The certification of a Designer of difficult grade concrete structures (material technical repair) is built in accordance with the Land Use and Building Act (in Finnish) as well as the principles of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of the Environment (in Finnish) as need oriented certification of the industry.
The design of repair and alteration works of concrete structures studies, based on condition survey results, the impacts of various damage mechanisms, such as reinforcement corrosion, decomposition and cracking of concrete, on the function and qualification of structures; selects the methods of repair, with which the characteristics required of the structure can be achieved and the progress of damage can be slowed down, and plans the necessary repair measures.
Investigations relating to the load-bearing ability of load-bearing structures, and the designs for repair and reinforcement shall be prepared by a Designer of load-bearing concrete structures repair and alteration works, with a minimum certification of a Designer of load-bearing structures corresponding to the requirement grade of the project structure.
The verification of certification of a Designer of concrete structures can be applied for separately in the following two areas of expertise:
There is only one certification grade in the certification of a Designer of concrete structures, repair and alteration works:
This corresponds with the requirement grade set a design task in the Land Use and Building Act.
The certification requirements consist of requirements on education and work experience. A summary of certification requirements by certification grade is presented below.
The requirements for education consist of a degree and studies, as well as a certification examination.
The degree shall be a degree that is applicable to the design task in question, performed in the branch of construction or technology, being either
The degree and its complementing studies shall include the studies depicted in Table 1.
Table 1. Required credits for designers of concrete structures repairs and alteration works in various branches.
| CERTIFICATION BRANCH | STUDIES |
| CONCRETE BUILDINGS |
|
| CONCRETE INFRASTRUCTURES |
|
The diploma work of a degree can be partially included in the required studies, provided that the applicant can prove its relevance to the certification applied for and that it has strengthened the applicant’s expertise in the subjects presented. A maximum of 30% of a diploma work’s credits can be accepted as part of the studies. Similarly, work experience in excess of 10 years can be accepted to substitute studies in part (maximally 20%). The above described total quantity of studies shall, however, be performed as study credits.
The so-called AHOT procedure i.e. identification and recognition of previously acquired expertise is an activity to be executed within the educational system. Wishing to exercise this procedure, the applicant may turn towards educational institutions providing e.g. training for certifications. The certification board does not perform the so-called AHOT procedure, but the studies presented in the applications shall be recognized by educational organisations.
The requirements relating to certification training and certification examination area presented in Table 2. These are applied for verification of competence in concrete structures and concrete technology, manners of damage in concrete, condition surveys, repair methods, design of repair and alteration works, and quality assurance, as well as the application of the publications by41 Betonirakenteiden korjausohjeet (Instructions for the repair of concrete structures) and by42 Betonijulkisivujen kuntotutkimusohjeet (Instructions for the condition surveys of concrete façades) for condition surveying of concrete structures and presenting of repair principles. In addition to this,
Table 2. Requirements on certification training and certification examination relating to designers of concrete structures, repair and alteration works, of various branches.
| CERTIFICATION BRANCH | COURSES AND EXAMINATIONS |
| CONCRETE BUILDINGS |
|
| CONCRETE INFRASTRUCTURES |
|
A link to the certification training courses approved by FISE and the certification examinations arranged by the secretariat organization can be found under item Certification training and examinations.
A Designer for concrete structures, repair and alteration works, is required to have a minimum of 6 years of experience in design work (either as assisting or responsible designer) as follows, depending on the certification branch:
A minimum of 2/3 of the work experience shall be performed after completing the degree. Work experience performed during the studies shall only be accepted for the part of work experience performed after fulfilment of the required credits and that can be deemed as designing work.
A verified certification will be valid for a period of 7 years at a time, after which the certification shall be renewed.
By renewing a certification, the applicant shall prove that he/she has worked actively in the task determined by the verified certification. The application shall provide information on employment, work experience and updating training during the certification’s period of validity.
Work experience in design tasks in accordance with the certification, during the certification’s period of validity.
Updating training that supports the performance of tasks of a Designer of concrete structures, repair and alteration works, shall be performed for a minimum of 3 training days (21 training hours) or 3 credits for the previous 7 years’ registering period.
A certification or renewal of a certification is applied for using an application form that can be accessed by depressing the button APPLICATION FORM FOR CERTIFICATION at the top of this page. The application form provides detailed certification requirements and the instructions for applying for the certification.
The processing and registering fees for the Application of certification are given under APPLY FOR CERTIFICATION. Additional information on the application for certification as a Designer of concrete structures, material technical repair and alteration work will be given by the secretariat organisation BY (in Finnish) that manages the certification board relating to the repair of concrete structures.