Procedure Qualification Record PQR
PQR per ASME Section IX
What Is a PQR?
PQR is an abbreviation for Procedure Qualification Record. The PQR is a record of the welding variables which were used during the original qualification of the test coupon. The PQR also includes the destructive testing of that coupon which validates that acceptable mechanical properties were achieved as a result of the process parameters used. Once a PQR has passed the testing requirements it can then be used to write a WPS. See Section IX QG-102 for more details.
What is the Purpose of a PQR?
The purpose of the procedure qualification test is to establish and demonstrate that the proposed joining process is capable of producing the required mechanical properties for the intended application. The PQR is not intended to test the skill of the personnel running the PQR test, as that is the purpose of the welder performance test documented on a WPQ. Throughout Section IX and other welding codes it is important to keep “procedure” and “performance” requirements separated as they can and will have differing essential variables and objectives.
The PQR is a historical record that should not be actively revised except for the correction of typographical errors or rare occasions where the welding code adjusts variables applicable to the PQR. As a historical record the variables recorded on the PQR are the actual values or “actuals” of what was used to run the PQR coupon as compared to the WPS where ranges are listed based on the PQR.
What is the Structure of a PQR?
PQR Page 1
Header : The header includes the qualifying organization, PQR identification, and the welding process(es).
Joint Detail : this section includes details of the actual joint configuration used on the test. Ideally the detail includes a cross sectional sketch of the passes as performed on the test.
Actual variables as performed during the qualification of the PQR.
Base Metals, Filler Metals, Position, Preheat, Post Weld Heat Treatment, Gas, Electrical Characteristics, and Technique are all included, with variable details in each category section.
PQR Page 2
The second page of the PQR is dedicated to the testing performed on the test coupon which establishes the mechanical properties and quantitative data on their acceptability.
Actual testing variables are listed in the following categories.
Tensile Test, Guided-Bend Test, Toughness Test, Fillet-Weld Tests, and Other Tests.
Footer : Welder information, Testing Lab information, certification statement, the qualifying organization, and the certification signature from an authorized representative of the company.
What is Included On a PQR?
As a minimum, the PQR shall document the essential variables for the applicable process(es) used on the procedure qualification test, and the results of the required tests. When the PQR successfully passes the required testing it can then be used as the foundation to writing a WPS (Welding Procedure Specification).
When toughness testing is required for qualification of the procedure specification, the applicable supplementary essential variables shall be recorded for each process. See Section IX QG-102 for more details.
What Is a PQR Used For?
As stated in more detail above the PQR is used to demonstrate that the welding processes and parameters used during the test can provide mechanical properties that will meet the intended application. The PQR can then be used to create a WPS (Welding Procedure Specification) including ranges permitted by the code by which the welders can use to produce similar mechanical properties in production.
When submitting a WPS for review as required by some contracts, the PQR(s) should always be attached to the WPS, so the reviewer can properly evaluate the PQR and confirm the variables on the WPS are within the established ranges permitted by the governing welding code.
It should be noted that a single PQR can support one or multiple WPS’, and multiple PQR’s can support one WPS.
Who is Responsible for the PQR?
Each organization is responsible to conduct and qualify the PQR’s that will be used by their organization. The organization responsible for the PQR shall certify the PQR by a signature or other means as described in the organizations quality program. The personnel who produce test joints for PQR’s shall be under the full supervision and control of the qualifying organization during the production of the PQR test coupon. See Section IX QG-106.1.
Can a PQR be Shared by Two Companies?
As per Section IX QG-106.1, if the effective operational control of the welding program is shared by two or more companies of different names which exist under the same corporate ownership, the companies involved shall describe in their quality programs the operational control of procedure qualifications. This means that separate procedure qualifications are not required, provided that the other requirements of QG-106 Organizational Responsibility are satisfied. It should be emphasized that the essential part of this paragraph is that the companies involved have shared corporate ownership.
See also QG-106.4 for simultaneous procedure qualifications that permit companies of different ownership to participate in procedure qualifications under specific conditions.
Can a PQR be Transferred to New Ownership?
When an organization or some part of it is acquired by a new owner, the PQRs, and WPSs may remain valid for use by the new owners provided the requirements of Section IX QG-107 are met.
Paragraph QG-107 addresses how welding documents can be transferred under new ownership. It is essential that the quality program of the organization shall describe the effective operational control and authority of the new owner in relationship to the original qualifying organization prior to use.
Can Any Part of the PQR be Subcontracted?
Some aspects of the PQR process can be subcontracted such as the material preparation for the test coupon and the testing of the finished coupon to a lab or vendor. The scope of the testing lab includes the preparation of test specimens and performance of the destructive, non-destructive, and mechanical tests required for qualification of the PQR. The organization accepts full responsibility for any of the subcontracted work. See Section IX QG-106.1(b) for details.
The personnel who perform the joining process and those overseeing the procedure qualification shall be under the full supervision and control of the qualifying organization during the production of the test joints.
The PQR shall be certified as accurate by the qualifying organization, this function shall not be subcontracted. The certification of the PQR is the organizations verification that the information documented on the PQR is a true record of the joining variables and testing results. The PQR shall include a section of the document where a certification statement is made and a signature is provided by an authorized representative of the organization.
Do PQRs Have an Expiration Date?
The quick answer is no, PQRs do not have an expiration date. PQRs made in accordance with earlier editions of Section IX can be used to support WPSs written in conformance to more current editions. See Section IX QG-108 Specifications and Qualifications Made to Previous Editions.
See Section IX QW-421.4 Reassignments of P-Numbers and Group Numbers, to address some instances where materials assigned to a P-Number in an older edition has since been changed in a newer edition. Changes or editorial revisions are further described in Section IX QW-200.2(c).
Simultaneous Procedure Qualifications (2023)
New in the 2023 release of Section IX there are now rules by which more than one organization can qualify a procedure simultaneously. Requirements for conducting such a qualification are detailed in Section IX QG-106.4, and in summary include
A qualified representative per QG-106 from each participating organization be present and participate in the supervision of the joining of the test coupon.
Before testing begins a preliminary procedure is agreed upon by all participating organizations, if any changes need to be made, all participating shall agree to the changes before they are enacted.
The PQR shall document that the qualification was conducted under the provisions of QG-106.4
PQR Naming Strategies
PQR’s can be used for one or many WPSs, so it is best to keep PQR titles as short as possible. It is also beneficial that the file name of the PQR provide some recognition to the user and cause similar files to be sorted in recognizable groups.
Consider the following when naming a PQR:
Weld process (GT for GTAW and FC for FCAW)
P-Number (1 or 1-1 for P-1 to P1 and 8-43 for P8 to P43)
Heat Treatment (H for Heat Treatment or PWHT)
Supplementary Testing (CVN or I for Impact testing)
Special Version of Weld Process (SC for Short Circuit, G for Globular, SP for Spray, P for Pulse, OL for Overlay, B for Buttering, A for Automatic, or M for Machine, V for Vickers, BR for Brinell, LTCS for Low Temperature Carbon Steel)
PQR Examples:
GT-SM-1-H : GTAW root, SMAW fill and cap, P1 material, Heat Treated
GM-FC-1-CVN : GMAW-SC root, FCAW fill and cap, P1 material, Charpy V-Notch or Impact Tested
GT-8-F43-OL : GTAW of P8 material, with F43 Overlay filler metal
GT-SAW-4-H-V : GTAW root, Submerged Arc fill and cap, P4 material, Heat Treated, Vickers Hardness Tested
In some cases it is desirable to create a document that contains the naming conventions to also include the descriptions of the abbreviations used in the PQR so the process can be standardized and understood by anyone using the program.
ASME Section IX PQR References
Part QG General Section:
QG-102 Procedure Qualification Record
QG-105.1 Essential Variables (Procedure)
QG-105.3 Supplementary Essential Variables
QG-105.4 Nonessential Variables
QG-106 Organizational Responsibility
QG-106.1 Procedure Qualification
QG-106.4 Simultaneous Procedure Qualifications (new in 2023 edition)
QG-107 Ownership Transfers
QG-108 Specifications and Qualifications Made to Previous Editions
Part QW General Section:
QW-200.2 Definition of a PQR
QW-202 Types of Tests Required
QW-203 Limits of Qualified Positions for Procedures
QW-210 Preparation of Test Coupon
QW-223 Test Coupon Preparation and Testing
Forms:
QW-483 - Welding - Welding PQR Form
QB-483 - Brazing - Brazing PQR Form
QF-483(a) - Fusing - Butt-Fusing PQR Form
QF-483(b) - Fusing - Electrofusion Fusing PQR Form
QF-483(c) - Fusing - Sidewall Fusing PQR Form
