Overview
ISO 15614-11:2025 - Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials - Part 11: Electron and laser beam welding defines requirements for qualification testing of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) for electron beam and laser beam welding. The standard applies to metallic materials regardless of part shape, thickness, manufacturing method (rolling, forging, casting, sintering) or heat treatment, and covers both production of new parts and repair work. This is the second edition (2025), updating the previous 2002 edition.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: Qualification testing of WPSs for electron and laser beam welding across all metallic material types and geometries.
- Preliminary WPS (pWPS): Preparation and documentation requirements before testing.
- Welding procedure test: Rules for how tests shall be planned and conducted.
- Test pieces: Requirements for shape, dimensions and types of test pieces (linear butt welds, pipe butt welds, pipe-to-plate, and other configurations).
- Examination and testing:
- Non-destructive testing (NDT): Visual, radiographic, ultrasonic (including phased array), magnetic particle, and penetrant testing as referenced.
- Destructive testing: Transverse tensile, bend, impact, hardness (including microhardness), macroscopic and microscopic (metallographic) examinations.
- Specimen location and cutting: Guidance on where to extract test specimens and extent of testing.
- Acceptance and quality levels: Terminology aligned with ISO 13919 series; acceptance criteria for imperfections defined by referenced NDT standards.
- Range of qualification: Limits and extension rules related to manufacturer, equipment, tooling, parent material groups/subgroups, filler materials, joint geometry, backing, weld type, position, welding parameters, preheating, PWHT, and number of passes.
- Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR): Documentation requirements; example WPQR form provided in Annex A (informative).
- Normative references: Incorporates related ISO standards for testing and NDT (e.g., ISO 4136, ISO 5173, ISO 17636‑1/2, ISO 17640, ISO 13919‑1/2).
Practical applications and users
ISO 15614-11:2025 is intended for:
- Welding engineers and procedure developers preparing WPSs for electron or laser beam processes
- Quality managers and inspectors responsible for welding qualification and supplier audits
- Fabricators and repair shops performing high-precision welds (aerospace, automotive, medical devices, power generation, turbine components, precision assemblies)
- Certification bodies and qualification laboratories conducting WPQR tests
Using this standard helps organizations ensure reproducible weld quality, meet regulatory or customer requirements, and define the valid range of qualification for high-energy beam welding processes.
Related standards
Key referenced documents include ISO 13919‑1/2 (quality levels for imperfections), ISO 15609‑3/4 (WPS for electron/laser beam welding), and NDT/destructive test standards such as ISO 17636, ISO 17640, ISO 4136 and ISO 5173. These references should be consulted to implement full testing and acceptance criteria.