QW-193.2 qualification and continuity requirements

[Beau18]

Hello, everyone. I’m looking for some clarification regarding QW-193.2. I am currently developing mockups for welder qualification to QW-193.2 per customer requirements. My question is, once my welders have successfully fulfilled the requirements of QW-193, is there any requirement for maintaining this qualification?

QW-322.1 states
“The qualification of a welder or welding operator for a process remains valid provided no more than 6 months have passed since the welder or welding operator last used that process.”

Does this mean that a standard GTAW weld within every 6 months will keep their QW-193.2 qualification valid, or is there a requirement to make tube welds within that 6 months?

QW-193.2(c) states “Only one mockup weld is required to renew a welder’s or welding operator’s qualification when that qualification has expired or has been revoked per the requirements of QW-322.” However, this does not address continuity.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[goutam_freelance]

If within welder's qualification period he makes a welding today and does not make any further welding of that particular process hereinafter, his qualification for that particular process will remain valid for 6 months from today.

This is independent of any qualification he may be having for any other welding process.

There is no continuity of qualification as a long period of inactivity results in the loss of the welder's skill.

 

[Beau18]

If within welder's qualification period he makes a welding today and does not make any further welding of that particular process hereinafter, his qualification for that particular process will remain valid for 6 months from today.

This is independent of any qualification he may be having for any other welding process.

There is no continuity of qualification as a long period of inactivity results in the loss of the welder's skill.

Thank you for the response. I understand the 6 month requirement. What I’m uncertain on is whether tube/tubesheet weld qualification per QW-193 require welds on tubes to be documented for continuity, similar to other processes.

For example, a welder who has passed the mockup requirements per QW-193, welds tube to tube sheet joints using GTAW on January 1st. The same welder welds other GTAW joints almost daily (but not tube/tube sheet joints). Then, on August 1st (7 months later), we have another tube to tube sheet project that needs welded. Did this welder maintain his qualification per QW-193.2 since he has welded other GTAW joints, or has he passed his 6 month continuity requirement?

 

[goutam_freelance]

Please refer QW-322,1 (a).
The qualification refers to a certain welding process. He must weld to that process to remain qualified.

Regarding the welding process, refer QW-300.1, partly quoted below:

The welder qualification is limited by the essential variables given for each welding process. These variables are listed in QW-350, and are defined in Article IV Welding Data. The welding operator qualification is limited by the essential variables given in QW-360 for each type of weld.

So you need to check the essential variables of the tube-tubesheet and other GTAW joints the welder has produced.

Referring to QW-402.20, a change in joint configuration should require a separate qualification.