AWS B5.2:2018

An American National Standard

Specification for the Training, Qualification,

and Company Certification of Welding Inspector Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants

AWS B5.2:2018

An American National Standard

Approved by the American National Standards Institute

May 11, 2017

Specification for the Training, Qualification, and Company Certification of Welding Inspector Specialists and Welding Inspector

Assistants

2nd Edition

Supersedes AWS B5.2:2001

Prepared by the AWS Personnel & Facility Qualification Committee

Under the Direction of the AWS Standards Council

Approved by the AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This specification defines the requirements and program for an employer (company) to train, qualify, and company certify Welding Inspector Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants to contract or industry-specific inspector standards. The program is developed as a written practice and controlled by an employer. The qualification requires documentation of experience, training, and satisfactory completion of an examination. The examination tests knowledge of welding processes, welding procedures, welder qualification, destructive testing, nondestructive testing, terms, definitions, symbols, reports, records, safety, and responsibility as specifically applied by the contract or industry standards applicable to the employer.

ISBN: 978-0-87171-925-6

©2018 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. Authorization to photocopy items for internal, personal, or educational classroom use only or the internal, personal, or educational classroom use only of specific clients is granted by the American Welding Society provided that the appropriate fee is paid to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, tel: (978) 750-8400; Internet: www.copyright.com.

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 governmental 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 standard 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 process 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 published 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 amendments or errata, or supplemented by publication of addenda. Information on the latest editions of AWS standards including 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, Certification Department, (see Annex D). 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 Qualification and Certification Committee. 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 Qualification and Certification Committee 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 QCIS Subcommittee on Welding Inspector Specialists 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 Qualification and Certification 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

Personnel and Facilities Qualification Committee

P. A. Grimm, Chair Modern Welding Company

1. E. Dines, Vice Chair United Technical Inc.

2. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society

   1. A. Cross Valiant TMS

F. J. Fascenda Consultant

1. M. Gilgenbach Airgas

   1. L. Holdren ARC Specialties/Welding Consultants, LLC

      V. Kuruvilla Lexicon/Genesis Quality Systems

      D. Logan Alloy Engineering

      B. W. Phillips Consultant

      J. R. Reid Reid Consulting

      D. L. Twitty Dona Ana Community College of New Mexico State University

      
      

      AWS B5B Subcommittee on Welding Inspector Specialists

      J. R. Reid Reid Consulting

   2. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society

K. W. Coryell Consultant

P. A. Grimm Modern Welding Company

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Foreword

This foreword is not part of this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

This is the second edition of AWS B5.2. The first edition was published in 2001. Revisions in this edition were made to Clauses 1 (Scope), 7 (Written Practice), 8 (Physical Requirements), 9 (Training), 10 (Examination Requirements), and 11 (Certification). The title of the standard has been revised to better reflect its scope. The changes are widespread enough that clear markup of the changes is difficult. The first edition of AWS B5.2 superseded QC2-93, Recommended Practice for the Training, Qualification, and Certification, of Welding Inspector Specialist and Welding Inspector Assistant.

AWS B5.2 provides the framework for an in-house certification program and written practice for welding inspectors. To differentiate it from the central certification program of AWS supported by the AWS B5.1 and QC1 standards, B5.2 uses the nomenclature welding inspector ‘specialist’.

This specification for the qualification of welding inspector specialists and welding inspector assistants was developed to provide a qualification basis which defines minimum requirements for a welding inspector specialist to demonstrate competence through a combination of education, experience, and examination.

Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary, AWS Qualification and Certification Committee, American Welding Society, 8669 N.W. 36 Street, Miami, FL 33166.

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Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel v

Foreword vii

1. Scope 1

2. References 2

   1. Normative References 2

   2. Informative References 2

3. Terms and Definitions 2

4. Levels of Qualification 2

   1. Welding Inspector Specialist 2

   2. Welding Inspector Assistant 2

5. Functions 3

6. Education and Experience 3

7. Written Practice 4

8. Physical Requirements 4

9. Training 4

10. Examination Requirements 4

    1. Proficiency Examination 4

    2. Welding Inspector Specialist Examination 4

    3. Welding Inspector Assistant Examination 5

11. Third Party Agencies 5

12. Certification 5

13. Company Responsibilities 5

Annex A (Normative)—Body of Knowledge 7

Annex B (Informative)—Sample Outline for Written Practice 11

Annex C (Informative)—Visual Acuity Record 13

Annex D (Informative)—Requesting an Official Interpretation on an AWS Standard 15

Annex E (Informative)—List of AWS Documents on Qualification and Certification 17

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Specification for the Training, Qualification, and Company Certification of Welding Inspector

Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants

1. Scope

   1. This specification establishes the minimum requirements for an employer’s (company’s) internal written practice for the training, qualification, and that company’s certification of Welding Inspector Specialists and Welding Inspector Assistants. The employer is responsible for the testing, examination and qualification of their inspectors.

   2. This specification is to aid employers in identifying the basic factors in qualifying personnel performing welding inspection for a specific company or project.

   3. In developing the written practice (see Clause 7), the employer shall review the detailed recommendations presented herein and incorporate them into the practice, as applicable.

   4. Examination and certification by the American Welding Society (AWS) shall not be a requirement for the Welding Inspector Specialist nor is there reciprocity between a Welding Inspector Specialist or Welding Inspector Assistant and AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) or Certified Associate Welding Inspector (CAWI) in accordance with AWS QC1, Specification for AWS Certification of Welding Inspectors.

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

3. Applicable Regulatory Agencies

Work performed in accordance with this standard may involve the use of materials that have been deemed hazardous, and may involve operations or equipment that may cause injury or death. This standard does not purport to address all safety and health risks that may be encountered. The user of this standard should establish an appropriate safety program to address such risks as well as to meet applicable regulatory requirements. ANSI Z49.1 should be considered when developing the safety program.