This redneck from western KY can understand one of the most fundamental requirements from ASME B31 standards…
ONLY certified welders can make the welds AND each weld MUST be IDENTIFIED as to who made the weld(s)!
Now ASME gives us options for meeting the “identification” requirements (e.g., stamping or Isometric Drawings). Still, these two requirements are a MUST-have for our PSM/RMP piping when the RAGAGEP references the ASME B31 standards. Here is how it is stated…
NOTE: ASME offers an online, self-study course to help anyone understand these requirements. You have 90 days to complete the course, and I highly recommend safety professionals dealing with PSM/RMP at least take this online course. This course is designed for anyone who wants an introduction to and a better understanding of the B31.3 Process Piping Code.
(emphasis by me)
ASME B31.3, 2016
Chapter V Fabrication, Assembly, and Erection
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328.5 Welding Requirements 328.5.1 General (a) Welds, including addition of weld metal for alignment [paras. 328.4.2(b)(4) and 328.4.3(c)(3)], shall be made in accordance with a qualified procedure and by QUALIFIED WELDERS or welding operators. (b) EACH qualified welder and welding operator shall be assigned an identification symbol. Unless otherwise specified in the engineering design, each pressure containing weld or adjacent area shall be marked with the identification symbol of the welder or welding operator. In lieu of marking the weld, appropriate records shall be filed. |
As I said, we have options. Most WPS plans will require the welder to “stamp” their welds, as shown here:
Some businesses do not like “stamping,” so they use an “isometric drawing” to show who made each weld.
These weld identification are CRITICAL to our QA/QC efforts so that the weld inspector can know whose welds they may have issues with. Without this identification at each weld and the identification symbol being traced back to an individual, the inspector would not know who to pull off the job when they find a pattern of questionable welds.