Welder Qualification
Welder Qualification
(OP)
Dear All,
As per QW-423.1 does a Welder qualify to make the production welds with P-8 material who is actually qualified with P-1 material while performing the qualification test ? Kindly explain.
As per QW-423.1 does a Welder qualify to make the production welds with P-8 material who is actually qualified with P-1 material while performing the qualification test ? Kindly explain.





RE: Welder Qualification
RE: Welder Qualification
do you mean to say that a welder can weld P8 Material having welder qualification with P1 material, with same filler used in qualification??
RE: Welder Qualification
RE: Welder Qualification
F-number: categories of filler metals
A-number: categories of weld chemistries
Welding process, position, weld type, P-number, F-number, etc. are essential variables when qualifying the welder. One must study Section IX to determine what ranges (for each essential variable) the welder is qualified to use in production.
If the welder is qualified using a P1 base metal, he is qualified to weld a wide range of base metals including P-1, P-8, P-40, etc.
If the welder is qualified using an F6 filler metal he is qualified to weld with any F6 filler metal provided it does not involve a change in welding process. All of this assumes the contractor has qualified WPSs to cover the ranges for which the welder is qualified.
Best regards - Al
RE: Welder Qualification
Just a hypothetical for your thoughts.
Welder who qualifies on P1 material (F6) is then qualified to weld P8 material(F6).
Addition of purge (inert backing gas) for welding the P8 - no problem.
Welder who qualifies on P8 material (F6) is then qualified to weld P1 material(F6).
Deletion of purge (inert backing gas) for welding the P1 is an essential variable.
So, a welder qualified on P8 can only weld P1 if it has inert backing gas.
Your thoughts ?,
Cheers,
DD
RE: Welder Qualification
RE: Welder Qualification
The welder qualification range is much wider than the welding procedure range - as mentioned above one is related to the welders ability and the other to the chemical / metallurgical properties of the resultant weld.
A welder can only use the qualifications he has if the company has WPS's to support those qualifications.
Your question is very strange because you are asking why a welder qualified on F4 (SMAW)cannot weld a WPS qualified with F6 (GTAW) - probably because they are different processes.
Regards,
DD
RE: Welder Qualification
The essential variables that apply to the welder are not the same a those that apply to the WPS and supporting PQR. Regardless of the welder's qualifications, he must follow a qualified WPS in order for a weld to meet ASME requirements.
Best regards - Al
RE: Welder Qualification
Using F6 filler metal with the GTAW process, yes, correct. For many high pressure boiler tubes and piping of carbon steel, use of the GTAW process requires backing gas to pull a quality root.
RE: Welder Qualification
For the discussion, some of you might enjoy the ASME (freely distributed) White Paper on "Auditing of Welding Under ASME Section IX", which provides useful insight on some of the subjects discussed here (or just go to the Sect IX subsection page and look at the left).
Regards
RE: Welder Qualification
Thank you for your response.
The issue came from an arguement I had with a colleague regarding the use of "As required" or "with / without" on a Welder Qualification certificate in the space for Inert Gas in the "Qualified for" column.
If it was a P8 qualification then "As required" (IMHO) is not acceptable as again in my opinion that is based on does the WPS require it ?
Maybe I am making a big deal over nothing but I have reviewed hundreds of welder quals over the years with the two statements above noted and I have never ever seen anything noting purge required for P1.
As it never affected the particular project I was on I never made any comments about it.
Cheers,
DD
RE: Welder Qualification