Draft:German Cathodic Corrosion Protection Association

= Fachverband Kathodischer Korrosionsschutz (German Cathodic Corrosion Protection Association) = The Fachverband Kathodischer Korrosionsschutz e.V. (fkks) or German Cathodic Corrosion Protection Association is a German Professional Association for Cathodic Protection specialists. Through its work, it represents the interests of cathodic protection specialists. It publishes papers in English and German. The governance of the association is by the General Assembly, the Executive Board and the Management.

An Advisory Board was initiated in 2011. The advisory board is subdivided into the four specialist application sectors: installations in soils, offshore, steel in concrete and internal surfaces.

The Advisory Board provides technical advice to the Executive Board, participating in the preparation or revision of national and international standards and regulations. It also  represents the interests of the members of fkks in technical committees, developing technical standards and initiating and coordinating research projects. The preparation of sector-specific training plans as well as the implementation of training courses for professionals and sector-specific events is determined by the Advisory Board.

The association is a registered member of other professional bodies such as DVGW (The German Gas and Water Association), EFC (European Federation of Corrosion).

It is based in Esslingen am Neckar in Germany and is a not-for-profit association.

Role
Fkks acts as a professional organization through which its members interact with international organizations that prepare standards, technical guidance, and research activities.

Guidance rules developed and published by the association include:. An annual forum has presentations on state-of-the-art topics by cathodic protection specialists. Work groups are created to deal with specific topics associated with cathodic protection and electrical interference. Fkks nominates subject matter experts to DIN (German Standards Institute) to participate in European (CEN) and International Standards (ISO).

The transfer of knowledge takes place through the Fachverband Kathodischer Korrosionsschutz Service GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of the association. Under the name fkks wissenstransfer, sector-specific training courses, specialist events, workshops and exchanges of experience are provided.

Through fkks cert gmbh, accredited certification schemes in the field of cathodic corrosion protection are provided. The services of fkks cert gmbh are open to all interested professionals.

The portfolio of fkks cert gmbh includes the certification of qualified persons, or experts as well as of specialised companies.

Vocational training and certification activities are provided to members and non-members.

History
The association was founded and registered in 1964 as an independent technical-scientific professional association.

Certifications
Through fkks cert gmbh, a technically and economically independent 100% subsidiary, exclusively accredited certification schemes in the field of cathodic corrosion protection are offered in the sense of holistic task performance. The services of fkks cert gmbh are open to all interested professionals.

The portfolio of fkks cert gmbh includes the certification of qualified persons, of experts as well as of specialised companies.

Honours / Kuhn Medal of Honour®
Since 1970, the fkks has awarded the Kuhn Medal of Honour®, which it endows to deserving pioneers of cathodic protection for their life's work.

R. J. Kuhn, helped to bring about the breakthrough of cathodic protection of pipelines around 1928. In 1928. He is is regarded as the founder of the protection potential criterion for CP on buried pipelines, which is still valid today.

In 1958, he received the Frank Newman Speller Award from the AMPP (formerly NACE, National Association of Corrosion Engineers).

Future
New materials, extending the life of existing structures and electrical interference from railways, power lines, windfarms, solar farms and high voltage DC power sharing will all affect buried metal structures.