What Every Welder Should Know About AWS D1.8 2/08
We were recently asked: Does AWS have a D1.8 Certification?
The codes can get pretty confusing, especially when certification enters the picture, so here’s the deal, care of Atema welding specialists.
The Answer Is…
Yes, D1.8 has a supplemental Welder Qualification Test. It’s for welders who are going to weld bottom flange to column joints when a weld access hole is involved in the design of the joint. In short, it is specifically for restricted access welding.
D1.8 in the Field
D1.8 is a supplement to AWS D1.1 Structural Steel Welding Code and must be used in conjunction with it. I can see an eager inspector making this connection easily and reasonably, but sometimes the contract language does not specifically call for D1.8 compliance. We have now been tech witness/consultants in a few cases and have seen engineers not specifying correctly for seismic requirements.
Make sure your guys in the field are trained and aware of how to work around protected zones (grinding, fitting, attachment welds, etc.) and how to perform demand critical welds.
P.S. Atema teaches a two-day custom class on it because there’s a lot to it. Click here if you’re interested in finding out more about Atema classes.
P.P.S. In case you were wondering, the AISC Seismic Provisions and AWS D1.8 are supposed to be merged soon. Keep your eyes peeled for updates
The Simple Truth About Welding Machine Calibration 12/21
Many steel fabrication shops have asked about the requirements for calibrating weld machines to meet code requirements.
The Requirements
Where do the requirements to “calibrate your weld machines” come from? It is required with some structural steel quality management system certifications such as AISC Major & Simple Bridge certification. However, per the Structural Welding Code AWS D1.1, there is no requirement.
In the Bridge Welding Code AWS D1.5 (clause 4), the requirement is not actually to calibrate your welding equipment, but to verify the accuracy of meters and devices used to record or display welding variables. This must be done every three months. Meters or other devices include load banks or wire speed meters. It should be noted, equipment used to verify the accuracy of the meters/devices must be calibrated annually.
While the D1.5 Code doesn’t specifically require it, AISC Major or Simple certified fabrication shops are required to maintain records of these quarterly verification checks and demonstrate compliance by having the appropriate paperwork on file.
Things to consider
If you decide to perform your own amp and volt verification checks, the verifications need to be performed by a qualified person. Safety is paramount.
Almost all maintenance and quality departments are already overworked and adding another task to the list can result in cutting corners and costly mistakes. There are several service companies which perform calibrations and also perform a blow down of the unit’s internal workings like transformers, cables and electrical connections.
A record of verification is encouraged whether you are AISC certified or not, as proof this check was performed.
Bottom Line
If you are not specifically required to calibrate your welding machines, why do it? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Having a stable and accurate welding process will save you time and money, as well as give you peace of mind that you’re producing a quality product.
Cost Savings in Material Storage 7/14
With summer comes the start of many new projects and a great opportunity to take a second look at how your materials are being stored. Avoid unnecessary costs by monitoring material storage conditions for best practices.
Paint, bolts, and welding consumables stored improperly will degrade and can become contaminated beyond use. Customer products coated with bad paint can fail and cost a company more than the price of repainting. Improperly stored bolts and welding rods can create potentially unsafe connections.
If a customer audit reveals these conditions, it could cause a significant delay and cast doubt on the integrity and quality of material already supplied for the project. Given the significant cost of paint and related components, welding consumables and high strength fasteners assemblies; monitoring how they are stored in comparison does not cost much. Controlling the storage conditions of your materials will keep you dollars ahead in the long run.
Cost Savings in Record Filing and Retrieval 6/06
Centralize your quality records. If your company has several inspectors, they may be keeping their individual records with them. If inspection records are centralized in one office using a uniform filing method, time and costs can be saved by eliminating unnecessary searching. Anyone, supervisors and project managers, can then retrieve documents in a timely manner, rather than going through the respective inspectors' records and filing systems.
Welcome to Talk Quality! 5/04
Those of you familiar with Atema might remember our previous collection of articles, Talk Quality.
Anna Petroski and Terry Logan, principals of Atema, used Talk Quality as an online journal to discuss quality management, certification and other related issues. Using real world examples and questions they came across in the field, they wrote articles aimed at proving those in the industry with a source of wisdom and advice. We hope to do much the same on this new site.
The experience and knowledge of our staff extends far into the depths of the quality field. In addition, Atema has the advantage of working with clients all over the globe. We’ve seen it all. If there is a problem you’ve run into, you can be sure we have probably come across something similar and can help you solve it.
We hope this new version of Talk Quality can become a place you turn to for knowledge on a topic that interests you. We also hope that you will reach out to us and let us know what questions you have. You can find us on all the social networks or send us an email through the “Contact Us Today” button. Of course, we always welcome phone calls.
