Certified Welder Welding Codes and Standards Questions and Answers

Question 1

What is the fundamental difference between a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and a Procedure Qualification Record (PQR)?

Accepted Answer

A PQR documents the actual results of a test weld, which then provides the basis for writing the instructional WPS.

Answer

A PQR is the official record documenting the welding variables used to produce an acceptable test weld coupon and the results of the tests conducted. This proven data from the PQR is then used to write the WPS, which is the set of instructions provided to the welder for making production welds within a qualified range of variables.

Question 2

A welder is fabricating a large structural steel column for a new high-rise building in the United States. Which code is most likely to govern the welding requirements for this application?

Accepted Answer

AWS D1.1

Answer

AWS D1.1, the Structural Welding Code—Steel, is the primary standard used in the United States for the design, fabrication, and erection of welded steel structures such as buildings and bridges. API 1104 is for pipelines, and ASME Section IX is primarily for boilers and pressure vessels.

Question 3

According to most major welding codes, which of the following is considered an essential variable for a welder's performance qualification, meaning a change would require the welder to requalify?

Accepted Answer

A change in welding progression from vertical-up to vertical-down.

Answer

A change in welding progression (e.g., from uphill to downhill) is a significant alteration of a welder's technique and is considered an essential variable under codes like AWS D1.1 and ASME Section IX. Such a change requires the welder to perform a new qualification test. The other options are typically considered non-essential variables for welder performance qualification.

Question 4

An inspector is overseeing the joining of two sections of a cross-country natural gas transmission pipeline. Which welding code is specifically developed for this type of application?

Accepted Answer

API 1104 Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities

Answer

API 1104, published by the American Petroleum Institute, is the primary standard governing the welding of pipelines and related facilities used for the compression, pumping, and transmission of crude petroleum, petroleum products, and fuel gases.

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of a Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) test?

Accepted Answer

To verify a welder's ability to produce a sound weld by following a qualified WPS.

Answer

The WPQ test is designed to determine the skill of a welder. It confirms that the welder has the ability to follow the instructions on a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and deposit a weld that meets the required quality standards. It qualifies the person, not the procedure itself.

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Certified Welder Welding Codes and Standards Questions and Answers