Repairing Welder Qualifications

[wontweldcantweld]

Hi all,

I'm looking for guidance to whether a Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) can be repaired?

I've had a look through AWS D1.1 and ASME IX, and I can't see anywhere this is strictly prohibited.

We have had a welder fail RT on a full penetration BW, due to a single enlarged gas pore - looking at the graphs, the pore is near the surface due its proximity to the bevel, so would be a rather simple excavation, which our WPS permits.

I've had mixed reactions, with some saying this 'goes against the intent' of doing a WPQ, but others also arguing that the ability to demonstrate repair would be just as, if not more challenging, than performing the original WPQ itself.

My interpretation is that I would expect the welder to repair the weld in-situ if they came across the defect, so how is this any different? Alternatively, rather than going down the volumetric NDE method permitted by QW-143, I could revert back and just perform mechanical testing per QW-141, so x 2 bends instead.

Please let me know your thoughts!

 

[EdStainless]

I have been there and still don't have a clear view of this.
I have my personal opinion, but I can't quote chapter and verse to support it.
We used a case like this for two purposes.
We did make a repair on it and qualified our repair procedure.
But we also made the welded re-weld for the WPQ.
But my client was really particular.

 

[weldstan]

I've never permitted it for either my company welders or welders from other suppliers/contractors under my company's control. For first production weld welder qualification, repairs were made by qualified welders.

 

[DekDee]

I agree with both Ed Stainless and Weldstans comments.
I have been in both camps before.
I would never allow a weld repair on a completed weld but I have allowed weld repairs on "in progress" welder qualifications.
Eg. If a welder has "missed an edge" on the root run I will allow them to repair - must be excavated from the outside only.
This only applies if they have identified the defect themselves.
Once they have completed the weld and walked away any defects identified result in a failed test.