Q: Requirements for PWHT personnel qualifications

[leanne]

I've been searching the Codes for an answer to this. I have a requirement in my PWHT procedure (developed by my predecessor) for documentation of PWHT personnel qualifications. I have not been able to find this requirement in the Codes. Am I just overlooking it? If so, can someone kindly point me to the specific code requirement? Many thanks!

 

[Hush]

Sounds more like a quality assurance requirement. I.E. ISO 9000, API Q1, etc. which will state something to the effect that personnel performing tasks which can affect quality must be qualified to perform that task.

 

[leanne]

Yes, training & qualified personnel is covered in the ISO 9001 standard (element 18 of the 1994 version & section 6.2 of the 2000 version). My company is not ISO registered & has no current plans to get registered. I am not familiar with API Q1. API 1104, yes. API Q1, no.

Let me clarify a bit more. We outsource PWHT operations. I have a requirement for qualification paperwork for NDE/NDT personnel - this is understandable & traceable to the code as well as to my clients' turnover package requirements. My predecessor also included this requirement for PWHT personnel in our PWHT procedure.

For example in B31.3 (1999), there are requirements in section VI referring to ASME's BPV code section V & in 342.1 requiring certified records of personnel qualifications for NDE/NDT training/qualification (referring to ASNT SNT-TC-1A). In section V of this same standard, under 331 (HT), there are no requirements for personnel qualifications that I've been able to find.

Specifically, is there a code-based requirement for my company to require records of my subcontractors' personnel training in PWHT processes? I hope my question is better framed this time.

Thanks!

 

[Hush]

I'm guessing, but this might be the catch. There is no requirement to meet the code unless specified by the legal jurisdiction you are in. That same jurisdiction likely also specifies you have some form of quality system in place. So even though qualification of PWHT personnel & PWHT equipment is not specified by the code it may still be a legal requirement in your jurisdiction. At any rate from a litigous standpoint not a bad idea.

 

[GRoberts]

If there isn't a code that addresses qualification of heat treatment personell, to what standard would they be qualfied. Who would grant the qualification? Usually, where a requirement for personell qualification is called out, the qualification requirements are spelled out. Is there a governing body who qualifies these people? We do quite a bit of heat treatment where I work so if any one knows, I would be interested in your answer also.

GRoberts