Employee

Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification Let’s see… the WPS

Just leave the gap at ¼”. The
calls for a 1/8” MAX

steps to success
welder will be able to weld
across that! gap!

This is a Required
ASME Code Verification

Is this what we call teamwork?

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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Good fit up of the joint is crucial for high quality welding. Poor fit up can make it
difficult for the welder to fuse both sides of the weld root. An unfused root can be a
stress riser for fatigue cracking and/or a site for deposit formation and corrosion.
Large diameter vessel shells, pipe and fittings are often out of round and require
adjustment during fit-up. Joint alignment can be done with mechanical devices and
should be free of depressions, hammer marks, and arc strikes. Heat is not used in
the alignment of joints where it has been determined that the corrosion resistance
of the alloy is reduced.
Misalignment tolerances are specified as a percentage of the wall thicknesses
involved, and determined by the service requirements.

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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Backing
Definitions
A material or device placed against the back-side of the joint to support and retain molten weld metal.
Base metal The metal to be welded.
Bevel angle The angle on one side or surface of the member.
Groove angle The total included angle of the groove that makes up the weld joint.
Crack A fracture in the weld or base metal.
Complete When the weld metal or tack weld metal extends through to the bottom of the weld joint.
penetration
Filler metal The metal or alloy to be added in making a welded joint.
Lack of fusion A non-standard term indicating a weld defect in which fusion did not occur between weld metal and fusion
faces or adjoining weld beads.
Overlap: The protrusion of unfused weld metal beyond the weld toe or weld root.
Root face The portion of the groove face within the weld joint on the underside of the weld.
Root gap A separation or gap at the joint root between the work pieces.
Subweldement An incomplete vessel, or part, that is joined by welding
t The thickness of the thinner material or part being joined.
Tack weld A weld made to hold the parts of a weldment in proper alignment until the final welds are made.

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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Tasks of Fit-Up Verification

● Material ID Traceability Verification
● Welder Qualification Verification
● Weld Joint Preparation Check
● Weld Joint Fit-Up Verification
★ Alignment Check

★ Dimensional Check

★ Orientation Check

● Tack Weld Condition Analysis

● Documentation Completion
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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Material ID Traceability Verification

● Material Specification and Grade

● Heat No. / Plate No.
● Part No. Identification
● Documentation Completion

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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Welder Qualification Verification

● Welder is currently qualified
★ Welding Process Qualification
★ Base Metal Qualification
★ Filler Metal Qualification
★ Welding Position Qualification

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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Weld Joint Preparation Check

● Bevel Correct, when required
● Joint Surface Cleanliness
★ No oil, grease, other contaminates
★ No rips or breakouts of base metal

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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Weld Joint Fit-Up Verification

● Alignment Check
★ Tolerance is ¼t or 1/8”, whichever is less
● Backing Check for weld joints with backing
★ Tolerance is 1/16” maximum gap at backing band
● Dimensional Check using drawing
★ within drawing tolerance
● Orientation Check using drawing
★ within drawing tolerance
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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Tack Weld Condition Verification

● Full Weld Joint Penetration
● Tack Welds must:
★ be feathered into the weld joint at ends to allow good weld
penetration into tack
★ have no cracks
★ have complete fusion
★ have no overlap or tunnels

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 Employee Training

Weld Fit-Up Verification

Documentation Completion
● Head Fit-Up Documentation
★ Liquid Container Head Log
★ Documentation on Head subweldment
● Girth Fit-Up Documentation
★ Container Assembly Verification
★ Special Container Assembly
★ Documentation on Vessel Shell subweldment
● Drain and Vent Nozzle Fit-Up Documentation
★ Documentation on Vessel Shell subweldment
● Piping Fit-Up Documentation
★ B 31.3 Piping Verification Record For Tanks
★ Piping Verification Sheet
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