SAW Qualifications 1

[cyoungs]

In order to qualify a welding operator for SAW under AWS D1.1., is there a provision that allows the use of an ASME weld procedure as a guide to weld a test plate and then RT to AWS D1.1 in order to qualify the welder to AWS D1.1?

 

[Mr168]

Yes, you can qualify a welding operator to D1.1 by testing in accordance with an ASME WPS. You are not restricted in the "General" clause under the Performance Qualification section of D1.1 to an AWS-specific procedure.

 

[Mr168]

As a side note, you do need to adhere to the "Preparation of Performance Qualification Forms" section (4.21 in my 2000 Edition), which ties you to the essential variables of table 4.7 for the WPS used, which complicates matters some. AWS doesn't do a particularly stellar job of addressing the intent of this paragraph. See interp D1.1-08-I07.

 

[gtaw]

WPSs qualified to another standard (not D1.1) are acceptable provided the Engineer (the Owner's representative) approves the use of the WPS qualified to the alternate standard.

If the Engineer approved the use of the WPS qualified to an alternate welding standard, that WPS can be used to qualify the welder.

If the Engineer does not approve of the WPS qualified to an alternate welding standard, all bets are off and the welder cannot be qualified to that WPS.


Best regards - Al