ISO/TC 44/SC 15 - Underwater welding

This document specifies how a preliminary welding procedure specification (pWPS) is qualified by welding procedure tests. This document is applicable to production welding and repair welding. This document is applicable to fusion welding of steels covered by groups 1, 2, 3 and 8 in accordance with ISO 15608 in a hyperbaric wet environment. This document is applicable to the following welding processes, in accordance with ISO 4063:2023, applicable in hyperbaric wet environments: — 111 manual metal arc welding (metal arc welding with covered electrode); — 114 self-shielded tubular-cored arc welding. The principles of this document can be applied to other steel groups and fusion welding processes not listed. This document specifies three weld quality levels, A, B, and Z in order to permit application to a wide range of weldments. Each weld quality level defines a set of criteria for weldment properties that are established during qualification. This document does not address the selection of the weld quality level to meet the requirements of a particular application.

ISO 15618-1:2016 specifies essential requirements, ranges of qualification, test conditions, acceptance requirements and certification for the qualification testing of welder-diver performance. ISO 15618-1:2016 is applicable for hyperbaric wet welding on steel. The recommended format for the certificate of qualification testing is given in Annex A. During the qualification test, the welder-diver may be required to show adequate job knowledge of the welding processes, materials and safety requirements for which he is to be qualified. Information on these aspects is given in Annex B. The welding processes referred to in this part of ISO 15618 include those fusion welding processes which are designated as manual or partly mechanised welding. It does not cover fully mechanised and fully automatic processes (see 5.2). This part of ISO 15618 applies to all new qualifications from the date of issue. However, ISO 15618-1:2016 does not invalidate previous welder-diver qualifications made to former national standards or specifications, providing the intent of the technical requirements is satisfied and the previous qualifications are relevant to the application and production work on which they are employed. The certificate of qualification testing is issued under the sole responsibility of the examiner or examining body.

ISO 15614-10:2005 specifies how to qualify welding procedure specifications for welding in hyperbaric dry environments. It also specifies the minimum testing requirements necessary for qualification of welding procedures. ISO 15614-10:2005 may be used to qualify welding procedures using mechanized and automated welding.