WELDER QUALIFICATIONS
 
AS/NZS 2980 : 2007 Since 31st March 2011 AS/NZS 2980 “Qualification of welders for fusion welding of steels” supersedes the old standards, NZS 4711 “Qualification for metal-arc welders” and NZS 4703 “Welder qualifications for stainless steel tubes for the dairy industry”. How is AS/NZS 2980 different to NZS 4711? NZS 4711 specified some important “variables” of the weld procedure, such as  material (parent metal) type and thickness. AS/NZS 2980 leaves it to the user to nominate the weld procedure to be used. The weld procedure (most commonly AS/NZS1554.1, although any applicable WPS is acceptable) must specify material type and thickness, as well as most other aspects of the weld process. We can supply a Weld Procedure for the sole purpose of obtaining a Welder Qualification (resulting in the optimal range of qualification for most purposes), or write a weld procedure in collaboration with the client, and qualify it through the welder qualification test process. - NZS 4711 did not specify a “range of qualification”. AS/NZS 2980 specifies a range of qualification for most aspects of the weld process, all relating to the materials and processes in the weld procedure used for the test. - NZS4711 qualified a welder for one to three years depending on their skill level and experience, AS/NZS 2980 qualifies a welder for a maximum of two years, but will lapse if the welder goes for a period of over six months without working in the range of their qualification.
 How is AS/NZS 2980 different to NZS 4703? Like NZS 4703, AS/NZS 2980 Appendix F “Welder qualification test for stainless steel tube for the New Zealand dairy industry” specifies the (1•6mmWT) nominal wall thickness (qualifying 1•5mm - 2•0mmWT through AS/NZS2980), and that the test piece is GTAW welded from one side with backing gas. Tube diameter is not specified (any pipe diameter over 50mm is qualified from a 100mmØ test piece, and smaller diameters can be welded for a lower range), the 6G (45º fixed) position is not compulsory (although it is recommended as it qualifies a full welding position range), and the branch connection no longer needs to be welded for qualification. Welder Qualifications to ASME IX, AS/NZS1554, AS/NZS1665, ISO9606, AS3992/AS1210, and BS/EN287: We can also perform the required supervision and/or testing for Welder Qualifications to: ASME IX, AS/NZS1554(all parts) and AS1665 standards, ISO9606(all parts) and BS/EN287 standards, AWS D17.1 Aerospace Fusion Welding, and AS/NZS3992 Pressure Equipment Welder Qualifications (for the AS1210 Pressure Vessels Standard). Training: X-Ray Laboratories Ltd do not offer any training or instruction in the various metal arc-welding processes we test or qualify, but work with and can recommend many suitable institutions or training services for any welding process, purpose, or skill level.