GROUP A EDUCATION, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 28 AUGUST 2006 IN QUÉBEC CANADA 1. Welcome and Apologies Christian AHRENS opened the meeting welcoming everyone. Apologies had been received from Bulgarian and Russian Delegations. A list of those present is attached hereto. 2. Adoption of the Agenda The Agenda was adopted. 3. Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 January 2006 in Paris, France, Doc- IAB- WGA-278-2006 (previously circulated) The minutes were approved. 4. Follow-up of Actions Christian AHRENS went through the Actions List of the previous meeting and informed that all actions were fulfilled. 5. Working Groups 5.1 WGA#2a/2b Existing Engineer/Technologist/Specialist/Practitioner Guidelines 5.1.1 Chairman s Report 5.1.2 Merged Guideline- Personnel with Responsibility for Welding (IAB-252-05-Draft 1) Christian AHRENS thanked all those who have participated in the work of the merged guideline and informed having received comments from Ukraine, Japan, China, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, U.K., Slovakia, Netherlands, Austria, France and Germany. More than 50% of those comments were taken into account and included in the guideline, document IAB-252-05-draft 6, with the confirmed title of Personnel with Responsibility for Welding Coordination, previously circulated. Christian AHRENS presented the relevant changes in detail and called the attention of the ANBs for their responsibility in informing the ATBs about those changes. Further note was made to the Secretariat that, following the approval of the guideline, has to verify all the scopes and levels and update the Databank. The list of referenced standards, Appendix IV, is to be checked and updated by Henk BODT (in two weeks time). In Appendix III, the diagram 9 is to be corrected by Vladimir PONOMAREV and to be sent to the Secretariat. 1/11
The chairman made a motion to accept the proposed merged guideline, except Appendix III. Appendix III will be changed and circulated within Group A, to be ready within the next 2 months and circulated for January s meeting only for the approval of the full guideline. The Guideline was approved with Austria voting against. 5.1.3 Proposal for Alternative Route Assessment (IAB-WGA-307-06) Italo FERNANDES presented the proposal to change the Alternative Route Assessment in order to ensure that the ANBs verifies the knowledge of the applicant in terms of module 4 Fabrication, Applications Engineering, making the assessment through a Technical Interview that will be an alternative to the Project assessment step. The proposal with agreed alterations on the duration time of the technical interviews for the engineer, technologist, specialist and practitioner was accepted by the majority. 5.1.4 Plan of future work The Working Group consisted by Italo Fernandes, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Henk Bodt, Klaus Wichart and Michal Kubica, will make a new proposal by E-mail to integrate the agreed alterations for the full guideline to be approved in the next meeting. Slovenia presented some ideas to be introduced in the merged guideline however, as the guideline was just accepted, it was agreed that Gabriel RIHAR presents in January meeting the new ideas Slovenia has to change and to improve the next guideline that will be worked in the next two years. 5.2 WG A#3a Welder Curriculum 5.2.1 Chairman s Report 5.2.2 Welders and Welding Instructor Guideline Carl-Gustaf LINDEWALD reported the work done by the WG with one meeting held in June with 9 members. The work continued on the question bank for theoretical questions, Modules A, B and C and a special module concerning processes. Within the project to replace the easier qualification tests in each module in the next revision of the guideline, the Fillet welder was finalised. Following discussion about the requirements of the Welders Guideline, Italo FERNANDES explained how at the moment the guideline, as it is structured, does not allow students to do training without doing first the practical and theoretical examinations. David SCHACKLETON suggested the restructuring of the Welders Guideline so that it permits more flexibility. It was agreed that the WG presents a proposal in January to slightly change the present guideline with a revised order of training. Following the decision regarding welding instructors taken in January, a questionnaire was sent asking all ANBs about the organisation of the welders training in their own country and 10 answers were received from China, Czech, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain and UK. The results were not harmonised therefore the group decided not to work on the Instructors guideline for the moment. 5.2.3 Plan of future work The project for the Plate and Tube Welders will continue. Depending on the revision of ISO 9606 the next Guideline for Fillet Welder has to be revised. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 11-12 December 2006. 2/11
5.3 WG A#3b Inspection Personnel Guideline 5.3.1 Chairman s report Germán HERNÁNDEZ informed that from Paris meeting two contacts were made to prepare the new revision of IWIP Guideline and to finish the Question Databank on 27/28 February and 31 May 2006. The members of the WG are from Australia, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Ukraine and the U.K. 5.3.2 Revision of Guideline for IWIP (IAB-041-01-Rev2-Draft2) Germán HERNÁNDEZ reported that the revised guideline for IWIP was presented in Paris in January and the main modification was to adapt the document to the new standard, replacing EN 473 by ISO 9712. All comments taken from Paris meeting were incorporated in the document. It was agreed to postpone the acceptance of the revised guideline for the WG to compare with the terminology of the merged guideline. It was also decided to have the comments of Gerd KRAUME on the definitions of training and qualification. 5.3.3 Plan of future work The future actions are: To continue collecting the 45 missing questions and answers to cover all subjects of IWIP Guideline; To validate the IWIP Questions and Answers Data Base; To assist IAB Secretariat in issuing the new Rev. 2 of IWIP Guideline. 5.4 WG A#6a Distance Learning Activities 5.4.1 Chairman s Report Klaus WICHART reported that the Distance Learning Guideline (IAB-195-04) was approved for the International Welding Engineer, International Welding Technologist and International Welding Specialist. 5.4.2 Distance Learning Guideline for Inspector In order to integrate the Inspector in the Distance Learning Guideline, Klaus WICHART presented an analysis of Appendix 1 for the WG to work on it. Explanation was given regarding the modules and it was agreed that the WG works on this proposal to be presented in January. 5.4.3 Plan of future work It was requested that the proposal for January meeting be distributed to the members well in advance. 5.5 WGA#7a Welding Designer 5.5.1 Chairman s Report 5.5.2 Welding Designer Guideline (IAB-201-04 Final Draft) Gary MARQUIS reported on the progress of the work done by the WG and explained in detail the changes made to the final draft of the guideline. 3/11
The final document IAB-201-04 - Guideline for International Welded Structures Designer, was approved with the majority. Netherlands abstained. 5.5.3 Plan of future work The work of the WG was accomplished and Gary MARQUIS asked for his retiring from the chairmanship. Esa TIKKA was proposed and accepted as the new Chairman of the Working Group. 5.6 WGA#8a International Plastic Welder 5.6.1 Chairman s Report 5.6.2 Plan of future work Michele MURGIA reported that after collecting information about the interest for the Guideline s modules and the state of art of qualification activities among the members, the Working Group focused in getting feedback from the European countries already implementing the Guideline. The information received was only partial and not adequate. From outside Europe, only Japan and Australia are members of the WG, and considering that Japan does not see the International system for plastic welding as an urgent matter, it has been difficult to work with the present composition of the WG. The Chairman suggested the creation of an EWF-IIW joint Working Group in order to promote the exchange of experiences and information. Michele MURGIA also suggested a possible future development to widen the scope of the WG, including Plastic Welding Personnel of all levels. Considering this possibility, a proposal for a Guideline at the Specialist level could be worked related only with the most diffused task such as heated tool and electro-fusion welding of pipes and fittings for gas or water distribution. Tim JESSOP informed the reason why EWF has decided not to handover the Plastics Welder Certification Guideline to IIW. There are still issues in the guideline to deal with and EWF does not have sufficient experience with the implementation of the guideline. As there are some issues in the guideline still to be corrected, EWF is not yet ready to hand it over and finds some difficulty in creating a jointly Working Group. The recommendation is to wait for more experience from other European countries and not to widen the Working Group. It was further suggested for Michele MURGIA to take part of the EWF WG. 5.7 WG A#9a - Education of the Environmental Welding Co-ordinator, Auditor and Technical Expert 5.7.1 Chairman s Report 5.7.2 Plan of future work Luca COSTA briefly reported on the establishment of the WG. Although some IAB delegates have immediately shown interest in joining the WG there are not enough members to form it. The Chairman invited members from countries outside Europe to participate in the WG so to create a work on the Education of the Environmental Welding Co-ordinator, Auditor and Technical Experts. No interest was shown and the decision was to close the Working Group. 4/11
6. ANBs Annual Return 2005 (IAB-283-06) Rute FERRAZ summarised some aspects that found more important in the ANBs Annual Return, document previously circulated. During year 2005, 5.400 diplomas were issued and, of those, 5.000 were issued within the member countries and 400 outside member countries. The diplomas most issued were for engineers and specialists. In terms of regional distribution, more than 80% were awarded by Europe, 15% by Asian, Africa and Australia regions and less than 5% in the Americas. Of those 80% of diplomas awarded within European region, 40% are from Germany. The number of awarded diplomas when compared with the year 2004 increased around 40%. This growth rate was double than year 2003 but still low. The countries that awarded diplomas outside the member countries were issued under automatic route. Up to the end of 2005, 30.400 IIW diplomas have been issued. In 2006 nearly 6.000 IIW diplomas have already been sold. 7. Information about IAB Board Rute FERRAZ informed of the decisions taken by the IAB Board on the last meeting in January. A new representative for the America region is to be nominated. Decision was taken to suspend Mexico membership for not paying the fees. USA has shown interest in re-joining IAB but the decision of the Board was that AWS have to re-activate the ANB first and pay the fees. The Board will contact AWS for further development. 8. Report on EWF Activities Tim JESSOP briefly summarised the ongoing EWF activities relevant to IAB Group A: The Guidelines for Thermal Sprayers and Thermal Sprayers Specialist have recently been refreshed and implemented for some countries EWF has decided not yet to handover the Plastics Welder Certification Guideline to IIW. There are still issues in the guideline to deal with The Guidelines for Adhesive Bonding have been inexistent for a few years now but the WG was re-nominated to carry out the work to review the guidelines New guideline was approved for the European Practitioner for Resistance Welding Further discussion have been held on the development of EWF passport to able people with EWF qualifications to be centrally registered in a database and to carry a card to confirm their registration Significant development is going on in relation with Company Certification dealing with the ISO 3834 standard - quality health and safety management in a wide range of industrial sectors. A new set of documents were approved in Management, Health and Safety in welding companies A considerable effort has been put into the development of promotional activities for the Company Certification Schemes and very useful promotional products have now been distributed by the Secretariat Initial work is going on in relation to the guidelines in Heat Treatment of Welded Joints and another one on Macroscopic and Microscopic Examination of Welds 5/11
Some work is going on to develop a Continuing Education and Training System for the EWF Personnel Certification Scheme A new WG is working on the further development of an existing guideline for Laser There is a new guideline that was presented to the EWF Technical Committee for the training of Aluminothermic Welder that emerged from the Railsafe project. This document can be placed on IAB Group A Web page in order to get input from members outside Europe Gerd Kraume, Vice Chairman of the Technical Committee has retired and the new Vice Chairman is Henk Bodt The new Technical Committee meeting will be now combined with the January IIW meetings in Paris. 9. Miscellaneous There was no matter to discuss. 10. Date and Place of the next Meeting The next meeting of Group A will be held in Villepinte, France on January 2007. The Secretariat will confirm the date and place to the delegates. 6/11
GROUP A Education, Training and Qualification LIST OF DECISIONS OF THE MEETING HELD ON 28 AUGUST 2006 IN QUÉBEC CANADA Agenda Description Item 3 The Minutes of the previous meeting were approved 5.1.2 The merged guideline, except Appendix III, was approved 5.1.3 The proposed change for the Alternative Route Assessment with agreed alterations on the duration time of the technical interviews for the engineer, specialist and practitioner was accepted by the majority 5.2.2 It was agreed that the WG presents a proposal in January to slightly change the present Welders guideline with a revised order of training 5.3.2 It was agreed to postpone the acceptance of the revised guideline for IWIP 5.3.2 It was decided to have comments from Gerd KRAUME on the definitions of training and qualification 5.4.2 It was agreed that the WG works on the proposal of the Distance Learning Guideline for Inspector to be presented in January 5.5.2 The final document IAB-201-04 - Guideline for International Welded Structures Designer, was approved with the majority 5.5.3 Esa Tikka was accepted as the new Chairman for WG A#7a Welding Designer 5.6.2 It was decided to close the WG A#9a - Education of the Environmental Welding Co-ordinator, Auditor and Technical Experts 7/11
Doc. IAB-312-2006 GROUP A Education, Training and Qualification LIST OF ACTIONS FROM THE MEETING HELD ON 28 AUGUST 2006 IN QUÉBEC CANADA Agenda Description Item 5.1.2 ANBs to inform the ATBs about changes on the merged guideline 5.1.2 Following the approval of the merged guideline, the Secretariat has to verify all the scopes and levels and update the Databank 5.1.2 The list of referenced standards, Appendix IV, is to be checked and updated by Henk BODT (in two weeks time) 5.1.2 In Appendix III, the diagram 9 is to be corrected by Vladimir PONOMAREV and to be sent to the Secretariat 5.1.2 Appendix III to be changed and circulated within Group A, to be ready within the next 2 months and circulated for January s meeting 5.1.4 The Working Group consisted by Italo Fernandes, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Henk Bodt, Klaus Wichart and Michal Kubica, will make a new proposal by E-mail to integrate the agreed alterations in the merged guideline for the full version to be approved in the next meeting 5.1.4 Gabriel RIHAR to present in January meeting the new ideas Slovenia has to change and to improve the next guideline that will be worked in the next two years 5.2.2 The WG to present a proposal in January, with a revised order of training, to slightly change the existing Welders guideline 5.3.2 To postpone the acceptance of the revised IWIP guideline for the WG to compare with the terminology of the merged guideline 5.3.2 Gerd KRAUME to send comments on the definitions of training and qualification 5.4.2 To present in January meeting a proposal to integrate the Inspector in the Distance Learning Guieline 5.4.3 To distribute well in advance to the members the proposal for the distance learning of IWIP 5.7.2 To close WG A#9a - Education of the Environmental Welding Co-ordinator, Auditor and Technical Experts 8/11
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