Paints and Coatings Inspector Certification Training Programs

Paints and Coatings/Coatings Inspector Certification Training Programs (Globally and Industrially Internationally Valid)

In this article, we will discuss professional training and certification programs for Coatings Inspector and Quality Personnel, known as "Coating Inspector" in the international paints and coatings sector. Worldwide, the most widely accepted certification programs in this field are as follows:

FROSIO Surface Treatment Inspector Certification (Surface Treatment Inspector Certification):

  This certification program, created by Nordic countries with Norway as the base and participation from countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland, was prepared based on Norwegian Standard NS 476 and aims to improve surface treatment and insulation quality in corrosion-prevention work. In this three-level certificate program, those with less than 1 year of work experience and newcomers can apply for Level 1-White, those with minimum 2 years of work experience can apply for Level II – Green, and those with minimum 5 years of work/field experience can apply for Level III – Red FROSIO certification. Those who succeed in the theoretical and practical examinations conducted can hold a FROSIO Inspector certificate valid for 5 years.

ICORR Painting Inspector Certification (Painting Inspector Certification)

  In this certification program organized within the Institute of Corrosion (ICORR) association based in the United Kingdom, the certificates that can be obtained, similar to other certification programs, consist of three levels (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3). Differently, courses can be taken online through the internet (they cooperate with a firm called CORRODERE on this matter) and those who complete these courses can earn the certification by taking examinations only in the United Kingdom.

NACE CIP (Coating Inspector Program)

  It is a paints and coatings inspector certification program created by NACE International based on the ASTM D3276 standard (Standard Guide for Painting Inspectors (Metal Substrates)). Like the other inspector certification programs above, it consists of three levels and required experience differs at each level: Level 1 (no experience required), Level 2 and Level 3. Its distinguishing features from the certification programs above are: • Together with these levels, an additional specialty area (such as nuclear, bridge and marine sectors) can also be obtained (CIP Level 1 with Nuclear Specialty, NACE CIP Level 1 with Marine Specialty or CIP Level 1 with Bridge). • The theoretical examination at the end of the course can be taken online via computer at one of the test centres after the course. • Level 3 consists of an oral interview and candidates can earn the Level 3 certificate if they correctly answer the questions asked to them before a professional panel of 4 people at a time and place determined by NACE.

SSPC PCI (Protective Coating Inspector)

      It is an inspector certification program created by SSPC.org based on ASTM D3276, consisting of three levels like other certification programs. Unlike other certification programs here, both levels (Level 1 and 2) can be obtained after theoretical and practical examinations that can be taken after a 6-day course. (In order to have PCI Level 3 certification, it is necessary to successfully complete a 4-hour written examination) A common feature of most of the certification programs mentioned; they are designed in accordance with the international ISO 17024 standard and have received international accreditation after being supervised by international professional training and education oversight bodies (e.g. IACET.org).

Quality Programs for Facilities

In addition to professional training and certification programs for the above personnel and employees, there are quality programs specifically for Paint Shop/Coating Workshop Factories to be evaluated and inspected, particularly for the paints/coatings and galvanizing sectors: The SSPC organization – particularly for steel surfaces and structures – has 10 different quality programs for industrial paint shops under the name SSPC QP similar to ISO 9001:  

• SSPC QP 1, Field Application to Complex Industrial and Marine Structures (Field Application of Complex Industrial and Marine Structures)

It is a certification program that supervises contractors/builders and facilities that perform surface preparation and industrial paints/coatings applications in the field/at the site and grants an approval certificate of international validity in case of compliance.

• SSPC QP 2, Field Removal of Hazardous Coatings (Field Disposal of Hazardous Paints and Coatings)

It is an addition to the QP1 certification program. It is a certification program that supervises how the application team disposes of hazardous paint waste at the site, based on relevant equipment and containment areas.

• SSPC QP 3, Shop Painting (Workshop Painting)

It is a certification program that evaluates a contractor company's surface preparation and protective paints/coatings capabilities in a fixed workshop environment. Workshop certification is granted in 3 main categories: • Enclosed Shop • Covered Shop • Open shop

• SSPC QP 5, Certification for Coating and Lining Inspection Companies (Certification for Paints, Coatings and Lining Inspection Companies)

It is a certificate program that particularly supervises whether independent inspection firms provide consistent, high-quality paints, coatings and lining inspection services to their clients.

• SSPC QP 6, Contractor Metallizing (Contractor Metallization)

It is a certification program that evaluates the competencies of industrial thermal spray (metallization) contractors.

• SSPC QP 7 - Introductory Program

It is a certification program that supervises the capabilities of contractors with less than 12 months of experience in industrial, marine or architectural surface preparation or paints/coatings applications in field and site environments.

• SSPC QP 8, Installation of Polymer Coatings and Surfacings on Concrete and Other Cementitious Surfaces (Installation of Polymer Paints and Coatings on Cementitious and Concrete Surfaces)

It is a certification program created to supervise the competencies of contractor firms hired to install polymer paints and coatings on concrete surfaces in commercial, public and industrial facilities.

• SSPC QP 9, Field Application of Architectural Coatings (Field Application of Architectural Paints and Coatings)

It is a certification program created to supervise the competencies of painting contractors who will apply architectural paints and coatings to commercial or public buildings in the field.

• SSPC QS 1 - Advanced Quality Management System (QMS) Certification Program for Industrial and Marine Painting Contractors (Advanced Level Quality Management System Certification Program for Industrial and Marine Painting Contractors)

SSPC professional organization created the QS1 program to raise the standards of practices in QP1, QP3, QP6, and QP8 programs to higher levels. Thus, those who meet the required competencies of Advanced Quality Management System (QMS) will be eligible for QS1 certification after independent SSPC supervision.

• SSPC QN 1 – Nuclear Coating Supplement (Nuclear Paints/Coatings Supplement)

It is a supplementary certification program in addition to SSPC-QP 1 and SSPC QP 8 or SSPC-QP 3 certification programs. Those applying to the SSPC-QN 1 certification program must first have the relevant core competency (e.g. QP 1, QP 3 or QP 8) and must perform the painting work correctly and properly. Similar to the SSPC QP programs above, the NACE International professional association, which we mentioned earlier for professional training, arranges quality certification programs under the name NIICAP (NACE International Institute Contractor Accreditation Program) for industrial paints and coatings application contractor firms in the USA. Similarly, quality programs and certification documents exist for galvanizing facilities in some countries. For example, the Nordic Galvanizers professional association created jointly by Scandinavian countries, together with MVR (Mekaniska Verkstädersriksförbund) and Nordcert certification body, have developed the APPROVED GALVANIZER program and implemented it particularly in North European countries. A similar certification quality program was created by the Spanish Galvanizers Association (ATEG) and galvanizing facilities throughout the country can apply for a certification document called ATEG Quality Certificate.

Current Situation in Australia

In Australia, this matter is handled with extreme seriousness at the state level and there are both personnel professional training and official certification quality programs for companies and facilities. Required knowledge and competencies have been determined regarding certification programs for surface preparation and painting/coatings applications, and those wishing to obtain certification can start the process by accessing the relevant link on the Australian Ministry of Education and Training website, benefiting from the information on this page, registering for the relevant course and starting the process. Additionally, programs have been implemented by the Australian state across the continent since 2004. These programs are known throughout Australia as PCCP: Painting Contractor Certification Program and the necessary work and inspections are carried out by CSIRO within the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Natural Resources. However, the Australian Corrosion Association (ACA) professional association also organizes training and certification programs similar to those mentioned above for paints/coatings professionals in Australia and New Zealand, both those they created themselves and those created together with NACE.

Current Situation in Our Country

On this matter, unfortunately like many professions in our country, there is not yet a nationally recognized/approved professional training and certification program related to the Industrial Paints/Coatings sector. However, the professional training and certification programs for the paints and coatings sectors by the international organizations mentioned above – particularly those of NACE and SSPC – can now be opened in our country as well; training and examinations can be organized in Turkish. Additionally, the professional training and certification systems mentioned above, such as the European Union Qualification Framework and EUROPASS, were implemented by the Vocational Qualifications Authority (MYK) established by Law No. 5544 dated 21 September 2006 in our country. The Professional Qualifications Certificate requirement, whose implementation was planned to begin last year but was postponed for various reasons, actually began in 40 professions as of 01 January 2017. Finally, various training and certifications are being conducted on this matter under the leadership of the relevant Turkey Structural Steel Association – TUCSA (www.tucsa.org), and efforts to gain national recognition for these activities continue at MYK. In the coming period, along with the National Competencies and Standards to be published by MYK, an increase in the number of Professional Training and Certification programs throughout Turkey is expected. For our part, it is clear that the need for professional training and certification/documentation for factory, workshop, field and site personnel in the Industrial Paints and Coatings Sector will increase. With the national and international training and certification programs mentioned above and as a result, in the Paints/Coatings sector, • both an increase in the number of workforce capable of doing more knowledgeable and quality work, • and an increase in companies' productivity in the sector and their competitiveness with foreign countries, can be expected.

Final Word

Thus, implementing the saying "One master, one nation..." once articulated by the late Rauf Denktaş throughout all of Turkey; by cementing our bricks of knowledge, experience and ability with certification mortar, and together with more qualified and competent workers, it will be possible for us to train internationally competitive and more globally integrated paints/coatings professionals and establish industrial companies! Tolga Dıraz - Director of Paints and Specialty Coatings / MİTAŞ Group References: 1.https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sspc-pci-nedirkorozyon-doktoru 2.http://www.nordicgalvanizers.com/Frontpage%20 links/ApprovedGalvanizer.htm 3.http://www.ateg.es/ateg/certificaci%C3%B3n-decalidad.aspx 4.http://training.gov.au/training/details/MSA30309 5.CSIRO:Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 6.https://training.corrosion.com.au/ 7.http://myk.gov.tr/index.php/tr/myk-meslek-yeterllkbelges-zorunluluu-sayfasi Sources: • http://www.sspc.org/training/SSPC_Training_Programs_from_A_Z/ • http://apas.gov.au/pccp/historypccp.htm • http://www.nordicgalvanizers.com/Frontpage%20links/ApprovedGalvanizer.htm • https://espresso.siu.no/projects/europass/download/.../Industrial%20painting-R94.pdf • http://www.europass-vlaanderen.be/csdownloads/cseb0008_en.pdf • https://www.sepe.es/contenidos/personas/formacion/certificados_de_profesionalidad/pdf/europass/N2_EOCB0311_in_pub.pdf • http://apas.gov.au/pccp • http://myk.gov.tr/index.php/tr/haberler/36-departman3/2599-40-meslekte-myk-mesleki-yeterlilik-belgesi-zorunluluu-fiilen-balatld