Basemetalblues,
Welcome to the AWS Welding Forum!!
Certified welders should indeed be able to properly interpret the plans/details, RFI on the change, and the WPS applied to the job and correctly prepare the beam to meet all requirements. But that does not mean the EOR (engineer of record-the responsible party making sure everything is as it should be) is going to trust his reputation, insurance, or life to the welder. The Inspector has more training and the responsibility to properly inspect the preparation work and release it for assymbly.
But, another thing bothers me here. You seem to know at least a little about the code you are working too. You should also know at least a little about IBC and the requirements on Special Inspection. And in most Structural Print packs the first page has the General Structural Notes which has a section dedicated to the Inspections and when they should be done and rather they are Periodic or Continuous. AISC also makes some points about the type of inspections required of different classes of joints.
MY POINT??: You state this will require two visits per w-section. I presume you refer to as opposed to one visit per w-section. Well, seeing as how all PJP and especially CJP welds, especially if they are Moment Connections and maybe with Seismic Codes as well, are required to be continuously inspected I think there is an error to your line of thought/reasoning. Especially if there are so many of them, they should all be done and the inspector called out once. It will take quite some time to check the preparation area for notches, gouges, proper angle, and other considerations. Then, as the inspector finishes, the beam can be taken and fit up, at which point the inspector INSPECTS it. Then, it gets the root pass, and the inspector INSPECTS it. ETC. ETC. All the way through. Looking for porosity, cracks, undercut, slag removal, and much more.
THUS: the inspector will need to be there much of the time anyway. And rather you have one welder or twelve welders on the job, it is a Continuous Inspection per IBC and probably the General Notes. Then, there is always the 500 page Job Specs. Find the Inspections section, YEP, it's in there too. Few people take the time to read it though.
Amazing how few people actually read all the requirements for the job they are doing. No wonder they bid it so cheap and then get caught with their pants down when the right inspector comes along and starts asking to see the WPS's, Welders Certs, MTR's, checks the machines for proper settings, checks for a rod oven, etc. You seem to have a copy of D1.1, which few do, but you need a little more information here. Better read a little more to make sure what inspections are being called for even before this change of beam length.
Have a Great Day, Brent
Basemetalblues
Yes a CWI is qualifed and expected to inspect the surface prep of a joint before welding. We do it all the time and it is part of our everyday job responsabilities.
The key to the answer is the Engineer mandates the CWI Inspection of the bevel/Joint prep. for the Project Specifications. The Seismic provisions found in AISC 341, Q requires only random verificatrion of the joint preperation by the QA (CWI) and only requires the QC Inspector to do the same after he has verified the first connections and finds each fitter/welder is competant to perfrom the function. The bottom, line the responsibility for the joint configuration and prep is the welders. But since the Engineer calls for it that's all to be said.
BMB,
There is no code requirement for anybody to be taught/qualified to judge 'surface quality' before welding. Also, the only reason the CWI is required is because the EOR said so.
The engineer has stated he might consider allowing a certified welder to bless the surfaces (instead of CWI) if:
1) It is normal practice to do so, and
2) Any documentation/precedents could be found/cited in AWS, AISC, or other sources that demonstrate it is reasonable to expect a certified welder should know good /bad surfaces. That is what we are looking for from all the experienced people on the forum board.
Thanks for all posts.
basemetalblues
1) Yes
2) Yes AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code Steel 2002, @ Clause 6.1.4 Inspector Qualification Requirements
Marshall
JS & BMB,
Again, not only the EOR, but he usually calls it out because the Local Building Authority will require it because it is called out in the International Building Code (IBC) in Section 1704 and in Table 1704.1.
Any PJP or CJP weld is considered 'Continuous' inspection required. And any of the AWS, AISC and other reference materials or codes consider that to entail inspection along each step of the process: fit up with bevel angle, surface prep & backing bar fit up, root pass, interpass cleaning, fill passes, and reinforcement/cap pass.
Yes, the welder should know what he is doing and be able to inspect his own work. He should also have an in house/company QC person checking his work according to AISC and most company policies. Finally, the TPI for the Customer/engineer will document that all the others have been doing their job per the Contract Documents.
Recently the TPI role has expanded by default to include many of the contractor responsibilities. Most Fabricator/Erectors have no QC at a field job site and don't know what they are supposed to look for and do anyway. So we end up being their QC not just QA for the customer. We could just show up and start filling out NCR's but that seldom accomplishes anything. Relations are maintained much better and the job goes smoother if we just put it in the bid in the first place to be at a job a proper amount of time to cover many aspects of the QC job. The company I mainly work for currently contracts as a QC/QA manager for the job, not just normal TPI QA work.
Have a Great Day, Brent
Topic American Welding Society Services / Technical Standards & Publications / Certified Welder or CWI required to approve field bevel?
