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Society/Association
United KingdomThe British Institute of NDT is the professional institute for all those engaged in non-destructive testing and condition monitoring. It is concerned with the education and training of its members and the advancement of the science and practice of the subjects.
Over 50 years, the Institute has established itself as one of the country's leading engineering institutions and has achieved professional engineering institute (PEI) status with the Engineering Council.
The object of the Institute is to promote the advancement of the science and practice of non-destructive testing, condition monitoring, diagnostic engineering and all other materials and quality testing disciplines. In achieving this aim, the Institute, which employs a permanent secretariat at its Northampton headquarters, relies on the support of personnel, companies and other organisations in the NDT and CM industries.
The members' individual expertise adds up to an immense body of knowledge and expertise, and the Institute organises its work to obtain maximum benefit from this powerful resource.
In the UK and Europe, the Institute is influential in legislative circles, having input into engineering and environment legislation content. As Chair of the EC/EFTA Working Group, it is leading the way towards standardisation throughout the whole of Europe – not just the European Community and EFTA countries, but also eastern European countries.
The Institute is a full member of both the European Federation of NDT (EFNDT) and the International Committee for NDT (ICNDT). From October 2002 until January 2009, the Institute provided the secretariat for EFNDT, and from October 2009, BINDT provided the secretariat for ICNDT. The immediate Past President of the ICNDT is Dr Mike Farley, a Council member and past President of the Institute.
The PCN (Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing) Scheme is a flexible, reliable and cost-effective method of satisfying NDT personnel qualification and certification and quality management systems requirements. PCN was the first fully accredited personnel certification scheme under BS EN ISO 9712:2012. It sets industry standards in the UK and plays a leading role in Europe and worldwide.
The Certification Services Division of the Institute supports the PCN Scheme.
The British Institute of NDT is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) is an accredited certification body offering personnel certification against criteria set out in international and European standards through the internationally recognised PCN Certification Scheme.
NDT and CM qualifications are provided through a number of Authorised Qualifying Bodies and certificates of competence are issued under the brand name of the PCN Scheme.
A certificate of competence is a document issued under the rules of the certification system indicating that the certificated person is competent to perform the inspection tasks defined in the relevant documents and demonstrates your ability to detect flaws and defects, and to satisfy specifications that call for certificated competent inspectors.
PCN certification will also facilitate compliance with ISO 9001:2015 (clause 6.2.2) requirements for ‘competence, awareness and training’.
What NDT methods and products are covered?
Present NDT qualification examinations cover ACFM, eddy current, liquid penetrant, magnetic particle, radiographic inspection (radiation safety), ultrasonic (including advanced methods such as TOFD and phased array), guided wave and visual NDT methods including weld Inspection. Qualification examinations being offered in CM methods cover vibration analysis (VA), acoustic emission (AE), infrared thermography (IRT) and lubrication analysis and management (LA).
Products covered include castings, wrought products, welds, composite materials, rail, tube and pipe, in manufacturing and fabrication, as well as in service.
When and where is training available?
BINDT operates a scheme for the accreditation of NDT/CM training establishments and the validation of NDT/CM courses and modules leading to certification in any of the current schemes.
Training is conducted at a network of Approved Training Organisations, which are listed in the Approved Training list found at www.bindt.org/education-and-training/bindt-approved-trainers/
Examinations are conducted at a network of PCN Authorised Qualifying Bodies and Examination Centres, which are listed in PCN document PSL/4 and can be viewed and downloaded from the PCN Exam Requirements and Document Download section.
Examinations are generally available on a continuous basis.
NDT and CMDT
The education of those engaged in NDT can take many forms and can start from various levels. When the diverse methods of NDT, in its widest sense, and its manifold applications are considered, it will be seen that entrants to the profession can come from numerous directions. Science subjects and mathematics are the basics, as they are in all engineering, and proficiency in written expression is essential - manuals and procedures need to be unambiguous and results of testing must be reported in a clear and unequivocal way.
Given these essentials, entrants could join straight from school and through professional training take up a career as a practitioner. Alternatively, entrants could go on to obtain a BTEC or SCOTVEC certificate in engineering by part-time or full-time study, or obtain a degree in a pure or applied science or in engineering. Others may find that later in life, their career turns in a new direction from an associated discipline towards NDT.
It is often said that NDT is a secondary discipline - testing the fitness of a finished artifact or some component which will be incorporated into a product. Secondary it may be, but it is also essential as a safety-critical inspection tool. It is not enough to detect a flaw; there are other considerations. How significant is the flaw? Is the item still fit for use? Will it deteriorate? Is the flaw likely to occur elsewhere in similar items? Is the flaw serious enough to warrant the withdrawal from use of all these items? Can it be prevented from recurring? If so how? NDT specialists need more than competence in NDT methods; they need to know the materials they are testing, how they are made, their characteristics, the effects on them of use and ageing, and the manufacturing techniques when the materials are used.
Similarly, in Condition Monitoring and Diagnostic Technology (CMDT), the ramifications and benefits are enormous. Not only is it safety-critical but its use enables rectification of an incipient fault before a catastrophic failure occurs. Not only can the physical catastrophe be avoided, but also the financial catastrophe of a major breakdown at the worst possible moment - Saturday night in the printing press of a Sunday paper, or an aircraft engine on take-off!
Those engaged in NDT and CMDT should be ready to cooperate with designers and production staff so that they know the capabilities and limitations of NDT and CMDT, and can ensure that the product can be tested and monitored satisfactorily and easily.
Non-destructive testing cannot be studied in isolation. It follows therefore that it should form a part of all related engineering subjects which can be assembled in the BTEC National and Higher syllabi. To this end, the Institute’s Membership, Qualification and Education Committee has devised units to fit into the National and Higher National Certificates. Of course, NDT and CMDT courses are not available at all colleges; they are provided to meet demand, and demand can fluctuate for economic and political reasons. More advanced courses are available at some universities, though they also are sensitive to demand.
The Institute takes a keen and active interest in NDT and CMDT education and the Technical Secretary is particularly concerned with this aspect of the Institute’s activities. The Institute’s involvement in Practitioner training through the accreditation of training organisations is an important aspect of the Institute’s work.
As a learned society through the ECUK which is also dedicated to ensuring that engineers enhance their knowledge to keep pace with developing technology, the Institute encourages all engineers to participate in Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Membership of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing is a recognition of an individual or organisation's professional status within this vital sector of the engineering industry.
Membership of the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing is open to anyone or any company working in or having an interest in NDT, condition monitoring, diagnostic engineering, or materials and quality testing in general.
Individual members range from students embarking on engineering, physics, metallurgy or a wide range of other courses, practitioners in the hands-on world, managers and academics, to research scientists.
Company members come from an equally diverse range of industries – aerospace, power generation, oil and gas, petrochemical, universities to name but a few – as well as the equipment manufacturers and providers of specialist services, and consultancies. Company members are automatically members of the Institute's Industry Group.
To apply online visit shopBINDT.
A comprehensive series of events covering a wide range of subjects of interest to members of the NDT and condition monitoring community is arranged each year. These pages include some details of those exhibitions, symposia and conferences organised by BINDT as well as other societies and organisations throughout the world.
The Institute's Annual NDT Conference is traditionally held in September and its Annual Condition Monitoring Conference is traditionally held in early summer and both provide the opportunity for everyone involved in NDT and CM, from practitioners to academics, specialist to generalists, to meet in comfortable surroundings, learn from people eminent in their field, and exchange news and views with colleagues as well as at the same time renewing friendships and making new ones. With many technical presentations in parallel and poster sessions over the three days and social events with a local flavour, business and pleasure are combined to ensure that there really is something for everyone.
The Institute's Materials Testing exhibition is the industry's international showcase. This biennial event is the most comprehensive international exhibition in testing for quality, materials testing, mechanical testing, condition monitoring and diagnostic engineering - the premier show for manufacturers, service industries and users of quality testing.
As well as co-sponsoring events organised by other societies, The Institute also from time to time arranges and manages conferences and seminars on behalf of other organisations.
Members obtain a discount when attending any of the Institute's seminars or conferences.
The Institute's Branches are spread throughout the UK and a welcome awaits anyone who wishes to attend. Many Branch meetings count towards CPD (Continuing Professional Development) requirements.
In addition to the annual conference, seminars are arranged to address the specific needs of the NDT community as and when these arise.
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing produces a wide range of publications covering all aspects of non-destructive testing, condition monitoring, diagnostic engineering and all other materials and quality testing disciplines.
Insight – Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring
Insight, the Institute's monthly journal, is circulated worldwide to more than 65 countries. It covers a broad scope and appeals to a wide audience in the NDT, condition monitoring and associated sectors. Essential reading for all those involved with NDT, condition monitoring and associated technologies, Insight is the only truly international, dedicated and professional NDT journal.
The ICNDT Journal – the official newsletter of the International Committee for Non-Destructive Testing – contains news stories from around the globe, reports from regional groups in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Pan-America, the latest developments in training and certification, and details of upcoming events taking place all over the world.
The newspaper for NDT, inspection, condition monitoring and quality practitioners. NDT News is circulated free to BINDT and IAQP members; and additionally to PCN certificate holders in March, June, September and December.
The BINDT Yearbook is regarded as the industry 'bible'. It is used extensively not only by those working in NDT and condition monitoring, but by users and potential users of equipment and services. This regular reference work is free to all members and available for purchase by non-members priced £24.00.
The British Institute of NDT has Branches throughout the UK. Membership of a Branch is free and members and guests are made very welcome. Activities during the UK winter season vary from relevant technical presentations, hands-on experience of new equipment, visits to NDT sites, table-top exhibitions, as well as social functions, details of which are contained in this booklet.
The Institute has an extensive list of titles covering NDT and associated topics. Books published by the Institute are available to members at a considerable discount. Visit shopBINDT to browse all the titles available.
