CSWIP 3.

1 Welding Inspection

Typical Duties Of Welding Inspectors

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Course Reference WIS 5
Course notes section reference 1.0
 Main Responsibilities

• Code compliance

• Workmanship control

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• Documentation control
 Personal Attributes

Important qualities that good Inspectors are expected

to have are:

•Honesty

•Integrity

•Knowledge

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•Good communicator

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•Physical fitness
 Standard for Visual Inspection
Basic Requirements

BS EN 970 - Non-destructive examination of fusion

welds - Visual examination
Welding Inspection Personnel should:
• be familiar with relevant standards, rules and specifications
applicable to the fabrication work to be undertaken
• be informed about the welding procedures to be used

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• have good vision (which should be checked every 12
months) ©

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 Welding Inspection

Conditions for Visual Inspection (to BS EN 970)

Illumination:
• 350 lux minimum required
• (recommends 500 lux - normal shop or office lighting)
Vision Access:
• eye should be within 600mm of the surface
• viewing angle (line from eye to surface) to be not less than
30°

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600mm
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30°
 Welding Inspection

Aids to Visual Inspection (to BS EN 970)

When access is restricted may use:

• a mirrored borescope
• a fibre optic viewing system
} usually by agreement

Other aids:
• welding gauges (for checking bevel angles, weld profile, fillet
sizing, undercut depth)

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• dedicated weld-gap gauges and linear misalignment (high-low)
gauges ©

• straight edges and measuring tapes

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• magnifying lens (if magnification lens used it should have
magnification between X2 to X5)
 Welding Inspectors Equipment

Measuring devices:
• flexible tape, steel rule
• Temperature indicating crayons
• Welding gauges
• Voltmeter
• Ammeter

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• Magnifying glass
• Torch / flash light
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• Gas flowmeter
 Welding Inspectors Gauges
10mm 10mm 1

5m
5m

m
m
m

m
2

m
12
4mm
G.A.L. G.A.L.

12
4mm
3

3mm

3mm
4
T L

9m
S.T.D. S.T.D.
9m

m m

m
m

16mm 5

6m

6m
16mm
6

Fillet Weld Gauges

HI-LO Single Purpose Welding Gauge

IN
0 1/4 1/2 3/4
1
0 M
5 M 1/
10 2
N MM 15
MMI 15
20
50

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60
40

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TWI Multi-purpose Welding Gauge Misalignment Gauges
Welding Inspectors Equipment

Multi-Meter capable of
measuring amperage
and voltage

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 Welding Inspection

Stages of Visual Inspection (to BS EN 970)

Extent of examination and when required should be defined in
the application standard or by agreement between the
contracting parties

For high integrity fabrications inspection required throughout

the fabrication process:

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Before welding ©

During welding

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After welding
Duties of a Welding Inspector

• Before Welding.
(before assembly.)
(after assembly.)

• During welding.

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• After welding.

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 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector
Before Welding
Preparation:
Familiarisation with relevant ‘documents’…
• Application Standard/Code - for visual acceptance
requirements
• Drawings - item details and positions/tolerances etc
• Quality Control Procedures - for activities such as material

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handling, documentation control, storage & issue of
welding consumables ©

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• Quality Plan/Inspection & Test Plan/Inspection Checklist -
details of inspection requirements, inspection procedures
& records required
 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector

Before Welding
Welding Procedures:
• are applicable to joints to be welded & approved

• are available to welders & inspectors

Welder Qualifications:

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• list of available qualified welders related to WPS’s
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• certificates are valid and ‘in-date’

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 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector
Before Welding
Equipment:
• all inspection equipment is in good condition & calibrated as
necessary
• all safety requirements are understood & necessary equipment
available
Materials:

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• can be identified & related to test certificates ©

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• are of correct dimensions

• are in suitable condition (no damage/contamination)

 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector

Before Welding
Consumables:
• in accordance with WPS’s

• are being controlled in accordance with Procedure

Weld Preparations:

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• comply with WPS/drawing
• free from defects & contamination ©

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Welding Equipment:
• in good order & calibrated as required by Procedure
 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector

Before Welding
Fit-up
• complies with WPS
• Number / size of tack welds to Code / good workmanship

Pre-heat
• if specified

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• minimum temperature complies with WPS
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 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector
During Welding
Weather conditions
• suitable if site / field welding
Welding Process(es)
• in accordance with WPS
Welder

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• is approved to weld the joint
Pre-heat (if required)
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• minimum temperature as specified by WPS
• maximum interpass temperature as WPS
 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector
During Welding
Welding consumables
• in accordance with WPS
• in suitable condition
• controlled issue and handling
Welding Parameters
•

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current, voltage & travel speed – as WPS
Root runs ©

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• if possible, visually inspect root before single-sided welds are
filled up
 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector

During Welding
Inter-run dressing
• in accordance with an approved method (& back gouging) to
good workmanship standard
Distortion control
• welding is balanced & over-welding is avoided

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 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector
After Welding
Weld Identification
• identified/numbered as required
• is marked with welder’s identity
Visual Inspection
• ensure weld is suitable for all NDT
• visually inspect & ‘sentence’ to Code requirements

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Dimensional Survey ©

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• ensure dimensions comply with Code/drawing
Other NDT
• ensure all NDT is completed & reports available
 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector

After Welding
Repairs
• monitor repairs to ensure compliance with Procedure
• PWHT (postweld heart treatment)
• monitor for compliance with Procedure
• check chart records confirm Procedure compliance

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Pressure / Load Test
• ensure test equipment is suitably calibrated ©

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• monitor to ensure compliance with Procedure
• ensure all records are available
 Typical Duties of a Welding Inspector

After Welding
Documentation
• ensure any modifications are on ‘as-built’ drawings
• ensure all required documents are available
• Collate / file documents for manufacturing records
• Sign all documentation and forward it to QC department.

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 W. I. Duties Before Welding

Resume:
• Check all documentation

• Check all consumables

• Check materials, dimensions and condition

• Preheating, method and temperature

• Check fit and set-up.

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• Ensure no undue stress is applied to the joint ©

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• Check welding equipment
 W. I. Duties During Welding

Resume:
• Check amperage, voltage, polarity

• Ensure the correct technique, run sequence.

• Check run out lengths, time lapses.

• Cleaning between passes

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• Interpass temperatures

• Consumable control
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• Maintenance of records and reports
 W. I. Duties After Welding

Resume:
• Post cleaning
• Visual inspection of completed welded joint
• Check weld contour and width
• PWHT
• Dimensional accuracy

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• Weld reports
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• Tie up with NDT

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• Monitor any repairs
 Summary of Duties
It is the duty of a Welding Inspector to ensure all the welding and
associated actions are carried out in accordance with the
specification and any applicable procedures.
A Welding Inspector must:
• Observe
To observe all relevant actions related to weld quality throughout
production.

• Record
To record, or log all production inspection points relevant to

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quality, including a final report showing all identified imperfections

• Compare
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To compare all recorded information with the acceptance criteria
and any other relevant clauses in the applied application standard
 Welding Inspector Duties

Any Questions

?
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