Institute of Mechanics

NDT Training

TRAINING CENTER FOR THE PREPARATION OF SPECIALISTS IN NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING AT THE INSTITUTE OF MECHANICS AT THE BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The Training Center of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (TC-BAS) operates a training body for the preparation of specialists in non-destructive testing (NDT) for levels I, II, and III. The basic organization for conducting the NDT training is the Institute of Mechanics at BAS (IMech-BAS).

IMech-BAS is a scientific structural unit of BAS. The Training Body for Non-Destructive Testing (TB for NDT) is an infrastructure unit of IMech, whose activities are controlled and approved by the Institute of Mechanics on the basis of powers granted by a framework agreement with the TC - BAS.

The Training Center of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences acts as an approval and supervisory body, while the Institute of Mechanics provides resources and exercises operational control, including the provision of modern training resources, program and instructor approval, in accordance with international standards. The

NDT Training Body is the successor to the “Kvalima” Higher Education Center for NDT, founded in the early 1960s, with over 40 years of experience in training NDT specialists. Between 2008 and 2025, more than 3,000 NDT specialists participated in courses on individual methods.

The center conducts:

- initial training through short-term courses for acquiring qualifications in parts of professions to the Bulgarian Classification of Occupations and for certifying personnel according to International and European standards;

- continuous training to update and expand acquired qualifications;

- verification of knowledge and skills through practical and theoretical exams;

- separate qualification exams, which serve to assess and confirm the competence of trainees in accordance with the applicable standards. The main courses of training are:

• Radiographic testing (RT)
• Visual testing (VT)
• Magnetic particle testing (MT)
• Penetrant testing (PT)
• Ultrasonic testing (UT)
• Phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT)
• Ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTT)
• Eddy current methods (ET)
• Electrical resistance methods
• Acoustic emission (AE)
• Thermography (TT)
• Leak testing (LT)
• Coating thickness assessment.

Over the years, training at the Training Body has evolved, integrating modern requirements for qualification and certification of personnel in accordance with EN ISO 9712 and EN 4179.

The Training Body is structured to meet the requirements of ISO/TS 25108, and the training programs are developed in accordance with ISO/TR 25107 and ANDTBF 06/Issue 4 (for aviation industries). The training and laboratory facilities are modernly equipped with apparatus for the methods used in training at the NDT TB.

The high quality of training is ensured through close cooperation with leading companies such as Kozloduy NPP, Arsenal, BDZ, aviation companies – manufacturers of aviation parts and aircraft maintenance organizations, as well as universities and international certification bodies.

The NDT TB is approved as a training organization in accordance with the requirements of ISO/TS 25108 by:

- Bulgarian Society for Non-Destructive Testing for training in accordance with EN ISO 9712 (Annex 1) and

- Bulgarian National Aviation NDT Board for training in accordance with EN 4179 (Annex 2).

Contact details:

Sofia 1113, str. Akad. Georgi Bonchev, bl. 4, Institute of Mechanics,

e-mail: mirchev@imbm.bas.bg

GSM: +359 889 998942

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yordan Mirchev, Head of the Training Body for NDT at the Institute of Mechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences