Welding Personnel Qualification Testing

CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015

Canadian Welding Bureau

Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015

Comparison of Key Concepts and Requirements

This document provides a general comparison of key concepts and
requirements of CSA W47.1 and AWS D1.1. It is not intended to be
a comprehensive review nor should it be used to specify, determine
or evaluate specific requirements. The source documents should
be consulted for specific information.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015
Section: CSA W47.1 AWS D1.1
General: General: General:
The company shall only use Applicable. Applicable.
tack welders, welders and
welding operators qualified in
accordance with this standard.

Qualification process: Qualification process: Qualification process:

a) By successfully meeting the a) Applicable; a) Applicable;
qualification requirements of
this standard; b) Applicable; b) Applicable;

b) By successfully performing c) As acceptable to the CWB. c) As acceptable to the Engineer.

a PQR in accordance to this
standard;

c) By successfully meeting the

qualification requirements of
other recognized national or
international standard.

Qualification responsibility: Qualification responsibility: Qualification responsibility:

a) Fabricator / manufacturer; a) Applicable, but requires a) Applicable;
witnessing by CWB;
b) Union, test centers, b) Applicable. Require AWS
educational institutions; b) Applicable, but requires CWB accreditation for this type
accreditation for this type of of facilities;
c) Independent third party facilities and witnessing by CWB;
(e.g. laboratories) c) Applicable.
c) Not Applicable.

Witnessing of testing Witnessing of testing Witnessing of testing

responsibility: responsibility: responsibility:
a) Administrator of the standard; a) Applicable; CWB is the a) Not Applicable; no
independent administrator; independent administrator;
b) Fabricator / Manufacturer;
b) Not Applicable; witnessing only b) Applicable;
c) Independent third party by CWB or authorized
(e.g certified welding representative. c) Applicable.
inspectors).
c) Not Applicable; witnessing only
by CWB or authorized
representative.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015
Mechanical testing Mechanical testing Mechanical testing
responsibilities: responsibilities: responsibilities:
a) Administrator; a) Equivalent; CWB is the a) Not Applicable; no
independent administrator; independent administrator.
b) Fabricator / Manufacturer;
b) Applicable; if equipment b) Applicable;
c) Accredited testing available and approved by CWB;
organization; c) Applicable
c) Applicable; acceptable to the (e.g. A2La accreditation);
d) Certified welding CWB;
inspection organization for d) Applicable;
mechanical testing; d) Applicable; if welding
inspection organization certified e) Applicable;
e) Independent third party to CSA W178.1;
(certified welding inspector); f) Applicable; acceptable to the
e) Not Applicable; Engineer.
f) Other laboratories accredited
to ISO requirements. f) Applicable; if acceptable to the
CWB.
Period of effectiveness: Period of effectiveness: Period of effectiveness:
a) Tack welder; a) Indefinitely; a) Indefinitely;

b) Welder; b) Two years; b) Indefinitely;

c) Welding operator. c) Indefinitely. c) Indefinitely.

Suspension of qualification: Suspension of qualification: Suspension of qualification:

a) Tack welder; a) Question his/her ability to tack; a) Question his/her ability to tack;

b) Welder; b) Not engaged in welding for b) Not engaged in welding for

more than 3 months for his more than 6 months for his
c) Welding operator. qualification or question his/her qualification or question his/her
ability to weld; ability to weld;

c) Not engaged in welding for c) Not engaged in welding for

more than 1 year for his more than 6 months for his
qualification or question his/her qualification or question his/her
ability to weld. ability to weld.
Type of qualifications: Type of qualifications: Type of qualifications:
a) Transferable; a) Between CWB certified a) Not applicable;
fabricators / erectors;
b) Non-transferable. b) Applicable; valid only when
b) Applicable; valid only when working with the company where
working with the company where qualification was obtained.
qualification was obtained.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015
Previous Qualifications: Previous Qualifications: Previous Qualifications:
a) Transferable. a) As acceptable to the CWB. a) As acceptable to the Engineer.
Renewal of Qualifications: Renewal of Qualifications: Renewal of Qualifications:
a) Tack welder; a) Not applicable; a) Not applicable;

b) Welder; b) Retesting required every 2 b) Not applicable;

years;
c) Welding operator. c) Not applicable.
c) Not applicable.
Extent of Qualifications on Extent of Qualifications on Extent of Qualifications on
standard test assemblies: standard test assemblies: standard test assemblies:
a) Tack welder; a) 3mm to unlimited; a) 3mm to unlimited;

b) Welder; b) 3mm to unlimited for FW, S and b) 3mm to 19mm when test on
T classes; 10mm plate;
c) Welding operator.
c) 3mm to unlimited for FW, S and 3mm to 2T when test on plate
T classes. 10mm to 24mm plate;

5mm to unlimited when test on

25mm plate;

c) 3mm to 19mm when test on

10mm plate;
3mm to 2T when test on plate
10mm to 24mm plate;
5mm to unlimited when test on
25mm plate.

Extent of Qualifications on Extent of Qualifications on Extent of Qualifications on

non-standard test assemblies: non-standard test assemblies: non-standard test assemblies:
a) Tack welder; a) Not applicable; a) Not applicable;

b) Welder; b) Restricted to ranges listed on b) Not applicable;

WPDS;
c) Welding operator. c) Not applicable.
c) Restricted to ranges listed on
WPDS.

Records of Qualifications: Records of Qualifications: Records of Qualifications:

a) Tack welder; a) Issued by CWB; a) Issued by manufacturer /
contractor;
b) Welder; b) Issued by CWB;
b) Issued by manufacturer /
c) Welding operator. c) Issued by CWB. contractor;

c) Issued by manufacturer /
contractor.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015

Qualification of welding Qualification of welding Qualification of welding

personnel – General: personnel – General: personnel – General:
a) The process; a) Applicable; a) Applicable;

b) The mode of transfer where b) Applicable; b) Applicable;

applicable;
c) Applicable; c) Applicable;
c) The mode of process
application; d) Applicable; d) Not Applicable; Groove, Fillet
Weld and Tack Weld.
d) The classification e) Applicable;
(S, T, FW, WT, or ASW); e) Applicable;
f) Applicable; and
e) The class (position of welding); f) Applicable; and
g) Applicable.
f) The consumables; and g) Applicable.

g) The thickness range.

Processes: Processes: Processes:

a) Shielded metal arc welding a) Applicable; a) Applicable;
(SMAW);
b) Applicable; b) FCAW considered separate
b) Flux cored arc welding qualification;
(FCAW) and metal cored arc c) Applicable;
welding (MCAW); c) Applicable; GMAW and MCAW
d) Applicable; considered same process;
c) Gas metal arc welding
(GMAW); e) Applicable; d) Applicable;

d) Submerged arc welding f) Applicable. e) Applicable;

(SAW);
Note: Equivalent. f) Applicable.
e) Gas tungsten arc welding
(GTAW); and Note: Equivalent.

f) Electroslag welding (ESW) and

electrogas welding (EGW).

Note: For the GMAW process,

metal transfer includes the
short-circuiting, globular, spray,
and pulsed arc modes. A change
to short-circuiting from globular,
spray, or pulsed arc, or vice versa,
shall require a separate
qualification.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015
Consumables: Consumables: Consumables:
Only certified consumables shall Applicable. Certified by the CWB Not applicable. Declaration by
be used for testing. to CSA W48 or applicable the electrode manufacturer of
AWS A5 series. conformance to the applicable
AWS A5 series.
Test assemblies: Test assemblies: Test assemblies:
a) Tack welder; a) Applicable; a) Applicable;

b) Welder – Fillet weld; b) Applicable; b) Applicable;

c) Welder - plate; c) Single bevel groove onto a c) Single vee onto a backing bar.
backing bar; T=10mm. Different Different assembly thicknesses
d) Welder - pipe; options for the butt joint, but FW for limited and unlimited
assembly is required. thickness. Different assemblies
e) Welding operator – plate. for horizontal position and
d) One single assembly of OD different thicknesses for limited
Note: CSA W47.1 mandates fillet 150mm and 10mm WT, single vee and unlimited thicknesses.
weld testing for all groove 75°. FW assembly required.
welders. d) Different assemblies OD 50
e) Single bevel groove onto a and 75mm or OD 150mm and
backing bar; T=10mm. Different 165mm. 60° angles vee joints
options for the butt joint, but FW configurations welded onto a
assembly is required. backing or without backing. FW
assembly not required.

e) Single vee onto a backing bar.

Different assembly thickness and
joint configuration.
Welding personnel Welding personnel Welding personnel
classifications: classifications: classifications:
a) Pipe; a) Applicable - T class; a) Applicable – groove weld;

b) Plate; b) Applicable – S class; b) Applicable – groove weld;

c) Fillet Weld; c) Applicable – FW; c) Applicable – FW;

d) Tack Weld; d) Applicable - WT; d) Applicable - WT;

Pipe qualifies for plate, fillet Applicable – T qualifies for S for Not applicable.
and tack weld. FW and WT.
Applicable;
Plate qualifies for fillet and Applicable;
tack weld; Not applicable;
Applicable; Applicable.
Fillet qualifies for tack weld; Applicable.
CJP qualifies for PJP.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015

Modes of process application: Modes of process application: Modes of process application:

a) Manual welding; a) Applicable; a) Applicable;

b) Semiautomatic welding; b) Applicable; b) Applicable;

c) Mechanized welding; and c) Applicable; and c) Applicable; and

d) Automatic welding. d) Applicable. d) Applicable.

Note: Welders qualified with a

semi-automatic process are also
considered qualified welding
operators in the same
process(es).

Start / Stop required: Start / Stop required: Start / Stop required:

a) Tack welder; a) Not applicable; a) Not applicable;

b) Fillet welder; b) One stop; b) One stop;

c) Plate welder; c) Two stops in the root of the c) Not applicable;

joint;
d) Pipe welder; d) Not applicable.
d) Two stops for 1G, 2G, 6G
assemblies and 4 stops
2G-5G assembly;

Welding positions: Welding positions: Welding positions:

a) Flat; a) Applicable; a) Applicable;

b) Horizontal; b) Applicable; b) Applicable;

c) Vertical; and c) Applicable; and c) Applicable; and

d) Overhead. d) Applicable. d) Applicable.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015

Extent of qualifications for Extent of qualifications for Extent of qualifications for

welding positions: welding positions: welding positions:
a) Tack welder; a) Tack welder (WT); a) Tack welder:
1F qualifies 1F 1F qualifies 1F
b) Fillet Welder; 2F qualifies 2F 2F qualifies 1F, 2F
2F, 3F qualifies 2F, 3F 3F qualifies 1F, 2F, 3F
c) Plate Welder; 2F, 3F, 4F qualifies 2F, 3F, 4F 4F qualifies 1F, 2F, 4F
3F, 4F qualifies 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F
d) Pipe welder; b) Fillet Welder (FW);
1F qualifies 1F b) Fillet Welder:
2F qualifies 2F 1F qualifies 1F
2F, 3F qualifies 2F, 3F 2F qualifies 1F, 2F
2F, 3F, 4F qualifies 2F, 3F, 4F 3F qualifies 1F, 2F, 3F
4F qualifies 1F, 2F, 4F
c) Plate Welder (S); 3F, 4F qualifies 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F
1GF qualifies 1G, 2F
1GF, 2GF qualifies 1G, 2G, 2F c) Plate welder:
1GF, 2GF, 3GF qualifies 1G, 2G, 1G qualifies 1G
3G, 2F, 3F 2G qualifies 1G, 2G, 1F, 2F
1GF, 2GF, 3GF, 4GF qualifies 1G, 3G qualifies 1G, 2G, 3G, 1F, 2F, 3F
2G, 3G, 4G, 2F, 3F, 4F 4G qualifies 1G, 4G 1F, 2F, 4F
3G, 4G qualifies 1G, 2G, 3G, 1F, 2F,
d) Pipe welder (T); 3F, 4F
1G, 2F qualifies 1G, 2F
2G, 2F qualifies 2G, 2F d) Pipe Welder;
2G, 5G, 2F, 3F qualifies 1G, 2G, 3G, 1G qualifies 1G, 2F
2F, 3F 2G qualifies 1G, 2G, 1F, 2F
2G, 5G, 2F, 3F, 4F or 6G, 4F 5G qualifies 1G, 3G, 4G, 1F, 3F, 4F
qualifies 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 2F, 3F, 4F 2G, 5G or 6G qualifies 1G, 2G, 3G,
4G, 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F

Tests methods: Tests methods: Tests methods:

a) Visual; a) Applicable; a) Applicable;

b) Radiography; b) Applicable; b) Applicable;

c) Root and Face bends; c) Applicable – 2 root and 1 face c) Applicable – 1 root and 1 face
bends; bends;
d) Side bends;
d) Not applicable; d) Applicable – 2 side bends;
e) Macro-etch;
e) Applicable – 2 samples; e) Applicable – 1 sample;
f) Fracture.
f) Applicable – 1 sample. f) Applicable – 1 sample.

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Welding Personnel Qualification Testing
CSA W47.1: 2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1: 2015

Re testing required: Re testing required: Check testing required:

a) Tack welder; a) Not applicable; a) Not applicable;

b) Fillet welder; b) Applicable; retesting required b) Not applicable;

every 2 years.
c) Plate welder; c) Not applicable;
c) Applicable; retesting required
d) Pipe welder; every 2 years. d) Not applicable;

e) Welding operator. d) Applicable; retesting required e) Not applicable;

every 2 years.

e) Not applicable;

Exemption from re testing: Exemption from re testing: Exemption from check testing:
The Company may demonstrate Applicable. Not applicable.
with applicable NDE results that
the welder was involved in
production in the last 3 months.

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