Third-Party Inspection and Inspection Certificates
Independent third-party inspection and certificates for lifting equipment, fabrication, NDT and supply chain, to the principles of ISO/IEC 17020.
Third-party inspection is carried out by a body that is independent of both the buyer and the seller, and itmad provides third-party inspection and inspection certificate services for lifting equipment, fabrication, NDT and supply chain, carried out in accordance with the principles of ISO/IEC 17020. itmad operates across the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
What third-party inspection means
First-party inspection is done by the seller and second-party inspection by the buyer, and both have an interest in the result. ISO/IEC 17020 defines the requirements that a third party must meet for its findings to be relied on by either side.
What independence requires
Under ISO/IEC 17020, a Type A inspection body must be independent of the parties involved: it cannot be the designer, manufacturer, supplier, installer, purchaser, owner or maintainer of the items it inspects, nor a party with a financial interest in the outcome. itmad does not trade in, repair or install the equipment it inspects and holds no interest in whether an item passes, and it applies those independence rules in its work. That restriction is what makes the certificate worth holding, because an inspection report from a body that also sells the equipment tells a regulator nothing.
Inspection services
The range covers crane inspection, load testing and certification; lifting gear and equipment inspection of slings, shackles, eyebolts, clamps and wire rope, with proof load testing and colour-coded tagging; and fall protection equipment, meaning harnesses, lanyards, fall arresters and anchorage devices, examined to EN 365 and ANSI Z359. It also covers elevators, escalators and moving walkways, including safety gear and re-levelling tests; earth moving machinery assessed for structural condition and safety systems; and offshore baskets and containers inspected and certified for lifting offshore.
Further services are QA/QC inspection by resident and seconded inspectors working to the client's ITP across welding, fabrication and construction; factory and fabrication inspection, with buyer representation at the manufacturer; pre-shipment inspection of quantity, quality, packing and marking at the supplier, including at source in China and Asia; thermographic inspection of electrical and mechanical plant under load; NDT inspection across ultrasonic, phased array, magnetic particle, penetrant, eddy current and visual methods; and drone inspection of structures, tanks and confined spaces where access is difficult or unsafe.
Where itmad works
Inspection takes place on construction sites and infrastructure projects, in fabrication yards and workshops, at refineries, process plant and terminals, at power generation and utility facilities, at ports and on vessels and offshore installations, in warehousing, logistics and industrial premises, and at supplier and manufacturer premises, including overseas. For supply chain inspection, itmad works through offices in China and Southeast Asia.
What the client receives
A third-party inspection certificate in the format that the governing authority or contract requires, and a report that identifies each item by serial number, location or drawing reference. Findings are recorded with objective evidence and photographs, and defects are classified by severity, separating what stops use from what must be monitored. Items are tagged on site where applicable, and where itmad holds the client's equipment register it is maintained, with notification of due dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is third-party inspection and why is it required?
It is inspection by a body independent of both the buyer and the seller. Regulators, project specifications and clients require it as evidence of compliance from a body with no commercial interest in the outcome.
What is a third-party inspection certificate?
A formal document confirming that equipment, fabrication or a process has been examined and found to comply with the specified requirements. It is issued in the format that the governing authority or contract requires.
What is the difference between a Type A and a Type B inspection body?
Under ISO/IEC 17020, a Type A body must be independent of the parties involved: it cannot be the designer, manufacturer, supplier, installer, purchaser, owner or maintainer of the items it inspects. itmad does not trade in, repair or install the equipment it inspects, and applies those independence rules.
What does itmad inspect?
Cranes and lifting equipment, lifting gear, fall protection, elevators and escalators, earth moving machinery, offshore baskets and containers, fabricated structures and pressure equipment. itmad also provides QA/QC, factory, pre-shipment, thermographic, NDT and drone inspection.
Where does itmad carry out inspection?
On construction sites, in fabrication yards, at refineries and power plants, at ports and offshore installations, and at supplier premises including overseas. For supply chain and vendor inspection, itmad works through offices in China and Southeast Asia.
What do the reports contain?
Each item identified by serial number, location or drawing reference, findings recorded with objective evidence and photographs, and defects classified by severity. They separate what stops use from what must be monitored.