Welder Qualification & PQR Testing

Subodh Material Technologists provides welder qualification, welding procedure qualification and weld testing services for critical engineering and fabrication applications.

Our laboratory supports Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ/WQT), Welding Procedure Qualification Record (PQR/WPQR) testing and associated mechanical and metallurgical testing of welded joints.

Testing can include tensile testing, guided bend testing, impact testing, hardness testing, macro examination, microstructural examination and other applicable evaluations depending on the welding code, material, welding process and project requirements.

Our weld testing services support Oil & Gas, petrochemical, power generation, pressure equipment, pipelines, structural fabrication, marine, heavy engineering, aerospace and defence applications.

Welder Qualification Testing

Welder qualification testing evaluates the ability of a welder to produce an acceptable welded joint using a specified welding process, material, joint configuration and welding position.

Depending on the applicable code, the qualification program may involve:

• Welding of a qualification coupon

• Visual examination

• Tensile testing

• Face bend testing

• Root bend testing

• Side bend testing

• Nick break testing

• Macro examination

• Hardness testing

• Impact testing where applicable

• Other specified examinations

The exact test requirements and acceptance criteria are established according to the applicable welding code and project specification.

Welding Procedure Qualification & PQR Testing

Welding Procedure Qualification demonstrates that a welding procedure can produce a welded joint with the required mechanical and metallurgical properties.

Subodh Material Technologists provides testing support for WPS/PQR qualification programs, including mechanical and metallurgical evaluation of welded coupons.

Testing may include:

• Transverse tensile testing

• All-weld-metal tensile testing

• Guided bend testing

• Charpy impact testing

• Hardness survey

• Macro examination

• Microstructure examination

• Chemical analysis where required

• Other tests specified by the applicable code

Our current weld-testing capability includes tensile, bend, impact, hardness, macro and micro examination.

Weld Testing for ASME Section IX

Subodh Material Technologists supports weld testing requirements associated with ASME Section IX qualification programs.

Depending on the qualification requirements, testing may include:

• Tensile testing

• Face bend

• Root bend

• Side bend

• Hardness testing

• Macro examination

• Impact testing where applicable

• Metallographic examination

The applicable test method and acceptance criteria are determined by the relevant ASME requirements and project specification.

Weld Testing as per AWS D1.1

For structural steel welding applications, our laboratory supports applicable testing requirements associated with AWS D1.1.

Testing may include:

• Tensile testing

• Guided bend testing

• Fillet weld break testing

• Macro examination

• Hardness testing

• Impact testing where applicable

• Metallurgical examination

The testing program is established according to the applicable edition, joint configuration and qualification requirement.

Mechanical Testing of Welded Joints

Mechanical testing provides quantitative information about the strength, ductility and toughness of welded joints.

Our weld testing capabilities include:

Tensile Testing

Tensile testing of welded specimens can be used to evaluate tensile strength and other applicable mechanical properties.

Guided Bend Testing

Guided bend testing can include:

• Face bend

• Root bend

• Side bend

Impact Testing

Charpy V-notch impact testing can be performed where impact toughness is a qualification requirement.

Hardness Testing

Hardness surveys can evaluate:

• Weld metal

• Heat affected zone (HAZ)

• Base metal

Macro Examination of Welds

Macro examination provides a cross-sectional view of a welded joint and can be used to evaluate:

• Weld penetration

• Fusion

• Weld profile

• Heat affected zone

• Internal discontinuities

• Porosity

• Cracks

• Lack of fusion

• Weld geometry

Macro examination is particularly useful during welding procedure and welder qualification programs.

Microstructural Examination of Welds

Microstructural examination provides detailed information about the metallurgical characteristics of the weld and surrounding material.

Depending on the requirement, examination may include:

• Weld metal microstructure

• Fusion zone

• Heat affected zone

• Grain structure

• Phase characteristics

• Inclusions

• Microstructural discontinuities

Microstructural examination can complement mechanical testing during welding qualification.

Weld Hardness Testing

Hardness testing can be performed across the:

Base Metal → HAZ → Weld Metal → HAZ → Base Metal

Hardness profiling can help evaluate changes in hardness associated with welding, heat input, heat treatment and microstructural transformation.

Where applicable, microhardness testing can also be used for localized evaluation of weld regions.

Welding Processes & Applications

Welder and welding procedure qualification requirements can vary according to the welding process, material, joint configuration and applicable code.

Our weld testing services support qualification and evaluation programs associated with industrial fabrication and critical welded components.

Applications include:

• Oil & Gas

• Petrochemical

• Refineries

• Power Generation

• Pressure Equipment

• Pipelines

• Structural Steel

• Heavy Engineering

• Marine

• Shipbuilding

• Aerospace

• Defence

• Infrastructure

Standards Supported

Our weld testing page currently identifies the following standards and code families among the laboratory's supported requirements:

• ASME Section IX

• ASME Section II

• AWS D1.1

• AWS D1.5

• AWS B4.0

• ISO 15614 Series

• ISO 9606 Series

• ISO 5173

• ISO 4136

• ISO 9015

• ISO 17639

• ASTM E8/E8M

• ASTM E23

• ASTM E384

• ASTM E18

• ASTM E92

• API 1104

• Applicable EN and BS specifications

• Customer-specific qualification procedures

Note: The applicable standard depends on the qualification program and customer/project requirement.

Fracture & Structural Integrity Testing of Welds

For demanding welded structures, additional structural integrity testing may be required.

Depending on the application, our broader laboratory capabilities include:

• CTOD testing

• Fracture toughness testing

• Fatigue testing

• Crack growth rate testing

• Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF)

• High Cycle Fatigue (HCF)

These capabilities complement conventional weld qualification testing for critical engineering applications.

Corrosion Testing of Welded Components

For welded components intended for corrosive environments, specialized corrosion testing may also be required.

Our broader corrosion testing capabilities include:

• Sulphide Stress Cracking (SSC)

• Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC)

• Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC)

• Autoclave corrosion testing

• Electrochemical corrosion testing

• Salt spray testing

• Modified salt spray testing

Testing is selected according to the material, service environment and applicable specification.

Why Choose Subodh Material Technologists?

NABL Accredited Laboratory

Subodh Material Technologists is a NABL accredited laboratory as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017, Certificate TC-8225.

Integrated Weld Testing

Mechanical testing, hardness testing, metallography and other material evaluation services can be coordinated through one laboratory.

Comprehensive Qualification Support

We support testing requirements associated with welder qualification, welding procedure qualification and production weld evaluation.

Advanced Mechanical & Metallurgical Testing

Our laboratory provides tensile, impact, hardness, microhardness, metallographic and specialized mechanical testing capabilities for welded materials.

Technical Reporting

Testing results are documented in technical reports according to the applicable test method and agreed requirements.

Related Welding Testing Services

You can also explore:

• Welding Consumable Qualification

• Tensile Testing

• Charpy Impact Testing

• Microhardness Testing

• Hardness Testing

• Metallography

• Diffusible Hydrogen Testing

• Absorbed Moisture Testing

• Corrosion Testing

• Fatigue Testing

• Fracture Mechanics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is welder qualification testing?

Welder qualification testing evaluates whether a welder can produce an acceptable welded joint under specified conditions according to the applicable welding code or standard.

What is PQR testing?

PQR testing is the testing and documentation associated with qualification of a welding procedure. The resulting record documents the actual welding variables and test results used to demonstrate that the procedure produces acceptable weld properties.

What is the difference between WPS, PQR and WPQ?

A WPS defines the welding procedure and applicable variables. A PQR records the actual qualification welding variables and test results. WPQ/WQT relates to qualification of the welder's ability to produce an acceptable weld under specified conditions.

Do you perform welder qualification as per ASME Section IX?

Yes. Subodh Material Technologists supports weld testing requirements associated with ASME Section IX, subject to the applicable qualification program and laboratory scope.

Do you perform welding qualification testing as per AWS D1.1?

Yes. Applicable weld testing requirements associated with AWS D1.1 can be supported depending on the qualification program.

Which tests are performed for welder qualification?

Depending on the applicable code, testing may include tensile, face bend, root bend, side bend, nick break, macro examination, hardness and impact testing.

Can you perform weld macro and micro examination?

Yes. Macro and micro examination of welded joints are among the laboratory's listed weld-testing capabilities.