ASME SectionIX QW-304

[Weld1985]

Is he certified??
Per QW-304
Alternatively, welders may be qualified by volumetric NDE QW-191 when making a groove weld using SMAW, SAW, GTAW, PAW, and GMAW (except short circuiting mode for radiographic examination) or a combination of these processes.

6" SCH 40 pipe
Root pass - GMAW-S (Short circuit)
Cover pass - GMAW-P (Pulse)

The part I'm hung up on is it obviously says NO for short circuit ..BUT.. it also says OR a combinations of these processes. So does that mean you can't certify with RT if there's short circuit involved at all? Or is it allowed because it's a combination of processes.

 

[DVWE]

I would say he can be qualified via RT for the pulse portion only.

The devil is in the details; she also wears prada.

 

[DekDee]

Weld1985,
.....or a combination of these processes is, IMHO addressing GTAW/SMAW, SMAW/SAW,GMAW/SAW etc.
The difficulties in identifying lack of fusion via radiography in SC welds is the reason this clause is installed.
I have never heard of SC being used for anything other than root runs so GMAW-S/ SMAW, GMAW-S / FCAW, GMAW-S / SAW or GMAW-S / GMAW-P all fall under the No radiography requirement.

This is not related to radiography but does note the LoF concerns of GMAW-S.

Welding Procedure (QW-200) Changes
The biggest change in this edition is the following: When using GMAW in the short-circuiting
transfer mode, the qualification limit of 1.1 times the base metal and 1.1 times the weld deposit
thickness was removed. These limits were imposed decades ago because GMAW in the short-circuiting transfer mode is notorious for having lack-of-fusion flaws, and that likelihood of getting such flaws increases as thickness increases. The committee belatedly recognized that the committee’s criteria for designating a variable as essential is that changing it has to affect the mechanical properties
of the weld -- and the 1.1 times the thickness limitation is about soundness, not mechanical properties. (QW-403.10 is still in QW-400, but it is no longer referenced in QW-255, so it no longer applies. It will be deleted in the next edition.)
On the other hand, qualifying welders is about depositing sound weld metal, so welders will remain
limited to 1.1 times the thickness of weld metal they deposit in their test coupons when using
GMAW in the short-circuiting transfer mode.

 

[MUHAMMAD FAHAD RANA]

Agree with DekDee,

Weld1985, Go for Ultrasonic Test for GMAW Qualification.

 

[DVWE]

Weld1985, Go for Ultrasonic Test for GMAW Qualification.

Edit… Agree.