Recognising the need for risk mitigation in the procurement of fabricated steelwork, HERA and SCNZ in partnership with ASI developed Code of Practice for fabrication and erection of structural steel work and the SFC Rules in 2014.
This formed the basis for a joint Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand project to create the first dedicated standard for fabrication and erection of structural steelwork, AS/NZS 5131 Structural steelwork – Fabrication and erection, which was published in December 2016.
From this, we’re pleased to announce that the Rules governing the Steel Fabrication Certification (SFC) scheme have now been revised in order to align them with AS/NZS 5131.
These Rules will apply for all new SFC applications received after 1 January 2018, and for existing SFC Certified Fabricators by the time of their 2018 surveillance audit.
Ensuring best practice and standards for our industry
This comes off the back of work we’re doing in conjunction with SCNZ to ensure participating NZ structural steel fabricators are capable of manufacturing products to specified quality standards by certifying that companies have appropriate personnel and quality management systems in place] and comes after 6 years of work.
Moving forward this means members will be able to provide their customers with greater confidence in the quality and manufacturing integrity of work, as we also work to deliver more member opportunities as part of our core strategic focus for HERA.
Welding Centre General Manager Dr Michail Karpenko said, “the SFC scheme represents a key point of difference for local fabricators in the face of competition from imported pre-fabricated structural steel, which often can be of uncertain provenance and quality.”
For more information about the SFC scheme, go to www.steelfabcert.co.nz or click here to read the letter from the SFC Board Chairman Dr Wolfgang Scholz and the new SFC Implementation Rules AS/NZS 5131 Structural steelwork – Fabrication and erection (Revision 0) including:
These Rules will apply for all new SFC applications received after 1 January 2018, and for existing SFC Certified Fabricators by the time of their 2018 surveillance audit.
HERA’s Welding Supervisor course supporting SFC
The SFC scheme requires certified fabricators to employ appropriately qualified staff and that’s possible through HERA’s AS/NZS 2214 Welding Supervisor course in the area of welding fabrication.
Delivering this course since 2011, it has been recognised as one of the most accepted qualifications for those supervising welding activities or inspecting in-house welded components – with more than 250 people now having completed the course with flow-on benefits for their respective companies.
For more information, go to Events section or contact General Manager Welding Centre Michail Karpenko.
