Class R Syllabus
Pressure Welder Certification
Overview
A Class R (restricted) Pressure Welder Certificate of Qualification entitles the holder to complete a performance qualification test in accordance with any registered welding procedure specification while employed by an organization accredited by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Certification Program or an organization accredited by the National Board “R” Certificate of Authorization Program when that organization is contracted by a Technical Safety BC licensed contractor who must have a provision in their quality control manual to allow for this subcontracting process or hold the ASME or National Board Certificate of Authorization themselves.
Eligibility
To obtain a class R pressure welder certificate of qualification an applicant must successfully pass a welding examination. The welding examination is a performance qualification test complying with Section 41 of the Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure Vessel and Refrigeration Safety Regulation. This syllabus details the requirements and standards for the performance qualification test which an applicant for a class R pressure welder certificate of qualification must pass.
Examination administration
The Class “R” Pressure Welder Certificate of Qualification performance qualification test shall be administered by an organization accepted by Technical Safety BC as a “Recognized Test Administrator”. The “Examiner” (personnel) who administers the test shall meet the requirements outlined in the Recognized Test Administrator’s quality control system manual for qualification and experience.
Class R Pressure Welder certificate examination
A class R pressure welder certificate of qualification examination must be administered in accordance with a licensed contractors welding procedure specification registered with Technical Safety BC. Use of a prequalified welding procedure specification for the class R is not permitted.
The licensed contractor who the class R pressure welder certificate of qualification applicant is employed by will determine the specific performance qualification test required.
The performance qualification test shall be in accordance with the Essential Variables outlined in QW-350 or QW-360 of ASME Section IX for welders and welding operators.
The following procedure outlines the manner in which the performance qualification test will be conducted by a recognized test administrator for the class R pressure welder certificate of qualification examination.
Test coupon
The test coupon materials shall be determined by the licensed contractors quality control manager and this information provided to the recognized test administrator examiner.
Test positions
The applicable test positions shall be determined by the licensed contractors quality control manager and this information provided to the recognized test administrator examiner.
Electrodes
The electrodes used for the test shall be in accordance with the licensed contractors welding procedure specification that is registered with Technical Safety BC.
Examination time
The examination time shall be determined by the licensed contractors quality control manager and this information provided to the recognized test administrator examiner.
The performance test may be terminated at any stage of review, if it becomes apparent that the candidate does not have the required skill to produce satisfactory results or is taking an excessive length of time to complete any phase of the test.
Preparation and tracking
The coupon preparation and tack welding requirements shall be determined by the licensed contractors quality control manager and this information provided to the recognized test administrator examiner.
Welding
Specific requirements for welding of the test coupon will be determined by the licensed contractors quality control manager and this information provided to the recognized test administrator examiner.
Testing of coupons
The specific requirements for testing will be determined by the licensed contractors quality control manager and this information provided to the recognized test administrator examiner.
It is acceptable to use either bend testing or volumetric examination. In either case, the results of bend tests, or procedures and personnel qualifications for Non Destructive Examinations shall be in accordance with ASME Section IX and the recognized test administrators quality control manual.
Standards for the evaluation of test specimens
All welds shall be free of grapes, craters, porosity, undercut, and lack of fusion.
The finished weld shall be uniform, free from undercut or arc strikes. Excessive weld reinforcement is not permitted and the weld cap must not exceed 1/8”.
Guided bend tests shall have no open discontinuity in the weld or heat affected zone exceeding 1/8” measured in any direction on the convex surface of the specimen. Open defects occurring on the corners of the specimen during bending shall not be considered unless there is evidence that they result from slag inclusions, lack of fusion, or other internal defects.
Candidates who successfully complete the examination may apply for a class R pressure welder certificate of qualification.
NOTE: A current Class “R” Pressure Welder Certificate of Qualification and copy of the certified QW-484 form must be available at the site where pressure welding is being performed.
Reference Syllabus: SYL-BP-105-01