Welders and Welding Operators

The welding process is part of the special processes or, in other words, of production processes whose validity cannot be fully verified with a final control. Unlike a “normal” process, such as the cold cutting of a profile, where correctness can be verified through dimensional control, welding requires visual inspection. Sometimes, it may also need radiographic examination to confirm proper geometry, and identify potential superficial or internal defects in the joint. However, these methods cannot assess the mechanical and chemical properties. Those necessitate destructive tests for evaluation. The Certification of the welders’ competence and that of the operators of the automatic welding procedures follows an extremely important training programme. Operators need to demonstrate their capacity of producing joints in conformity with the applicable regulations and standards.

The current legislative framework requires welders to be qualified in the welding processes used by manufacturers in different fields. Here’s some example: pressurised equipment, machinery, railway constructions, and metallic structures, just to name the main ones. ECO Certificazioni offers a Certification service pursuant to international ISO 9606 and ISO 14732 standards and United States ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) codes and standards, organised in the following phases:

VERIFICATION OF TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS

Verification of the technical documentation of the trials to be carried out: welding process specifications (WPS), certificates of the basic materials, certificate of the filler material (if applicable).

SURVEILLANCE DURING THE EXECUTION OF THE TRIALS

Control, by a qualified inspector, of the welder’s knowledge, of the correct application of the welding procedure specifications (WPS), during the execution of the trials and inspection of the joints.

SURVEILLANCE OF LABORATORY TESTS AND EMISSION OF THE CERTIFICATION

Surveillance at the laboratory during the execution of the tests, and emission of the welder qualification and/or welding operator certificate.