AWS and ASME Weld Acceptance: Find the Governing Requirement

Separate qualification, examination and acceptance

A welding procedure qualification supports the welding process within its qualified range. An NDT procedure defines how the examination is performed. Production acceptance comes from the applicable construction, product or contractual requirements. These documents are related but do not perform the same job.

ASME Section IX, for example, addresses welding, brazing and fusing qualification. It should not be presented as a universal table of production-weld NDT acceptance limits.

Check whether the methods are comparable

Visual, surface, radiographic and ultrasonic examinations reveal different characteristics. A radiographic image and a UT amplitude do not describe an indication in the same way. Use the method-specific rules invoked by the governing requirement rather than transferring a numerical limit from another method.

Where a specification permits a substitute technique, confirm the conditions for that substitution before examination. A method’s popularity or speed is not sufficient evidence of equivalence.

Document the decision path

Record the joint identity, governing reference and edition, procedure revision, examination coverage and reportable characteristics. State the acceptance basis used for the conclusion. Resolve conflicting contract references through the designated technical authority rather than choosing the less restrictive limit. If repair is required, keep the initial finding and subsequent examination linked to the same joint.

References and next steps

ASME’s Section IX qualification overview provides further background. Use the governing specification and approved procedure for the actual job.

Discuss the examination scope. Bring the joint drawing, governing specification, examination method and the acceptance question to be resolved.