This issue of Working Pressure magazine focuses on inspection and maintenance. Over the years, ASSE International has developed quite a few standards and certifications for professionals who do different types of inspections – you may be surprised at how many professional qualification standards we have for inspectors. Addressing the qualifications of inspectors is very important in helping to maintain the health and safety of the public.
With the development of ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 16000, Professional Qualifications Standard for Inspectors and Plans Examiners, ASSE has raised the bar for the plumbing and mechanical industry. These important standards spell out the experience, education, training, and general knowledge requirements for the inspectors who play critical roles in protecting the health and safety of both the general public and the industry itself. Our ever-changing industry is affected by innovation with the constant development of new materials, systems, and installation methods – with these industry developments, inspectors need to keep up in order to stay current.
It is critical that medical gas inspectors keep up to date with the NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, and the NFPA 55, Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code. The ASSE 6020 standard for medical gas inspectors requires certification holders to recertify to each new edition of the NFPA 99, generally every three years. Recertification requires that ASSE 6020 inspectors take a training course and written exam, which are important to introduce new systems and requirements to inspectors and assesses how well they retained what was taught in the course.
There are also ASSE standards and certifications for inspectors of rainwater catchment systems and residential potable water fire protection systems. We can all feel safer when knowing that these systems are inspected by someone who is trained, certified, and up to date in their field of expertise.
In addition to our inspection offerings, ASSE also has standards and certifications for trades people involved in service and maintenance of different systems. Through experience, training, and certification, those who earn ASSE 13010 Service Plumber certifications have shown that they are qualified to safely, effectively, and efficiently work on residential and light commercial plumbing systems. The same is true for those who have demonstrated their qualifications to work on residential mechanical systems and earned ASSE 13020 Residential Mechanical Service Technician certifications. In both cases, customer service skills, which are assessed during the exam process, are a major component of the training program.
Inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) of fire protection systems is important work that comes with a lot of responsibility. Professionals certified to the ASSE 15010 standard have demonstrated their knowledge, skills, and experience with ITM on fire protection systems, including dry-pipe systems, preaction systems, main drain tests, alarms, and fire pumps. Fire protection systems are life safety systems and ASSE 15010 Certified professionals help protect you and your loved ones from potentially deadly fires.
We often quote the timeless ASSE International motto, “Prevention Rather Than Cure.” Certifying inspectors, service technicians, and maintenance personnel is a great example of how ASSE can do its part to keep the public safe and healthy. We want to be sure that trained and certified people are working on and inspecting the systems that make our lives better, greener, healthier, and safer. Please contact me at marianne.waickman@asse-plumbing.org if you have any questions or would like additional information about our personnel standards and certifications.
