Hi all, I'm a wet behind the ears CWI in need of some assistance from some of y'all more experienced.

The company I work for just qualified a FCAW procedure on 1" A-36 carbon steel plate using .045 wire in the 3G position with back gouging. The Amps recorded on the PQR ranged from 170 to 212, the Volts ranged from 21.5 to 26, and the Wire Feed Speed ranged from 235 to 315 IPM. The welder performing the PQR test completed it in 10 passes (9 front side passes, and 1 back weld after gouging). The Amps and Volts are recorded on the WPS per weld layer, e.g. 1st layer 170-185 Amps, 21.5 Volts, 2nd layer 185-190 Amps, 22.8 Volts, etc. There seems to be some confusion with the welders as to what is actually qualified; i.e. can the welder (after successful qualification) weld his first (or any) pass with 26 Volts, or is he limited to 21.5 Volts for the first layer, 22.8 for the second, etc. as that is what is recorded on the WPS? I guess to put it a little simpler, seeing as 170 to 212 Amps and 21.5 to 26 Volts were recorded on the PQR and WPS, is that the qualified range for any weld pass?

I hope this makes sense, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Edit to add the procedure was qualified for ASME Section IX.

Not Voltage nor Amperage are essential variables in Welder Qualification (i.e. no matter if he changes in operation from those used in test) BUT!!! the transfer mode is an essential variable and with A less than 190 the transfer mode would be short arc wilst above 210 will be spray arc.

WPQ essential variables are:
Backing
Pipe diameter
P-Number
F-Number
QW-404
t Weld deposit
t Limit (S. Cir. Arc.)
Position
↑↓ Vertical welding
Inert backing (deletion of)
Gas
Transfer mode

Read Sect.IX
QW-355
SEMIAUTOMATIC GAS METAL-ARC
WELDING (GMAW)
[This Includes Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)]
Mauro