Welder Performance Qualification Record (WPQR)
Once the procedure is approved it is necessary to demonstrate that all your welders working to it have the required knowledge and skill to put down a clean sound weld. If the welder has satisfactorily completed the procedure test then he is automatically approved but each additional welder must be approved by completing an approval test to an appropriate standard such as ASME Sec IX as follows:
- Complete a weld test as stated above. The test should simulate production conditions and the welding position should be the position that the production welds are to be made in or one more severe.
- For maximum positional approval a pipe inclined at 45 degrees (referred to as the 6G position) approves all positions except vertical down.
- Test the completed weld in accordance with the relevant standard to ensure that the weld is clean and fully fused.
- For a butt weld this is normally a visual examination followed by radiography or bend tests.
- Once the test is completed the necessary forms have to be completed by you or the test body and signed by the test body’s surveyor.
- Note that any changes that require a new welding procedure (WPS) may also apply to the welders approval, refer to the referencing code/ standard for precise details
AWS Accredited Test Facility (ATF)
An AWS ATF is a facility which has been accredited by the American Welding Society to perform Welder Tests. Under this program the Welder Performance Qualification Test is witnessed by an authorized CWI of the Accredited Test facility, which then conducts the necessary tests and sends the results to the AWS. If a candidate welder passes the test, a CW (Certified Welder) certificate is then issued directly by the American Welding Society. This program with no prerequisite courses or certifications required. This certification will provide your company and your welders with national recognition.
The Certified Welder (CW) program test to procedures used in the structural, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal and chemical refinery welding industries. Furthermore, there are provisions to certify welders to a specific employer-supplied or non-code welding specification.
- AWS D1 Code WPS—Structural
- AWS D9.1 Code WPS—Sheet Metal
- ASME Section IX WPS—Boiler & Pressure Vessel
- Non-Code WPS—Employer/ Client Specified
