ASME Section IX

(WPS) is a written document that provides direction to the welder or welding operator for making production welds in
accordance with Code requirements.
WPS - both essential and nonessential
PQR - essential variables
In performance qualification - welders ability to deposit sound weld metal.
Performance qualification - welding operators mechanical ability to operate the welding equipment.
QW 141 Mechanical Tests
QW 141.1 Tension Tests - determine the ultimate strength of groove-weld joints.
QW 141.2 Guided-Bend Tests - determine the degree of soundness and ductility of groove-weld joints.
Radiographic examination may be substituted for mechanical testing of QW-141 for groove-weld performance
qualification as permitted in QW-304 to prove the ability of welders to make sound welds.
Note Radiography cannot be used to qualify a Welding Procedure. Only a welder can be tested by radiography and
then only on the metals listed in QW-304
QW 151.2 Reduced Section- Pipe. Reduced section specimen conforming to the requirements given in QW-462.1(b)
may be used for tension tests on all thicknesses of pipe having an outside diameter greater than 3(75mm)
(a) For thicknesses up to and including 1 in. a full thickness specimen shall be used for each required tension test.
(b) For pipe thickness greater than 1 in., full thickness specimens or multiple specimens may be used, provided QW151.1(c) and QW-151.1(d) are complied with.

(c) When multiple specimens are used, in lieu of full thickness specimens, each set shall represent a single tension
test of the full plate thickness. Collectively, all of the specimens required to represent the full thickness of the weld at
one location shall comprise a set.
(d) When multiple specimens are necessary, the entire thickness shall be mechanically cut into a minimum number of
approximately equal strips of a size that can be tested in the available equipment. Each specimen of the set shall be
tested and meet the requirements of QW-153.
For pipe having outside diameter of 3 or less, reduced-section specimens conforming to the requirements given in
figure QW462.1 (c ) may be used for tension tests
Example: 3.5 (89 mm) in 1 (25 mm) Capacity TS Machine

QW 152 Tension Test Procedure

The tension test specimen shall be ruptured under tensile load. The tensile strength shall be computed by dividing the
ultimate total load by the least cross sectional area of the specimen as calculated from actual measurements made
before the load is applied.

LOAD
.
. X

AREA SQ
TENSILE
INCHES (MM) STRENGTH

QW 153 Acceptance Criteria Tension Tests

Minimum values for procedure qualification are provided under the column heading Minimum Specified Tensile, ksi
of QW/QB- 422. In order to pass the tension test, the specimen shall have a tensile strength that is not less than:
(a) The minimum specified tensile strength of the base metal; or
(b) the minimum specified tensile strength of the weaker of the two, if base metals of different minimum tensile
strengths are used; or
(c) the minimum specified tensile strength of the weld metal when the applicable Section provides for the use of weld
metal having lower room temperature strength than the base metal; or
(d) If the specimen breaks in the base metal outside of the weld or weld interface, the test shall be accepted as
meeting the requirements, provided the strength is not more than 5% below the minimum specified tensile strength
of the base metal. (Note: (d) will be the acceptance paragraph for the majority of welding procedures and used during
the WPS/PQR review.)
QW 163 Acceptance Criteria Bend Tests
The weld and heat-affected zone of a transverse weld bend specimen shall be completely within the bent portion of
the specimen after testing.
The guided-bend specimens shall have no open discontinuity in the weld or heat-affected zone exceeding 18 in.(3
mm), measured in any direction on the convex surface of the specimen after bending. Open discontinuities occurring
on the corners of the specimen during testing shall not be considered unless there is definite evidence that they result
from lack of fusion, slag inclusions, or other internal discontinuities. For corrosion-resistant weld overlay cladding, no
open discontinuity exceeding 116 in. (1.5 mm), measured in any direction, shall be permitted in the cladding, and no
open discontinuity exceeding 18 in. (3 mm) shall be permitted along the approximate weld interface.

QW-170 NOTCH-TOUGHNESS TESTS - Test procedures and apparatus shall conform to the requirements
of SA-370.
QW-184 Macro Acceptance
a) Visual Examination of the cross section of the weld metal and HAZ shall show complete fusion and
freedom from cracks. Except that linear indications at the root not exceeding 1/32 in. (0.8mm) shall
be acceptable
b) The weld shall not have a concavity or convexity greater than 1/16 in (1.5mm)
c) There shall be not more than 1/8 in. (3mm) difference in the lengths of the legs of the fillet
QW-191 Radiographic Examination
(a) A written radiographic examination procedure is not required. Demonstration of density and image
quality requirements on production or technique radiographs shall be considered satisfactory evidence of
compliance with Article 2 of Section V.
(b) Final acceptance of radiographs shall be based on the ability to see the prescribed image and the
specified hole of a hole-type image quality indicator (IQI) or the designated wire of a wire-type IQI. The
acceptance standards of QW-191.2 shall be met.
(a) Linear Indications. Radiograph as linear indications in which the length is more than three times the
width.
(b) Rounded Indications. radiograph as rounded indications with a length three times the width or less.
These indications may be circular, elliptical, or irregular in shape; may have tails; and may vary in density.

WPS - A WPS is a written qualified welding procedure prepared to provide direction for making production
welds to Code requirements.
A WPS used for Code production welding shall be available for reference and review by the Authorized
Inspector (AI) at the fabrication site.
PQR - A PQR is a record of the welding data used to weld a test coupon. The PQR is a record of variables
recorded during the welding of the test coupons.
To reduce the number of welding procedure qualifications required, P-Numbers are assigned to base
metals
Group Numbers are assigned additionally to P-Numbers. These Group Numbers classify the metals within
P-Numbers for the purpose of procedure qualification where notch-toughness requirements are specified.
(Group numbers are required on the PQR only when Charpy testing is required of the production welds).
QW-300.1
A welder or welding operator may be qualified by radiography of a test coupon, radiography of his initial
production welding, or by bend tests taken from a test coupon except as stated in QW-304 and QW-305.
QW-302.2 Radiographic Examinations
When the welder or welding operator is qualified by radiographic examination,.., the minimum length of
coupon (s) to be examined shall be 6 in. and shall include the entire weld circumference for pipe (s),
except that for small diameter pipe, multiple coupons may be required, but the number need not exceed
four consecutively made test coupons.
QW-304 Welders
Each welder who welds under the rules of the Code shall have passed the mechanical and visual
examinations prescribed in QW-302.1 and QW-302.4 respectively.
Alternatively, welders making a groove weld using SMAW, SAW, GTAW, PAW, and GMAW (except shortcircuiting mode) or a combination of these processes, may be qualified by radiographic examination,
except for P-No. 21 through P-No. 25, P-No. 51 through P-No. 53, and P-No. 61 through P-No. 62 metals.
Welders making groove welds in P-No. 21 through P-No. 25 and P-No. 51 through P-No. 53 metals with the
GTAW process may also be qualified by radiographic examination. The radiographic examination shall be
in accordance with QW-302.2.
A welder qualified to weld in accordance with one qualified WPS is also qualified to weld in accordance
with other qualified WPSs, using the same welding process, within the limits of the essential variables of
QW-350.
QW-304.1 Examination. Welds made in test coupons for performance qualification may be examined by
visual and mechanical examinations (QW-302.1, QW-302.4) or by radiography (QW-302.2) for the process
(es) and mode of arc transfer specified in QW-304. Alternatively, a minimum 6 in. (150 mm) length of the
first production weld(s) made by a welder using the process(es) and/or mode of arc transfer specified in
QW-304 may be examined by radiography.

(a) For pipe(s) welded in the 5G, 6G, or special positions, the entire production weld circumference
made by the welder shall be radiographed.
(b) For small diameter pipe where the required minimum length of weld cannot be obtained from a single
production pipe circumference, additional consecutive circumferences made by the welder shall be
radiographed, except that the total number of circumferences need not exceed four.
(c) The radiographic technique and acceptance criteria for production welds shall be in accordance with
QW-191.1
and QW-191.2.2.
QW-304.2 - Failure to Meet Radiographic Standards
In this event, the entire production weld made by this welder shall be radiographed and repaired by a
qualified welder or welding operator. Alternatively, retests may be made as permitted in QW-320.

Welds made in test coupons may be examined by radiography (QW-302.2) or by visual and mechanical
examinations (QW-302.1, QW-302.4). Alternatively, a 3 ft (0.9 m) length of the first production weld made
entirely by the welding operator in accordance with a qualified WPS may be examined by radiography.
QW-321.1 Immediate Retest Using Visual Examination.
When the qualification coupon has failed the visual examination of QW-302.4, retesting shall be by visual examination
before conducting the mechanical testing. When an immediate retest is made, the welder or welding operator shall
make two consecutive test coupons for each position which he has failed, all of which shall pass the visual
examination requirements.
The examiner may select one of the successful test coupons from each set of retest coupons which pass the visual
examination for conducting the mechanical testing.
QW-321.2 Immediate Retest Using Mechanical Testing.
When the qualification coupon has failed the mechanical testing of QW-302.1, retesting shall be by mechanical testing.
When an immediate retest is made, the welder or welding operator shall make two consecutive test coupons for each
position which he has failed, all of which shall pass the test requirements.
QW-321.3 Immediate Retest Using Radiography.
When the qualification coupon has failed the radiographic examination of QW-302.2, the immediate retest shall be by
the radiographic examination method.
(a) For welders and welding operators the retest shall be to radiographically examine two 6 in. (150 mm) plate
coupons; for pipe, to examine two pipes for a total of 12 in. (300 mm) of weld, which shall include the entire weld
circumference for pipe or pipes (for small diameter pipe the total number of consecutively made test coupons need
not exceed eight).
QW-322.1 Expiration of Qualification
QW-322.1 Expiration of Qualification. The performance qualification of a welder or welding operator shall be
affected when one of the following conditions occurs:
(a) When he has not welded with a process during a period of 6 months or more, his qualification for that process shall
expire; unless, within the 6 month period, prior to his expiration of qualification.
(1) The welder has welded with that process using manual or semiautomatic welding, under the supervision and
control of the qualifying manufacturer or contractor or participating organization(s) as identified in QW-300.3; that will
extend his qualification for an additional 6 months.
(2) The welding operator has welded with that process using machine or automatic welding, under the supervision and
control of the qualifying manufacturer or contractor or participating organization(s) as identified in QW-300.3; that will
extend his qualification for an additional 6 months
(b) When there is a specific reason to question his ability to make welds that meet the specification, the qualifications
that support the welding he is doing shall be revoked. All other qualifications not questioned remain in effect.
QW-322.2 Renewal of Qualification
(a) Renewal of qualification expired under QW-322.1(a) may be made for any process by welding a single test coupon
of either plate or pipe, of any material, thickness or diameter, in any position, and by testing of that coupon as
required by QW-301 and QW-302. A successful test renews the welder or welding operators previous qualifications for
that process for those materials, thicknesses, diameters, positions, and other variables for which he was previously
qualified. Providing the conditions of QW-304 and QW-305 are
Satisfied, renewal of qualification under QW-322.1(a) may be done on production work.
(b) Welders and welding operators whose qualifications have been revoked under QW-322.1(b) above shall requalify.
Qualification shall utilize a test coupon appropriate to the planned production work. The coupon shall be welded and
tested as required by QW-301

Notice the welder has only essential variables

QW-420.2 S-Numbers. S-Numbers are assigned to materials that are acceptable for use by the ASME B31 Code for
Pressure Piping
P Numbers - base metals Group Numbers are assigned additionally to P-Numbers
S Numbers - S-Numbers are assigned to materials that are acceptable for use by the ASME B31 Code for Pressure
Piping
F Numbers Filler Metal - grouping of electrodes and welding rods.
A Numbers - A-Nos. are the chemical analysis of the ferrous weld metal deposits produced by a given filler metal.

1.
2.
3.
4.

QW-404.5 (Applicable only to ferrous metals.) A change in the chemical composition of the weld deposit from
one A-Number to any other A-Number in QW- 442.
Qualification with A-No. 1 shall qualify for A-No. 2 and vice versa.
(Note: all other A- No. changes will force requalification).

Base Metal (s) 2 SA-516 Gr. 70 P-No. 1

Filler Metal (s) E-7018 Only
Preheat 175 o F for P-No.1 (from Sect. VIII Div. 1 non-mandatory Appendix R)
PWHT 1100 o F Minimum per inch of thickness for P-No. 1 (from Sect. VIII Div. 1 UCS-56)

A welder is limited by, process, pipe diameter, P- Number, F- Number, weld metal thickness, position, backing and
progression.
All of these Essential Variables must meet the requirements of the WPS to be used in the production weld
WPS/PQR Mistakes are of Four Types
1. Missing variables, both Essentials and Non-Essentials on the WPS.
2. Missing Essential variables on the PQR, Non-Essentials are not required for the PQR.
3. Incorrect Essential Variables, such as the wrong F-Number for a filler metal or electrode. For example:
The electrode E-6010 has an F-Number of 3 and often the wrong F-Number is assigned to it such as F-Number 4
4. An Essential Variable listed on the WPS that is not supported by the PQR.
The first checks are in the title of the WPS.
1. Does our WPS reference our PQR?
2. Has our welding process been listed?
3. Is the Type of welding listed, manual, automatic etc.?
SWPS process allowed SMAW, GTAW & FCAW or combination of these three