Understanding Welding Codes And Standards

Many aspects of the design and fabrication of welded components in the welding industry are governed by documents popularly known as codes and standards. An end user frequently specifies these documents as a contractual agreement. They are used to regulate the characteristics of the welded fabrication that may influence its service provisions. The manufacturer also uses them to help develop and implement their welding quality system in the welding industry.

How Are Welding Codes And Standards Developed?

Many end users of welded elements have developed specifications that they have assembled to address their specific provisions. Such specifications may be restricted in the application and related only to that customer’s requirements. In addition, national interest in regions like reliability and public safety has promoted the development of welding codes and standards.

Numerous committees have been developed, and they continue to evaluate the necessities of industry and formulate new welding codes and standards for a welding career. Such committees are composed of members who are technical experts. These specialists represent all interested parties, like end users, manufacturers, inspection authorities, and government agencies. Once a new or revised document is completed by one committee, it is then ratified by a review committee. If accepted, the document is then publicized in the name of the applicable engineering society. In addition, documents that have a significant influence on public health and safety are adopted by legislative bodies. In those jurisdictions, these documents become law and are known as welding codes or regulations.

The welding inspector should know what codes or standards are relevant within their jurisdiction. He also needs to understand the prerequisites of the relevant documents and perform their inspection likewise.

 welding career

Sources of Welding Codes and Standards

American Welding Society (AWS)

This is probably the biggest producer of welding codes and standards in the USA. In addition, it publishes numerous documents addressing the use and quality control of welding work. These documents comprise such general subjects classification of Filler Metals, Welding Definitions and Symbols, Welding Processes, Qualification and Testing, Welding Applications, and Safety.

American Petroleum Institute (API)

It publishes numerous documents relating to petroleum production, many of which comprise welding requirements. The most well-known is perhaps Standard for Welding Pipelines and Related Facilities.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

It is accountable for the development of the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. It includes eleven sections and covers the construction, design, and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels. It also produces the Code for Pressure Piping, which has seven sections. Each section prescribes the minimum prerequisites for the materials, design, erection, fabrication, testing, and inspection of a particular piping system.

What Is There In Welding Code and Standards?

The Scope And General Requirements

This is found at the start of the document and is significant. It will generally give a description of the type and extent of welding fabrication for which the codes and standards were developed and planned to be used. It may also provide information about the limitations of the use of the document.

Design

If the document gives a section for design, it may direct the user to a secondary data source. It may also include minimum requirements for the creation of particular welded connections.

Fabrication

welding program

When composed in the document, this section will generally provide information related to fabrication methods and workmanship standards. It may include information and requirements on items like base materials and welding consumable classification requirements. It also covers information on the preparation and care of base material, heat treatment requirements, and other welding fabrication prerequisites.

Qualification

This section will generally outline the requirements for qualification testing of WPS (Welding Procedure Specifications). It also specifies the provisions for the qualification of welding personnel. It may give the essential variables, these being the change in regulations that govern the extent of qualification. Such variables are generally the welding program, filler metal type, electrical parameters, base metal type and thickness, joint design, welding position, and others.

Inspection

This section will generally address the welding inspector’s qualification prerequisites and responsibilities. It also includes acceptance criteria for discontinuities and provisions relating to methods for non-destructive testing.

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