ISO 9606-1-2012 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 9606-1:2012 — Qualification testing of welders — Fusion welding — Part 1: Steels. This International Standard specifies requirements, test procedures and acceptance criteria for qualification testing of welders for fusion welding of steels. It sets out technical rules for systematic practical and/or theoretical qualification tests so that welder qualifications can be uniformly accepted regardless of product type, location or examining body. The document addresses manual and partly mechanized fusion-welding processes (not fully mechanized or fully automated processes).

Abstract

ISO 9606-1:2012 provides the framework and specific requirements for assessing a welder’s ability to produce acceptable welded joints in steels by fusion welding. The standard defines essential variables, range of qualification, test-piece designs, welding conditions, examination and testing methods, acceptance criteria and documentation needed for initial qualification and requalification of welders. Corrigenda were published after initial release to correct technical and editorial matters.

General information

• Status: Published (current edition confirmed in 2023)
• Publication date: July 2012 (Edition 2, published July 2012; technical corrigenda issued September 2012 and 2013)
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 25.160.01 — Welding, brazing and soldering in general
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2012)
• Number of pages: 33

Scope

This part of ISO 9606 specifies requirements for qualification testing of welders for fusion-welding of steels. It provides a uniform set of technical rules for practical qualification tests and related examinations, concentrating on the welder’s manual ability to manipulate electrode, welding torch or blowpipe to produce welds of acceptable quality. The standard applies to manual and partly mechanized fusion-welding processes and excludes fully mechanized or automated welding processes (for which other standards apply).

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of essential variables and determination of the range of qualification (welding process, material group, product type, weld type, position, dimensions, consumables).
• Test-piece types and geometries for butt and fillet weld qualification.
• Welding procedure and conditions required during the test (preheat, interpass temperature, heat input, joint preparation).
• Inspection, examination and destructive/non‑destructive testing methods and acceptance criteria (visual, macro/micro, bend tests, radiographic/ultrasonic where applicable).
• Rules for extension or limitation of qualification (transfer of qualification between processes, positions, thickness ranges and materials).
• Documentation, test records and certification requirements for qualified welders.
• Requalification, expiration and conditions under which qualification is considered valid or must be renewed.

Typical use and users

Used by certification bodies, welding coordinators, employers, training and examination centres, inspection authorities and design/construction organizations to assess and certify individual welder competence for steel fusion welding. It is referenced in procurement specifications, fabrication codes and national/adopted standards for manufacturing, construction, pipelines, pressure equipment, shipbuilding and structural steelwork.

Related standards

Standards commonly used alongside or referenced by ISO 9606-1 include other parts of the ISO 9606 series (parts covering aluminium, copper, nickel, titanium and other alloys), ISO/TR 15608 (material grouping guidelines), ISO 15609-1 (welding procedure specification — arc welding), ISO 14732 (qualification of welding operators for mechanized and automatic processes), ISO 3834 (quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials), ISO 9712 (NDT personnel qualification) and ISO/IEC 17024 (requirements for bodies certifying persons). National adoptions (EN ISO 9606-1 and country-specific variants) and the technical corrigenda to ISO 9606-1:2012 are also commonly referenced.

Keywords

welder qualification, fusion welding, steels, welding test, essential variables, acceptance criteria, welding positions, test-piece, certification, ISO 9606

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 9606-1:2012 is the International Standard that specifies requirements and test methods for qualification testing of welders for fusion welding of steels.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers practical and related examinations for manual and partly mechanized fusion-welding processes applied to steels, including test-piece types, essential variables, inspection and acceptance criteria, documentation and rules for extension or limitation of a welder’s qualification.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Certification bodies, employers, welding coordinators, training and testing centres, inspectors and engineers in industries that fabricate or construct steel components (pressure equipment, structures, pipelines, shipbuilding, etc.).

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2012 edition (Edition 2) is the current published edition and was confirmed as current during ISO’s periodic review in 2023. However, a revision of the ISO 9606 series (a consolidated ISO/DIS 9606) has been under development to update and harmonize parts of the series; users should verify whether a newer consolidated edition has been published before relying on future-dated compliance requirements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 of the ISO 9606 series (qualification testing of welders — fusion welding). Other parts address qualification for welding of aluminium, copper, nickel and titanium alloys; work is/has been undertaken to consolidate and revise the parts into an updated series.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Welder qualification, fusion welding, steels, essential variables, test-piece, acceptance criteria, welding certification, ISO 9606-1:2012.