SWPS Inquiry

[JMartz]

Hello,

I am looking at purchasing B2.1-8-212: 2001 Standard Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding of Austenitic Stainless Steel (M-8/P-8/S-8, Group 1), 1?16 through 1-1?2 inch Thick, ER3XX, As-Welded Condition, Primarily Pipe Applications to qualify manual welders and semi-automatic (orbital) operators. However, before I do so, I was hoping someone could clarify if autogenous (fusion) SWPSs were present in this standard? If not, could someone point me towards such a standard - if it exist. Thank you for your time.

 

[Eddycurrentguy]

Best bet is to call AWS bookstore customer service [888-WELDING]
and ask for an abstract. They might be able to assist you directly as well.

 

[fegenbush]

I assume that you are looking at a thin material butt joint similar to that used for sanitary tube welding. With that in mind, you would be limited to no more than 1/16" +/- 1/32" thickness, as the joint designs in the procedure would require a double V groove (or similar) beyond that thickness.

The standard does not make explicit mention of autogeneous welding, but that does not mean it is not applicable.

 

[JMartz]

I called AWS and eventually spoke with a guy in Technical. He looked through B2.1-8-212 and told me that all of the prequalified joints called out (I believe he said there were 7 total) required ER3XX filler. He suggest I look into NCPWB as they were the only other organization that established SWPS, to his knowledge. I am not a member of their organization, but was able to find the list of SWPS on their site, including SWPSs for manual and orbital autogenous GTA welds of P8 base metals. Link is here

http://www.mcaa.org/ncpwb/wpss.cfm.

I can't seem to get much more information about the SWPSs unless I become a member of theis organization (understandable), but what is the take on using an SWPS if it is not explicitly developed by ASME/AWS? I do not know if they are developed in accordance to ASME/AWS, but I would assume they would be. Thoughts anyone?

 

[fegenbush]

There does exist the possibility of developing your own weld procedure. It's not terribly expensive to do so and you will end up with the exact procedure that you require instead of trying to make something else fit.