Welder Qualification by F-number

By 803056

Date 11-13-2013 20:40

What code and no.

Al

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 11-13-2013 20:44 Edited 11-13-2013 20:47

In my experience... Operator limitions via "F group" are tied to SMAW

But that is speaking to AWS D1.1 and you are talking about Welder qualification crossing over from steel to stainless steel, which presents a number of other issues beyond F groupings.

Say more about the code you are attempting to comply with and I think you will get some more specific advice.

See Table 4.13 and Commentary below.
C-Table 4.13. Electrodes for SMAW are grouped relative
to the skill required of the welder. The F Group designation
allows a welder qualified with an electrode of
one group designation to use other electrodes listed in a
numerically lower designation. For example, a welder
qualified with an E6010 electrode will also be qualified
to weld an E6011 electrode, group designation F3 and is
allowed to weld with electrodes having group designation
F2 and F1; the welder is not qualified to weld with
electrodes having a group designation F4.

Edit:
Welcome to the forum Mark

.

By marktski (**)

Date 11-13-2013 21:00

This would be to D1.1

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 11-13-2013 22:49

In this case I think your problem is with code rather than F numbers.

D1.6 is the structural code for stainless steel and typically you would write your procedures and qualify your personnel to this code rather than to D1.1

By 803056

Date 11-13-2013 23:00 Edited 11-13-2013 23:04

AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code/Steel only includes F-number 1 through 4.

If you dig through D1.6 Structural Welding Code/Stainless Steel, there is a provision (4.7.5) that states "with the approval the Engineer" a welder qualified using any Group I or II steel listed in D1.1 is also qualified to weld any steel listed in D1.6. That assumes the welding procedure is either qualified by testing or is a prequalified WPS and is for the same welding process.

However, the same provision is not in AWS D1.1, so a welder qualified with a base metal listed in D1.6 is not qualified for D1.1. That being said, the Engineer always has the last word in such matters.

Best regards - Al