February 7, 2000 — The American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Columbus, Ohio, USA, and Rheinisch-Westfalischer Technischer Uberwachungsverein (RWTUV), Essen, Germany, have entered into an agreement to offer NDT personnel certifications for both the New European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The PED specifies NDT personnel certification in accordance with European Standard EN 473.

RWTUV and ASNT have incorporated minor modifications to bring ASNT's Central Certification Program (ACCP) into compliance with EN 473. Serving as an accredited organization within the European Union, RWTUV will issue EN 473 certifications upon successful completion of qualification and examination requirements, while ASNT will simultaneously issue ACCP certification.

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code recently accepted NDT personnel certifications in accordance with ASNT's ACCP. The ASNT and RWTUV arrangement will provide a convenient and economical means to obtain both EN 473 and ACCP certifications from a single examination process while satisfying the requirements of the European Pressure Equipment Directive and ASME Code.

Currently, manufacturers wishing to obtain both ASME stamp holder status and PED certification are required to maintain two separate NDT personnel qualification and certification programs. The ASNT and RWTUV arrangement will provide a single qualification and examination process resulting in certification acceptable to both the PED and ASME Code.

Through ASNT's Authorized Examination Centers and RWTUV multi-national offices, the ASNT/RWTUV certifications will be available later this year to all pressure equipment manufacturers around the world. Examination dates will be forthcoming.

For more information regarding this joint certification, contact:

1.) ASNT, 1711 Arlingate Lane, P.O. Box 28518, Columbus, OH, USA, 43228-0518 Attention: Jim Houf, Senior Manager, Technical Services Phone: (800) 222-2768 or (614) 274-6003, Fax: (614) 274-6899

2.) RWTUV, Kurfurstenstrasse 58, D-45138 Essen, Germany, Attention: Detlef Reichwaldt Phone: (201) 825-2754, Fax: (201) 825-2632