or tel: +44 (0)1604 438249.

Code of Ethics for PCN certificate holders

Individuals certificated within the PCN Scheme must recognise that personal integrity and professional competence are the fundamental principles on which their testing activities are founded. Accordingly, it is a condition of PCN certification that certificate holders shall abide by the PCN Code of Ethics (PCN document CP27). All certificate holders agree to comply with this Code of Ethics at the point of application for examination, recertification and renewal.

Complaints and appeals, which are handled with extreme discretion and impartiality, can be submitted using PCN form CP21 (www.bindt.org/downloads/CP21.pdf).

The process for whistleblowing can be viewed by visiting: www.bindt.org/membership/for-individuals/guidance-on-whistleblowing

BINDT training and examination centre status

All up-to-date contact details for Authorised Qualifying Bodies (AQBs)/examination centres can be found at: www.bindt.org/downloads/PSL4.pdf

All up-to-date contact details for Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) can be found at: www.bindt.org/education-and-training/bindt-approved-trainers

Approved PCN stamps

BINDT offers candidates the opportunity to purchase an approved form of stamp, which, when used in support of the usual signature, will positively identify the PCN certificate holder reporting the results of tests or authorising NDT instructions and procedures.

For an order form and further information on approved PCN stamps, see PCN document PSL/66, which can be found at: www.bindt.org/downloads/PSL66.pdf