AWS C1.5:2019

An American National Standard

Specification for the Qualification of Resistance Welding Technicians

AWS C1.5:2019

An American National Standard

Approved by American National Standards Institute

June 14, 2019

Specification for the Qualification of Resistance Welding Technicians

4th Edition

Prepared by the AWS C1 Committee on Resistance Welding

Under the Direction of the AWS Technical Activities Committee

Approved by AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This specification establishes the requirements for qualification of Resistance Welding Technicians (RWT) employed in the welding industry. The minimum education, experience, examination, qualification/requalification requirements and duties are defined herein. This specification is a method for technicians to establish a record of their qualification and abilities in welding industry work such as development of machine trouble shooting, process controls, quality standards, problem solving, etc.

AWS C1.5:2019

AWS C1.5:2019

ISBN Print: 978-1-64322-062-8

ISBN PDF: 978-1-64322-063-5

© 2019 by American Welding Society

All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

Photocopy Rights. No portion of this standard may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, including mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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Statement on the Use of American Welding Society Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS American National Standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmen- tal bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS stand- ard must be by agreement between the contracting parties.

AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While AWS administers the proc- ess and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.

AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this standard. AWS also makes no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information pub- lished herein.

In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is neither undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. It is assumed that the use of this standard and its provisions is entrusted to appropriately qualified and competent personnel.

This standard may be superseded by new editions. This standard may also be corrected through publication of amend- ments or errata, or supplemented by publication of addenda. Information on the latest editions of AWS standards includ- ing amendments, errata, and addenda is posted on the AWS web page (www.aws.org). Users should ensure that they have the latest edition, amendments, errata, and addenda.

Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent or trade name. Users of this standard accept any and all liabilities for infringement of any patent or trade name items. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent or product trade name resulting from the use of this standard.

AWS does not monitor, police, or enforce compliance with this standard, nor does it have the power to do so.

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writing, to the appropriate technical committee. Such requests should be addressed to the American Welding Society, Attention: Managing Director, Technical Services Division, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166 (see Annex B). With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. These opinions are offered solely as a convenience to users of this standard, and they do not constitute professional advice. Such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unofficial opinions or interpretations of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS C1 Committee on Resistance Welding. It must be reviewed every five years, and if not revised, it must be either reaffirmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations, additions, or deletions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are requested and should be addressed to AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS C1 Committee on Resistance Welding and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are invited to attend all meetings of the AWS C1 Committee on Resistance Welding to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are provided in the Rules of Operation of the Technical Activities Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

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Personnel

C1 Committee on Resistance Welding

B. Kelly, Chair Kelly Welding Solutions PC

W.F. Qualls, Vice Chair Consultant

M. Diaz, Secretary American Welding Society

T.W. Alexander Centerline (Windsor) Ltd.

W. H. Brafford Consultant

R. K. Cohen Weld Computer Corporation

M. Cubert Space Exploration Technologies

M. Gugel U.S. Steel

R. Michelena T. J. Snow Company, Inc.

D. Wellman Obara Corporation

Advisors to the AWS C1 Committee on Resistance Welding

B. J. Bastian Benmar Associates

K. Hofman Roman Engineering Services

M. Kimchi Edison Welding Institute

D. F. Maatz R&E Engineering Services

N.S. Scotchmer Huys Industries Limited

D. C. Sorenson Entron Controls, LLC

M. Tumuluru U.S. Steel

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Foreword

This foreword is not part of AWS C1.5:2019, Specification for the Qualification of Resistance Welding Technicians, but is included for informational purposes only.

This specification for the qualification of resistance welding technicians was developed to provide a qualification basis, which defines minimum requirements for a resistance welding technician to demonstrate competence through a combina- tion of education, experience, and examination.

The resistance welding technician (RWT) is a person who is responsible for maintaining resistance welding equipment, troubleshooting resistance welding problems, and providing advice on the application of the resistance welding process. The RWT shall be familiar with various resistance welding processes, specifications, basic electrical and mechanical principles, resistance welding equipment, inspection methods, acceptance criteria, tests, welding qualification require- ments, and other aspects of fabrication and assembly.

For the welding technicians to be effective, the activities they perform must be consistent with specified requirements, technical, and ethical principles. The RWT may also produce reports aimed at optimizing cost, quality, and productivity. The RWT should be able to work with management representatives, inspection personnel, welders, and support crafts, and should be able to understand the role of each in the development of quality welds.

All revisions to the 2019 edition are identified by a vertical line in the margin adjacent to the text.

Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary, AWS C1 Committee on Resistance Welding, American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36th St, #130, Miami, FL 33166.

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Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel v

Foreword vii

1. General Requirements 1

   1. Scope 1

   2. Levels of Certification 1

   3. Terminology Definitions 1

   4. Units of Measurement 1

   5. Safety 1

2. Normative References 2

3. Terms and Definitions 2

4. Duties 2

   1. Application Principles 2

   2. Materials and Welding/Joining Metallurgy 2

   3. Resistance Welding, Joining, and Heating Processes 3

   4. Machinery, Equipment, and Maintenance 3

   5. Quality Assurance 3

5. Education and Experience Requirements 3

   1. Minimum Education and Experience Requirements 3

   2. Types of Experience Defined 3

6. Examination Requirements 3

   1. Examination 3

   2. Passing Requirements 4

7. Examination Structure 4

8. Maintenance of Qualification 4

Annex A (Informative)—Reference Documents 5

Annex B (Informative)—Requesting an Official Interpretation on an AWS Standard 7

List of AWS C1 Documents 9

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Specification for the Qualification of Resistance Welding Technicians

1. General Requirements

   1. Scope. This specification establishes qualification requirements for a resistance welding technician (RWT). It describes how qualifications are determined, and the practice by which qualification may be attained and maintained. The user of this specification will evaluate the qualifications of each candidate, and provide examinations to test the candidate’s resistance welding skills and knowledge, as well as his or her ability to apply the principles of resistance welding.

      This specification is intended to supplement the minimum requirements of employers, codes, other standards, or docu- ments, and shall not be construed as a preemption of the employer’s responsibility for the work or for the performance of the work. Resistance welding processes include spot welding, projection welding, seam welding, upset welding, flash welding, and auxiliary resistance welding processes such as resistance microjoining, resistance brazing, resistance sol- dering and resistance heating. It is understood not all of these disciplines are used in every situation; it shall be the respon- sibility of employers to determine if their employee, who having qualified as a RWT, is capable of performing the specific duties involved in their career assignments.

      Qualification to this specification alone may not legally qualify the technician to provide technical services to the public. Contract documents and building or jurisdiction laws may require technical services to be performed under the direction and responsibility of others such as a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.). The RWT designation DOES NOT imply the status of a registered P.E. under the laws of any state or other governmental entity.

   2. Levels of Certification. There is currently one level of qualification: Resistance Welding Technician (RWT).

   3. Terminology. As used in this specification, the word shall denotes a requirement, the word should denotes a guideline, and the word may denotes a choice.

   4. Units of Measurement. This standard does not require units of measurement. Therefore, no equivalents or conversions are contained except when they are cited in examples.

   5. Safety. Safety and health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard, and therefore are not fully addressed herein.

      Safety and health information is available from the following sources: American Welding Society:

      1. ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes

      2. AWS Safety and Health Fact Sheets

      3. Other safety and health information on the AWS website Material or Equipment Manufacturers:

1. Safety Data Sheets supplied by materials manufacturers

2. Operating Manuals supplied by equipment manufacturers

Applicable Regulatory Agencies. For example, United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Work performed in accordance with this standard may involve the use of materials having been deemed hazardous, and may involve operations or equipment which may cause injury or death. This standard does not purport to address all