Hello Chris;
B31.3 is a construction code that provides the contractor with design, materials, fabrication, and inspection requirements and criteria for process piping. Other construction codes address other types of construction: Section I - Boilers, Section III - Nuclear, Section VIII - Unfired pressure vessels, B31.1 -power piping, etc. They are not a "how to" standards in that they do not define "how" something is to be done.
A while back a welder asked a question about how an intregrally reinforced branch fitting (weld-o-let/thread-o-let) is to be welded. He questioned why the code doesn't tell the welder how to weld the fitting. The short answer is that the ASME codes do not tell the contractor "how to " do anything.
Back to your question: The specific technique to be used when welding a test coupon is specified by the Contractor's WPS. This is one reason why ASME welder qualifications are not transferable from one contractor to another. Each contractor is obligated to test his employees using their own qualified WPS.
The WPS is qualified following the requirements contained in ASME Section IX. Welding progression is an essential variable for welder qualification. If the WPS indicates the progression is vertical uphill, the welder is qualified for that progression. If the welder is qualified using vertical downhill progression, he is only qualified for downhill progression. Which progression is to be used is at the discression of the contractor.
Under the auspices of the ASME codes, the contractor is responsible for the qualifications of their own welders. The qualification is not transferable and the contractor cannot accept welder qualifications issued by other contractors. About now someone is going to pipe in and say I'm wrong, and I will not disagree. The circumstances where a contractor can accept the qualifications issued by an "association" or "organization" requires both contractors to be present for the test and both contractors have to examine the test and accept the test results. It is a special case.
The welder performance test report issued by a school, lab, or an AWS ATF when they test a welder in accordance with ASME Section IX is not transferable to and cannot be accepted by a contractor unless a company representative was present for the test and the representative examines the coupon and the test results. ASME is pretty clear that the contractor's representative is one of the contractor's employees. Unlike the performance of NDT, the function of testing the welder is not something that can be subcontracted. The following is an excerpt from ASME Section IX.
QW-300.2
(a) The basic premises of responsibility in regard to
welding are contained within QW-103 and QW-301.2.
These paragraphs require that each manufacturer or contractor
(an assembler or an installer is to be included
within this premise) shall be responsible for conducting
tests to qualify the performance of welders and welding
operators in accordance with qualified Welding Procedure
Specifications, which his organization employs in the
construction of weldments built in accordance with the
Code. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that
the manufacturer or contractor has determined that his
welders and welding operators using his procedures are
capable of developing the minimum requirements specified
for an acceptable weldment. This responsibility cannot
be delegated to another organization.
The last sentence says it all.
Best regards - Al