The ATA Accident Repair Steering Group met in November of 2010 and was asked by the IMI to advise them on the welding competences measured within ATA.
It was seen by the ATA Steering Group that the BS welding testing (BS1140 & BS4872) at present were the only recognised standards that the industry could use to measure competence of welding other than that measured during the ATA Panel Technician assessment. Any other form of certification would only burden the industry with additional cost and was seen as unnecessary at this time.
The ATA Steering Group members asked the IMI to compile a short document to outline the criteria to which the BS1140 & BS4872 tests were carried out. Note that the BS1140 & BS4872 are not specific to the automotive industry which sometimes causes confusion. The document would allow the sector to understand the details of the BS1140 & BS4872 welding tests and be able to ask better informed questions of the welding inspector around the test(s) that were being carried out on their premises. The content of this document has been added to this update.
The ATA Steering Group members reviewed the measure of welding competence within ATA Panel Technician assessments. The competences will remain at present (both the welding assessment tasks of the ‘welding of coupons’ and the ‘welding of a panel’) as this was seen as a secondary confirmation of the technicians welding competence at a five year period. Removal of the welding of coupon assessment would not reduce the duration of the assessment significantly and therefore there would be no reduction in assessment cost.
For more information, please contact Ian Gillgrass, Accreditation Manager (iang@motor.org.uk or 01992 511521).
Read the full welding assessment criteria (.PDF)