NIICAP Auditing Standards

NIICAP Auditing Standards Accreditation Categories

NIICAP applies to all industrial and marine surface preparation and coating or lining application work performed by a NIICAP accredited coating contractor firm. The intent of the program is to determine if an industrial/marine coatings contractor has access to the personnel, organization, qualifications, procedures, knowledge and capabilities to meet customer specifications on time, first time, and within budget.

Three NIICAP standards are used to assess and audit a contractor’s ability to meet the customer’s specifications in the following categories.

NIICAP Audit Standard AS-1 Programs for Accreditation of Field and Shop Coatings Contractors

AS-1 is the Foundation and Prerequisite for all other NIICAP accreditations

AS-1 F addresses all industrial and marine surface preparation and coating/lining application performed in the field when invoked.
AS-1 S addresses all industrial and marine surface preparation and coating/lining application performed in the contractor’s shop facility when invoked.
Provides the framework, methods, and required attributes for assessing the business practices, personnel availability, training practices, equipment availability, and company history to provide accreditation for the contractor.
Provides greater confidence for the owner that the contractor has the ability to perform quality work in accordance with the specification the first time.

NIICAP AS-1 Standard AS-1 Audit Score Sheet

NIICAP Hazardous Waste Removal and Management Accreditation Auditing Standard AS-2

AS-2 addresses the removal of coatings containing hazardous waste or heavy metals.
Provides the framework, methods, and required attributes for assessing the contractor’s planning, skilled personnel availability, equipment availability, containment, control, and removal methods to manage hazardous waste removal within specification requirements and higher tier regulations.
Verifies that the contractor has the ability and resources to efficiently manage a hazardous waste removal project, reducing the risk of errors and litigation for the facility owner and the contractor.
NIICAP AS-1 Field or Shop Accreditation is a prerequisite to achieve NIICAP AS-2 Hazardous Waste Removal and Management Accreditation; however, all accreditations can be achieved during the same audit event.

NIICAP AS-2 Standard AS-2 Audit Score Sheet

NIICAP Applicator Trade Skills Training Accreditation Auditing Standard AS-3

AS-3 addresses trade skills training, not independent QA/QC certification.
Assess the framework, methods, and required attributes for an organization’s training program and the ability to meet job specifications by putting a professional workforce on the jobsite.
Sets a professional standard for employers and organizations for applicator trade skill training.
Training may be a mix of in-house or commercially available programs.

In-House Training

Reduces the contractor’s training costs by keeping much of the trade skills training in house.
Requires trade skills training for processes the contractor uses.
Provides the owner with a better-trained workforce verified by annual independent audits.
Lower training costs for the contractor translates into better value for the owner without increasing the risk of an unskilled workforce.
NIICAP AS-1 Field or Shop Accreditation is required to achieve NIICAP AS-3; however, all accreditations can be achieved during the same audit.

NIICAP AS-3 Standard AS-3 Audit Score Sheet

Independent Training Organizations (ITO)

Very thorough review of the management, technical infrastructure, training and qualification of the instructor(s), training plans, lesson plans, testing content, and security of an organization’s independent training program and its facilities.
Verifies that the training program content, program management, methods of delivery, testing practices, and objectivity of the testing protocol meets the NIICAP requirements at the time of the audit and during bi-annual maintenance audits.
NIICAP does not require any prerequisite accreditations for this program.

NIICAP AS-3 ITO StandardAS-3 ITO Audit Score Sheet