Inspection is a process that involves a specific action, and the inspection staff or inspectors are the ones who carry out this task.
By Juan Manuel Álvarez*
Inspection personnel must have experience in the related subject matter to ensure the reliability of the process. Ideally, they should be certified or qualified by quality documents.
These personnel may be involved in destructive or non-destructive testing, which requires knowledge of the procedures, equipment, and materials required for inspection, including protective coatings and structures. In addition, they must master equipment such as gauges for coating and weld inspection, and devices for determining thicknesses, roughness, and defects.
In non-destructive testing, personnel must be trained in the following techniques:
• Magnetic particles (MT)
• Penetrating Liquids (PT)
• Radiography (RT)
• Ultrasound (UT)
• Visual (VT)
• Acoustic emission (AE)
• Electromagnetic (ET)
• Infrared or thermal (IR)
• Leakage (LT)
• Magnetic Flux Leaks (MFL)
There are three levels of qualification in non-destructive inspections:
- Level 1: Technical Support
- Level 2: Authorized to sign reports
- Level 3: Can design or endorse procedures and sign documents
Inspectors must have knowledge in areas such as corrosion, coatings, and welding, and be able to interpret defects during inspection. They must also ensure that inspection procedures conform to approved technical criteria, using correctly calibrated equipment.
It is mandatory for the inspector to pass medical examinations, including those of visual capacity, to ensure that he is in optimal condition to perform his work.
The term "inspector" should be applied only to personnel specialized in specific subjects or techniques, following technical criteria and approved standards. Inspectors must be up-to-date on related standards, codes and laws.
The main function of inspectors is to verify that materials meet specifications, evaluating the integrity of structures or the durability of materials. In addition, they must act ethically, organizationally and transparently, being fundamental in the field of quality, since their signature guarantees the reliability of the processes.
In maintenance, inspectors perform both predictive maintenance, through scheduled inspections, and unscheduled maintenance, in eventual cases. Its objective is always to issue an opinion on the quality of materials, coatings, components or structures.
In this cycle of articles on inspection, topics such as tests, standards, procedures, equipment, inspection criteria and quality specifications have been discussed. In the next article, we will address the topic of "Inspection Environments".
If you have any questions or queries, I will be happy to assist the readers and followers of these technical contributions.
As always, I wish you a good aging and much success in your work.
JUAN MANUEL ÁLVAREZ RODRÍGUEZ
Designer for Corrosion Control, Certified Coating Inspector, Corrosion Technician, and Marine Coating Inspector (AMPP - Association for Materials Protection and Performance).
A.S.T.M. is a member of the Corrosion, Paints and Coatings, Fuels, General Aviation, Adhesives, Non-Destructive Testing and Composites Committees.
Certified Instructor ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization).
Inspector in Non-Destructive Testing.
Instructor, lecturer and columnist in Paints and Corrosion.
Specialist in Metal Structures and Composite Materials.
Juancorrosion.com
[email protected]
Technical Manager of Corrosion, Control and Quality.
Consulting, Inspections and Training Services for the Control and Prevention of Corrosion.
