This category of articles mainly focusses on welder qualifications, procedure qualifications, and a few practice cases regarding ASME Section IX.
Section IX of ASME BPVC is a qualification standard for welding procedures and welding operators. It is a very widely used standard today. In some places, it is a statutory requirement – that is, it is mandated by law. In other places, it is adopted by companies for welding qualifications. Sometimes it becomes compulsory by … Read more
A new edition of Section IX is published by ASME every two years. Studying the summary of changes at the front of the Code is an instructive exercise. Some words and phrases are added, some are deleted. Trying to understand the intent behind these changes allows us a glimpse in the minds of the Section … Read more
A new edition of ASME Section IX was published in second half of the year 2021. This article lists my observations on some of the noteworthy changes in this latest edition. Please note that not all changes have been discussed, only the ones I found interesting have been included. Also, editorial changes have not been … Read more
This article discusses in some detail the subject of dissimilar base metal thicknesses for welding procedure qualification in the context of ASME Section IX. A couple of ASME Interpretations have been made use of to explain some points. What Constitutes Dissimilar Base Metal Thickness? QW 451 sets the limits for qualified base metal thicknesses for … Read more
In my workplace, we do three kinds of welding qualifications: Welding Procedure Qualification. Welder Performance Qualification. Lot Qualification. The first two welding qualifications are common to any shop engaged in manufacture of Coded components. The third one, the Lot Qualification, is not a requirement of Section IX. Its’ requirement, instead, comes from the construction code … Read more
ASME Interpretations have been extensively cited across a large number of articles on this website to establish a point. The Interpretations published every year bear the sanctity of the respective Committee’s consideration, and are as good as the Code itself. This article is a short commentary representing this blog’s views regarding various aspects of ASME … Read more
This article discusses a question which has become pertinent only after the 2021 edition of Section IX. The 2021 edition of Section IX exempts P-No. 8, P-Nos. 21-26, and P-Nos. 41-49 from several of the supplementary essential variables. In fact, this exemption is now applicable to all of the supplementary essential variables. However, what happens … Read more
This article deals with an example of multiple PQRs used to support a single WPS, with a focus on the special exemption of QW 200.4 for root deposits. Consider the following questions asked in Interpretation IX-17-77. “Background: A combination GTAW and FCAW WPS is supported by two PQRs performed using the same base metals and … Read more
This article studies an example of two procedure qualifications with different heat inputs, qualified on different base metal thicknesses. How does one go about when applying these PQRs to a single production weld joint. How to reckon heat input on a WPS in such situation? Consider the following questions asked in Interpretation IX-92-87. “Background: Two … Read more
This article explores the minimum base metal thickness qualified for production welding if the procedure has been qualified on base metals of dissimilar thickness. Consider the following questions asked in Interpretation IX-15-14. “Background: A SMAW procedure qualification test coupon consisting of two plates with the same P-Number but different Group numbers, and of different base … Read more