I am a welding instructor and CWI in Wisconsin. I deal almost exclusively with D1.1 and ASME section IX. I am helping a local company train welders to pass D1.3 qualifications on 2mm sheet steel using vertical down tee joints and vertical down flare bevel joints using GMAW ER70S-6 and SG-AC-13 (Strange gas I know, but that's what they use). They are doing a "boot camp" for prospective employees that includes two weeks of welding and print reading training. After we train them, the companies CWI's will qualify them. I am somewhat familiar with D1.3 as I have read it several times in the last month, but I don't use it much at all and i don't understand something. Here is my question:
The company's CWI is telling these guys that on the fillet weld break test, the weld can not fracture at all. He says that the base metal must fracture completely around the weld and if the weld breaks at any point the welder fails the qualification. I questioned him on this as D1.3 section 4.6.2.2 (c) reads:
"After visual inspection of acceptable welds, the two pieces shall be completely separated by either bending the sheets or hammering a wedge until either weld or sheet metal fails." (d) "The fractured surface shall show complete fusion at the root of the joint."
I interpret this as saying that if the weld breaks down the middle it is still acceptable as long as there is complete fusion at the root. I realize that a company can have a higher standard than the code, but they are saying that this is what the code means. Is this accurate?
Hopefully someone is more familiar with D1.3 than I am. Thanks for the help.
By Lawrence
Date 11-12-2011 16:43
Edited 11-12-2011 16:46
Jeremiah!
Hey It's Larry from BTC. Sure was good to see you at MATC for the Section meeting last month.
I agree with your thoughts.
The fillet break test is looking for fusion at the root, period.
However, I would suspect that a 2mm (.078" or 14ga) fillet on a tee joint might just bend over itself most of the time, rather than break anyhow, so get some wedges :)
Is the SG-AC-13 the same as Argon 87/ Co2 13 ?
Good luck convincing them!!!!!!!
I don't use D1.3 either, but I would agree with your interpretation.
While I don't use it a lot either, especially for testing welders to, I also agree with that interpretation. Though, as stated, a company can make it's own call. But don't do it and says the Codes says so if it doesn't.
Have a Great Day, Brent
My thoughts EXACTLY! Do what ever you want but then don't say you've adopted D1.3. I had the same problem when I was testing welders to D1.1 for a company and the foreman said I couldn't test a certain welders weld because it failed visual inspection as a result of excessive spatter. He got really mad when I told him that was not in D1.1. I think it's fine if a company has different standards, but don't say you are following D1.1 code! Sorry, now I'm ranting.
All code requirements define the minimum acceptance criteria.
Any company can choose to exceed these criteria due to person al or customer's requirements, and often do.
Tim
Larry! How funny is that! I'm glad you responded. Yes, 87% Argon 13% Co2. Good call on the thickness. We are using a couple different thicknesses. As I type this I am at my shop and I just sheared up a bunch of 1/8" for the tee joint tests. 2mm is used mostly for the flare bevels but I bend them 180° onto them selves before they are welded so I can use the same test rig as the tee joints (I don't know if that makes sense or not!)
Anyway, I have found that there is nothing harder that working with a company that is determined that they are right even when they are not. It becomes very touchy when you tell your customer they are wrong. After all they've been doing it this way for 20 years. Anyway, at least they err the overkill side I guess. Thanks for your input Larry! I really respect your opinion. - JJ