Production Welding Before WPS is Qualified - AS/NZS 1554.1:2014

Is it normal for a welding code to allow production welding to start BEFORE a PQR is run? Once the procedure is qualified then it covers the welds already welded, is that a normal provision in a code for PQR & WPS's? It is in AS/NZS 1554.1 - 2014 with no time limit on how long you can run production welds before the WPS must be qualified. Yet in another location it says you must qualify prior to production welding.

Fabricators will tend to take advantage if there are anomalies. What is the norm here?

 

[Ron]

Not that familiar with AS/NZS standards but they are generally pretty good. The presumption is always that a PQR would be done before production welding. They are not to be applied retroactively. Makes no sense to do so.


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[InspectorClouseau]

Thanks Ron

Perhaps take a look at 4.2 (c) & 4.7.3.

There is no time limit on these provisions. Should we make it the very last weld on the project? Some would try I am sure.