Document Responsibility: Project Quality Standards Committee SAEP-316

Issue Date: 11 March 2015

Next Planned Update: 11 March 2020 Performance Qualification Requirements of Coating Personnel

Level 7B or equivalent. This is required for Level I and Level II.

b) Visual acuity (normal or corrected).
c) Completion of two years of inspection experience, with one year as
independent coating Inspector.
d) Meet the qualifications listed in Appendices B and C for either
Saudi Aramco or contractor coating inspector Level I or Level II.

6.1.4 The Coating Inspector candidate shall take and pass a written examination:

The Qualification IEU Examiner will arrange a written examination for

all inspection personnel requesting certifications either to Level I or II
coating inspector.

The examination for the Level II Coating Inspector shall include, but not
limited to, relevant Saudi Aramco and industry coating standards,
materials, surface preparation, application techniques, quality control,
and applicator testing. It shall also include the items in Sections 6.2, 6.3,
6.4 and 7.1.

The examination for Coating Inspectors Level I will be based on a

reduced scope and depth.

For those primarily involved with pipeline coating systems (APCS 100
through APCS 113 A,B,C), at least 50% of the questions will be asked
about pipelines coating systems including both shop and field applied
coatings.

For those involved primarily with industrial coatings, 70 to 80% of the

questions will be asked about inspection of industrial coating systems
including both shop and field applied coatings.

A minimum score of 80% is required to pass the examination.

6.1.5 Satisfactorily demonstrate coating inspection skills to Examiner.

6.2 Coating Crew Supervisor

6.2.1 Performance qualification testing and certification for the Crew

Supervisor shall be supervised by a Certified Coating Inspector Level II,
as defined by this procedure.

6.2.2 Qualification procedure for the Crew Supervisor for industrial coating
jobs shall be administered by a Certified Coating Inspector Level II.

Page 7 of 24
Document Responsibility: Project Quality Standards Committee SAEP-316
Issue Date: 11 March 2015
Next Planned Update: 11 March 2020 Performance Qualification Requirements of Coating Personnel

(See Section 7 and Appendix B for Crew Supervisor qualification

requirements of pipeline's renovation coatings). It shall include:

6.2.2.1 An orientation session including an interview of the

candidate's, previous work history, training, experience and
capabilities. The candidate must have proper understanding of
the relevant Saudi Aramco standards, procedures, and
minimum requirements.

6.2.2.2 The Crew Supervisor candidate must demonstrate, to the

Certified Coatings Inspector Level II, his understanding of all
applicable specifications and Saudi Aramco standards.
Evaluation of the Crew Supervisor shall include an assessment
of his ability to:
a) Exhibit a working knowledge of SAES-H-002
and interpretation of SAES-H-002V, SAES-H-001,
SAES-H-101V, SAES-H-003, and SAES-H-004.
b) Communicate and supervise his crew and report to Saudi
Aramco representatives as and when required.
c) Understand and apply the safety requirements per
SAES-H-102.
d) Set up, maintain, and troubleshoot blasting and coating
equipment.
e) Demonstrate his capability to properly establish
compressor capacities and establish air and blast hose sizes
that will achieve satisfactory nozzle pressures.
f) Demonstrate how to inspect moisture and oil separators
and how to ensure that the delivered air quality is free of
oil, moisture, or other contamination.
g) Recognize minimum and maximum blast profiles per
applicable APCS specifications.
h) Use proper solvent and detergent cleaning techniques.
i) Use proper materials and mixing techniques.
j) Instruct personnel regarding importance of air and metal
temperatures, relative humidity, dew point, wind, and other
factors affecting successful application.
k) Demonstrate spray pattern control for different
applications, ensures that the right application tool is used
for particular APCS application, well versed with airless

Page 8 of 24
Document Responsibility: Project Quality Standards Committee SAEP-316
Issue Date: 11 March 2015
Next Planned Update: 11 March 2020 Performance Qualification Requirements of Coating Personnel

spray / plural component machines, knowledgeable about

different types of paint system and their properties and
application techniques, potlifes, etc.
l) Adhere to proper time intervals between successive
coating’s s as established by Saudi Aramco Standards and
or manufacturer's specifications.
m) Use wet and dry film thickness gauges; conduct relative
humidity tests; make adhesion checks; perform holiday
testing; detect coating defects and take proper corrections.

6.3 Abrasive Blaster

6.3.1 Performance qualification testing and certification for Abrasive Blaster

shall be supervised by a Certified Coating Inspector Level II, as defined
in this procedure.

6.3.2 The qualification procedure for Abrasive Blaster personnel for industrial
coatings shall consist of both oral examination and practical
demonstration of his job knowledge and skills. (See Section 7 and
Appendix B for Abrasive Blaster qualification requirements for pipeline
renovation coatings). He shall perform and demonstrate his job
knowledge, manual skills and ability to self-evaluate the results of his
work, to the satisfaction of the Certified Coating Inspector Level II and
in presence of the Crew Supervisor.

6.3.3 The candidate for Abrasive Blaster shall be able to demonstrate to:
a) Set up abrasive blasting equipment.
b) Know when and how to properly use safety equipment and adhere to
the basic safety requirements per SAES-H-102.
c) Demonstrate hand signaling techniques.
d) Properly set up forced ventilation equipment for work in confined
spaces.
e) Demonstrate how to ground equipment to prevent shock or static
electrical discharge.
f) Select properly sized nozzle and hose assemblies to achieve correct
air pressure and proper flow of abrasives.
g) Adhere to cleanliness requirements for metal before, during and
after blasting, knowledgeable in different types of abrasives and
metal surfaces, geometry of surfaces to be blasted and fittings to use
to achieve required cleanliness and profiles.

Page 9 of 24
 Document Responsibility: Project Quality Standards Committee SAEP-316
Issue Date: 11 March 2015
Next Planned Update: 11 March 2020 Performance Qualification Requirements of Coating Personnel

Appendix B - Qualification/Experience/Training Requirements and Certification Validity

Duration of
SA Approved In-house
Personnel Pre-requisite Experience In-house Qualification Validity
3rd Party Training Training
Training

S.A Coating Inspector English *Level 2 years N/A CIP-100 N/A **WE&PE 3 years
Level I 7B

S.ACoating Inspector English *Level 5 years N/A CIP-100 N/A **WE&PE 3 years
Level II 7B

Contrcator Coating Read & Write 2 years NACE CIP-I, SSPC –PCI- N/A N/A Interview 3 years
Inspector Level I English I,BGAS Grod-2 or equivalent

Contrcator Coating Read & Write 5 years NACE CIP-II, SSPC –PCI- N/A N/A Interview 3 years
Inspector Level II English II,BGAS Grod-1 or
equivalent

Crew Supervisor Read & Write ***3 years (7-10 days) Yes 7-10 days **WE&PE 6 months
English – 3 years

High school or
Coating Applicator 1 years NACE or SSPC or equivalent Yes 7-10 days practical 6 months
less
examination – 3 years

High school or
Abrasive Blaster 1 years NACE or SSPC or equivalent Yes 7-10 days practical 6 months
less
examination – 3 years

High school or
Specialized Coating 1 years NACE or SSPC or equivalent Yes 7-10 days practical 6 months
less
Applicator (specify area examination – 3 years
of)

*For contractor Inspector Level I and Level II Read & Write English.
** written examination and practical examination
*** Min 3 year previous experience of abrasive blasting or coating application

Page 17 of 24