What is the required evidence of welder qualification continuity as required in para QW-322-1 of ASME Sect IX, do we need to provide any NDE report for the evidence or just confirmation from the manufacturer that the welder is still engaged in that welder qualified process?

Thanks
Regards
Decky

I don't think you must provide something to prove it. Once you think he did within past 6 months, he did. PLease note: If you can provide the job number he did, and the weld map of the job shows he really did it, that would be great.

Jeff

Post subject: Welder continuity of qualification

What is the required evidence of welder qualification continuity as required in para QW-322-1 of ASME Sect IX, do we need to provide any NDE report for the evidence or just confirmation from the manufacturer that the welder is still engaged in that welder qualified process?

Thanks
Regards
Decky


Decky,

You need to provide objective evidence the welder is qualified for that process i.e. welders continuity log. See QW-322.1(a)

leem

Decky,

when welding under an ASME Code accreditation program, like U-Stamp, S-, PP- A, N-, or NPT-stamp, the QC or QA Manual shall desribe how the continuity is maintained.

Most manufacturers are using a Welder Log. I advise to fill it once quarterly, and you will never exceed the 6 months.

Under other programs, like ISO9000, there is no such requirement, so it is recommended to use a welder log as well.
It is not required to record the job number, but it helps, when there is a question.

DK

Thank you, Dr. Koelbl

I have been in reviews/audits where continuity of welders' performance has to be documented from the initial date that he/she was first qualified. Our continuity logs go back 4 yrs...

Thanks for the question,

When I wrote to fill the log quarterly, I forgot to add that all logs shall be retained on file.
The exact retention time depends on the COde of Construction used, but it shall date back to the initial qualification of the first welder in the log.

Some logs I am seeing, date back to the 1980s, and it is big fun to check the initial qualification of a welder to the 1983 Edition of Section IX and then a log entry every 6 months.

DK

I have performed review/audits and after requesting cont. log from day 1, the company comes up with a log dating back 8 yrs and the date/initials are all done in the same ink......magic....

Yes, some pens really seem to last very very long.
Yet we have no reason to question the log, unless...

(maybe welding engineer is 25 years old, and log dates back 11 years with his signatures)
(maybe company name was changed 5 yrs ago, and the new logo is on the 8 yr old log)
(maybe..)

But this is common sense, observe, evaluate and ask, auditor skills. My experience, it takes so much brain to falsify correctly, that it is easier to make it right in the first place. And never backdate your signature, except maybe on a salary agreement, maybe..)

DK