1. Extend boiler and pressure vessel inspection intervals;

2. Potentially extend turnaround intervals;

3. Reduce the number of inspection operations and therefore inspection and maintenance costs;

4. Reduce equipment startup and shutdown frequency and therefore the risk of accidents and certain failure modes occurring during transients;

5. Optimize the staging of inspections during operation and shutdowns;

6. Reduce losses from lost profits and impairment;

7. Enhance revenue and profits through reduced downtime and inspection and maintenance costs;

8. Improve operating safety by implementing more efficient inspection procedures performed by highly trained own personnel who have knowledge and experience of the process they will control;

9. Reduce the risk of accidents and environmental contamination;

10. Reduce insurance premiums;

11. Widely recognized by supervisory bodies, facilitating joint solutions being reached for outstanding issues;

12. Improves integration across the organization/business;

13. Improves reputation;

14. Recognized by a leading, independent certification organization (IBP);

15. Recognized by Inmetro, the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) and society.

Documents applicable to the SPIE certification process:

1. MTE Regulatory Standard NR-13 Boilers, Pressure Vessels and Piping.

2. Inmetro Ordinance No. 349/2009 – Technical Quality Regulation for SPIEs.

3. Inmetro Ordinance No. 351/2009 – Conformity Assessment Regulation for SPIEs.

4. Procedure P-03 SPIE Audit and Certification.

5. Procedure P-06 Appeal and Complaint Handling.

Applications for Certification or inquiries can be made as follows:

1. The requesting organization accesses the IBP website and reviews the information provided on the Certification Process, then contacts the Certification Division (GCER):contact e-mail address.

2. Inquiries can be made at any stage of the process using one of the available channels to contact OCP/IBP.

3. If necessary, OCP/IBP schedules a meeting with the organization to provide further information on the Certification Process. During the meeting, the organization’s authorized representative receives information on SPIE Certification fees and charges.

4. Form F-41 – SPIE Application can be downloaded here.

5. Other documents are available for download in the last tab.

Note: If you choose to print any of these procedures, please bear in mind that printed copies are not controlled by OCP/IBP and may become outdated over time.

Required Information:
The organization is required to provide the details contained in Form F-41 – SPIE Application.

Queries:
Please contact the Certification Division (GCER)
e-mail address for queries

1. The organization applying for SPIE Certification (applicant) gathers information about the SPIE Certification Process.

2. To do so, the applicant accesses the IBG website or contacts the Certification Division (GCER): contact e-mail address.

3. Inquiries can be made at any stage of the process using one of the available channels to contact OCP/IBP.

4. If necessary, OCP/IBP schedules a meeting with the organization to provide further information on the Certification Process. During the meeting, the organization’s authorized representative receives information on SPIE Certification fees and charges.

5. If interested in obtaining SPIE Certification, the applicant completes Form F-42 SPIE APPLICANT REGISTRATION and submits it to IBP either by mail or electronically as a PDF.

6. After receiving the completed F-42 form accompanied by a power of attorney giving the person signing the application powers to represent the applicant, the OCP/IBP (GCer) Certification Manager reviews the information received.

7. When the application is accepted, the applicant becomes an SPIE Candidate and receives a provisional password for access to the restricted area of the Certification Page, where information on the rules and procedures applying to SPIE Certification can be obtained.

8. If the decision is made not to proceed with the certification process, the Certification Manager informs the applicant of the reasons for this decision.

9. When ready for the certification audit, the SPIE Candidate completes Form F-06 SPIE CERTIFICATION APPLICATION and submits it to OCP/IBP. Form F-06 contains a statement that the organization agrees to the terms and conditions of the Certification Process. This statement must be signed by a legal representative of the organization.

10. The completed F-06 is reviewed by the Certification Manager, who then completes the remaining fields in the form as applicable.

11. If the decision is made not to proceed with the certification process, the Certification Manager informs the applicant of the reasons for this decision.

12. If the Certification Manager’s decision is to proceed with the certification process, the SPIE Candidate receives provisional credentials to access the SPIE Audit Management System (ControAudi).

13. With these provisional credentials, the SPIE Candidate can create a new, non-transferable password. With the new password, the SPIE Candidate completes a new form for registration in the ControAudi system.

14. An OCP/IBP Certification Specialist then schedules a date for the initial audit and notifies the SPIE Candidate. If the appointed date is inconvenient, the parties agree to a different date.

15. The OCP/IBP Certification Specialist is responsible for appointing the Audit Team.

16. Simultaneously with step 12, the Certification Manager prepares and negotiates with the candidate organization an agreement covering the audits to be performed for a complete certification life cycle (52 months).

17. Forty-five days prior to the start of the audit, the SPIE Candidate receives a notice from ControAudi about the approaching audit and the need to submit Preliminary Information. A list of Preliminary Information documents is provided in Appendix 3 to P-03 SPIE Audit and Certification, available in the restricted area of the Certification Page.

18. The SPIE Candidate submits Preliminary Information using the appropriate module of ControAudi. If preliminary information is not submitted no later than 30 days prior to the start of the audit, the Certification Process is suspended.

19. Following receipt of the preliminary information, the Lead Auditor prepares an Audit Plan. The Audit Plan is submitted to the SPIE Candidate for approval at least five (5) days prior to the audit date.

20. The SPIE Candidate reviews and comments on or approves the Audit Plan. Any comments on or disagreement with the Audit Plan are discussed and resolved with the Lead Auditor. If no comments are received from the SPIE Candidate up to three (3) business days prior to the start of the audit, the Audit Plan is deemed approved.

21. Once the Audit Plan has been approved, the Lead Auditor submits the Plan along with other planning documents to the Audit Team for information.

22. The Audit Team performs the audit as set out in P-03 SPIE Audit and Certification.

23. The Lead Auditor summarizes any Nonconformities and Issues and the Audit Findings in an Audit Closure Meeting with representatives from the SPIE Candidate, including Senior Management.

24. Within 20 calendar days of the last day of the audit on the site, the Lead Auditor prepares and submits to OCP/IBP an Audit Report containing the primary findings from the audit.

25. Following approval by OCP/IBP, the Audit Report is made available to the SPIE Candidate and to representatives of the SPIE Certification Committee (ComCer) via the ControAudi system.

26. The Report and other information relevant to the Certification Process are reviewed during the first ordinary ComCer meeting to be held after the Audit Report has been made available on the system.

27. ComCer reviews each of the Certification Processes and submits an opinion to OCP/IBP. The ComCer opinion is issued within a maximum of 180 days of receipt of the Audit Report.

28. The ComCer opinion and the information contained in the Audit Report are considered by OCP/IBP in reaching its Certification decision.

29. If OCP/IBP decides in favor of Certification, the SPIE Candidate becomes a Certified SPIE. The SPIE Candidate receives an SPIE certificate valid for 48 months from the last day of the audit. The certificate is registered with Inmetro.

30. If OCP/IBP does not decide in favor of Certification, the SPIE Candidate receives all relevant information and clarification on the reasons for certification not being granted. The SPIE may then appeal on the decision using the procedure set out in P-06 Appeals and Complaints.

31. The SPIE undergoes Oversight Audits at intervals ranging from 12 to 18 months. Following a period of 48 months from the end of the Initial Audit or Certification Audit, the SPIE undergoes a Certification Renewal Audit.

Certification is maintained through Oversight Audits. These audits are performed at intervals established by the Conformity Assessment Regulation for SPIEs, Inmetro Ordinance No. 351/2009. The interval between audits is typically 12 months. After 48 months have elapsed since the initial audit, a Certification Renewal Audit is conducted if the organization wishes to maintain Certification.

Warning Criteria
An SPIE-certified organization receives a written warning if:

• Recurrent “A – Common” or “B” nonconformities are found during oversight or certification renewal audits;
• The SPIE-certified organization fails to communicate within 30 (thirty) days, or misrepresents, any changes that have occurred at the sites which could in any way materially affect its profile as previously assessed;
• The number of “A – Common” or “B” nonconformities exceeds the limits established in the acceptance criteria under the Conformity Assessment Regulation for SPIEs;
• The SPIE-certified organization attempts to hinder access to information that is relevant to the process;
• The SPIE-certified organization fails to timely eliminate nonconformities not included in the action plans negotiated between the parties and approved by ComCer.

A warning will not result in inspection intervals being reduced or any benefits under NR-13 being lost.
Certification Suspension Criteria
An SPIE-certified organization’s certificate is suspended if conclusive evidence is found of one or more of the following:

• The reasons for a warning have not been addressed and eliminated within the time allowed;
• A nonconformity classified as “A RGI” is detected;
• Nonconformities that previously led to warnings become recurrent;
• Suspension will not result in inspection intervals being reduced or any benefits under NR-13 being lost.

Certification Cancellation Criteria
An SPIE-certified organization’s certificate is canceled if conclusive evidence is found of one or more of the following:

• The reasons for suspension are not addressed or eliminated within the time agreed;
• Nonconformities that previously led to suspension become recurrent;
• The SPIE-certified organization requests exclusion from the certification process.

Precautionary Suspension
A Precautionary Suspension document is issued by OCP/IBP, backed by an opinion of the Certification Committee, when any major incident occurs at a site. The SPIE certificate is provisionally suspended until the organization submits to OCP/IBP the conclusions of a report establishing the causes of the incident, for a decision by the Certification Committee.

An applicant and/or SPIE-certified organization has the following rights and duties:

Rights
1. Enjoy the benefits and privileges afforded by NR-13
2. Receive a certificate awarded by OCP/IBP and endorsed by INMETRO’s General Accreditation Coordination Office (i.e. internationally recognized)
3. Receive all required information about the Certification Process and the relevant documents
4. Submit Complaints to OCP/IBP within the scope of Certification
5. Submit Appeals to OCP/IBP, to be processed as warranted for each case
6. Be informed of, consulted on or participate in any revision of the rules applying to the Certification Process
7. Following each assessment, receive a written report describing the conformity/nonconformity findings or issues detected by the Audit Team
8. Where applicable, reject an auditor appointed by OCP/IBP.

Duties
1. Fully comply with the provisions of the contract between OCP/IBP and the certified organization
2. Comply with all requirements set out in OCP/IBP procedures and standards and regulations applying to SPIE certification
3. Report any and all changes from the conditions assessed by the previous auditor
4. Use the certificate in accordance with applicable contractual provisions
5. Allow access to facilities and documentation relating to the SPIE-certified organization
6. Eliminate all non-conformities and issues identified in audits
7. Provide all information requested by OCP/IBP.

Standards and Procedures

Portaria INMETRO Nº 537/2015 – Instrução normativa para SPIE.
Download [ 618 Kb | PDF ] [?]

A Portaria Inmetro Nº 537 foi publicada em 21 de outubro de 2015 e substitui a Portaria Inmetro Nº349/2009.

Portaria INMETRO Nº 582/2015 – RAC Requisitos de Avaliação da Conformidade para SPIE.
Download [ 303 Kb | PDF ] [?]

A Portaria INMETRO Nº 582 / 2015 foi publicada em 23 de novembro de 2015 e substitui a Portaria Inmetro Nº 351/2009.

Ordinance No. 594 (NR-13 Boilers, Pressure Vessels and Piping)
Download [ 140 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Regulatory Standard on Boilers, Pressure Vessels and Piping, published by the Ministry of Labor and Employment through Ordinance no. 594/04/28/2014.

INMETRO Ordinance No. 349/2009 – Technical Quality Regulation for SPIEs
Download [ 277 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Inmetro Ordinance No. 349 was published in November 2009, superseding Inmetro Ordinance No. 78/2009, which in turn superseded Ordinance No. 16/2001.

Ordinance 349/2009 approves the Technical Quality Regulation (RTQ) for SPIEs.

INMETRO Ordinance No. 351/2009 – Conformity Assessment Regulation for SPIEs
Download [ 250 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Inmetro Ordinance No. 351 was published in November 2009, superseding Inmetro Ordinance No. 79/2009, which in turn superseded Ordinance 16/2001.

Ordinance 351/2009 approves the Conformity Assessment Regulation (RAC) for SPIEs.

Appeals and Complaints – Form F-30
Download [ 70 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Complaint & Appeal Handling P-06 Rev 3
Download [ 52 Kb | PDF ] [?]

SPIE Application – Form F-42

Download [ 70 Kb | PDF ] [?]

List of NR-13 Serious and Imminent Risks
Download [ 11 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Contains a list of NR-13 items which constitute a Serious Imminent Risk if not complied with.

Technical Papers

7th COTEQ – Equipment Technology Conference
Author: Roque Luís Mion Puiatti – Ministry of Labor
Paper: Major Incidents
Download [ 4.400 Kb | PDF ] [?]

7th ABIQUIM Conference on Responsible Business
Authors: Paulo E. Moretti and Luiz Carlos Greggianin
Paper: SPIE Certification at COPESUL
Download [ 1.000 Kb | PDF ] [?]

2nd E&P Equipment Maintenance Seminar
Author: Celso Bonfim Morais
Paper: SPIE Certification as an Accident Prevention Strategy
Download [ 180 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Presentations

Equipment Inspection Service Certification: A Case Study in a Continuous Production Enterprise
Author: Cícero Roberto de Oliveira Moura – Federal University of Paraíba
Presented at IPCR Americas ‘2006
Download [ 78 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Assessment of NR 13 Enforcement
Author: Roque Luís Mion Puiatti – Ministry of Labor
Download [ 85 Kb | PDF ] [?]

DSST – MTE Standardization
Author: Roque Luís Mion Puiatti – Ministry of Labor
Download [ 125 Kb | PDF ] [?]

The SPIE Certification Process (NR-13)
Author: Roberto Odilon Horta – FUP
Download [ 370 Kb | PDF ] [?]

Equipment Self-Inspection Service Certification (SPIE)
Author: Luiz Moschini de Souza – IBP
Download [ 1.880 Kb | PDF ] [?]