Table of Contents
- Does a WPQR Have an Expiry Date?
- What Determines WPQR Validity?
- Does a Change in WPS Affect the WPQR?
- When Is Requalification Required?
- WPQR Validity vs WPQR Certificate Expiry
- Can an Old WPQR Be Used?
- Does a Standard Revision Automatically Make a WPQR Invalid?
- WPQR Validity and Traceability
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
WPQR Does Not Automatically Expire With Time
Validity Depends on Qualified Welding Variables
Applicability Depends on the Applicable Standard
Requalification May Be Required for Changes
Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) is a technical document detailing the actual welding parameters and results of the tests performed to qualify the welding process. One of the frequent queries regarding welding documentation is as follows: For how many years is a WPQR valid?
As a rule, the WPQR is not provided with any expiration date based merely on the years passed since its issuance. As opposed to certificates, which may have an expiration date, the validity of a WPQR is determined by the following factors: the relevant welding qualifications standard, qualified welding parameters, and the relevance of the qualification to the welding operation.
Does a WPQR Have an Expiry Date?
Generally speaking, a WPQR is not automatically invalidated after two, three, five, or ten years just due to the elapsing of time.
To take an example, if the WPQR was qualified some years ago, it will not automatically be considered invalid simply because of elapsing of that period. What matters in this case is whether the WPQR is still applicable to the welding conditions under the applicable standard.
A WPQR should thus be assessed in terms of technical applicability alone.
What Determines WPQR Validity?
The ongoing applicability of the WPQR is based on various technical aspects.
1. Applicable Welding Standard
The first criterion that needs to be met is the standard used for qualifying the welding procedure.
For example, EN ISO 15614-1 sets out criteria for welding procedure qualifications for metallic materials. It is important to take into account the qualification range determined by the relevant edition of the standard to determine whether a WPQR can be used for the given production purposes.
There could be other product or application standards providing for some additional criteria.
2. Qualified Welding Variables
A WPQR qualifies the welding procedure according to a certain range of variables.
The variables may be:
• Parent material and material category
• Material thickness
• Pipe diameter
• Welding process
• Type of joint
• Welding position
• Welding consumable
• Consumable diameter
• Shielding gas
• Preheat temperature
• Inter pass temperature
• Heat input
• Welding technique
If the production process parameters stay within the qualification range, the WPQR could be still applicable.
However, if any of the essential variables varies beyond the qualification range, a new qualification is needed.
Does a Change in WPS Affect the WPQR?
WPQR and WPS are related in a way but are two distinct documents.
WPQR documents the actual test conditions and the results obtained in the qualifying test. WPS is the document that gives the welding parameters that will be used during the welding process in production.
However, a WPS can be modified based on the change in the production process, provided the modified WPS is still within the qualification range covered by the WPQR.
A proposed WPS that contains a qualification range beyond the one covered by the WPQR is not enough for such a case.
When Is Requalification Required?
Requalification could be required in case of a change in any variable that is beyond the range of qualified variables.
Some examples could include:
• A change in material grouping
• Significant change in material thickness
• A change in welding process
• An alteration in joint type
• A change in welding position in case the limits have been exceeded
• Any change in welding consumable classification
• Change in pipe diameter, which is beyond the qualified range
• An alteration in shielding gas in case the use of shielding gas is applicable
The above are just some examples of what could trigger requalification. It depends on the actual qualification standard.
It would therefore be wrong to view a WPQR as invalid simply because there has been an alteration in the production conditions.
WPQR Validity vs WPQR Certificate Expiry
There must be a clear distinction between WPQR validity and that of other types of welding certificates.
The WPQR is just a document showing evidence of a qualification test; it is not necessarily a certificate that has an expiry date.
The other types of certificates like those for welders’ qualifications, products, inspection, or management systems may have their own validity periods.
Consequently, the expiry period of any other type of certificate should not be assumed for a WPQR.
Can an Old WPQR Be Used?
If the existing WPQR was correctly qualified, can be traced, and applies to the proposed production welding conditions, then it can be re-used.
Prior to the use of an older WPQR, the following should be reviewed:
• Relevant qualification standard
• Version of the standard
• Existing WPQR
• Welding test records
• Material Group
• Material thickness
• Welding Process
• Welding Consumable
• Joint configuration
• Welding position
• Range of qualification
• Non-destructive test results
• Mechanical test results
• Current production needs
The technical assessment should determine if the existing qualification is relevant to the welding work to be done.
Does a Standard Revision Automatically Make a WPQR Invalid?
A revised or updated version of a welding standard does not mean that all existing qualifications of WPQR are automatically invalid.
The transition requirements of the appropriate standard shall be reviewed. The existing qualifications may still be valid under certain conditions, while a new qualification shall have to meet the requirement of the revised version of the standard.
Thus, the version and revision of the appropriate standard shall always be documented.
WPQR Validity and Traceability
Traceability is very important for WPQR during production welding. There should be proper documentation and traceability will reveal the connection between qualification test and the process of production welding.
Conclusion
Validity of a WPQR does not necessarily depend on the age of the qualification certificate measured only in years from qualification date. The important thing is whether the qualification remains valid for welding conditions envisaged and meets all requirements of the relevant standard.
A WPQR may still be considered applicable if all above-mentioned parameters are properly reviewed.
Prior to applying any WPQR, the relevant standard, qualification range, essential variables, revision of the document, and production conditions must be checked. If a proposed change exceeds the qualified range, new qualification may be required.
Need to Verify the Applicability of Your WPQR?
If you are using an existing WPQR for a new production application, the qualification range, applicable standard, essential variables and production conditions should be reviewed before proceeding.
Explore WPQR & WPS Certification with First Welding Certification Pvt Ltd.(PRVÁ ZVÁRAČSKÁ,a.s.) to understand the applicable qualification and approval requirements for your welding procedures.