Dear Team,
-- I seek clarification regarding welder qualification requirements under ASME Section IX (2023) in a specific production scenario.
We have a welder qualified for P1 to P1 material using F-Number 43 filler wire (ERNiCrMo-3), qualified via Radiographic Examination (RT). In production, we are welding clad pipes (LTTCS base with Alloy 625 cladding), starting from 6-inch and above, using groove welds only—no weld overlay or buttering is being performed.
My interpretation of QW-383 and other relevant clauses in ASME Section IX (2023) is as follows:
Since the welder is not performing weld overlay (i.e., not welding cladding or depositing corrosion-resistant weld metal), the specific requirements for overlay qualification do not apply.
The welder is executing a full-penetration groove weld between two clad pipes, but not deposited weld metal on the root area as a Weld overlay.
As long as essential variables (for groove welding) are within the qualified ranges P-Number, F-Number, thickness, process, etc.—the welder should be considered qualified for this production weld.
Some colleagues have expressed that the welder must be separately qualified for the GTAW who is doing the root welding & bend test is mandatory for the coupon as per QW-383 requirements, However, in this case, since the welder is not performing weld overlay but is only welding pipe-to-pipe joints with full penetration, I believe the overlay qualification is not applicable. Moreover, in weld overlay qualifications, backing is typically used, and deletion of backing is an essential variable. In our case, we are not relying on the cladding as backing, nor is the welder depositing metal onto the cladding, so overlay qualification logic does not extend here.
Therefore, my conclusion is that the welder, being qualified for P1 to P1 with F-43 filler wire and RT, is suitably qualified to perform these groove welds between clad pipes, provided all essential variables remain within the qualified ranges.
I would appreciate your expert feedback on this interpretation. Please correct me if there are any overlooked aspects or interpretations.
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