I have recently replaced a CWI on a natural gas compressor station built to DOT 192, which requires welders to be qualified in accordance with section 6 of API 1104 19th ed. or ASME B&PV code Section IX 2004 edition. For the nearing second phase of the project, the welding code will change to API 1104 20th ed. The previous inspector had the welder qualification test set up with a single WPS to qualify welders for multiple WPS's. The test is a 12" std. 5G fixed horizontal and inverted branch, which to 1104 qualifies welders to weld in all positions; on all wall thicknesses, joint designs, and fittings; and on all pipe diameters. The test WPS specifies for an 8010 root pass, hot pass, and optional first fill vertical down and 7018 vertical up for the remainder of the weld. In passing this test, would this qualify welders to WPS's that specify for (1)6010 root and 8010 for the remainder both downhill, (2)6010 root downhill, 8010 hot pass and first filler downhill, and 7018 uphill remainder, (3)6010 all the way out downhill, and (4)7018 root and cap for socket welds??
According to API 1104 6.3.2 a welder shall be requalified if a change in electrode Group 1 or 2 to Group 3 or from Group 3 to Group 1 or 2. (group 1-6010, 6011, 7010, 7011) (group 2-8010, 8011, 9010) (group 3-701X, 801X, 901X : X= 5,6, or 8 low hydrogen). I have no probem staying with the test procedure but there are others who think that it doesn't qualify welders to cap a weld with 6010/8010 vertical down. NDE is 100% RT and I am visually inspecting a % of welds and so far I am not finding many problems with XX10 caps but am finding some undercut and underfill with 7018 caps.
I believe the two coupons as described do qualify the welders in each of the four cases described.
Charles
I will disagree, with do respect. I do not believe the welder would be qualified for one, three or four. Given that progression is an essential variable. In the test as described the welder has neither shown his ability to weld all pass downhill with XX10 electrodes regardless of Group number, nor shown the ability to run a root pass with a Lo-hy. Since the API is so cut and dry with very few footnotes or tables I think you would have to take the essential variables listed in 6.3.2 b) change from uphill to downhill or vise versa. and c. change from group 1 or 2 to group 3 or vise versa - literally. With the code requirements aside, sure it's cheaper but are you really satisfying what it's intent is...to accurately measure the competence level of the fabricator. I personally wouldn't accept it.
Topic Welding Industry / Technical Discussions / Single Test WPS, Multiple WPS Qualification API 1104
