Qualified Welding and Brazing Procedures
When your company installs welded and brazed piping systems in accordance with ASME B31 Piping Codes, Section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code requires that you have welding and brazing procedure specifications and qualified welders and brazers. The NCPWB saves you time with over 100 welding and brazing procedure specifications (Adrienne, these should be spelled out the first time? WPSs and BPSs) that are qualified to ASME Section IX and available for immediate use without further qualifications.
The NCPWB WPSs cover processes such as:
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), commonly known as TIG or Heliarc;
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), commonly known as MIG;
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), commonly known as stick; and
- Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW).
The WPSs are qualified for welding carbon steel, low alloy steel (including Cr-Mo and nickel alloy steels), stainless steels (types 304, 304L, 316, etc.), aluminum, copper nickel, nickel alloys, and even titanium and dissimilar metal combinations.
In addition, the NCPWB has BPSs covering copper, steel and combinations of these metals and copper alloy brazing for medical gas installations.
Lower Your Cost Of Qualifying Welding And Brazing Procedures
Qualifying a WPS or BPS can be expensive, particularly if you are inexperienced in the process. The cost of materials and paperwork can run thousands of dollars, and that cost can more than double if a test specimen fails to meet Section IX requirements. NCPWB WPSs and BPSs are already qualified in accordance with Code, and have been proven by decades of use by NCPWB members.
Access Qualified Welders Nationwide
The NCPWB works closely with the United Association (UA) to conduct welder qualification testing. This testing is done under a program that is accredited by the Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance and Inspection Agency and is in full compliance with ASME Section IX. Testing has been standardized and test information is stored in a national database, making it easy to find a welder locally. These welders are qualified to use the process and to weld on the materials that a contractor needs for a job.
Reduce Your Risk Of Noncompliance
Your risk of noncompliance is reduced because the NCPWB WPSs and BPSs:
- Are written by experts whose primary job is working with ASME Section IX,
- Are reviewed by the entire NPCWB Technical Committee, and
- Are reviewed by a third party – Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance and Inspection Agency.
NCPWB procedures have been used successfully to make thousands of welds in piping systems from power plants and refineries to heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. You further reduce your risk because NCPWB procedures are submitted for customer review – and typically accepted without comment.