Hong Kong Association for Testing, Inspection and

Certification Ltd.

Professional Certification Scheme for

Testing Personnel

(Construction Materials Testing)

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Examination (CTT)

Disclaimer

Criteria, measurement techniques, methods and test standards as stipulated in respective Certification Criteria (CC01-CC06) are official documents. All examination questions are set based on these documents.

All Certification Criteria are available for download from HKTIC’s website www.hktic.org

Scope of Certification

Level

Testing technician (CTT)

Testing professional (CTP)

Scope of Construction materials testing (CMT)

Building diagnostics (CMT – BD)

Construction material (CMT – CM)

Concrete, aggregate, etc.

Sol and rocks

Steel and al metallic

Foundation (CMT – FD)

Welding Non-destructive tests (CMT – NDT) 3

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Certification criteria

6 Certification Handbooks

CC01 - Chemical testing

CC02 – Construction materials testing

CC03 – Electrical products testing

CC04 – Microbiological testing

CC05 – Textiles and garments testing

CC06 – Toys and hardlines testing

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Certification criteria

Foreword

1- General

2-Scope of Certification

3-Eligibility for Certification

4-Examination Procedure

5-Application procedure for certification/examination

6-Appeal

7-Obligation

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Certification criteria

Appendix 1 Examination Syllabus and Specimen Questions of CTT

Appendix 2 Examination Syllabus and Specimen Questions of CTP

Appendix 3 Training courses approved by Certification Board

Appendix 4 Guidelines for counting CPDUs

Appendix 5 References

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Certification criteria

Foreword

Introduction of professional certification scheme for testing personnel (PCSTP)

Benefits of the scheme

General – define application of the document

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Certification CriteriaRoutes to be Certified

Pass in examination (Scheme)

Diploma in relevant discipline + 2 years

experience

≧10 years of experience

Testing technician

Complete all the required training courses

Certified Testing technician (CTT)

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Certification Criteria

Testing Professional

≧15 years of relevant experience , 5 years of

which shall be at a managerial position

CTT + 5 years of relevant supervisory experience post CTT

Complete all the required training courses

Pass in examination (Scheme)

Professional interview

Certified Testing Professional (CTP)

Bachelor degree in relevant discipline + 3 years relevant experience

HOKLAS AS+ 8 years of relevant

experience

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Certification criteria

HOKLAS approved signatory

with not less than 8 years of relevant experience (total relevant working experience); and

the scope of signatory approval covering the major measurement techniques or methods as stipulated in this Certification Handbook for the sub-category the certification is being sought

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Certification criteria

Certified Testing Technician (CTT) for NDT

Level 2 status in ultrasonic testing or magnetic particle testing and any one of visual examination, radiographic testing or liquid penetrant testing

under the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ACCP-ASNT); or

the Personnel Certification for Nondestructive Testing (PCN) by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT); or

any other equivalent qualification and experience.

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Certification criteria

Certified Testing Professional (CTP) for NDT

Level 3 status in ultrasonic testing or magnetic particle testing and any one of visual examination, radiographic testing or liquid penetrant testing

under the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ACCP-ASNT); or

the Personnel Certification for Nondestructive Testing (PCN) by the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT); or

any other equivalent qualification and experience.

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Examination (CTT)

Part A (30/100)

Understanding of ISO/IEC 17025 (10%)

Ethics (10%)

Safety (10%)

Part B (70/100)

Techniques

Equipment

standards

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Examination (CTT)

Time = 120 minutes (2 hours)

Passing marks >=60/100

Questions:

40 multiple choice questions (4 choices)

1.5 marks each

10 short questions

4 mark each

Wrong answer for MC questions, deduce ½ of the mark i.e. 0.75

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Examination (CTT)

Part A MC 1.5@ SQ 4@ Sub-total (marks)

17025 4 1 10

Ethics 4 1 10

Safety 4 1 10

Part B Sub-total 30 (>=12)

Technical 28 7 70

Subtotal 70 (>=28)

Total 40 10 100 (>=60)

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Appendix 1 - CTT

Understanding of ISO17025 (Outline for CTT)

Document control

Technical records

Environmental and testing conditions

Equipment calibration requirements

Sample handling such as storage conditions, etc.

Quality control

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Appendix 1 - CTT

Management system documents generated by the laboratory should be uniquely identified. What pieces of information, name at least 4, should be included for such identification.

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Appendix 1 - CTT

Laboratory safety (knowledge) General laboratory and site safety precaution

Handling of contaminated sample and radioactive equipment, etc.

Personal protection in handling samples and equipment

Measures in using large and heavy equipment in the laboratory and construction site

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Appendix 1 - CTT

What are the duties of employees in a Workplace for

Health and Safety？

(a) Do not obstruct means of escape from a workplace

(b) Ensure exit doors are not locked or fastened

(c )Use protective equipment provided by the employer for

use in manual handling operations

(d) Take reasonable care for the safety and health of other

persons in the workplace

(A) (a), (b) and (c)

(B) (b), (c) and (d)

(C) (a), (c) and (d)

(D) All

Appendix 1 (CTT)

Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, Cap. 201

Corruption

Advantages

Improper influence

Confidentiality and proprietary right

PCSTP01 “Regulations – Certification Scheme of Testing Personnel”

Code of ethics in general

Code of ethics in relation to employer

Code of ethics in relation to public

Obligation of Certified Testing Personnel

Use of Certification symbol and claim of certification status20

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Appendix 1 (CTT)

commit to abide with the Regulations (PCSTP01)

pay the fees and charges (PCSTP06)

represent honestly and truthfully to any person concerned that he/she is only certified for activities stated in the scope of certification;

endeavour to ensure that the certification granted by the Certification Board is not used in a misleading manner; and

maintain complete integrity and impartiality in all circumstances.

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Appendix 1 - CTT

According to the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, name 2 things that are considered as advantages.

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Appendix 1 - CTT

Understanding on test standard and measurement techniques

Types of construction materials, outline knowledge on their usage and properties

Temperature and tolerance for sampling and testing

Sample maximum holding time

Site sampling technique

Sample conditioning requirement

Checking and verification before testing

Recording of test results

Knowledge of measurement techniques one of the sub-category as given in Appendix 5

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Appendix 1 - CTT

Knowledge on general equipment and specific equipment

The criteria for selection of measurement equipment

Understanding of equipment calibration and measurement traceability, S.I. units

Conversion between metric and English scale

Understanding of use of equipment of the sub-category as given in Appendix 6

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Appendix 5 – sub-category

Building diagnosis

infrared thermography

radar wave

covermeter

carbonation

half cell potential measurement

concrete resistivity

pundit test

pull-off test

rebond mammer test

water leakage test

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Appendix 5 – sub-category

Construction materials tests

Types of materials

Soil and rock

Concrete, bituminous and sediment materials

Aggregate

Admixture

Bituminous

Block and brick

Cement, FPA, GGBS

Concrete

Grout & mortar

All steel and metallic

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Appendix 5 – sub-category

Construction materials tests - types of tests

Abrasion

Compression, flexure, impact and tensile

Density

Hardness

Deformation test

Curing

Water absorption

Particle size distribution

Skid resistance

Classification tests

Triaxial & direct shear tests

In-situ density tests

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Appendix 5 – sub-category

Foundation

Sonic Logging Test (SOLT)

Pile Integrity Test (PIT)

Pile Dynamic Test (PDA)

Static Loading Test (SLT)

Plate Loading Test (PLT)

Ultrasonic Echo Sounder Test (UEST)

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Appendix 5 – sub-category

Welding nondestructive tests

Ultrasonic testing (UT)

Magnetic Particle testing (MT)

Liquid Penetrant testing (PT)

Radiographic testing (RT)

Visual Examination (VE)

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Appendix 6 - Equipment

Common

Balance and mass

Length measuring device

Linear displacement measuring devices

Pressure gauge and related calibrator

Temperature measuring device

Sieve

Compression, impact and tensile tester

Torque wrench

Time measuring devices

Condition chamber

Curing tank

Oven

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Appendix 6 – Equipment

Building diagnostics

infrared thermography

radar

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Appendix 6 – Equipment

Construction materials

Abrasion machine

Accelerated polishing machine

Vacuum gauge

Shear tester

Point Load tester

Nuclear density gauge

Volumetric measurement devices

Rammers and hammers

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Appendix 6 – Equipment

Tachometer

Marshall testing machine

Fineness testing apparatus

Chloride ion penetration tester

Compacting factor apparatus

Creep Testing apparatus

Flow cone and table

Anchor bolt pull out and proof load tester

Bending tester

Extensometer

Hardness tester

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Appendix 6 – Equipment

Foundation

Accelerometer

Strain gauge

Oscilloscope or cathode ray tube or frequency analyzer and standard

Sonic logger

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Appendix 6 – Equipment

Non destructive tests

Ultrasonic probe

Ultrasonic flaw detector

UV /white light meter

magnetic yokes

X-ray equipment

Radiograph

Image quality indicator

Radiograph survey meter

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Specimen questions

Building diagnostics

Which of the following statement is not true for Pundit test?

(a) Good quality concrete has higher transit time

(b) Error in measuring path length will affect accuracy of pulse velocity

(c) Presence of rebar in concrete will affect the accuracy of pulse velocity

(d) Hold the transducers firmly at test surface when measuring transit time is necessary

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Specimen questions

Building diagnostics

Some cracks are observed on a new concrete beam after removing the formwork. Suggest what are the possible causes of the degradation?

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Specimen questions

CMT - Concrete, aggregate, etc.

Which of the following is correct in a concrete hammer test?

A. The hammer test can be applied to a concrete member with plaster coating

B. It is a surface hardness of concrete

C. It is not necessary needed to carry out a performance check prior to the hammer test

D. The test operator can carry out the test at 10 points or 12 points at any location chosen randomly

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Specimen questions

What are the age tolerance and limitation of compaction of concrete for 28 days test cubes (150 mm) in accordance with CS1?

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Specimen questions

Soil and rock

On what basis does a laboratory decide to the size of mould used to when performing a maximum dry density test (MDD)?

According to Geospec 3 the coefficient of consolidation (cv) is calculated using

(a) The linear time

(b) The square root time

(c) The log time

(d) Square root and log times are both acceptable.

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Specimen questions

Steel

When a batch of steel bars is subjected to tensile test, cut each specimen from :

A. Any bar of the same diameter found on the site

B. Any portion of the same bar is the same batch

C. Different bars in the same batch

D. Different bars in different batches

What is the purpose of impact test?

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Specimen questions

Foundation

For a satisfactory pile load test, the acceptable settlement of the gross pile head settling for buildings is

A. 20mm

B. 15mm

C. 10mm

D. 30mm

Suggest the type of pile testing for a H-pile foundation and draft the corresponding typical method statement for the submission to the Client.

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Specimen questions

Welding

When using an AC supply for an MPI test, a subsurface indication will show up as a:

A. wide and fuzzy indication

B. sharp and distinct indication

C. wide but sharp indication

D. none of the above

Name the limitations of MPI test when conducting to the welded joints of a steel footbridge.

END OF SESSION

Thank you

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Examination (CTP)

Part A (50%)

ISO/IEC 17025 + quality control (15%)

Ethics (10%)

Safety (5%)

Management (10%)

Measurement Uncertainty (10%)

Part B (50%)

Reporting, test standards and techniques

Equipment

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Examination (CTP)

Time = 180 minutes (3 hours)

Passing marks >=60/100

Questions:

30 multiple choice questions (4 choices)

1 mark each,

Wrong answer for MC questions, deduce ½ of the mark i.e. 0.5

6 short questions

5 mark each

2-3 long questions

2 x10 marks

1 x 20 marks

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Examination (CTP)

Part A MC 1@ SQ 5@ LQ (10-20) Sub-total (marks)

17025/quality 5 2 15

Ethics 5 1 10

Safety 5 5

Management 1 x 10 10

Uncertainty 5 1 10

Part B Sub-total 50 (>=20)

Technical 10 2 1 x 20, 1 x10

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Subtotal 50 (>=20)

Total 30 6 100 (>=60)

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Management requirements

Management skills

Manager’s Basic Functions

Time Management

Communication in Your Workplace

Team Building – Basic understanding of concepts

Delegation and Management of Generation Y

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Appendix 2 – CTP

You heard a loud noise and realize that one of your staff is pointing her finger at another staff. They were blaming each other for over looking a client’s request for a particular lab test, as a result the client file a complaint to Customer service department. The female staff is the supervisor and she complains that the other staff never read the request carefully, and is not the first time he overlooked the client’s request.

What will you do and what will be your concerns? What will be the worst case scenario for this situation? What will be your best case scenario in this case?

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Laboratory Management (Detailed Knowledge in the following aspects)

Document control

Review of contract

Subcontracting

Verification of critical consumables

Difference between correction and corrective actions and control of non-conforming work

Preventive actions

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Technical records – test result, force diagram

Conditional rooms and testing environmental conditions

Traceability (equipment)

Sample identification and integrity within laboratory

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Quality assurance procedures and plan

Method verification

Minimum method verification in complying with specification of test standards

Difference between verification and validation

Participation in proficiency testing programme, interlaboratory comparison programme

Verification of continuing competence

Drafting of test procedures

Statistical treatments of data and quality control requirement (detailed knowledge)

Basic statistics such as student-t test, normal distribution, standard deviation and ESDM

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Define corrective and preventive actions and illustrate their difference with an example.

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Laboratory safety (knowledge)

General laboratory safety precaution

Use of large testing machine and chamber

Safe handling of chemicals

Use of radioactive materials

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Laboratory safety (knowledge)

Guidebooks from Labour Department of HKSAR

A brief guide to first aid

A brief guide to the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance

A brief guide to the Occupational Safety and Health Regulation

Code of practice on safety management

Guidelines for good occupational hygiene practice in a workplace

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Appendix 2 – CTP

What are the factors affecting the selection of fire extinguisher?

Personnel must be trained in the use of extinguishers

Size and mass of the fire extinguisher

The minimum distance of travel

Environment for installing fire extinguisher

(A) (a), (b) and (c)

(B) (a), (b) and (d)

(C) (a), (c) and (d)

(D) (b), (c) and (d)

Appendix 2 (CTP)

Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, Cap. 201

Corruption

Advantages

Improper influence

Confidentiality and proprietary right

CSTP01 “Regulations – Certification Scheme of Testing Personnel”

Code of ethics in general

Code of ethics in relation to employer

Code of ethics in relation to public

Obligation of Certified Testing Personnel

Use of Certification symbol and claim of certification status57

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Appendix 2- CTP

According to the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, name 2 things that are considered as advantages.

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Estimation of Measurement Uncertainty

Approaches : ISO GUM

Factors affecting uncertainty

Reporting of uncertainty and compliance

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Define experimental standard deviation of mean and what is the related standard uncertainty?

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Measurement techniques and test standards of one sub-category as given in Appendix 5

Interpretation of results and reporting requirements (detailed knowledge)

Number of significant figures

Conditions of sample to be reported

Reporting format as specified in test standards

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Requirements of standards Hong Kong Construction Standard, e.g. CS 1 and CS 2, etc

Hong Kong Government Works Department Specifications

Buildings Department Code of Practices

Hong Kong Concrete Institute test method, e.g. TM 1, TM 2 and TM 3, etc

Chinese Standard, e.g. GB, GB/T, etc

British Standard, e.g. BS

American Standard, e.g. ASTM, API, AWS, ANSI/UL, ANSI/NSF

Japanese Standard, e.g. JIS

Australian Standard, e.g. AS

European Norm, e.g. EN

International Standard, e.g. ISO, IEC, etc.

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Appendix 2 – CTP

Requirements of the following general equipment calibration:

Equipment for one sub-category as given in Appendix 6

END OF SESSION

Thank you

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