Visual Inspection, Testing and Qualification under ANSI/AWS D1.1/D1.

1M:2015
Visual Inspection under this code is governed by a number of sections within this expansive document. It
further defines different criteria between plate and pipe. This document summarizes the “typical” criteria and
lists samples of the relevant sections of the document as follows:

 Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria for Plate Table 6.1 pg 209

 Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria for Tubular Table 9.16 pg 290
 Workmanship Tolerances in Welded Groove Joints 3.12 PJP and 3.13 CJP pg 48, Fig 5.3 pg 185 Plate
 Workmanship Tolerances in Welded Groove Joints 9.10 PJP and 9.11 CJP pg 965, Fig 9.23 pg 315 Tubular
 Acceptable/Unacceptable Weld Profiles 5.23 pg 177, Fig 5.4 pg 186 and Tables 5.8 and 5.9 pg 182
 Welder Qualification – Production Welding Positions Table 4.10 pg 135 Plate
 Welder Qualification – Production Welding Positions Table 9.9 pg 282 Tubular
 Number and Type of Specimens Table 4.11 pg 136-7 Plate
 Number and Type of Specimens Table 9.14 pg 287-8 Tubular
 Essential Variables Table 4.5 pg 124-6, Table 4.6 pg 127 if CVN Testing is required
 Legend and notes for Fig 3.2 and 3.3 pg 65
 Typical Single V Groove w/backing Prequalified Fig 3.3 (B-U2a) pg 83
 Time Limit of Qualification note 6.4.3 pg 192 (6-month non-activity clause)
 Pipe No-Prequalified Joint Detail for Open Root 9.11.1 (2) pg 266

For the required test piece, Table 6.1 or 9.16 is the most critical, depending on whether your performing a Plate
or Pipe test. It lays out the Visual criteria for Inspection, most of which is done before mechanical testing, if a
person wishing to take a certification cannot consistently produce test samples within these criteria, they should
not be permitted to take the test.

The General weld profiles are also used in Table 6.1 and are included to show why an attempt has failed because
of its profile, regardless how neat the capping runs may be. Conformance to these profile requirements are
critical.

The welding position charts are also included to give some guidance as to the best route for taking tests based
on what has been asked for. If you read down the column on the left and pick a qualifying position, read across
to the right to see what types and position that cert will cover. Both Plate 4.10 and Pipe 9.9 are included.

Table 4.11 or 9.14 tells us the number and type of test pieces that we will require for a given test, and Table 4.5
or 4.6 tells us the limits of how much we can deviate from the PQR set criteria when performing them on the
welding equipment.

The standard pre-qualified Groove test profile is also supplied, show general working tolerances for the test
piece, and the notes section is also included from Fig 3.3 as it contains note information on the prequalified joint
supplied.

Plate setup for SMAW against B-U2a allows plates to be set with a gap anywhere between 3/16 and 1/2"… 1/4"
being the defined gap, but then we add the “As Fit Up” tolerances, so that gives you the range of root openings
to choose from.

Also, the qualification limits/duration section is also included for clarity.