TSE ISO/TS 22809

TSE ISO/TS 22809 identifies the Technical Specification that addresses which types of discontinuities may be present in specimens used for qualification examinations in non-destructive testing. Its focus is on defining the discontinuity types in test specimens so that they can serve as a consistent basis for assessing and qualifying NDT personnel.

How discontinuity types function in qualification specimens

In NDT, a discontinuity is a broad technical term for an interruption or irregularity in the material or joint, such as a crack, porosity, inclusion, lack of bonding, or a similar feature. This Technical Specification is concerned with classifying such features and with the way they are represented in qualification specimens, so that candidates can be evaluated against a comparable and repeatable reference rather than against varying specimen conditions.

Methods specifically noted in the scope

The scope note states that acoustic emission testing, infrared thermography testing, strain testing and leak testing do not need to define discontinuity type, because of their specific approach; for example, artificial sources may be used in acoustic emission testing. In practical terms, this means the document does not impose one universal discontinuity model on every NDT method, but recognises that some techniques work through different physical principles and therefore handle defects or indications differently.

In general technical terms, qualification specimens are designed to carry controlled and repeatable flaw characteristics suited to the method, the training objective and the level of assessment. This allows examinations to assess more than equipment handling alone: candidates must also interpret indications, distinguish relevant signals and apply the inspection logic expected in practice. This Technical Specification provides a framework for defining the discontinuity types used for that purpose.