New Certified Welders
The certification process for our new welding team has come to an end with the delivery of the welding license. Nine welders obtained certification for various types of procedures and joints, while three welding operators were certified. The qualification process, which was led by the international certification body Bureau Veritas, lasted approximately two months.
What is a welding license?
The license is a certificate of the welder’s manual ability and operational capacity.
To get a welding license, welders must make welding samples following specific WPS, where welding parameters are stated. Then, the samples are tested according to the specifications of the regulation to check if there are any defects.
What is the reference standard for welder qualification?
The standard which specifies the requirements for the qualification test for welding steel is UNI EN ISO 9606-1:2017.
This standard provides technical indications for the systematic qualification test of welders. In this way, certifications are uniformly accepted, regardless of the type of product, location, examiner and examination body.
The certification of the company and personnel must be carried out by an accredited third-party body chosen by the manufacturer according to criteria of independence and competence.
UNI EN ISO 9606-1:2017 applies to manual and semi-automatic fusion welding processes, while it does not cover automatic or fully automated processes.
Welder or welding operator?
A welder is someone who physically holds the torch.
Someone who works on automatic or fully mechanized systems, as in the case of orbital welding, is not a welder but a welding operator. In this case, his qualification is regulated by another standard, namely UNI EN ISO 14732:2013.
Phases for a correct welding process
To ensure safety and regulatory compliance of welded structures, it is recommended to follow a scrupulous work methodology according to these phases:
- Technical designers must fix welding specifications (WPS);
- If required by the calculation standard, the WPS must be supported by a WPQR qualified by an accredited third-party body;
- Raw and welding materials must be certified according to the calculation standard;
- Welders must have a valid WPQ license;
- At the end of welding, NDT checks must be carried out on the welded parts according to the type and class of joint.
