Welding supervision, procedure qualification and welder training

Welding pressure equipment requires reliable welder competence. New welding technologies also require a sound grasp of welding principles, the causes of defects and ways to prevent or remedy them.

1. ITVC services

ITVC Global provides welding supervision, welding procedure qualification, welder training and qualification testing. The source cites AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX, EN 287-1 and CGA C-3; the applicable standard and edition must be agreed for each assignment.

• Support the preparation and qualification of welding procedures.
• Supervise welding operations.
• Train, assess and qualify welders.
• Supervise welding-related heat treatment.

2. International welder training

ITVC Global has delivered training preparing welders for international qualification. The source describes programmes based on International Institute of Welding (IIW) requirements and examinations under ISO 9606/EN 287. The qualification route, examining body and applicable standard are confirmed for each course.

EN 287 is a historical reference in the source. ISO 9606-1 addresses qualification testing for fusion welding of steels; materials, processes, positions and certification conditions must be confirmed before training.

ISO 9606-1

3. Welding training areas

1. Oxyfuel welding

Oxyfuel welding is used to join plate and pipe made from unalloyed and alloyed steels, typically for plate or pipe-wall thicknesses below 6 mm.

• General pipe fabrication.
• Heating and ventilation engineering.
• Boiler fabrication.
• Vehicle body and machinery fabrication.

Training programme reference in the source: DVS-EWF-IIW 1113.

2. Manual metal arc welding (MMA)

Manual metal arc welding joins unalloyed and alloyed steel plate and pipe. The qualified welding procedure determines the permitted thicknesses and welding positions.

• Structural steel and bridge construction.
• General pipe fabrication.
• Boiler and power-plant fabrication.
• Tank and machinery fabrication.

Programme reference in the source: DVS-EWF-IIW 1123.

3. MIG/MAG welding

Gas metal arc welding is used across metal fabrication, from thin sheet in vehicle bodies to heavy sections in machinery.

• Vehicle production and repair.
• Structural steel, bridges and crane fabrication.
• Machinery fabrication.

MAG training for unalloyed and low-alloy steels is described under DVS-EWF 1133. Training may also cover stainless steels and aluminium where the selected process and materials are appropriate.

4. Tungsten inert gas welding (TIG)

TIG welding is used to join unalloyed and alloyed steel plate and pipe. Applicable thicknesses and positions depend on the qualified welding procedure.

• Sheet-metal fabrication.
• General pipe fabrication.
• Boiler and power-station fabrication.
• Tank and machinery fabrication.

Programme reference in the source: DVS-EWF-IIW 1132. Training may also cover stainless steels and aluminium.

5. Plastics welding

• PE pipe welding under the relevant DVGW requirements (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water).
• Electrofusion welding
• Pipe installation

PE pipes are widely used in water and gas networks. They are lightweight and flexible, with low friction losses. UV resistance and permitted operating pressure depend on the pipe grade, formulation, wall thickness, temperature and manufacturer’s specification. The pressure ranges quoted in the original article are historical examples, not design or operating limits:

• PE 80: 4–26 bar
• PE 100: 5–24 bar

Heated-tool butt fusion joins pipe ends using heat and pressure. Electrofusion uses fittings with embedded resistance wires to heat the joint. The method is selected for the application, material and pipe dimensions, using a qualified procedure.