We are in the process of qualifying welding procedures which will be used in the Section III Code welding.

Does the testing of procedure qualification test coupons need to be done at an approved supplier of material testing services? or can it be done by any material testing laboratory which regularly perform testing for Section IX welding procedure qualification?

That is a very interesting question.

My opinion, this is a subcontracted service, consequently the test lab shall be qualified for this testing.
Since the test results are not used in Material Certification, NCA-3850 does not apply.
If the testing is done in-house, the test lab falls under the QA program, audits, etc.
And NCA-4000 does not really give profound guidance in qualification of subcontracted services, so we should look at NCA-3125. In my opinion, "appropriate controls" shall be in place, which assure that the test results are correct and accurate. The scope of auditing and/or controls depend on the services subcontracted, transfer of marking, machining, testing, check of impact calibration, etc.

On the other hand: can a shop going for a new N accreditation use their old PQRs from the shelf also in Section III welding, and that testing was not under special qualification???

Looking back at my auditing, I never asked who did the weld coupon testing, maybe I should do that in the future.
Would be cool to get more opinions on this.
DK

This matter has been discussed during last Survey.
Answer was not immediate, I undertood the problem was never raised before. The conclusion was in accordance with your first statement:
"This is a subcontracted service, consequently the test lab shall be qualified for this testing".
Mauro

NCA does not really talk about it anywhere, but we have done it in a material testing lab which is not surveyed and accepted in-line with NCA-3850.

We are through with the survey and it seems alright for the survey team.

Also, a shop going for new N stamp accreditation can use their old PQRs. We have done it last time and it seems to be no problem. Also I remember having seen an ASME interpretation to support this.

But in my personal opinion, testing involved during procedure qualification needs to be done at an approved supplier of testing services.

I DISAGREE:

NCA-3125 adresses subcontracting of service.
you can not subcontract any service to a company that has not been audited for "appropriate" QA system, or QSProgram, except when the company has an ASME Certificate.

If your last survey team did not discover it, does not mean it is in line with the COde. (Have been speeding on the road last week, and not been caught)

We consult our stampholders to qualify the lab by audit, and this was never commented to be exaggerated.

DK