Base Metal Qualification ( Piping vs Structural Steel )

[kany]

Dear All,

We have a WPS which is qualified for P1 Group 1&2 to P1 Group 1&2. A333 Gr6 to A350 LF2. PQR is impact tested. Now we have to weld P355 NL1 material on a stack ( S355 NL ). But these materials are unassigned as per ASME Section IX. I searched the web and found out that both materials are P1 GR 2. Can I weld structural steel material to structural steel material by using this WPS or do i have to prepare new test coupons from these two materials? Our QC Manager told that you cant add structural steel material and tubing material at the same time on the same WPS. Then what code should I use for qualifying these unassigned base materials?

I am really stuck!

 

[Mr168]

Two issues:

1) Does your contract/owner agreement permit use of ASME procedures to be used in lieu of AWS procedures (or whatever code your structural steel is governed by)? If so, then your QC Manager's statement is incorrect.

2) As-is, no, you can not use an ASME procedure qualified for P1 materials to weld unassigned base metals, unless those materials are dual-certified as a listed grade. You can either qualify new procedures per the base material groupings in QW-424, or go the grey area route of having a deviation approved by the owner and engineer of record. I have used the latter approach a few times where a given material could be safely welded using an existing procedure, but the material was unobtainable within the necessary time frame.

 

[kany]

Not permitted. For structural we are following AWS procedures. As i understood, welders and PQRs shall be qualified as per AWS procedures. ASME Section IX doesnt work , right?

Thanks for your kind response

 

[stanweld]

kany,
It really depends on the Customer's contract specifications and Juridictional requirements.

We often use our ASME IX qualified procedures in lieu of AWS procedures when the Jurisdiction does not mandate AWS D1.1 and the Customer consents. Examination of the welds is per AWS D1.1.

 

[DVWE]

We often use our ASME IX qualified procedures in lieu of AWS procedures when the Jurisdiction does not mandate AWS D1.1 and the Customer consents. Examination of the welds is per AWS D1.1.

We often do the same.

 

[qcrobert]

We also often use our ASME IX qualified procedures in lieu of AWS procedures when consent is granted by the EOR.

Such variance has always been granted by EOR by accepting ASME Sec IX WPQs in liew of stated AWS D1.1 WPQs.