A production weld is not welded to Section IX which is titled "Welding and brazing qualification".
If your looking to bust this person on the requirements of Section IX, you cannot for reasons already posted.
If you've got issue with a production weld, then you need to be looking at that code and not Section IX.
As for "In any given production weldment,welders may not deposit a thickness greater than that permitted by QW-452 for each welding process in which they are qualified"
Thats why the general note definition under 452.
GENERAL NOTE: The "Thickness of Weld Metal" is the total weld metal thickness deposited by all welders
and all processes in the test coupon """exclusive of the weld reinforcement"""
weld reinforcement: weld metal on the face or root of a
groove weld in excess of the metal necessary for the specified
weld size.
weld size: groove welds: the depth of chamfering plus any
penetration beyond the chamfering, resulting in the strength
carrying dimension of the weld.
His qual only takes into account the 1/4" dimension.
QW-462.2 SIDE BEND
GENERAL NOTE: Weld reinforcement and backing strip or backing ring, if any, may be removed flush with the surface of the specimen. Thermal
cutting, machining, or grinding may be employed. Cold straightening is permitted prior to removal of the reinforcement.
Then there is this under the tension test:QW-462.1(a) TENSION -- REDUCED SECTION -- PLATE
Weld reinforcement shall be
machined flush with base
metal. Machine minimum
amount to obtain approx.
parallel surfaces.
If weld reinforcement counted, why would they be telling you it's permissible to remove it to flush for qual side bend test or requiring it for a tension test???
No matter which way you cut the BS here, from a section IX qual standpoint the starting point is 1/4" not 3/8". Which makes him qualified to 1/2".
Now looking to the definitions above, the weld that counts is bevel to bevel filled to the full cross section. It does not include consideration for reinforcement.
So if he had a 1/2" weld and even a millimeter of reinforcement, or 3mm by section IX he has made a qualified weld.
"he is not qualified for the extra reinforcement weld." is incorrect. He is qualified to fill the groove of a weld designated as a half inch. Reinforcement doesn't come into the picture for this qualification. only the metal necessary for the specified weld size counts in this regards.
With that out of the way, I've seen people try to argue it when weld reinforcement is specified in the drawings that the welders quals needed to take that into account. However; you have to remember, Section IX is for qualification not production, and is only concerned with "can that welder make a metallurgically sound weld".
Having said that, you have not specified the code that referenced Section IX for qualifications.
For your purpose, the referencing construction code is all your going to have to rely on for busting this guy. Which if I may note, you seem hell bent on doing for whatever reason.
Try to read para. QW100 with an open mind and think about it.
The statement you make here
"To clarify: A welder tests on 1/4" test coupon his reinforcement is 1/8" .. he is not qualified to weld any more than 1/2". The reinforcement is not considered in the weld test, but in production welding it is! the welder in this scenario is qualified to put up to 1/2" deposited weld metal ONLY ... if he is welding out a weldment that has a wall thickness of 1/2" he cannot put a reinforcement pass on it.. he is not qualified for the extra reinforcement weld.
is incorrect.
Procedure
Interpretation: IX-83-08
Subject: Section IX, QW-451
Date Issued: July 2, 1982
File: BC-82-265
Question: A welding procedure for a particular
process has been qualified on 3/8 in. thick
material. Weld reinforcement was removed during
preparation of test specimens for mechanical
testing. A 3/4 in. thick pipe is to be welded in
production using this qualified procedure. May
the finished weld include the reinforcement
permitted by the Code [for example, Section VIII,
Division 1, UW-35(c)], or must the finished weld
be flush with the surface of the base metal?
Reply: The finished weld may include the
reinforcement permitted by the applicable Code
Performance
Interpretation: IX-83-07
Subject: Section IX, QW-452
Date Issued: July 2, 1982
File: BC-82-246
Question: A welder has been qualified for a
thickness of deposited weld metal from 1/16 in.
to 3/4 in. for a particular welding process. A
3/4 in. thick pipe is to be welded in production,
using a single-vee butt joint, with the same
process for which the welder is qualified. Is a
second welder required to deposit the weld
reinforcement, or is it permissible for the welder
who completes the weld to deposit the
reinforcement?
Reply: A second welder is not required to deposit
the weld reinforcement. It is permissible for the
welder who completes the weld to deposit the weld
reinforcement.
There is a very useful index of interpretation in the back of each ASME code. You are not the only person to have this question.
Have a nice day
Gerald Austin
Weldingdata.com