Are you a compressed air system know-it-all? Or do you want to become one? Now is your chance to build your body of knowledge about compressed air systems and have a way to prove you have the “right stuff.”
Recently, the Compressed Air and Gas Institute (CAGI) announced recognition programs for Certified Compressed Air System Specialists and Certified Compressed Air Assessors. Previously, there were only a handful of compressed air system courses those working in the industry could take to increase their knowledge, and no certification levels, other than the Certified AirMaster+ program.
Now, if a newbie in the industry wants to build their knowledge as they gain experience working in the field, they can attend some prescribed courses, study important compressed air reference materials and standards, then sit for an examination.
CAGI describes the Certified Compressed Air System Specialist as follows:
“Certified Compressed Air System Specialist (CCASS) CAGI’s personnel certification program for compressed air system specialists provides a means of verifying the capabilities of professionals in the compressed air systems industry. The program will allow customers, utilities, employers, and others to have confidence in the skills and abilities of the professionals in the industry who design, service, sell, and install compressed air systems and compressed air systems equipment. The program has been designed to comply with the ISO 17024 standard, Conformity Assessment — General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons.”
The description for the Certified Compressed Air System Assessor course:
“CAGI’s personnel certification program for compressed air system assessors (practitioners who perform assessments or “audits” of compressed air systems) provides a means of verifying an assessor’s understanding of and ability to apply the ANSI/ASME EA-4 and ISO 11011 standards. The program complies with the ISO 17024 standard, Conformity Assessment – General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons. The exam assesses an individual’s understanding of well accepted standards and concepts embodied in resource material.”
Resource material that a prospective candidate for the certifications need to be familiar with to pass the examination (from CAGI website):
Resource Material Body of Knowledge: Sources for CAGI Certified Compressed Air System Specialist (CCASS) Exam
- CAGI Compressed Air and Gas Handbook
- DOE Compressed Air Sourcebook
- CAGI Website
- Compressed Air Challenge Website
- CAC Best Practices Manual
- CAGI Air Compressor Selection and Application 1/4 hp through 30 hp EASA Electrical Engineering Pocket Handbook
The following materials are excellent resources for information about compressed air and compressed air systems.
- CAGI E-learning Program
- CAC Level 1 Training
- CAC Level 2 Training
Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA) for CCASS
- CCASS KSA Explanatory Document Body of Knowledge: Sources for CAGI Certified Compressed Air System Assessor (CCASA) Exam
- ANSI/ASME EA-4, Energy Assessment for Compressed Air Systems
- EA-4G, Guidance for ASME EA-4, Energy Assessment for Compressed Air Systems [ANSI Designation: ASME TR EA-4G]
The following materials are excellent resources of information about compressed air system assessments and related concepts.
- ISO 11011, Compressed Air — Energy Efficiency — Assessment
- CEE Compressed Air Systems Audit Specification
This is a welcome change to the industry and an opportunity those in the compressed air industry should not pass up. You have the knowledge, prove it to yourself and your customers!
For more information about these programs and for live links to the reference materials go to the CAGI website.
