CEMP-E
TI 809-26
1 March 2000
mark or die stamp to identify his or her welds. See AWS D1.1 Section 4, Part C.
(2) Equipment. All welding equipment should be in proper operating condition, with functioning
gauges necessary for following the WPS for the selected process. Periodic checks should be performed
by the contractor to verify the accuracy of gauges and other operating components of welding machines.
Welding leads should be inspected for worn or missing insulation, or inadequate connectors. Ammeters
should be available for verifying the current (amperage) near the arc, rather than at the machine.
Records of equipment inspections and calibrations should be maintained, but there is no specific
requirements for such in AWS D1.1. Inspections at least annually are recommended. See AWS D1.1
Sections 5.11 and 6.3.2.
(3) WPSs. The inspector should verify that all applicable welding Procedure Qualification Records
(PQRs) and Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) are available, current and accurate. WPSs
should be available at welding work stations and used by all welding personnel. PQRs should be
referenced and available for review for any non-prequalified WPSs. Qualified WPSs must be approved
by the Engineer, per AWS D1.1 Section 4.1.1. For high seismic applications, all WPSs must be
approved by the Engineer. See AISC Seismic Provisions Section 7.3a. The Engineer's approval should
be verified.
(4) Materials Controls. Electrodes and fluxes should be stored in their original, manufacturer-
sealed containers until ready for placement in storage ovens or use. The manufacturer's identification
labels, including lot number, should remain on the packaging. The contractor should have an operating
system to verify that all materials in inventory have proper certification papers on file. The contractor's
quality control system should be used to confirm that the proper welding consumables are selected.
(5) Materials Storage. The contractor should have all necessary welding consumable drying and
storage equipment. The proper operating temperatures should be verified on a regular basis as a part of
the contractor's quality control program. Welding personnel should be familiar with the SMAW electrode
and SAW flux storage and exposure limitations of AWS D1.1, with an ongoing system in place to confirm
compliance. No materials other than electrodes or fluxes, as appropriate, may be placed in drying or
storage ovens. See AWS D1.1 Section 5.3 for storage requirements. In addition to AWS D1.1 mandated
storage requirements, research indicates that certain FCAW electrodes may warrant protected storage or
limited atmospheric exposure times. Such controls and limitations should be based upon manufacturer's
test data and recommendations.
c. Prior to Welding. Prior to the actual start of welding on the project, item c(1) below should be
performed. All other inspection items should be performed prior to beginning the welding of each joint. It
is not anticipated that the inspector physically perform these inspections at each individual joint, but will
verify that the contractor's personnel understand and routinely perform these inspections as a part of
their welding operations. This may be done through observation of welding operations and informal
inquiries of welding personnel. The inspector may, when desired, perform any physical inspections prior
to welding to verify the contractor personnel's work.
(1) Pre-project review. Prior to the beginning of actual welding on the project, it should be verified
that all non-compliance revealed during pre-project inspection has been rectified.
(2) Base metal quality. Steel joints to be welded must be smooth, uniform, and free from significant
surface discontinuities such as cracks or seams, and free of significant amounts of loose or thick scale,
slag, rust, moisture, grease, or other harmful foreign materials. See AWS D1.1 Section 5.15 for complete
base metal preparation requirements.
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