Vocational Personnel Training, Certification and Quality Programs

Industrial Paints and Coatings Sector: Professional Personnel Training, Certification and Quality Programs

In this article, we will examine a topic that has been increasingly featured in both the global industry and Turkey recently—Professional Personnel Certification and Quality Programs—specifically within the Industrial Paints and Coatings Sector. In this first section of our article, we will address the subject of Professional Training and Certification for Paints/Coatings Applicators (Operators) and Project Engineers/Managers through certification training programs, considering the situations in different countries around the world. In the second part (Part 2) to be published in our next issue, we will summarize the International Paints/Coatings Inspectors Training and Certification Programs and briefly assess the current situation in Turkey. First, let us start by clarifying two terms that we will frequently use in this article: certification and accreditation…

Certification

In its French etymological sense, it means "to certify/approve." Professional certification is nothing more than confirmation of the compliance of employees/institutions and organizations with standards in a field where standards are established.

Accreditation

With Latin roots meaning "to give credit/make credible," it is a form of quality assurance process. If any organization, institution or training program's compliance with standards is verified through inspections, it is granted the Accredited status by the relevant inspection body. The sector in question in this article is known as "Protective Coatings" in the global industry and, together with industrial/manufacturing paints, includes numerous different chemical and metallurgical coatings such as galvanizing (hot-dip and electroplating), metallization, electrocoatings, fire-resistant coatings (e.g., intumescent) and industrial paints.

The subject of professional training and certification can be grouped under 3 main headings:

1. Personnel professional training and certification, 2. Product certification, 3. Facility certification. In this article, we will specifically address Personnel and Facility certification topics. (Product certification will be examined as a separate article topic later.) Professional training and certification programs for the industrial paints and coatings sector (Protective Coatings - PC) can be examined under 3 sub-headings: 1. For Applicators/Field Personnel: Training for operators and skilled workers (painters, coatings applicators, etc.) who perform surface preparation (such as blasting) and paint/coating application. 2. For Paints/Coatings Inspectors: Professional training and certification for Quality Personnel (Quality Control/Quality Assurance and Independent Inspectors/Auditors) who primarily perform inspection functions on a paint/coating project. 3. For Project Managers (Supervisors, foremen, etc.) and Engineers: Professional training and certification for professionals in this sector who are primarily engaged in management activities and are responsible for material selection and planning work. It will be useful to examine the professional training and certification programs we have divided into 3 categories above on 2 main levels: International (What's Happening in the World?) and National (Specifically in Turkey).

International Scale

The most comprehensive work on this subject is being conducted in the United States; the first professional organizations established in this sector were founded in this country. Nevertheless, similar professional training and certification programs exist in European Union countries and in Australia/New Zealand.

Current Situation in the USA

There are many professional organizations operating on this subject.1 However, two of them stand out with their internationally recognized professional training and certification programs: NACE.org and SSPC.org. Particularly SSPC, provides extremely comprehensive training for employees and facilities in the "Industrial Paints/Coatings Sector – Protective Coatings." You can find some examples below:

For Applicators:

• SSPC C7 Abrasive Blasting Program: This certification program addresses the cleaning of steel surfaces through abrasive blasting and covers technical topics such as surface cleaning, surface profile, dust and dirt control, and abrasives. • SSPC C10 Floor Coating Basics: This professional training includes surface preparation methods for concrete floors and basic theoretical knowledge covering concrete floor repair along with paints and coatings for industrial use as specified in SSPC TU-10 standard, as well as practical applications. It meets the professional training requirements specified in Section 4.4 of the SSPC-QP 8 certification standard to be discussed later. • SSPC C12 Spray Application Certification: The purpose of this certification program is to provide professional training to applicators who apply paints/coatings with airless or conventional (air) spray equipment in marine (sea and offshore) or industrial environments. Participants who pass the theoretical and practical exams at the end of the course are awarded an internationally recognized professional certificate and identification document.

For Project Managers and Engineers:

• SSPC C1 Fundamentals of Protective Coatings: This course contains practical and comprehensive information for individuals newly entering the protective coatings and paints industry. At the same time, it serves the purpose of refreshing knowledge for those dealing with corrosion and paint/coating products. Through this training, basic topics related to corrosion fundamentals and the use of paints and coatings to protect industrial structures from corrosion are imparted. • SSPC CONTRACT Evaluating Common Coating Contract Clauses: This course covers basic information related to paint/coating contract, specification or terms and conditions files. In addition to step-by-step instruction on how a standard contract/specification/terms document can be prepared, it covers what participants should pay attention to in contract/specification/terms documents they receive and where problems may arise. • SSPC Planning and Specifying Industrial Coatings Projects C2: In this course where the principles of planning, tendering and monitoring processes for new construction and repair painting/coating projects are reviewed, critical issues related to paint work management are addressed step by step. Participants who complete this course are able to be active in critical issues related to paint work management and make more sound decisions. More detailed information can be found on SSPC's website for this training. Participants in the above certification programs, if they successfully complete the theoretical and practical exams conducted at the end of the courses, can obtain internationally valid IACET-approved certificates.

More detailed information can be obtained from SSPC's professional training programs page.2 Another professional organization in the United States is the National Association of Corrosion Engineers or NACE International, the International Association of Corrosion Engineers.

This organization organizes general open activities—sometimes in cooperation with SSPC—(joint standards, certification programs, etc.) as well as different professional training programs and certificate programs: • NACE PCS 1 Basic Principles: This training covers basic information related to industrial paints, coatings and primers, and also addresses the economic management of projects using these products. Additionally, this course covers which chemical product should be used, when, how and why to protect an industrial structure from corrosion. • NACE PCS 2 Advanced: In the PCS 2 course, more advanced level technological knowledge is provided beyond the PCS 1 course. • NACE Pipeline Coating Applicator Training: In this 5-day course, contractor employees and inspectors on a pipeline project are helped to understand proper paint/coating application procedures. During this training, following presentations and videos shown, practical field applications are conducted to transmit to participants what may occur during paint/coating operations in a pipeline construction project.

Shipboard Corrosion Assessment Training (S-CAT): Within the scope of this course, corrosion control knowledge is imparted to evaluate the paints/coatings used in marine structures (especially ships) and the general condition of ballast tanks and other steel structures within the ship. The aim is for participants with this knowledge to be able to perform necessary inspections to keep the ship operating safely. The course provides participants with practical reference checklists to perform the necessary inspections of steel structures and paint/coatings within the ship and "survey" procedures. Beyond these, in the USA, training programs and professional certification programs for Industrial Painters and Applicators based on the "ANSI/NACE No. 13/SSPC-ACS-1 Industrial Coating and Lining Application Specialist Qualification" standard organized by both NACE and SSPC organizations also exist: • SSPC Coating Application Specialist (CAS) Certification Program is a certificate program aimed at measuring the theoretical and practical knowledge of skilled workers performing paint and coating applications in accordance with ANSI/NACE No. 13/SSPC-ACS-1 standard and certifying these individuals. It has 3 certificate levels meeting ISO 17024 standard requirements: Level 1, Level 2 Interim Status and Level 2 Full Status. • NCCER/NACE Industrial Coatings Applicator Training and Certification Program: This program is essentially the same as the SSPC CAS program mentioned above and is a certification training program jointly organized by NACE and NCCER.org organizations. Additionally, both NACE and SSPC have a PCS (Protective Coating Specialist) certification process that can be obtained as a result of written examinations, particularly for project/department managers and engineers.

Situation in the European Union

The Professional Training and Personnel Certification process in European Union countries began after the European Union meeting in Bologna, Italy in 1999. The Bologna Process, which started as such, subsequently aimed to create equivalence among EU countries in terms of qualified workforce, using the European Qualifications Framework and Europass systems within the CEDEFOP (European Centre for Development of Vocational Training) organization for all national professional standards and qualifications/competencies in the European Union and to facilitate labor mobility. You can read comprehensive presentations published on the subject by TOBB and the Quality Development Project for Vocational and Technical Training—METEK institution from the following links: http://www.tobb.org.tr/AvrupaBirligiDairesi/Dokumanlar/LLL-EQF-TOBB.15.01.2010.pdf

http://metek.meb.gov.tr/dosyalar/egitim/europass.pdf

Regarding Industrial Painting and Industrial Painter, Spain, Belgium and Norway have national qualifications (competencies) approved by EUROPASS and certifications that can be obtained as a result of examinations based on these. Applicators possessing this certificate are recognized as being able to properly carry out the 3 basic steps of industrial paints/coatings—surface preparation, paint/coating application and inspection/auditing—in accordance with industrial standards and regulations and are certified with one of the expertise categories consisting of 8 levels. The aim here is both to determine minimum professional competencies/qualifications within the country and to provide equivalence through EUROPASS certificates within the European Union and to enable cross-border labor mobility. Apart from these national and professional certification programs, some specialized laboratory, training and consulting companies and organizations also arrange similar professional certification training. Professional training and certification programs for industrial painters and blasters within organizations such as Correx Limited ICATS, MPI Group, Paint Research Association PRA, British Coatings Federation BCF in the United Kingdom, and Vinzent Network in Germany are among these training programs.

Tolga Dıraz / Protective Coatings Specialist, PCS - Chemical Engineer - Technical Manager - Akiş Boya (Carboline Turkey Licensee)

Sources / References:

1.http://www.coatingsworld.com/buyersguide/trade-associations/trade-associations

2.http://www.sspc.org/training/SSPC_Training_Programs_from_A_Z/

3.https://www.naceinstitute.org/cstm/Education/Certification.aspx?id=4038592e-b11d-db11-953d-001438c08dca

4.http://www.sspc.org/training/Protective-Coatings-Specialist-PCS-Program/