To help domestic steel and aluminum structure enterprises better understand market access requirements for North America and systematically master the CSA standard system of the Canadian Standards Association and certification requirements of the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB), Shanghai Allmark Information Technology Service Co., Ltd. jointly held this special seminar with the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) on April 16, 2026.

From left to right:
CWB EPC Manager – Mark Fernandes
General Manager of Shanghai Allmark – Joshua Chen

CWB Director of International Certification – Martin Daignault

This seminar went beyond the explanation of standard provisions, focusing on the audit rules and practical application methods of standards in real projects. It covered key topics including design standards, welding manufacturing, quality requirements, inspection, and relevant personnel qualification requirements, with in-depth analysis based on practical project experience. An on-site interactive Q&A session was also arranged to effectively solve difficulties and questions encountered by enterprises in the actual certification process.

CSA Structural Design and Welding Requirements

Martin Daignault, Director of International Certification, CWB

Welcome Remarks

The morning session was delivered by Mark Fernandes, EPC Manager of CWB, focusing on steel and aluminum structure design requirements, welding manufacturing standards, and certification pathways under the CSA system. Different from previous clause-focused sessions, this sharing emphasized the application of standards in practical projects, concentrating on technical implementation and audit implementation.

CWB EPC Manager Mark Fernandes

As a CWB technical expert, Mark Fernandes targeted difficulties in enterprise certification and project practice instead of merely interpreting standard provisions. Discussions were held on Canadian standards for stainless steel welding, CSA specifications for modular building design and manufacturing, requirements of the new edition of CSA W59 standard, and standard applications in large-scale modular manufacturing fields such as Canadian LNG projects, addressing numerous questions from domestic enterprises in actual certification.

North American Steel Structure Welding Quality, Inspection and Relevant Personnel Qualification Requirements

The afternoon session was opened by Joshua Chen, General Manager of Shanghai Allmark, with a special presentation Welding Quality, Inspection and Personnel Qualification Requirements for North American Steel & Aluminum Structures. He first reviewed the cooperation background between Shanghai Allmark and CWB and their core business scopes, clarifying core services in education and training, personnel qualification certification, corporate system certification, and other fields.

Joshua Chen, General Manager of Shanghai Allmark

As the core specification for steel structure and welding in Canada, CSA standards provide a fundamental basis for relevant design, construction, and certification. This session elaborated on welding and inspection requirements in CSA S16, inspector qualification requirements in CSA W178.2, and highlighted key differences among CSA W59, CSA W47.1, and AWS D1.1 standards, helping participating enterprises clearly distinguish applicable scenarios of different standards and avoid standard confusion in certification.

CWB’S  NDT Personnel Certification Program Requirements

The third segment, a key topic of the seminar, was a special presentation CWB Non-Destructive Testing Personnel Certification Requirements by Mark Fernandes, systematically explaining how to obtain CWB NDT personnel qualifications.

Discuss core certification matters of updated CWB standards on site

During the interactive Q&A, participating enterprises mainly consulted detailed rules for applying for CAN/CGSB-48.9712 certification for testing personnel holding ISO 9712 certificates. As the only official authorized partner of CWB in China, Shanghai Allmark will cooperate with CWB to establish an NDT Examination Center in Shanghai compliant with CGSB 48.9712 qualifications. The center will officially open for registration at the end of August, facilitating domestic NDT personnel to complete qualification application, assessment, and certification, and gain a thorough understanding of relevant Canadian standards and certification requirements.

Joshua Chen, General Manager of Shanghai Allmark, answered practical questions from enterprises on application conditions, processing procedures, certification cycles, and other aspects one by one, supporting enterprises in smooth qualification upgrading.

Group Photo · Shanghai Allmark & CWB Seminar

With the implementation of the new edition of CSA W59 standard, North American projects have put forward clearer requirements for NDT personnel qualifications, stipulating that relevant personnel must comply with the CAN/CGSB-48.9712 standard system. This means some enterprises with existing certifications still need to obtain this personnel qualification when undertaking new projects. Enterprises must not only meet factory system certification but also improve personnel qualifications and inspection capabilities simultaneously.

Shanghai Allmark will continue to cooperate with CWB to provide enterprises with practical training, certification, and technical support services based on standard updates and project audit requirements, helping domestic enterprises efficiently complete qualification upgrading and steadily enter the North American market.

Contact Information

CGSB Qualification Application

Contact: Shin Yu

Tel: +86 130 6171 1969

Email:

shin.yu@cwbgrouppartner.org

fb@allmark.com.cn;

info@allmark.com.cn

Education & Training

Contact: Shin Yu

Tel: +86 130 6171 1969

Email: fb@allmark.com.cn

Certification Consulting / Inspection & Testing

Contact: Jim Liu

Tel: +86 158 0076 4925

Email: jim.liu@allmark.com.cn