The publication of AS/NZS ISO 9606.1:2017 Qualification testing of welders – Fusion welding – Part 1: Steels is seen as a move towards international best practice.

And is a standard of significance, because it forms the basis of the next revision of AS/NZS 2980 expected to be published late February.

For the many users of AS/NZS 2980:2007 it’ll mean changes when it comes to their certificate renewals. Existing qualifications to the 2007 edition will remain current until the end of its period of validity and then will have to be “revalidated” according to the range of qualification provided in the 2018 edition. Note that the term “revalidation” (the requalification or extension of the certificate when it‘s up for renewal) replaces the term “prolongation”.

Feb22018
welding

Options for revalidation now include:

  1. Retesting every 3 years i.e. the welding of another test plate.
  2. Every 2 years revalidation for a further 2 years is possible where there are records of two tests by radiographic or ultra-sonic testing on the welder’s production welds in the previous 6 months.

 

AS/NZS ISO 9606.1:2017 includes a provision not available in AS/NZS 2980:2007 that allows the certificate to remain valid indefinitely provided that:

  • the welder is working for the same manufacturer (fabricator) who confirms the certificate every 6 months,
  • the manufacturer (fabricator) has a verified ISO 3834 quality programme,
  • the manufacturer (fabricator) documents that the welder has produced compliant welds based on the NDT reports.

Qualifying welders to AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 can offer advantages to fabricators and welders as it’s referenced in AS/NZS 1554.1, AS/NZS 3992, ASME, EN and other standards. While AS/NZS 2980 is a structural welding standard, AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 is applicable to a wider range of work including for example pressure equipment and the marine industry. That’s why we believe AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 should become a first choice qualification for welders in New Zealand.

 

Attend our upcoming seminar to improve your understanding of these key welding standards!

We’re holding a Welding Standards Update Seminar in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch to give you greater insight into how you can utilise standards to your advantage.

This half-day seminar looks at recent developments in the key welding standards many of us work to on a daily basis including:

  • AS/NZS 5131 – the overarching structural steelwork standard for fabrication and erection
  • AS/NZS 1554.1 – our most widely specified structural welding standard
  • AS/NZS 2980:2018 – welder qualification standard superseding the 2007 edition
  • AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 –  now the basis of AS/NZS 2980:2018

By attending the “Welding Standards Update 2018 Seminar” you’ll gain an understanding of the current requirements of the standards and get guidance on how to use them to your benefit across your design, fabrication or inspection activities.

The seminar allows you to directly tap into the expertise of our HERA staff who are actively involved in the process of developing and revising AS/NZS welding standards, and their effective implementation in fabrication/welding quality management systems.

 

Dates for Welding Standards Update 2018 Seminar

12.30pm – 4.30pm                                                   

Queenstown                                                              5 March 2018

New Plymouth                                                           11 March 2018

Palmerston North                                                      12 March 2018

Auckland (HERA House, Manukau)                          27 March 2018

Hamilton                                                                    28 March 2018

Christchurch                                                              4 April 2018

NB. Venue locations to be confirmed closer to the date.