Welders

Approval of welding procedures and welders

An application standard or code of practice will include requirements or guidelines on material, design of joint, welding process, welding procedure, welder qualification and inspection or may invoke other standards, for example for welding procedure and welder approval tests. The manufacturer will normally be required to approve the welding procedure and welder qualification jointly with a competent and accredited third party. The difference between a welding procedure approval and a welder qualification test is as follows:

• The welding procedure approval test is carried out by a competent welder and the quality of the weld is assessed using visual, non-destructive and mechanical testing techniques following a prescribed standard. The intention is to demonstrate that the proposed welding procedure will produce a welded joint which will satisfy the specified requirements of weld quality and mechanical properties for the application.

• The Welder qualification test carried out with a qualified Welding Procedure to ensure that the welder’s skill is of acceptable level and any failure cannot be attributed to wrong procedure. It is important to carry out welder qualification test under controlled condition to replicate the conditions specified in the qualified WPS.

Welder/Welding Operator Qualification:

The intending organisation/individuals are recommended to go through the following points while approaching IIW-India for service.

• 1.Location of the concerned works where the welding is taking place and testing is to be witnessed with contact details
• 2.The total number of Welders/Welding Operators to be qualified (If already fixed, otherwise indicative)
• 3.Each welder has to fill-up an ‘Application Form 45’ with Photo duly identified by employer against his photo identity document like AADHAR etc. 
• 4.Applicable Standard/Code for Welder Qualification Test & Certification
• 5.Welding Process and Consumables
• 6.Joint Types and Parent Material Specification and thicknesses
• 7. (WPS & WPQR) Availability of ‘Qualified Welding Procedure’ for Welder Qualification test as applicable.
• 8.In case the above WPS and WPQR is not available, if assistance from IIW-India ANB is required in their preparation.
• 9.In case there is any special requirement related to application i.e. presence of dynamic loading, low or high temperature duty, corrosion resistance etc. and procedures like preheating, inter-pass temperature control & post weld heat treatment, these same may be specified.
• 10.Parent materials, consumables etc. must be having appropriate identification to ensure compliance to specification.
• 11.Welding Test Facility availability including infrastructure support (This must meet the required standard with respect to equipment quality and calibration, Welding testing shop illumination, ventilation and safety and protection for welders and others etc. A check list as per Form 50A will be used for ensuring the compliance.
• 12.Whether any pre-test theory input as per the standard is required followed by test including general safety.
• 13.Non Destructive and mechanical testing facilities (NDT & DT) preferably accredited by NABL for welding testing. Otherwise IIW-India ANB may make an audit of the facilities following Form No 50B and will also include availability of duly qualified competent NDT & DT personnel to conduct required tests. This service may be outsourced to a NABL accredited Laboratory.
• 14.In case of a fabrication shop with many types of parent materials, joint types, welding positions, different welding processes etc. at the request of the customer we may also carry out an Welding Process audit to assist shortlisting the number of test coupons that may have to be welded for certification taking into account the allowed range of qualification as specified in the standard. This may reduce cost of certification.
• 15.We shall formally intimate the name of the technical person/Authorised Examiner/Assessor assigned by IIW-India ANB for your acceptance in advance.
• 16.Our assessor will be in contact with your authorised nominated technical person for all liaison work on technical matters. It helps if such person is a qualified Welding Coordinator (IWE, IWT or IWS)
• 17.Once the technical issues are sorted out we shall submit our technically and commercially clear offer to enable placement of Order following current GST procedure and settlement of payment issues.
• 18.The actual welding testing schedule will be fixed in advance for mutual convenience.
• 19.The actual welding parameters and other relevant details for certification are to be duly recorded in Form 51A or Form 51B tailored to suit by IIW-India Examiner/Assessor duly countersigned by the welder and witnessed by the nominated representative of the sponsoring organisation
• 20.In case of individual applicants, once the applications are received and all technical requirements are clarified the actual Welding Testing will be carried out in a pre-approved welding test centre and also lab testing similarly done in an NABL accredited centre following settlement of all commercial issues.
• 21.Welder Qualification Certificates duly authorised by IIW-India ANB (Certification Body accredited under ISO 17024) will be issued after all the test results are available and agreed commercial conditions complied.
• 22.All welders Qualification Certificates require revalidation and renewal at specified intervals. It is advisable to do so prior to the expiry of those dates.

WELDER CERTIFICATION DOWNLOADS LINKS

S.no	Documents	Click link below
1	IIW-India ANB Brochure Welder Approval Aug 2017
2	Application Form For Welder Certification: Form 45A r2 March 19
3	Welding Testing Centre Evaluation & Approval Form 50A r4 March 19
4	Weld Testing Laboratory Approval Form 50B r3 March19
5	Welding Test Record Fillet Form 51A r2 March 19
6	Welding Test Record Butt Plate/Pipe Form 51B r2 March 19