ASME Section IX
Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications
What does ASME Section IX Cover?
ASME Section IX provides the rules and requirements of qualifying procedures and personnel for welding, brazing, and plastic fusing for application within the scope of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel codes (BPVC).
What does ASME Section IX Contain?
General Requirements for Welding, Brazing, and Plastic Fusing
How to Qualify Welding Procedures, Brazing Procedures, and Plastic Fusing Procedures
How to Qualify Welders, Brazers, and Plastic Fusers
Rules for qualifying welding procedures and welders
How to implement Standard Welding Procedure Specifications
How to use Additive Wire Welding in Material Manufacturing
What is a WPS from ASME Section IX?
WPS is the acronym for Welding Procedure Specification and the recommended form is QW-482.
A WPS is a written document providing direction to the personnel performing the production welding. Welding procedures provide the acceptable ranges of variables that are acceptable to use for each welding process performed in production.
A WPS shall at a minimum address all of the essential, non-essential, and if applicable the supplementary essential variables as defined by Section IX.
What is a PQR from ASME Section IX?
PQR is the acronym for Procedure Qualification Record and the recommended form is QW-483.
The PQR documents the actual welding variables used in the creation of the procedure qualification test coupon and the results of destructive or nondestructive testing applied to the coupon to evaluate its soundness.
One or more PQR’s can support a single WPS, and one PQR can be used to create one or many WPS’.
The purpose of the Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) is to ensure the material joining process proposed for construction is capable of producing joints having the required mechanical properties for the intended application.
The purpose of the procedure qualification test is to establish the mechanical properties of the joint produced by the material joining process and not the skill of the personnel using the material joining process.
What is a WPQ from ASME Section IX?
WPQ is the acronym for Welder Performance Qualification and the recommended form is QW-484a
WOPQ is the acronym for Welding Operator Performance Qualification and the recommended form is QW-484b.
The WPQ is sometimes also referred to as a “welders qual”, “welders qualification”, “welders paper”, “paper”, “certification”, or “cert”.
The purpose of Performance Qualification is to determine the ability of the person using a material joining process to produce a sound joint. In Operator Performance Qualification, the basic objective is to determine the ability of the operator to properly operate the equipment to produce a sound joint.
The record produced which documents a successful performance qualification test is known as the WPQ or WOPQ. The performance qualification record documents the essential variables of what occurred during the running of the test coupon, and the way the coupon was tested. The WPQ also contains the range of variables that the welder is qualified for as a result of a passing test.
What Are the Variables Referred to in ASME Section IX?
Essential Variables
Variables for which a change is considered to affect the mechanical properties (other than notch toughness) of the joint. Essential variable changes that fall outside their qualified range requires re-qualification.
Supplementary Essential Variables
Variables for which a change is considered to affect the toughness properties of the joint, heat-affected zone (HAZ), or base material. Supplementary essential variables become additional essential variables in situations where toughness testing is required. When toughness testing is not required supplementary essential variables are not applicable.
Nonessential Variables
Variables for which a change is considered to not affect the mechanical properties of the joint. This allows for editorial revisions to procedures within that permitted by Section IX without the need to requalify the procedure. Nonessential variables shall be documented on the procedure.
How Does Section IX Work With Other ASME Codes?
ASME Section IX works as a reference code in support of the ASME Construction Codes.
Construction Standards: Section I - Power Boilers, Section VIII - Pressure Vessels, B31.1 - Steam Piping, B31.3 - Process Piping
Reference Standards: Section V - Nondestructive Examination (NDE), Section IX - Qualifying Procedures & Personnel
The fabrication or construction standards of BPVC (Boiler & Pressure Vessel Codes) such as Section I, Section VIII, B31.1, and B31.3 all reference Section IX for how to qualify the procedures and personnel (welders) for performing any work within the BPVC.
The construction standards each apply to specific industries and types of welded products, and as such will apply additional requirements or restrictions to the foundational requirements of Section IX.
As a reference standard Section IX does not provide specific production joining requirements. Section IX provides the rules on how to qualify the procedures and personnel, and nothing more.
To address production joining requirements the applicable details of the construction standards and engineering specifications need to be incorporated into the welding procedure.
What Are the Main Parts of Section IX?
Procedures
Procedures refer to the written documents providing the acceptable joining parameters that the welders, brazers, or fusers shall follow in production. Procedures are founded upon the procedure qualification record or PQR. The essential, supplementary essential, and non-essential variables for procedures are addressed in the procedure articles.
The procedure articles are: (notice the pattern 2, 12, 22)
Article II - Welding (WPS)
Article XII - Brazing (BPS)
Article XXII - Plastic Fusing (FPS)
Performance
Performance refers to the requirements for qualifying personnel engaged in performing welding, brazing or fusing. The performance articles distinguish between manual qualifications and operator qualifications. The essential variables for performance qualification are listed in the following articles.
The performance articles are: (notice the pattern 3, 13, 33)
Article III - Welding (WPQ)
Article XIII - Brazing (BPQ)
Article XXIII - Plastic Fusing (FPQ)
Joining Data
The joining data articles include the variables for welding, brazing, and fusing. These variables are grouped into categories such as Joints, Base Material, Filler Material, Positions, Preheat, PWHT, Gas, Electrical Characteristics, and Technique. The Joining Data is only referenced when invoked by the Procedure or Performance articles.
The joining data articles are: (notice the pattern 4, 14, 24)
Article IV - Welding
Article XIV - Brazing
Article XXIV - Plastic Fusing
Common ASME Section IX Confusion
It is imperative that the user of Section IX clearly understand the organization of the information, and be in the correct Parts or Articles of Procedures or Performance, of the respective topic being addressed.
It can be common that confusion or disagreements arise from a result of references being extracted from the Parts or Articles pertaining to Procedures, when the topic actually applies to Performance, and vice versa.
The Structure and Organization of ASME Section IX
General Requirements
Article I - Welding (1)
Article XI - Brazing (11)
Article XXI - Plastic Fusing (21)
Procedure Qualifications
Article II - Welding (WPS) (2)
Article XII - Brazing (BPS) (12)
Article XXII - Plastic Fusing (FPS) (22)
Performance Qualifications
Article III - Welding (WPQ) (3)
Article XIII - Brazing (BPQ) (13)
Article XXIII - Plastic Fusing (FPQ) (23)
Joining Data
Article IV - Welding (4)
Article XIV - Brazing (14)
Article XXIV - Plastic Fusing (24)
Standard Welding Procedure Specifications
Article V - Welding (SWPS) (5)
Material Manufacturing Using Wire Additive Welding
Article VI - Additive Wire Welding (6)
Expanded Structure and Organization of ASME Section IX
Part QG : General Requirements
QG-101 : Procedure Specification (WPS)
QG-102 : Procedure Qualification Record (PQR)
QG-103 : Performance Qualification
QG-104 : Performance Qualification Record (Welder Qualification)
QG-105 : Variables
QG-106 : Organizational Responsibility
QG-107 : Ownership Transfers
QG-108 : Previous Edition Administration
QG-109 : Definitions
Part QW : Welding
Article I : Welding General Requirements
QW-100 : Scope
QW-101 : Procedure Specification (WPS)
QW-102 : Performance Qualification (WPQ)
QW-103 : Responsibility
QW-110 : Weld Orientation
QW-120 : Test Positions - Groove Welds
QW-130 : Test Positions - Fillet Welds
QW-140 : Testing and Examinations
QW-150 : Tension Tests
QW-160 : Guided Bend Tests
QW-170 : Toughness Tests
QW-180 : Fillet-Weld Tests
QW-190 : Other Tests and Examinations
Article II : Welding Procedure Qualifications
QW-200 : General
QW-210 : Preparation of Test Coupon
QW-220 : Hybrid Welding Procedure Variables
QW-250 : Welding Variables
QW-253 : SMAW - WPS Variables
QW-254 : SAW - WPS Variables
QW-255 : GMAW & FCAW - WPS Variables
QW-256 : GTAW - WPS Variables
QW-290 : Temper Bead Welding
Article III : Welding Performance Qualifications (WPQ)
QW-300 : General
QW-310 : Qualification Test Coupons
QW-320 : Retests and Renewal
QW-350 : Welding Variables for Welders
QW-353 : SMAW - WPQ Variables
QW-354 : SAW - WPQ Variables
QW-355 : GMAW & FCAW - WPQ Variables
QW-356 : GTAW - WPQ Variables
QW-360 : Welding Variables for Welding Operators
QW-380 : Special Processes
Article IV : Welding Data
QW-400 Variables Welding
QW-401 : General
QW-402 : Joints
QW-403 : Base Metals
QW-404 : Filler Metals
QW-405 : Positions
QW-406 : Preheat
QW-407 : Postweld Heat Treatment
QW-408 : Gas
QW-409 : Electrical Characteristics
QW-410 : Technique
QW-416 : Table QW-416 : Welding Variables for Welder Performance
QW-420 : P-Numbers
QW-421 : Table - Base Metal Assignment Groups
QW-422 : Table - P-Numbers
QW-423 : Alternate Base Materials for Welder Qualification
QW-424 : Base Metal Used for Procedure Qualification
QW-430 : F-Numbers
QW-432 : Table - F-Numbers
QW-433 : Alternate F-Number for Welder Performance Qualification
QW-440 : Weld Metal Composition
QW-442 : Table - A-Numbers
QW-450 : Specimens
QW-451 : Procedure Qualification Thickness Limits & Test Specimens
QW-451.1 : Table - Groove Weld Tension Tests & Transverse Bend Tests
QW-451.2 : Table - Groove Weld Tension Tests & Longitudinal Bend Tests
QW-451.3 : Table - Fillet Weld Tests
QW-451.4 : Table - Fillet Welds Qualified by Groove Weld Tests
QW-452 : Performance Qualification Thickness Limits and Test Specimens
QW-452.1(a) : Table - Test Specimens
QW-452.1(b) : Table - Thickness of Weld Metal Qualified
QW-452.3 : Table - Groove Weld Diameter Limits
QW-452.4 : Table - Small Diameter Fillet Weld Test
QW-452.5 : Table - Fillet Weld Test
QW-452.6 : Table - Fillet Qualification by Groove Weld Tests
QW-460 : Graphics
QW-461.9 : Table - Performance Position & Diameter Limitations
QW-462 : Test Specimens (Procedure & Performance)
QW-470 : Etching
Article V : Standard Welding Procedure Specifications (SWPS)
QW-500 : General
QW-510 : Adoption of SWPSs
QW-520 : Use of SWPSs
QW-530 : Forms
QW-540 : Production Use of SWPSs
Article VI : Material Manufacturing Using Wire Additive Welding (new in 2023)
QW-600 : General
QW-610 : Qualification Variables for Welding Procedures
QW-620 : Specimen Testing & Acceptance Criteria
QW-650 : Welding Variables
QW-660 : Graphics
Part QB : Brazing
Article XI : Brazing General Requirements
QB-100 : General
QB-110 : Braze Orientation
QB-120 : Test Positions
QB-140 : Types & Purposes of Tests & Examinations
QB-150 : Tension Tests
QB-160 : Guided Bend Tests
QB-170 : Peel Tests
QB-180 : Sectioning Tests
Article XII : Brazing Procedure Qualifications (BPS)
QB-200 : General
QB-210 : Preparation of Test Coupon
QB-250 : Brazing Variables
QB-252 : (TB) Torch Brazing
QB-253 : (FB) Furnace Brazing
QB-254 : (IB) Induction Brazing
QB-255 : (RB) Resistance Brazing
QB-256 : (DB) Dip Brazing - Salt or Flux Bath
QB-257 : (DB) Dip Brazing - Molten Metal Bath
Article XIII : Brazing Performance Qualifications (BPQ)
QB-300 : General
QB-310 : Qualification Test Coupons
QB-320 : Retests and Renewal
QB-350 : Brazing Variables for Brazers
Article XIV : Brazing Data
QB-400 : Variables Brazing
QB-410 : Technique
QB-420 : P-Numbers
QB-430 : F-Numbers
QB-450 : Specimens
QB-460 : Graphics
Part QF : Plastic Fusing
Article XXI : Plastic Fusing General Requirements
QF-100 : Scope
QF-110 : Fused Joint Orientation
QF-120 : Fused Joint Orientation
QF-130 : Data Acquisition & Evaluation
QF-140 : Examinations and Tests
Article XXII : Fusing Procedure Qualifications (FPS)
QF-200 : General
QF-220 : Standard Fusing Procedure Specifications (SFPS)
QF-250 : Fusing Variables
Article XXIII : Plastic Fusing Performance Qualification (FPQ)
QF-300 : General
QF-310 : Qualification Test Coupons
QF-320 : Retests and Renewal of Qualification
QF-360 : Fusing Variables for Fusers and Fusing Operators
Article XXIV : Plastic Fusing Data
QF-400 : Variables Fusing
QF-401 : General
QF-402 : Joints
QF-403 : Material
QF-404 : Position
QF-405 : Thermal Conditions
QF-406 : Equipment
QF-407 : Technique
QF-420 : Material Groupings
QF-450 : Pipe Fusing Limits
QF-460 : Graphics
QF-480 : Forms
QF-490 : Definitions