No where in ASME IX can I find a requirement that weld procedure and welder qualification tests need to be administered by an AWS CWI. I looked in D1.1 briefly, and did not find the requirement there either. Although both require some visual inspection, I see no code requirement that this needs to done by CWI for procedure and welder qualification. I only see the CWI requirement for visual inspection of production welds. The reason I am interested in this, is I would like to use one or two of our welders to administer welder qualification tests to help take the load off our CWI's when they are busy. I realize the advantage of using a CWI for this testing, but if I could use a couple of our welders who have an interest in obtaining a CWI, I think this would be great experience for them. Can anyone confirm my conclusion or refute it? Thanks.
The only person that cannot qualify and certify a welder is a CAWI. The janitor can do it, the dishwasher can do it, the mail man/woman can do it, your talking monkey can do it, but the CAWI cannot do it.
Nether AWS D1.X nor ASME Section IX requires the involvement of a CWI or SCWI when qualifying a WPS, a welder, or production welds.
Best regards - Al
Especially for in house certs I believe you are correct. I know you are if you were asking about D1.1 which is my main area. There are aspects of ASME that are different but I think welder certs are the same.
Hopefully Al or some of the other ASME gurus will chime in. edit: yep, there he is.
Have a Great Day, Brent
Thanks for the replies. I truely hate opening my mouth at staff meetings and having my foot shoved down my throat.
Are you going to test the plates yourself in house like Brent said are you going to send them to a testing facility.
M.G.
ASME IX used the title "supervisor conducting the tests" I think the testing officer should be called Supervisor.
To say that "I've appointed my Welder to conduct a WQT sounds not appropriate than saying I get the Supervisor to conduct a test.
~Joey~
Al is exactly right. A CWI requirement will more often than not come from a spec.
Even if the plates or pipe test coupons are sent to an outside laboratory, neither AWS D1.1 or ASME Section IX require the testing of a WPS or welder performance coupon require the involvement of a CWI or SCWI.
Nor is a CWI or SCWI needed to be involved in the inspection of production welds.
There are building codes that do require the involvement of a CWI/SCWI when CJP groove welds or multiple pass fillet welds. The Engineer can require the verification inspector to be a CWI or SCWI. The Engineer can also require the contractor's inspector be a current CWI or SCWI f he includes the requirement in the project specifications. Still, the question was whether Section IX or D1.1 requires current certification. The short response: no.
Best regards - Al
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