Foreword

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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 44, Welding and allied processes, Subcommittee SC 10, Quality management in the field of welding.

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Introduction

In quality management systems, welding is classified as a special process — one whose results cannot be fully verified by subsequent inspection and testing. Therefore, consistent quality can only be ensured if the process is properly controlled from the outset. ISO 3834-2 and ISO 3834-3 outline the quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials. They require that manufacturers:

prepare welding procedure specifications (WPS);
qualify these procedures before production;
ensure proper implementation of the WPS during fabrication.

ISO 15607 provides the general framework for specifying and qualifying welding procedures. It introduces several qualification methods but does not provide detailed instructions on:

measuring welding parameters (e.g., arc energy) during qualification;
determining the range of qualification;
translating qualification results into a usable WPS.

In certain situations, for example, when the mechanical or corrosion properties of parent materials and the weld metal can be strongly degraded by the use of the wide range of arc energy rules as given in the standards cited in ISO 15607, it can be appropriate to implement additional provisions that may lead to restrictions. These additional provisions will prevent:

incorrect parameter ranges in WPS documents;
non-compliance with mechanical or corrosion resistance requirements;
inconsistent weld quality across production batches.

This document:

provides practical requirements and recommendations on how to handle welding procedure qualification and specification;
clarifies how to measure and document welding parameters during qualification;
explains how to define and apply qualification ranges effectively.

This document can serve as a contractual reference for the qualification of a welding procedure qualification record and/or the creation of a welding procedure specification.

1 Scope

This document specifies requirements and recommendations for reporting the welding parameters related to the arc energy of a welding procedure qualification record (WPQR) and transferring this data to a welding procedure specification (WPS) for production welding for all arc welding processes.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Symbols and abbreviated terms

5 Risk levels

6 Measuring welding parameters during WPQR welding

6.1 Calibration, validation of the measuring equipment

6.2 Determination of runs to be measured

6.3 Length of run in pipe and plate

6.4 Weaving width in relation with arc energy

6.5 Arc voltage, welding current, length of the run, welding speed, arc energy and temperature

7 Reporting welding variables to a WPQR

8 Transferring WPQR welding parameters to a WPS

8.1 Welding areas

8.2 Thickness

8.3 Arc-voltage, welding current and welding speed in relation to arc energy

8.4 Relation preheat- and interpass temperature and arc energy

8.5 Weaving width in relation with arc energy

9 Measuring welding parameters during production welding

9.1 Calibration, validation of the measuring equipment

9.2 Determination of several weld areas

9.3 Weaving width in relation with arc energy

9.4 Preheat temperature

9.5 Interpass temperature

Bibliography