RelyOn Nutec Supports with the Development of CompEx's new Small-Bore Tubing Inspection Qualification

CompEx, the international scheme for competency validation and certification of personnel who work in explosive atmospheres, has added a Small-Bore Tubing (SBT) Inspection course to its suite of qualifications.

RelyOn has supported with the development and launch of the new standard. This three-day practical and theory course certifies technicians' ability to perform safe SBT inspections across all industries, addressing a critical gap by providing the first formal competency pathway for in-service inspection of SBT assemblies.

Prior to the launch of this course, there have been no formal competence pathways specific to in-service inspection of SBT assemblies, making it an industry-first in globally standardising SBT testing. The course will assure asset owners that SBT inspection will be done to a high safety standard with no risk to operations, the environment and, most importantly, their people. RelyOn is currently the only Approved Training Provider, offering the SBT Inspection course in our Aberdeen center.

John Harris, technical development manager at CompEx, said:

“Research indicates that failure to adequately inspect SBT assemblies, and identify and prioritise integrity threats, will result in a potential loss of containment leading to health, safety, and environmental issues. The significant value of ensuring competency validation of staff, compared to the potential consequences of poorly maintained systems, is recognised, and understood by the key industry stakeholders we support.

“CompEx has listened and responded to this industry demand and introduced the Small-Bore Tubing Inspection qualification. Until now, industry has lacked standardisation in SBT inspection methodology. We have created this course to give asset owners and specialist inspection companies the confidence that SBT inspection will be delivered to a high standard, across the global network of CompEx Approved Training Providers.”

Gordon Andrew, the first CompEx SBT Inspection training instructor at RelyOn, who has been part of the project since the very beginning said:

“As a global safety training provider, with significant experience delivering training on Small-Bore Tubing assemblies, we recognised the importance of introducing a competency qualification to ensure the integrity of SBT systems and the workforce who install them. As such, we have been pleased to support CompEx as they proceed with the development of this new industry standard.”

RelyOn was tasked with delivering the pilot course to a select group of stakeholders. The launch event was hosted at their training facility in Aberdeen, where CompEx introduced the new qualification to industry personnel. As the sole training provider to hold this standard, RelyOn has successfully delivered the inaugural course in Aberdeen. Plans are also in place to offer this qualification in Teesside and Liverpool in the near future.

“Already available in Aberdeen, we’ll soon be rolling the qualification out across our other UK facilities, in Teesside and Liverpool, as we strive to bring this safety critical training to the wider UK market,” said Gordon Andrew. This initiative underscores RelyOn's commitment to enhancing industry safety standards through comprehensive and rigorous training programs.

For full details of the qualification, click here or contact our training center in Aberdeen for more information!