1 General
Welding Inspectors are employed to assist with the quality control (QC)activities that are necessary to ensure that welded items will meet specifiedrequirements and be fit for their application.For employers to have confidence in their work, Welding Inspectors need tohave the ability to understand/interpret the various QC procedures and alsohave sound knowledge of welding technology.Visual inspection is one of the non–destructive examination (NDE)disciplines and for some applications may be the only form.
Guidance and basic requirements for visual inspection are given by:
BS EN 970 (Non–destructive Examination of Fusion Welds – Visual
Examination)
2 Basic Requirements for Visual Inspection
(to BS EN 970)
BS EN 970 provides the following:
• Requirements for welding inspection personnel.
• Recommendations about conditions suitable for visual examination.
• The use of gauges/inspection aids that may be needed/helpful for
inspection.
• Guidance about information that may need to be included in the
inspection records.
• Guidance about when inspection may be required during the stages of
fabrication.
3 Welding Inspection Personnel
Before starting work on a particular contract, BS 970 states that Welding
Inspectors should:
• Be familiar with relevant standards*, rules and specifications for the
fabrication work that is to be undertaken
• Be informed about the welding procedure(s) to be used
• Have good vision – in accordance with EN 473 and should be checked
every 12 months
(* standards may be National or Client)
BS EN 970 does not give or make any recommendation about a formal
qualification for visual inspection of welds. However, it has become industry
practice for inspectors to have practical experience of welding inspection
together with a recognized qualification in Welding Inspection – such as a
CSWIP Qualification.
Inspectors should:
• Be familiar with relevant standards*, rules and specifications for the
fabrication work that is to be undertaken
• Be informed about the welding procedure(s) to be used
• Have good vision – in accordance with EN 473 and should be checked
every 12 months
(* standards may be National or Client)
BS EN 970 does not give or make any recommendation about a formal
qualification for visual inspection of welds. However, it has become industry
practice for inspectors to have practical experience of welding inspection
together with a recognized qualification in Welding Inspection – such as a
CSWIP Qualification.
4 Conditions for Visual Inspection
Illumination
BS EN 970 states that the minimum illumination shall be 350 lux but
recommends a minimum of 500 lux*.
* normal shop or office lighting
Access
Access to the surface, for direct inspection, should enable the eye to be:
• Within 600mm of the surface being inspected
• In a position to give a viewing angle of not less than 30°
Good
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