QC4 89
QC4 89
QC4 89
Standard for
Accreditation of
Test Facilities for
AWS Certified
Welder Program
K e y w o r d s Test Facility AWS QC 4-89
Accreditation
Laboratory Certification
Standard for
Accreditation of Test Facilities
for
AWS Certified Welder Program
Prepared by
AWS Qualification and Certification Committee
Approved by
AWS Board of Directors
October 31, 1989
Abstract
This Standard describes a program directed by the American Welding Society for a third-party accreditation of test
facilities used to perform welding qualificationwelding and testing.
All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American
Welding Society are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the
American National Standards Institute. When AWS standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents
that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental bodies, their
provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be
approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and
regulations. I n all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the
AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS
standard must be by agreement between the contracting parties.
American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, Florida 33126
Note: The primary purpose of the American Welding Society (AWS) is to serve and benefit its members. To this end,
AWS provides a forum for the exchange, consideration, and discussion of ideas and proposals that are relevant to the
welding industry and the consensus of which forms the basis for these standards. By providing such a forum, AWS does
not assume any duties to which a user of these Standards may be required to adhere. By publishing this Standard, the
American Welding Society does not insure anyone using the information it contains against any liability arising from
that use. Publication of a standard by the American Welding Society does not carry with it any right to make, use, or sell
any patented items. Users of the information in this Standard should make an independent investigation of the validity
of that information for their particular use and the patent status of any item referred to herein.
This Standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS Qualification and Certification Committee. It must be
reviewed every five years and if not revised, it must be either reapproved or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations,
additions, or deletions) and any pertinent data that may be used in improving this Standard are requested and should be
addressed to the Director, Qualification and Certification Department, American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune
Road, Miami, Florida 33126. Such comments will receive careful considerations by the AWS Qualification and
Certification Committee and the author of the comments. Guests are invited to attend all meetings of the AWS
Qualification and Certification Committee to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse
decision concerning all such comments are provided in the Rules of Operation of the Qualification and Certification
Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road,
Florida 33126.
Personnel
AWS Qualification and Certification Committee
* Advisory Member
111
Foreword
(This Foreword is not a part of the Standard for Accreditation of Test Facilities for A WS Certified Welder Program
AWS QC 4-89, but is included only for information).
Purpose. The purpose of the third-party accreditation of Test Facilities for welder qualification is to confirm that a Test
Facility has the personnel, organization, experience, procedures, knowledge, equipment, capability, and commitment
to conduct proper welder qualification testing for the AWS Certified Welder Program. This Standard describes the
requirements and functions of the Test Facility to achieve this purpose and to complete reliable reports; and, to define
relationships between the Test Facility and the other parties involved.
Relationships. A Test Facility shall be accredited to conduct welder qualification tests for the AWS Certified Welder
Program. A person wishing to take tests to become an AWS certified welder shall prepare an application in accordance
with AWS QC 3. The applicant is responsible to contact the Test Facility to arrange a specific date and time for the
completion of the qualification test assembly. All acceptable test results and records will be returned to AWS by the Test
Facility after the welder qualification test is completed.
Dedication. The Q&C Committee dedicates the publication of this Standard to Dalton E. Hamilton and Charla S.
Cardoni. At the time of his death in May, 1988, Dalton Hamilton was the Chairman of the Q&C Committee. His efforts,
clear thinking, ability to find consensus and tireless work contributed significantly to the Q&C Committee. At the time
of her death in December, 1988, Charla Cardoni was the Special Assistant to the AWS Executive Director. From 1982
to September, 1988, she was the Director of the AWS Q&C Department. Her business management training and
experience brought a sense of direction and order that contributed significantly to the AWS certification programs.
IV
Table of Contents
Page No.
Personnel iii
Foreword iv
7. Scope 1
1.1 Requirements 1
1.2 Procedure 1
1.3 Safety Precautions 1
2. Definitions 1
3. Test Facility Requirements 2
3.1 General Requirements 2
3.2 Quality Assurance System 2
3.3 Personnel 2
3.4 Welding Equipment 3
3.5 Measuring & Testing Equipment 3
3.6 Calibration 3
3.7 Metals and Materials 3
3.8 Test Methods and Procedures 4
3.9 Environment 4
3.10 Handling of Items to be Tested 4
3.11 Records and Test Reports 4
4. Accreditation 4
4.1 Information 4
4.2 Application 4
5. On-Site Assessment 5
5.1 Agency 5
5.2 Checklist 5
5.3 Objectives 5
5.4 Assessment Report 5
6. Accreditation Decisions 5
6.1 Submittal 5
6.2 Grant 5
7. Appeals Procedure 5
8. Reassessments 5
9. Accreditation Renewal 5
9.1 Period 5
9.2 Annual Report 5
9.3 Expiration 5
10. Revocation 6
10.1 Q&C Committee 6
10.2 Enforcement 6
11. Reinstatement 6
AWSQC4-89
Standard for
Accreditation of Test Facilities
for AWS Certified Welder Program
1. Scope accreditation. Certification as being able to meet a pre-
scribed standard.
1.1 Requirements. This Standard establishes minimum
requirements for Test Facilities, their personnel, and accredited facility. A facility that applies to the AWS
equipment to qualify for accreditation to test and qualify designated third party agency and received accred-
welders in the AWS Certified Welder Program. This itation.
facility accreditation program is open to all Test Facili-
ties that are qualified, whether or not they are members AWS. American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune
of AWS. The Test Facilities may be part of an inde- Road, Miami, Florida 33126.
pendent laboratory, manufacturing plant, educational
institution, or other party. certification. The act of determining, verifying, and
attesting in writing to the qualification of personnel in
1.2 Procedure. This Standard establishes the procedure accordance with specified requirements.
by which Test Facilities may seek, obtain, and maintain
accreditation from an AWS designated third-party facility representative. An individual(s) designated by
assessment agency to participate in the AWS Certified the Test Facility who can make legally binding
Welder Program. commitments and statements on behalf of the Test
Facility.
1.3 Safety Precautions. Safety precautions shall con-
form to the latest edition of ANSI/ASC Z49.1-88, Safety inspection. Examination or measurement to verify
in Welding and Cutting, published by the American whether an item or activity conforms to specified
Welding Society. requirements.
NOTE: This Standard does not purport to address all of
inspector. A person who performs inspection activities
the safety problems associated with its use. It is the
to verify conformance to specified requirements.
responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety
and health practices. The user should determine the NDE. A designation in this Standard for nondestructive
applicability of any regulatory limitations prior to use. examination of welds using one of the approved non-
destructive testing methods.