WELDER QUALIFICATION

All welders, welding operators and tack welders are required to be qualified before they will be permitted to weld on any bridge or structure being fabricated for the Iowa Department of Transportation. All qualification tests for limited or unlimited thicknesses, fillet or groove welds shall conform to the AWS (American Welding Society) D1.5 Bridge Welding Code as modified by the Iowa Department of Transportation Standard Specification explained in these instructions.

For shops only - Certification may be obtained when shop testing is witnessed or administered by a Third Party Entity. The individual acting as witness or administrator must hold a valid certification as a (CWI) Certified Welding Inspector. All test reports must be readily available to the Iowa Inspector when requested.

TEST PLATES

The fabricator shall furnish all test plates used in the qualification tests of the fabricator’s personnel or procedure tests, regardless of the type or thickness. Mill Test Reports must be available when requested.

TEST FEES

If or when requested, the State of Iowa can supply 3/8” test plates, witness the testing, and send the test plates to the Central Materials Lab in Ames for visual inspection. If the test weld doesn’t pass visual inspection, the tester will be notified of the failed test and no fee is charged. If the test weld passes visual inspection, a bend test will be performed and the tester will be notified of the results. The Fabricator will be billed $200.00 for each plate that is bend tested.

FAILURE OF TESTS

A welder failing a weld test is immediately disqualified for those positions represented by the test position in which they failed, and must retest within one month by welding two weld test plates of the type and position of which they failed, both of which must pass. Failure to retest within one month shall be considered as failure of the retest.

FAILURE OF RETEST

A welder that fails a retest may not retest again for six months or one month at the discretion of the Structural Materials Engineer for the failed position. After six months, the welder may retest by welding two weld tests plates of the same type & position, which previously failed, and both of which must pass.

CERTIFICATION RENEWAL

The qualification herein specified for the welder, welding operator and the tacker shall be considered as remaining in effect from the end of the month in which the tests were taken, for a period of one year. The welding qualifications may be extended annually, based on a written request from the fabricator, accompanied with a copy of the Continuity Logs which verifies that the welder/welders have been engaged in the process or processes for which they qualified without any interruption of more than three months during the preceding twelve months, or by requalification per AWS D1.5. Fracture Critical Welders shall be renewed annually as required by AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code. Requalification may be required should the welders ability be questioned at any time.