The SPFA Pipe Quality Certification Program is a major accomplishment achieved by many STI/SPFA pipe fabricators.
The SPFA Pipe Quality Certification is a requirement in most piping specifications in the United States water transmission industry. The program addresses:
- Quality assurance and control
- Lining and coating operations
- Equipment and welding procedures specific to steel water piping
- Management, organization, engineering and procurement practices
Rigorous annual audits are administered through a third-party quality assurance organization. Full inspection and recertification is required every three years.
Pipe system owners and engineers who require SPFA Pipe Quality Certification can be confident that their pipe and fittings will conform to both the defined requirements of AWWA steel pipe standards and the intent of a quality product.
Details of the SPFA Pipe Quality Certification Program
Specifying engineers frequently demand that manufacturers be certified through third party audits, to gain assurance that a supplier goes beyond minimum standards to develop a quality product. The STI/SPFA Pipe Quality Certification is a requirement in many piping bid specifications in the water transmission industry, due to its industry specific focus. “All steel pipe and steel pipe fittings shall be manufactured and fabricated by a certified SPFA (Steel Plate Fabricators Association) facility,” is a standard phrase in pipe specifications.
The STI/SPFA audit program is administered through a third-party quality assurance organization, and requires rigorous annual inspections and re-certification every three years. The audit evaluates a company’s management, organization, QC program, procurement, and engineering, specifically as they relate to the needs of the water transmission industry. The STI/SPFA Pipe Quality Certification denotes outstanding achievement.
The initial certification audit by the contractor takes approximately two days to complete. Follow-up inspections during years two and three take approximately one day to complete. If you are a member of STI/SPFA and a member of the Pipe Section, we require you to pre-pay, for the first year’s audit only, a deposit of $5,000. Any audit costs in excess of this amount will be invoiced to you after the audit is completed. If the audit ends up costing less than the $5,000 pre-payment, the difference will be returned to you.
In regards to the 2nd year and 3rd year audit costs, these will be billed to you when we are billed by the inspection contractor. We will pass on to you the charges we were billed. If you are a member of STI/SPFA, but not a member of the Pipe Section, a $1,500 administrative fee will be added to each year’s audit fees.
If you are not a member of STI/SPFA and you desire to take part in the Pipe Quality Certification Program, we require you to prepay the first year audit cost of $5,000 plus an administrative fee of $6,500 for a total cost of $11,500. For the 2nd and 3rd year audits, we will invoice you the cost of the audit plus an administrative fee of $3,000. Once your payment is received, your audit certification and report will be provided to you.
Membership in STI/SPFA is encouraged for all Pipe Quality Certification Program Members.
