The Journey described by Isaac Catran, Florentina Melo (ABRACO) and Lucia Fullalove (ICorr).

As ABRACO, the Brazilian Association of Corrosion, becomes nearer to getting ICATS, and the ICorr Paint Inspector Conversion course, we would like to take readers on the journey travelled so far.

It was in May 2018, during the INTERCORR (International Corrosion Congress) in São Paulo, Brazil, that ABRACO’s technical staff, Florentina (Flor) Melo and Isaac Catran met with Lucia Fullalove. Flor and Isaac were responsible for the training and qualification of corrosion professionals for ABRACO, and Lucia was in Brazil to deliver a ‘plenary talk’ on the “Application of Lean Principles in Corrosion Protection”, as a guest of INTERCORR.

As brief introduction, ABRACO is the Brazilian association which has represented the corrosion professionals in Brazil for over 50 years, it promotes and disseminates knowledge about corrosion and corrosion protection, and qualifies professionals in industrial paint application, industrial paint inspection, and cathodic protection. In addition to the above, ABRACO also delivers courses in the areas of pipeline protection and hot dip galvanising, for those professionals wanting to expand their knowledge.

Following the introductions, we (Lucia, Isaac and Flor) started to discuss the professional courses on corrosion protection from both our organisations, and we identified a great synergy between ourselves and the courses, and the possibility of closer co-operations between the organisations became our main target.

At ABRACO head office in Rio de Janeiro, the three of us made a presentation to the President of ABRACO at the time, Prof Laerce de Paula Nunes. The objective of the presentation was to propose a partnership which would allow for the promotion of ICorr in Brazil, as well as promoting ABRACO internationally. In addition, we wanted to get an agreement and recognition by ICorr for the paint inspectors trained and qualified in Brazil. Thus, providing the ABRACO paint inspectors with an internationally recognised qualification.

The collaboration project, “ICorr- ABRACO”, was immediately welcomed by the ABRACO President who under the advice of Lucia Fullalove, sent a message to the then President of ICorr, Sarah Vasey, introducing ABRACO and explaining the intention of creating a partnership between the two organisations. The positive response from ICorr was swift, and ‘we’ started to outline the co-operation project whilst still in May 2018.
Initially it appeared that the best way to progress would be with a direct comparison between the qualifications of both organisations in the areas of paint Inspection, paint application and cathodic protection. Therefore, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ABRACO and ICorr to show the intentions was created, the terms agreed, and finally signed by the then current Presidents of
the respective organisations in June 202,

Dr Olga Ferraz (ABRACO) and Dr Gareth Hinds (ICorr).
This partnership between ICorr and ABRACO was anticipated to go beyond the technical recognition, but also allow for further exposure and recognition of ICorr in Brazil where there is a huge potential for training development due to the country’s size, and the recognition by major players across several market sectors that corrosion protection is paramount, and of great benefit to asset owners.
On the other hand, ABRACO is well recognised in Brazil for the high standards of its qualification and quality of the training of corrosion professionals, therefore the partnership with ICorr will keep these high standards, and will give the Brazilian professionals the opportunity to also have international recognition.

As soon as the MoU was signed, we (Isaac, Flor and Lucia) started to work in earnest to focus on the equivalence for the certification of paint inspectors. From the very beginning the difference between the levels of qualifications was identified.

In Brazil, the paint inspectors’ certification is divided into 2 levels, whereas in the UK it is in 3 levels. Therefore, the first step was to see how the equivalence could be achieve, and the way forward was chosen to be to analyse and compare the course syllabuses. The idea was these would be assessed and a proposal made as to how this equivalence could be achieved, decided.

In March 2019, the contents of the ABRACO Paint Inspectors levels 1 and 2 courses were sent to be appraised and evaluated by ICorr. John Fletcher of ICorr was appointed to carry out this work, and in December 2019 following a GAP Analysis, he identified that the ABRACO Level 1 course content addressed most of the content of the ICorr Paint Inspectors levels 1 and 2, however there was a shortfall in the areas of H&S and the International Maritime Organisation ballast tank coating regulations. In the initial GAP Analysis, John also proposed options for the equivalence and a conversion module for this recognition has been proposed.

In March 2020, on the return to the UK, Lucia made a presentation to ICorr Trustees, which described the excitement and expectation created by the Brazilian paint inspectors for this ‘conversion’ from ABRACO to ICorr. Isaac, Flor and Lucia then carried out a mapping exercise between the Brazilian and the International Standards, so that ICorr could become acquainted with the Brazilian Standards and understand that the Brazilian paint inspector, although working under local standards, do have the level of work practice equivalent to their international counterparts.

The remaining differences were identified as relating to Brazilian legislation. Unlike in the UK, in Brazil, H&S activities on site are carried out by a Safety Medical professional, and by a Health & Safety qualified engineer. In addition, Brazilian technical standards are supported in law, therefore some of the activities of a corrosion protection professional must follow these. In Brazil, the standard even determines how the paint containers are stacked in storage.

The conversion module and exam questions have been written by Kevin Harold on behalf of ICorr, and the course translated, and reviewed. will be translated into Portuguese to be delivered in Brazil. The conversion course has now been uploaded to the Argyll Ruane Learning Management System. It is anticipated that once the Brazilian paint inspector takes the conversion module they will sit and online examination and the successful candidates will have their ABRACO L1 paint inspector certification, confirmed as an ICorr L2 paint inspector.
We would like to point out our certainty regarding the success of this project. This was one of the reasons Lucia was invited to deliver a presentation about the “ABRACO – ICorr” project at the Brazilian seminar of Anti- corrosive painting (SBPA) in Brazil in December 2019. The main attendees to the event were paint Inspectors and the project was well received by the audience.

The conversion module for L1 ABRACO Inspector was launched in Brazil on the 28th March, and the the next natural step is to get a similar process for the recognition of the L2 ABRACO paint inspectors as ICorr L3. Whilst a lot of training activities came to a halt as consequence of the COVID 19 pandemic, Isaac, Flor and Lucia started to work on the paint applicators course, and how to get the ICATS to Brazil.

ABRACO also wanted to have the ICATS in Brazil ‘online’ and Lucia has translated the modules and has been working with Isaac Catran to ensure the correct ‘ site jargon’ . as well as the Brazilian working practices are incorporated into the course. The translated ICATS modules have also been uploaded to the Argyll Ruane LMS system for ‘online’ access. This is now being tested , and although no definite date has been agreed for the launch, a trial is due to start soon.

As in the UK, in Brazil the training of paint applicators is carried out in parts. The ICorr Industrial Coating Applicator Scheme (ICATS) starts with a module on understanding the principles of corrosion protection, the importance of a good surface preparation before treatment, and the role of paint. And at this fudamental level the ICA is trained on the use of the paint brush and roller. It is ABRACO’s intention to follow thus training sequence. In 2020 this project was also introduced to Kevin Harold (MD of Correx) who was excited about the prospect, and proposed the setting up of the online Industrial Paint Applicators course (ICATS) in Portuguese to provide training to paint applicators in Brazil. The practical part of the course as well as the technical evaluation of the students (candidates) will be done by ABRACO.
The initial course (brush and roller) is currently being translated into Portuguese and the course contents adapted to the Brazilian legal requirements, environment, and work procedures.

For the practical assessment, Flor and Isaac had already developed a form to evaluate the students. which covers all the activities carried out by an industrial painter. This was shared with Kevin Harold to be assessed, and a modified version produced, which will be discussed and agreed by all (Kevin, Isaac and Lucia) as the new evaluation form for the ICATS Brazilian Industrial Paint Applicators.

In December 2020, there was another virtual SBPA (seminar on anticorrosion paints) meeting, which had 130 attendees, and at which Lucia was invited to, and delivered a presentation on the progress of the cooperation between ICorr and ABRACO. At this, there was great interest from both paint inspectors and paint applicators waiting to be able to take the ICATS conversion course.

The ICorr – ABRACO partnership is now being recognised and awaited by several sectors of the Brazilian Industry, such as Oil and Gas, steel producers, mining, petrochemicals, and others. There are still other areas for growth in Brazil where the strength of this partnership will be well received.

Above: Lucia, Isaac and Florentina