Certified competence in thermoplastic welding
Plastic Welding Certification
Plastic welding certification examines and certifies welders of thermoplastic materials — most critically polyethylene (PE) pipe jointing by electrofusion and butt fusion on water and gas networks — against I.S. EN 13067. Metlab certifies plastics welders under its INAB-accredited ISO/IEC 17024 scope.
Polyethylene butt fusion machine fusing a pipe joint
Overview
A poor electrofusion joint looks identical to a good one from the outside — which is why utilities and contractors demand certified operatives before anyone touches a live network. Metlab is Ireland’s specialist in plastics welder examination and certification.
In 2020 we partnered with Impact Training, at the initiative of the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board, to develop the first certified polyethylene electrofusion welding course in Ireland — equipping experienced operatives to join PE pipe safely and competently on potable water and wastewater mains to the I.S. EN 13067:2020 standard.
Certification & examination
Plastics welder certification to I.S. EN 13067
Examination across material groups and jointing techniques
PE electrofusion certification
Couplers, saddles and tapping tees on pressure pipe systems
PE butt fusion certification
Automatic and semi-automatic butt fusion of PE pipe
Certificate renewal & prolongation
Keeping operative certification current
Supporting services
Joint testing & audit
Destructive testing of fusion joints through our PE pipe testing laboratory
Course partnership
Certified electrofusion welding course developed with Impact Training / WWETB
Contractor competence schemes
Certification programmes tailored to utility framework requirements
Standards & schemes
Work is examined against the designations your specification cites.
| Standard | What it covers |
|---|---|
| I.S. EN 13067:2020 | Plastics welding personnel — qualification testing of welders |
| ISO/IEC 17024 (INAB Reg. 7007) | Accredited certification of persons |
| EN 12201 | PE piping systems for water supply — the systems certified welders work on |
Why it matters
01
Water networks are built on fusion joints
Ireland’s water infrastructure programme is overwhelmingly PE. Every joint is a potential leak path for decades — certified welders are the first and cheapest line of quality assurance.
02
Independent certification, not attendance certs
An accredited ISO/IEC 17024 certificate proves examined competence — a materially different thing from a training-course attendance sheet, and increasingly what utilities specify.
03
Closed loop with joint testing
Because Metlab also destructively tests fusion joints, certification is informed by what actually fails in the field — and contractors get one accountable partner for competence and verification.
Common questions
Asked before every engagement.
Something more specific? A specialist will answer it directly.
Ask usWho needs EN 13067 certification?
Any operative welding thermoplastics where a specification, utility or contract requires demonstrated competence — most commonly PE pipe jointing on water and wastewater mains, gas networks and industrial pipework.
What does the examination involve?
Candidates weld test assemblies under examination conditions in the relevant technique (electrofusion or butt fusion). Test pieces are then assessed — including destructive testing — against the standard’s acceptance criteria before certification is issued.
Do you certify both electrofusion and butt fusion?
Yes. Certification is technique- and material-specific, so operatives are examined and certified for each jointing method they perform. Many contractors certify crews in both.
Public information · EN ISO/IEC 17020 & 17024
Statements on certification
Metlab provides details of its certification activities without request — independence and impartiality safeguards, the certification process, the schemes we certify to, and downloadable accreditation certificates, scopes and procedures.
Training pathway
Certification pairs with EF training from Egeplast
Metlab certifies; Egeplast trains. The Uisce Éireann-endorsed Polyethylene Electrofusion Training course — developed with Egeplast, Metlab, the WWETB and Impact Training to I.S. EN 13067 — is where welders build the competence we then examine and certify.
Testing · Inspection · Certification
Need plastic welding certification?
Send the specification or describe the asset — a specialist replies with method, price and turnaround.