Who Approves Welding Certifications These Days? The EOR or Special Inspector

[structuralsteelhead]

Hello All,
Can anyone tell me what your policy is toward "approving"/reviewing welding certs. Do we/EOR's still do this when it's listed on the Special Inspection form as part of Special Inspections and they (Special Inspection Company) include this service within their scope and fees?
Thanks in advance for any response/opinions you may share,
SSH

 

[phamENG]

Depends on how the inspections are worked out. I believe some areas out there require a third party to be the SIOR, but where I practice the EOR can be the SIOR. We do Agent 1/Agent 2, with Agent 1 typically being the EOR and covers anything that doesn't require specialized equipment or tests. That includes verifying paperwork, ensuring rebar is where it's supposed to be, nailing patterns on sheathing, etc. The Agent 2 is the testing lab and does bearing capacity checks (geotechs own the testing labs around here), concrete samples, weld testing, etc.

So in that setup, Agent 1 would typically collect copies of the certs up front and then Agent 2 would spot check certs for welders if they're doing a continuous observation of a critical weld.

 

[structuralsteelhead]

Hey phamENG,
Yes, this would be in California, where special inspection are required for just about everything under the sun. They/Special Inspectors are 'definitely' independent third parties as a requirement. So, since special inspection are part of the project requirements, would you, as the EOR continue to include reviewing of welding certifications as service as part of your submittal review and say shop drawing stamp requirements or simply review the records of the special inspection reports to make sure the that special inspection agency has done their job and reviewed the certs?
Thanks again,
SSH

 

[phamENG]

If SI is required to be third party, then no - I would let the special inspector check them and then just see them as part of a routine SI record review when construction is complete.

But I'm not licensed in CA and the only work I've done there was for the federal government, which is it's own kind of special. So I'd advise confirming with somebody more familiar with the rules out there.

 

[structuralsteelhead]

Thanks for your input, phanENG,...I've worked on federal projects as well,....interesting construction observation/review process!