Creating code compliant ASME IX welder qualifications in WeldTrace

ASME IX Welder Qualifications (WPQ or WQTR)

Create a new WPQ or WQTR for ASME IX

Step 1 - Select the standard & unit

Create a welder qualification - step 1
  1. Select the standard;
  2. Select the unit (metric/US customary);
  3. Click here to continue;
  4. Select a welder ID;
  5. The name, email, company and photograph will be displayed for the selected welder;
  6. These fields are optional;
  7. If the welder is previously qualified to the standard/unit combination selected in steps 1 & 2, this section will appear with the "Clone" button. You can pick any of the previous WPQs (the dropdown box will list the designations of the WPQs) and press the clone button to copy all the data from the other qualification, which you may then edit;

Step 2 - Enter the qualification details

Create a welder qualification - step 2
  1. Pick the WPS. Only the WPS that are in the WPS (all) menu (BYO WPS and WPS created in WeldTrace and approved) will be listed here;
  2. Enter a number for the WPQ, pick a revision and the date;
  3. Pick the qualification type;
  4. The job knowledge test outcome (optional);
  5. Select yes, if it is a requalification;
  6. Enter the test date (see note below) and the other information such as location, weather, etc (except the test date, all these are optional fields);
  7. Select the customer (only the customers who are already entered in the Organization -> Customers section will be displayed. You may also create a customer through the "+" button shown next to the drop down field;
  8. If there are other WPQs for the standard/unit combination selected in steps 1 & 2, this section will appear with the "Replicate" button. You can pick any of the previous WPQs (the dropdown box will list the designations of the WPQs) and press the replicate button to copy the data from the other qualification (from this point down i.e. starting from the joint details), which you may then edit;
  9. Select the joint type and the choice for branch connection;
  10. Select the alloy for base metal 1;
  11. Select the product form for base metal 1;
  12. You may change the alloy and product form for the other base metal;
  13. Click here to select or change the base metal;
  14. Click here to select the pipe dimension (this button will appear only if the product form is pipe);
The validity of the WPQ will commence from the date entered in the "Test Date" field (the date on which the welder qualification test was conducted) and not the date entered in the "WPQ Date" field
The “Clone” and “Replicate” functions will only transfer the data from WPQs that are in “Awarded” state. Any of the “Failed” or “In progress” WPQ designations will not be shown for selection

Step 3 - Select the base metal

Create a welder qualification - select the base metal
  1. The alloy and product form selected in the previous step will be shown here and the list of base metals displayed will be filtered by your choice. You may change these to find if the base metal you are looking for is listed under another combination e.g. product form as plate and the alloy is nickel alloys. You may also add base metals to the base metal library and it will be listed here (read this article on how to add a base metal to the WeldTrace library);
  2. Click on any cell in the row to pick a base metal;
  3. You may use the sort and filter features in the column heading (like Excel) to find the base metal;
  4. The details of the selected base metal will be displayed here;
  5. Click on save to select the base metal and close this window;

Step 4 - Select the pipe dimension

Create a welder qualification - select the pipe dimension
If the product form is pipe or tube, you can select the pipe size from this table. If the unit for the WPQ is metric, the dimensions shown here will be in mm. If you picked plate for product form, you will need to enter the thickness and the button to open this table will not appear.
  1. Click on the cell that is not greyed out. The number shown in these white cells is the wall thickness of the pipe;
  2. This is the diameter for the pipe (the dimensions shown here will be DN for metric and NPS for US customary);
  3. The schedule of the pipe will be displayed as the column heading;
  4. The dimensions of the pipe will be displayed here;
  5. Click here to pick the pipe and close this window;

Edit the name of the product and dimensions

Edit name of product and dimensions
  1. If you need to change the name of the product click on the note icon;
  2. The "Change Product Form Name" field will appear, where you can type a name that will be shown on the PDF file generated. Click on the tick button to save or on the X button to cancel;
  3. You may also edit the pipe dimensions;
  4. Remember to click on the note icon to edit and once edited click on the tick button to save or on the X button to cancel;

Step 5 - Check Base Metals (QW-403)

Base metals (QW-403)
  1. The alloy and product form selected in the previous step will be shown here for material 1. This may be changed;
  2. The alloy and product form selected for material 1 will be copied to material 2. This may be changed;
  3. The base metal selected in the previous step will be displayed here;
  4. The base metal selected in the previous step will be copied to material 2. You may pick a different base metal with the "Change base metal" button;
  5. The pipe dimension selected in the previous step will be displayed here;
  6. The pipe dimension selected in the previous step will be copied to material 2. You may pick a different pipe size with the "Change Pipe/Tube" button;

Step 6 - Enter the Process Variables

Enter the process variables
  1. The tab to enter the variables for process 1. The current tab will be highlighted;
  2. Pick the welding process and type;
  3. Select the backing and either select or enter the value for the other fields. Mandatory fields for the selected process will be enabled and will have a red asterisk. The fields that are not relevant for the selected process will be disabled;
  4. Select the progression (will be displayed based on the test position);
  5. Pick a filler metal (read the next step);
  6. You may add another process (maximum 3 processes per WPQ) by clicking on the plus button;

Step 7 - Pick a Filler Metal

Select the filler metal
  1. The alloy selected in the previous step will be shown here;
  2. The selected welding process will be shown here;
  3. The rules check button will be enabled as default;
  4. The list of filler metals shown in this table will be filtered by the alloy and welding process. If you change the rules check to no, all the filler metals for the selected alloy will be shown;
  5. Click on any cell in the row to pick a filler metal. You may use the sort and filter features in the column heading (like Excel) to find the filler metal;
  6. The details of the selected filler metal will be displayed here;

Step 8 - Additional Processes

Enter data for additional processes
  1. You may select an additional process (maximum 3 processes per WPQ) and enter the values as shown in the previous step;
  2. You may clear all the values entered in this section and start again, if you have mistakenly picked a process;

Step 9 - Test Results

Enter test results
  1. Enter the test results in this section;
  2. The test methods displayed here will be based on the joint type, test position, deposit thickness and other criteria;
  3. Select “Performed and Acceptable” if the test result is acceptable. If “Not Tested” or “Not Acceptable” are selected for the required tests, the WPQ status will default to “Not Approved” – please see (5);
  4. You may upload the test report (must be a PDF file);
  5. Select the outcome of the welder qualification test. If “Not approved” is selected, the outcome of the process will be a failed WPQ (this can be changed in the approval process - the next step in the workflow);
  6. You can click on this button to slide out the range qualified values table at any time (see next step);
  7. Preview will generate the WPQ (this button will be enabled after you save the WPQ);
  8. Save button will save the WPQ and you may continue to edit and the Submit button will save and push the WPQ to the next stage of the workflow;

Range Qualified Values

Range qualified values
  1. The range qualified values will be displayed in this table;
  2. The values shown in the columns below will be for the processes displayed here;
The test methods listed include both required and options tests. For example, in the screenshot shown above, the radiographic and ultrasonic tests are optional and you may select “Not Tested” for the test result and this will not result in the WPQ being failed

Step 10 - Approve the Welder Qualification

Approve the welder qualification
The welder qualification workflow is in two stages. Someone who has the privilege to access the menu can create a WPQ and submit it for approval. The same user or another user can approve and grant the qualification. Both these users' stamps and signatures will appear in the WPQ certificate.

The screenshot above is for viewing the welder qualification form that is showing the status "Awaiting Approval."
  1. Select “Yes” to grant the welder qualification. If the welder has failed any of the required tests, this will be set to “No”;
  2. You may leave the approval comments here;
  3. Click on “Submit” button to complete the process and generate the WPQ; 
  4. The user may edit the WPQ, which will launch the WPQ edit process and all the fields will become editable. Please note that if the WPQ is edited it needs to be submitted and then approved. The WPQ certificate will then bear the stamp and signature of the user who edits the WPQ and not the user who first created the WPQ;

WPQ Certificate

WPQ certificate
WPQ certificate - part 2
WPQ certificate - part 3
  1. Designation – please see below on how to interpret it;
  2. Qualification details. If a photo is uploaded for the welder, it will be shown in the certificate;
  3. The base metals section;
  4. The joint details;
  5. The range qualified values for this section;
  6. Process variables;
  7. Range qualified values for process variables;
  8. The test reports uploaded will be stitched to the WPQ and the file names will be hyperlinked to the relevant page number;
  9. You can see the title page for test reports and the reports that are stitched to the WPQ in this preview window;
  10. The notes left by the user who created the WPQ and the user who approved it;
  11. The digital signature in the middle, the stamp at the left and the signature on the right are all put together automatically for the user who created the WPQ;
  12. Same as the point above and this set is for the user who approves the WPQ - as in this case, both can be the same person;

Designation (ASME IX) - Example:
ASME IX:2019 GTAW/FCAW P-No. 1 to P-No. 1 G F#6/6 T 14.02 DN 65 t 2/12.02 6G/6G

Standard (ASME IX:2019) 
Welding Processes used (GTAW/FCAW – for process 1 & 2 in that order) 
P Number for base metal 1 (1)
P Number for base metal 2 (1)
Joint type (G) [Groove – G; Fillet – F; Hardfacing Overlay – HFOL; Corrosion-resistant Overlay – CROL; Stud – ST]
Filler Metal F-Number for both processes (F# 6/6)
Dimensions – 
Thickness of Material ( T 14.02 mm)
Diameter, (DN for Metric & NPS for US units) (DN 65)
Weld deposit thickness for the two processes (t 2/12.02 in mm)
Welding (Test) position for the processes (6G/6G)

Welder Qualifications generated will be appended to the welder’s qualifications section

    • Related Articles

    • Welder Qualifications

      Create code compliant welder qualifications You can create code compliant welder qualifications (WPQ - welder performance qualification or WQTR - welder qualification test record) in WeldTrace to ASME IX, AWS D1.1, ISO 9606-1 and API 1104. Welder ...

    • API 1104 Welder Qualifications

      In WeldTrace you can write code compliant welder qualifications to API 1104 for single and multiple qualifications, welding operator qualification, repair welder and in service welder qualifications. Here's a step by step guide to creating a code ...

    • AWS D Series Standards Welder Qualifications

      Here's a step by step guide to creating a code compliant welder qualification certificate (WPQ/WQTR) to the AWS D series standards. The screenshots are for AWS D1.1, but the process is similar in WeldTrace for the other supported standards such as ...

    • Archive Welder Qualifications

      Sometimes you may need to archive a welder qualification created in WeldTrace and make it unavailable for use. Make a welder qualification created in WT unavailable for use Click on this button to edit a WPQ created in WeldTrace; This slider button ...

    • Revalidation of Welder Qualifications

      Revalidation Workflow for WPQs When a welder qualification is created in WeldTrace and is selected to go through a 2 or 3 year revalidation cycle as required in the ISO standards, such as ISO 9606-1, the info column in the welder qualifications list ...