SGS Inspects China Pavilion Structural Welds

SGS Industrial Services has been awarded a contract to provide independent welding inspection for the China Pavilion in Shanghai, which is manufactured from 23,000 tons of steel. The China Pavilion has been constructed as part of the World Expo 2010 event. It is shaped like an oriental crown and is 69m tall. The building consists of a 30m-high roof, which is made of traditional wooden brackets symbolising China's 56 minority ethnic groups and a large steel structure requiring 23,000 tons of steel.

Given the high number of expected visitors, the safety checks on the construction of the steel structure were of crucial importance. For this reason, SGS China was awarded the contract to provide independent technical inspection of the welds. The main target of SGS's third-party inspection was to verify that the welds conform to all the applicable quality standards. SGS China set up an inspection team of eight experienced and qualified experts responsible for identifying, analysing and eliminating failed welds.

Moreover, the SGS engineers ensured that the welds met defined quality standards. For the technical inspection work, the team of SGS experts conducted ultrasonic testing and magnetic particle testing. These are non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for the detection of discontinuities and corrosion in material. Conventional ultrasonic testing uses the principle of sending a pulsed beam of high ultrasound from a handheld transducer, which is placed upon the surface of the weld being tested.

This wave will be partially returned from spots with internal imperfections. By measuring this sound, a skilled engineer can identify the location and size of the discontinuity. For magnetic particle testing, a magnetic flux is sent through the ferrous material. At the location of the imperfection a leakage field is created. This attracts metal iron dust, which is sprayed onto the surface. SGS's inspection work took seven months and was completed in January 2009.

SGS Provides Storage Tank Inspection

SGS Industrial Services has introduced remote ultrasonic testing as a service, offering inspection for corrosion on difficult-to-access tank walls and roofs. Storage tank walls and roofs must be inspected regularly for corrosion. General corrosion, corrosion around liquid levels or welds and other mechanisms can attack the integrity of a tank.

However, the inspection work can be difficult and expensive due to the enormous surface area, difficult access and obstacles. SGS Industrial Services can provide remote ultrasonic inspection for tank walls and roofs. With a motorised tank wall scanner with magnetic wheels, carbon steel tanks can be tested for corrosion and weld defects. This method enables remote line scans, remote spot measurements, remote time of flight diffraction (TOFD) inspection and remote visual inspection with a camera that can be steered.

SGS remote ultrasonic inspection does not require scaffolding or cranes and can be implemented on tank walls, even those with obstacles, such as wind girders and overlapping plates. This inspection technique provides detailed data on tank wall thickness with echo-to-echo measurements as required for any tank integrity assessment.

SGS Arranges Certified Welding Inspector Courses

SGS has scheduled eight Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) courses and certification exams in Latin America. According to the company, the ability to accurately size and monitor pre-existing or growing discontinuities in welds, such as cracking, porosity, incomplete penetration, inclusions and the lack of sidewall fusion, is important for the oil-and-gas, wind-energy and construction industries.

The CWI courses and certification exams (PDF 81 KB) will be held in Columbia, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Ecuador and Argentina. The training programme prepares candidates for the American Welding Society (AWS) CWI examination. Participants receive welding inspection training and practical exercises in welding processes and procedures. This training includes welding inspection technology and visual inspection workshops. SGS also offers Certified Welding Educator (CWE) training and examinations for welding professionals who aim to work specifically in the welding education field.

This AWS certification confirms their ability to specifically perform operations associated with welding training and classroom instruction. SGS is an authorised agent of the AWS and trains and certifies welding inspectors on behalf of AWS. The company also provides training and certification services in non-destructive testing and services. The SGS Training Calendar provides more information about the CWI training and examination schedule for 2010 and explains how to register for a course.

SGS Completes LNG Design Verification

In just four months, SGS Industrial Services has completed the design verification of three cryogenic liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks in accordance with Canadian code CSA Z276-01. Canaport LNG in Saint John, is a consortium between Irwing Oil, New Brunswick and Repsol, Spain, constructing the first LNG receiving and regasification terminal in Canada. After four years under construction, the Canaport LNG terminal should begin operations in the second quarter of 2009 and supply natural gas to the Canadian and American markets.

With its three large LNG cryogenic tanks, the first Canadian LNG terminal has a capacity of one billion cubic feet or 28 million cubic meters of natural gas per day and represents a capital investment of CAD750m (GBP413m). A project of this magnitude requires a strong international team in order for it to be completed in such a tight timescale. SGS Canada contributed to this success with its experienced team of engineers and professionals.

In four months, SGS succeeded in reviewing all tank design plans and verified them in accordance with CSA Z276-01, a code set up by the Canadian Standard Association concerning the production, storage and handling of liquid natural gas.

This CSA standard sets a range of 426 requirements and such a design verification project can generate around 40,000 pages of documents and drawings. Within three months, all the 426 requirements were matched with the concepts and drawings, calculations were verified as correct and the LNG tank design was confirmed as complying with the Canadian CSA standard. The final report was issued to the satisfaction of the customer, on time and on budget.

With the completely independent certification from SGS, Canaport LNG can be sure that the facility will operate as intended, using the latest technology, to the highest safety levels, and meeting all the relevant environmental standards and regulations. SGS Industrial Services provides not only design verification of LNG tanks, but also offers support services related to mechanical, piping, and electrical systems design, such as mechanical and process design review, fire and safety systems analysis, and instrumentation and automation analysis and review.