AWS D1.3 welding procedure

[cjevans]

I'm looking to set up a universal welding procedure for my company and I'm confused on which test would give my guys the broadest range of qualification. My guys use a fillet weld with a T-joint.. We mainly weld a 12-16 ga. galvanized sheet steel clip to a 1/4"-5/8" steel embed plate.. My company installs light gauge trusses to structural steel. I want to set up a test that can be issued out in the field. What would be the best procedure to set up??

If I set up a test for my guys to weld a 12 ga galvanized clip to a 5/8" steel embed plate would that qualify them to weld a 16 ga galvanized clip to a 5/8" embed plate? Would that test also qualify them to be able to weld a 12 ga. galvanized clip to a 1/4" embed plate??

Thanks,
C.J.

 

[tbuelna]

Don't confuse a welder being qualified to perform a specific process with general qualification standards for welders.

One way of ensuring consistent, repeatable quality from a weld joint in a standard fitting is to use a controlled process and welders qualified to perform the specific task. The reason for using a controlled process and qualified operators to perform a task is so that the inspection required of each finished weld is minimal. By definition, the fact that the weld was produced using a controlled process and qualified operators means that the weld joint should be of high quality.

But to establish a consistent level of quality based on using a controlled process, your welders must be qualified for that specific process, rather than being qualified to a more general welding process.

 

[cjevans]

I understand I should use a controlled process to maintain a consistent level of quality.. My issue is that these test will be issued out at job sites and the material we will test on always varies in sizes.. I want to be able to order a certain thickness of the materials to carry around and issue the test with. I'm looking to order a 1/2" steel embed plate and some 14 ga. sheet steel...If a person was able to weld that 14 ga. sheet steel to a 1/2" embed plate would they be qualified to weld any gauge thicker than that (12,10, etc.) or would he be qualified to weld anything thinner than that (16,18,20 etc.)???

 

[gtaw]

You are in a quandary. The sheet metal code only covers materials 3/16 inch thick or less. The structural welding code covers 1/8 inch and thicker.

I would test the welders per D1.3 using both the thinnest sheet expected and the thicker sheet to cover the range permitted by D1.3. Then I would test the welders using 1/2 inch thick plate to cover fillet welds on structural materials thicker than 1/8 inch. Now, to cover all your bases, I would administer a fillet weld test using one 1/2 inch thick plate and a sheet with the thickness that would cover the typical range of thicknesses you expect to use in the field.

The codes do not cover every possible situation that may be encountered by the contractor. They address typical conditions that are frequently encountered during production. The contractor must meet the minimum requirements included by the appropriate welding standard and take what ever additional actions that are prudent to ensure the product delivered to the customer is safe and meets the service requirements specified by th customer.


Best regards - Al