Update 26 April 2021:
We are pleased to announce that we have extended the time in which EXISTING valid certificates can be validated and approved with WQ-iC Ltd.
Note: this does not affect the 1 May implementation date for initial, revalidated and supplementary examinations/renewals. |
Existing valid certificates up to 30 June 2021:
- In order for the certification to be validated, the holder simply has to complete a form on the WQ-iC website (as per the press release previously issued) before the end of June 2021. Failure to do so by 30 June 2021 will invalidate the approval.
- There will be no charge for existing valid certificates up to 30 June 2021; BINDT has decided to cover the costs incurred in setting up this process.
- Once validated for EU PED, approval will continue until the certificate has expired.
If you want a supplementary certificate to allow continued working under the European Pressure Equipment Directive under the Scheme, then please take the following simple steps before 30 June 2021:
- Please visit the online PCN certification verification page at www.bindt.org/pcn and, if you need to check any of your certification details before proceeding, use the search facility to see them. Then go back to the search page and click on the link to the WQ-iC website.
- When on the WQ-iC website (https://wqic-eu.com/ndt-operator-certs/), search using your PCN certificate number.
- Your details will come up as approved by WQ-iC Ltd and you can take a screen shot to demonstrate that your PCN certificate has been accepted by WQ-iC. If required, you can contact WQ-iC directly, by emailing: applications@wq-ic.eu, to request a copy. You will need to provide proof of address and identity.
- Your approval is considered to be valid from 1 January 2021 and is valid until the normal expiry date of your current PCN certificate, subject to maintaining compliance with the
WQ-iC Scheme.
- In order for your certification to be validated, please go to the WQ-iC website and complete the form named ‘BINDT-PCN – Individual Contract Agreement’ in the ‘Services’ tab. Failure to do so by 30 June 2021 will invalidate your approval and it will be removed from the WQ-iC approved list.
In the circumstances, BINDT has decided to cover the costs incurred in setting up this process.
Please note:
In agreeing to this arrangement, you are confirming:
- that your personal information can be shared with WQ-iC Ltd.
- WQ-iC Ltd, as the RTPO, remains the owner of the certification as detailed in the Scheme.
Your other options
If, for whatever reason, you choose not to renew now, then your certification will still be valid for PER (PED in the UK) for UKCA marking work under the BINDT/PCN Scheme. Please note that the expedited process described above will not be available after 30 June 2021.
Please remember that your PCN certificate will still be valid in all cases for which you are qualified,
except for work carried out under the European Pressure Equipment Directive.
As always, BINDT and PCN are committed to providing the best service we can to all of our clients and the NDT industry, operating and communicating with integrity at all times. We remain resolute in our drive to work collaboratively with businesses and organisations around the globe to promote the advancement of the science and practice of NDT and all associated disciplines.
What will happen next time you renew your certificate?
Your approval will continue until you next renew your certificate, either by renewal or
re-certification, at which time your PCN administration fee from BINDT will be increased to include the issuing of approval from WQ-iC Ltd.
Examinations and revalidated certificates from 1 May 2021:
- As of 1 May 2021, all examinations and renewal applications for those sectors/methods eligible for PED recognition (see table below) will include a charge of £45.00 plus VAT. This will be charged as an additional PCN PED administration fee.
- The AQB will implement this charge in addition to the PCN administration fee for relevant examinations (listed below).
- BINDT is forced to pass this charge on to candidates/PCN certificate holders to cover the cost of compliance with the agreement and issuing PED certification. The cost of validating existing certificates (up to 30 June 2021) is being absorbed by BINDT; however, considerable additional costs have been and are being incurred and, reluctantly, BINDT has no choice but to pass on some of these costs to certificate holders.
- PCN certificate holders will receive automatic recognition to the Pressure Equipment Directive and will be visible on the WQ-iC verification page. They will be issued with a certificate showing compliance with PED.
- Approval will continue until the certificate has expired.
Sectors
| Methods |
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 TOFD
28 Phased Array
29 Computer Radiographic Testing
34 Radiographic Interpreter
35 Computer Radiographic Interpreter
|
For further information, contact:
Jennifer Cook
Certification Manager
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
Midsummer House
Riverside Way
Bedford Road
Northampton NN1 5NX
UK
Email: jennifer.cook@bindt.org
For details of how to apply to WQ-iC Ltd for certification, click here.
Previous posting: 08/04/2021 – The following statement is an updated announcement with changes noted in bold and red
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) is pleased to announce that it has agreed a robust certification process with an EU27 Recognised Third-Party Organisation (RTPO) for the certification of 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.
BINDT has received an appointment from WQ-iC Ltd, an RTPO and Notified Body (NoBo No 2893) based in Dublin, Ireland. WQ-iC Ltd is a member of the Lloyd’s Register Group of companies.
The scheme applies to both current and new/renewal certification in the welding and pre- and in-service inspection sectors and, being an electronic/web-based solution, will minimise the inconvenience caused and simplify the process as far as possible. For current certification, a process has been agreed to review the technical documentation held by BINDT/PCN and issue an accredited certificate in accordance with the WQ-iC Ltd Scheme. Individuals’ certification details are searchable on the WQ-iC website for official verification purposes. Details of the certificate holder may be displayed, as approved by WQ-iC Ltd. Each individual’s approval is valid from 1 January 2021 and until the normal expiry date of the current PCN certificate, subject to maintaining compliance with the WQ-iC Scheme.
In order for the certification to be validated, the holder simply has to complete a form on the WQ-iC website before the end of April 2021. Failure to do so by 30 April 2021 will invalidate the approval.
There is no charge for this service; BINDT has decided to cover the costs incurred in setting up this process.
If, for whatever reason, certificate holders choose not to validate for EU PED work now, then their certification will still be valid for Pressure Equipment Regulations (PER) (PED in the UK) for UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking work under the BINDT/PCN Scheme. Operators should note that in this case PCN certification remains valid for all cases for which they are qualified, except for work done under the European Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU. The expedited process described above will not be available after 30 April 2021.
Once validated for EU PED, approval will continue until the certificate expiry date, at which time the certification administration charge from BINDT applied to new, renewal or recertification will be increased to include the issuing of approval from WQ-iC Ltd.
Following the announcement, BINDT CEO David Gilbert said: “We have been working very hard behind the scenes to ensure that we can provide a reliable and efficient arrangement for all our customers by ensuring we have an option for PCN certificate holders to continue serving the EU market and, in particular, meet the requirements of the European Pressure Equipment Directive. We are thrilled to have been appointed by WQ-iC Ltd for this purpose and we are confident that we have an effective and user-friendly solution in place that will minimise any inconvenience caused.
“As always, BINDT and PCN are committed to providing the best service we can to all of our clients and the NDT industry, operating and communicating with integrity at all times. We remain resolute in our drive to work collaboratively with businesses and organisations around the globe to promote the advancement of the science and practice of NDT and all associated disciplines,” he concluded.
Paul Karim, Managing Director of WQ-iC Ltd, said of the development: “I am delighted that WQ-iC Ltd has been able to develop a solution in conjunction with BINDT/PCN to help the manufacturing industry overcome post-Brexit challenges. Our teams have worked closely to develop an effective and efficient process for maintaining NDT approvals that are recognised and accepted across the EU. Technical integrity and quality governance are in our DNA, ensuring we can continue to add value to the wider industry by collaborating with our customers to meet the industry’s needs. The arrangements with BINDT/PCN clearly demonstrate how this works in practice.”
For details of how to apply to WQ-iC Ltd for certification, click here.
Previous posting - 01/01/2021
Following the signing of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 24 December 2020, the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) wishes to clarify and confirm the following points with regard to certificates issued under its Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing (PCN) scheme.
In summary:
1. The UK's departure from the EU has no impact on ISO standards and does not affect the validity of PCN certificates issued. PCN certification continues to be widely accepted and highly respected throughout the industrialised world.
2. However, as a result of the decision by the EU to reject the UK’s request for broad recognition of conformity assessments that would allow UK-based notified bodies to certify products to EU standards, new and renewal PCN certificates issued after 31 December 2020 can no longer be used by personnel to carry out non-destructive tests on permanent joints for pressure equipment in categories III and IV in accordance with section 3.1.3 of schedule 2 under the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).
3. It is understood that all valid certificates issued before 1 January 2021 may – unless otherwise advised – continue to be valid for their full scope of application as detailed on each individual certificate until their expiry.
4. BINDT is currently engaged in negotiations with a European organisation to enable certificates to be issued by a third-party organisation recognised by an EU Member State, thus satisfying the EU requirement for certificates delivered by a body which is recognised as an EU Notified Body. These talks are at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that a solution will be in place within the next few weeks. More information will be provided when arrangements have been finalised.
5. With regard to pressure equipment supplied in or into Great Britain, the UK has established a new framework for UK-based bodies to assess pressure equipment and assemblies against GB rules. Existing UK notified bodies are granted new UK ‘approved body’ status and listed on a new UK database. This includes recognised third-party organisations (RTPO), so BINDT will be granted UK identification status.
Click here for further details (download PDF).
Previous posting - 21/12/2020
The PCN Scheme is an international programme for the certification of conformance of non-destructive testing personnel which satisfies the requirements of a number of European and international standards.
ISO 9712 is the internationally recognised and widely accepted standard for qualification and 3rd party certification of NDT personnel and the UK's departure from the EU does not affect the validity of PCN certificates issued – PCN certification will continue to be widely accepted and highly respected throughout the industrialised world.
Brexit will not affect PCN and UKAS will remain a full member of European and International Mutual Recognition Agreements (such as the European cooperation for Accreditation, International Accreditation Forum and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation), which means that all UKAS accredited certificates and reports (with the exception of those related to EU Regulations/Directives and Schemes - see below) shall continue to be recognised within Europe and around the world.
There will be no impact on ISO standards including ISO 9712 as ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies) and has no different affiliation to Europe or any other country including the UK.
European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED)
Please note that the following statement only applies to personnel using their PCN ISO 9712 certification to carry out non-destructive tests on permanent joints for pressure equipment in categories III and IV in accordance with section 3.1.3 of schedule 2 under the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).
Amid the continuing negotiations about the UK's future relationship with the EU, there is one thing we know for sure: the UK will no longer be part of the EU and, unless there is a specific agreement or further transition period, UK bodies will not be in a position to perform conformity assessment tasks pursuant to Union product legislation. At the time of writing, the outcomes of the current UK-EU negotiations are eagerly awaited, particularly given the added challenge of the current Covid crisis.
Meanwhile, BINDT is in discussion with European organisations to enable certificates to be issued by a third-party organisation recognised by a Member State pursuant to Article 13. These talks are at a very advanced state and it is anticipated that a solution will be in place early in 2021. More information will be provided when arrangements have been finalised.
