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Bridging The Gap

Many vocational schools teach a lot about welding theory, basic welding skills, weld symbols etc. This is great for someone who is interested in entering the welding industry as a career and gives the individual a lot of background knowledge about the processes as a whole. 

When it comes to industrial plant welding a lot of times the vocational schools fail to properly prepare students for one critical element: passing the weld test these kinds of jobs require.

Fusion Welding Institute is committed to properly preparing individuals who have invested a lot of time and resources into vocational training or self-taught skills that still need the guidance to pass the initial test for industrial plant projects.    

How Welding Qualification Works

As per ASME BPVC Section IX (code for welding, brazing, and fusing qualification), welding contractors are required to give all welders and welding operators a weld test to verify their ability before making any production welds.

The weld test is verified (pass/fail) by either radiographic, ultrasonic, or mechanical testing. The weld tests administered by the contractors are specific to the materials, thickness, pipe/tube diameter, and other essential variables being welded in production.

This process is called welder performance qualification, commonly referred to as “certified.”

See Excerpts From ASME IX Code Below:

QW-301.1 Intent of Tests

The performance qualification tests are intended to determine the ability of welders and welding operators to make sound welds.

QW-301.2 Qualification Tests

Each organization shall qualify each welder or welding operator for each welding process to be used in production welding.

At Fusion Welding Institute, we allow new welders to learn to pass the four most common pipe welder performance tests administered by welding contractors and many job-specific weld tests a welder may need to pass by request.

The most common weld test(s) Industrial Plant Projects

  • 2.75-Inch OD .625 Wall - Pipe - 6G Position – GTAW/SMAW
  • 2.75-Inch OD .625 Wall - Pipe - 6G Position – GTAW
  • 2.75-Inch .625 Wall - Pipe - 6G Position (P8 Material) – GTAW
  • Water Wall Tube Sheet Simulator – GTAW
  • .500 Wall - Plate - 2G, 3G, 4G - SMAW
  • .500 Wall - Plate - 2G, 3G, 4G - FCAW