An unidentified female welding apprentice receives instruction at the Tri-County SMACNA training facility in Ventura. Photo courtesy of the Tri-County SMACNA.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Tri-Counties Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Association (SMACNA) Apprenticeship program recently completed a stringent audit and was awarded the American Welding Society’s (AWS) official certification as an approved testing facility (ATF), the association reported this week in a media release.
SMACNA’s Apprenticeship program is the only ATF facility in Ventura County and one of only five AWS accredited testing facilities in California, the association reported. The new certification allows AWS certified welding inspectors to test employees of SMACNA contractors, validate that they have been educated in the latest industry techniques and certify that they have proficient professional skills.
“SMACNA is honored to be recognized for our welding expertise and pleased to be distinguished as an AWS approved testing facility,” David Maquinalez, AWS certified welding inspector, training director and instructor for the Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Program, stated in the release. “Certifications are provided to employees of SMACNA contractors based on a variety of factors including the type of welding process being done, kind of metal being used and thickness of the metal they are working with.”
The AWS Accredited Test Facility program establishes minimum requirements for test facilities, their personnel, and equipment to qualify for accreditation to test and qualify welders. ATFs have the necessary resources to test welders for this recognized and accepted program and are an integral part in the operation of the AWS Certified Welding program.
Entrusting welder certification to ATF specialists makes good business sense for contractors and fabricators. Realizing the shortcomings of self-qualification, more and more contractors have discovered the advantages of utilizing AWS Accredited Test Facilities to test and qualify welders. ATFs help them to save money, improve productivity, and reduce liability by entrusting their welder certification to the experts.
About Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA)
California Association of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors, National Association (CAL SMACNA) is a non-profit trade association representing more than 600 union sheet metal and air conditioning contractors who employ more than 25,000 union men and women throughout the state of California.
Contractors perform commercial and residential heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning; architectural and industrial sheet metal; as well as stainless kitchen equipment, manufacturing, testing and balancing, siding and decking.
With national headquarters in Washington, D.C., SMACNA is an international association of union contractors. Established in 1943, today there are nearly 2,000 member firms and 98 chapters located throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia and Brazil.
For more information, visit www.SMACNA.org