ASME Sec IX welder qualification

[vipereng]

I'm currently qualifying welders to welder procedure with the following variables

-A-516 70 (P1) (1/2" thk plate)
-SMAW (F4)
-3 postions (2G / 3G / 4G)

I plan on testing the welders on a 12" pc of plate. There will be approx. 3.5 inches of each position.

No where in the code can I find how much length of each position is required if the NDE method is volumetric.

I see in QW-302.2 that 6 in (150mm) is required per process, but not position.

How much lenght of weld is requried in each position when Volumetic NDE is performed on welder qualification test.

thanks in advance..

 

[DVWE]

Why on earth would you do it that way?

You're not doing your welders any favors by asking them to weld 3.5" in 3 different positions and putting a bunch of starts and stops in the test coupon.

Are you really losing time and money by giving them 3 separate coupons?

 

[DekDee]

QW-302.2 Volumetric NDE. When the welder or
welding operator is qualified by volumetric NDE, as permitted
in QW-304 for welders and QW-305 for welding
operators, the minimum length of coupon(s) to be examined
shall be 6 in. (150 mm) and shall include the entire
weld circumference for pipe(s), except that for small diameter
pipe, multiple coupons of the same diameter pipe
may be required, but the number need not exceed four
consecutively made test coupons. The examination technique
and acceptance criteria shall be in accordance with
QW-191.

QW-304.1 Examination. Welds made in test coupons
for performance qualification may be examined by visual
and mechanical examinations (QW-302.1, QW-302.4) or
by volumetric NDE (QW-302.2) for the process(es) and
mode of arc transfer specified in QW-304. Alternatively,
a minimum 6 in. (150 mm) length of the first production
weld(s) made by a welder using the process(es) and/or
mode of arc transfer specified in QW-304 may be examined
by volumetric NDE.
(a)For pipe(s) welded in the 5G, 6G, or special positions,
the entire production weld circumference made
by the welder shall be examined.

IMHO, 150 mm minimum per position is required.
If you took the production weld option you would require 150 mm for 2G, 3G & 4G so why would qualification on a test coupon be any different ?

 

[vipereng]

thanks for the info.. I agree, It's kind of a grey area, nothing specifically states the amount / length of positon is required.
I've had the same Authorized inspector for 5 years, in which he has accepted this type of welder qualification coupon. (btw, the Level II RT tech doesn't look at approx. 1 inch between the position).
I've probably tested 300 welders this way in the last 5 years.. Only one or 2 failures to date.
It's sounding like an AI interpretation thing.

Thanks again..

 

[DekDee]

vipereng,
I think it is totally wrong what you are doing and if you have got away with it 300 odd times then you can be thankful you have an AI who doesn't have a clue.
So you take a 12" coupon - 1" either end is never included in the interpretation (unless you have run on/run off tabs) so you are now down to 10".
1" between each position is not interpreted so you are now down to 8" of weld.
Divided by three and you have a little over 2 1/2" per position ?????

So if a welder came into your workshop and was only competent in vertical up work would you make his test piece 6" long or 2.6" long ?

 

[Don56]

As DekDee provided QW-302.2 states you need 6" of weld per qualification. Each position is a qualification.