Standard Welding Procedure SWPS Adoption
Compliance with ASME Section IX Article V QW-500 Requirements
Standard welding procedures (SWPS) developed by the American Welding Society (AWS) and published in the B2.1 series of standards can be adopted under the ASME Section IX rules outlined in Article V. Adoption of the SWPS requires that the organization demonstrate operational control by welding a demonstration coupon, documenting the welding variables of the demonstration, and then performing the testing outlined in Section IX QW-510(e).
These Standard Welding Procedures (SWPS) were developed by the AWS B2G Subcommittee with extensive Procedure Qualification Records. The benefit of the standardized SWPS format is that it provides a properly completed welding procedure document that can withstand the rigor of submittal reviews.
Verification : QW-500
Demonstration : QW-510
Welding Variables : QW-510
Documentation : QW-530 & QW-485
Limitations : QW-510 (c) & QW-511
Adoption : QW-510 (b)
Production Use : QW-540
Verification
First verify that an applicable AWS SWPS for your welding application (e.g., based on material, process, and thickness, etc.) exists by reviewing those listed in ASME Section IX Mandatory Appendix E “Permitted Standard Welding Procedure Specifications”.
Verify that toughness testing is not a requirement for the intended SWPS, as QW-500 does not permit the use of SWPS’s for toughness testing applications.
Once the verification of an allowable SWPS is confirmed, and the purchase of the document is made there is a welding demonstration process that is required, this process is comparable to the standard PQR process.
Demonstration
Prior to the production use of an SWPS the controlling organization responsible for the operational control of welding shall produce a groove weld demonstration plate, see QW-510 (d).
Welding Variables
The welding variables used to produce the groove weld demonstration plate shall be recorded. There are a minimum of 15 weld variables outlined in QW-510(d) that are to be recorded as the weld plate is being produced.
The groove weld demonstration plate is also required to be subjected to testing as specified in QW-510 (e). The test coupon is to be visually examined and mechanically tested or volumetrically examined. These tests are to be documented on the demonstration record. It should be noted that the testing requirements specified for the demonstration are sourced from Article III of Section IX which governs welding performance qualifications. The SWPS is already proven to be acceptable as supported by PQR’s, so the code committee has deemed this demonstration to be performance based.
Documentation
The welding variables specified in QW-510(d) are to be recorded, and retained on a certified supporting demonstration record. ASME Section IX provides suggested Form QW-485 that includes entry fields for all the required welding variables, including one to certify the record by signature.
Limitations
The SWPS is written based on the range of variables the code allows based on the supporting PQR’s and does not include any limiting factors imposed by the code(s) of application. It is therefore necessary for the controlling organization to list on the SWPS any limiting requirements of B31.3, or Section VIII Div.1, etc. that must be followed during welding; refer to QW-510(c), QW-511, and QW-540(e).
Adoption
Adoption of the SWPS occurs as a result of satisfying all the requirements of ASME Section IX Article V, and by certifying the SWPS by entering the name of the controlling organization and an authorized employee’s signature and date.
Production Use
An SWPS may not be used in production until the groove weld test demonstration has been satisfactorily welded, variables documented, tested, and certified by signature; refer to QW-540(f).
Use of the SWPS requires that the production welding be performed in strict accordance within the range of variables detailed, as such it is no different than what is expected from any otherwise qualified WPS. Companies employing SWPS’s in production should fully understand all the requirements listed in QW-540.