Hotspot: PCN NDT Certification Gains PED Accreditation

What is it?

The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) has announced that it has agreed a robust certification process with an EU27 Recognised Third-Party Organisation (RTPO). This will allow BINDT PCN to issue certification that is acceptable under Annex 1 of the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU to certify NDT personnel.

BINDT has reached an agreement with WQ-iC Ltd, a Recognised Third Party Organisation and Notified Body (NoBo No 2893) based in Dublin, Ireland, a member of the Lloyd’s Register Group of companies. This arrangement will allow BINDT to offer a single point certification service, to the requirements of both the PED and the UK PER regulations, for NDT personnel for the first time since Brexit.

Why is it Important?

Following Brexit there is no mutual recognition agreement in force between EU and UK Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) or Recognised Third Party Organisations (RTPO). This means that two separate sets of qualifications are now needed by NDT personnel if they wish to perform tests on components intended to be supplied to both the GB and EU markets. The arrangement reached by BINDT and WQ-iC Ltd will allow BINDT to issue dual certification, in compliance with both the CE and UKCA Mark, via the PCN accreditation scheme. This will prevent the need for NDT personnel to obtain and maintain individual qualifications.

BINDT also state in their announcement that they will issue an accredited certificate that is compliant with the PED, in accordance with the WQ-iC Ltd Scheme, to their new and existing PCN certification holders. This process will be free of charge for existing PCN certificate holders and simply involve entering verification details of the existing PCN certificate into a database on the WQ-iC Ltd website. Please follow the link on their webpage PCN certification meets requirements of EU Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) (bindt.org) for more details of the process.

Please note that this conversion service is only available free of charge until the 30-6-21 so it is important that all PCN certificate holders are made aware of the opportunity as soon as possible. If you use external organisations for PCN accredited NDT services, please ensure that they are made aware of this opportunity to avoid certification issues occurring in the future.

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Please note: this Hotspot is for information purposes only. We invite comments from BVAA members only. Please also note that at time of publication ballots may be closed. For more information please contact the Secretariat.

Published: 1st April 2021