Position Qualified for FCAW Welding

Why not explaining your abbreviations? WPS : world positioning system?

Many people from different continents work with different standards. Unless you want to keep answers in your family, a little clarification would do good to all the readers too. Just my opinion. D.

dvmdsc,

The OP was seeking assistance interpreting the requirements of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV), Section IX: Welding and Brazing Qualification. This section is divided into to parts: QW for welding and QB for Brazing. "QW," and "QB" aren't abbreviations or acronyms, but you can think of them as standing for "Qualified Welding," or Qualified Brazing." Since the welding processes were Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), and Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW), he was concerned with Part "QW."

In order for the weld to be qualified in accordance with ASME Sect IX, a set of parameters must be established, welding performed to these parameters, and the weld tested as required by Sect. IX. This is all documented on a Procedure Qualification Record (PQR). From the PQR a Weld Procedure Specification (WPS) is generated, and is what is followed by the welder performing the weld.

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is an International Code used in more than 100 countries through out the world. Any one with enough familiarity to answer the poster's question would know the abbreviations. I think it very unkind of you to demean him/her for using the vernacular of his field. Just my opinion.

Based on the PQR, you may issue a WPS that permits welding in any position and direction of vertical travel. However; the welder (in this case the machine and it's operator) must demonstrate that he/she has the ability to perform the WPS in any position (e.g. 5G), in order to qualify in this procedure, and perform production welds.

Thanks for the feedbacks...

I have received following reply from our AI

"QW-405.2 clause is addressing the "change in position". You have qualified FCAW in 1G position only. So this position do not qualify all position ( even 5G as you have mentioned)when supplementary requirements are applicable.

QW- 405.3 clause is addressing the "Change in progression". If you have qualified the procedure in uphill then it will qualify downhill only in wash pass and root pass if it is removed during the back chip.

But in your case you have done in 1G position where there is no uphill or downhill progression exists."

What is the opinion now?

QW 301.2: "The welder or welding operator who prepares the WPS qualification test coupons meeting the requirements of QW-200 is also qualified within the limits of the performance qualifications, listed in QW-304 for welders and in QW-305 for welding operators. He is qualified only within the limits for positions specified in QW-303."

So; if the welder successfully completes the WPQ (Weld Procedure Qualification) per your WPS in 5G/6G, downhill, you have the documentation to support the PQR in any position, and vertical up/down. If this weld requires notch toughness testing by other sections of the code, then in addition to the WPQ tests results you must have all required notch toughnes tests if they have not been performed. If they have been performed, then you need only now test the HAZ (Heat Affected Zone).

Run that by your AI (Authorized Inspector).