While there has been reasonably strong demand for the Southern African Institute of Welding’s (SAIW’s) high-end training and management programmes, as well as its consulting and industry support services in recent months, the institute is revitalising its basic welding skills and qualifications offering.

“Most of our recent focus has been on a higher level, including inspection, nondestructive testing and welding management. But, quite frankly, a strong focus on the basic aspects is also needed,” says SAIW new executive director Sean Blake.

Moreover, he points out that many individuals are undertaking further training in their personal capacity instead of through company-initiated training to upskill themselves and improve their employment prospects.

“To increase the skill levels of welding in South Africa, the SAIW is promoting the IIW International Welder training programme and has been successful in implementing this programme in a number of in-house training academies. Owing to the successes of the programme, we would like to roll this programme out to other training organisations,” he says.

Blake acknowledges that the demand for high qualification standards in fabrication are aligned with the requirements of ISO 3834 – the international standard for the quality requirements of welded products – and SANS 347 – the South African standard specification for the categorisation and conformity assessment criteria for all pressure equipment.

“The SAIW introduced ISO 3834 to the market in 2007 and we have been particularly successful in driving this standard in industry,” says Blake.

The institute is further developing new training methods and focusing on the international qualifications driven by the EN 15085 requirements for the construction, manufacturing and testing of welded rail vehicles and their components.

Meanwhile, the SAIW also hosted the ISO TC 44 SC8 subcommittee meeting for the first time in Cape Town, in January, where industry insiders discussed the need to raise the standard of gas welding, cutting and allied processes equipment.

The meeting also included the revision of ISO 5175 for flashback arrestors; ISO 15296, which defines the terminology for gas welding equipment; ISO 3821, which deals with rubber hosing for gas welding equipment; ISO 14114 for acetylene manifold systems for welding, cutting and allied systems; and ISO 2503 for pressure regulators and pressure regulators with flow metering devices of up to 300 bar.

Discussions also centred on the revision of ISO 5171 for pressure gauges used in welding; ISO 5172 for blowpipes for gas welding, heating and cutting; ISO 7289 for quick-action couplings with shut-off valves; ISO 7291, which deals with pressure regulators for manifold systems of up to 300 bar; ISO 9090 for gas tightness for gas welding equipment and allied processes; and ISO 9539 for materials used for equipment.

Blake tells Engineering News that the event was successful, adding that it affirmed the commitment of the SAIW and the South African welding industry to the development and implementation of international standards.