ASME Section IX Code Edition 2017

Summary of changes

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QG-100 SCOPE

(f) Throughout this Section, references are made to various non-ASME

documents. Unless a specific date is referenced, the latest edition of the
reference document in effect at the time of performance or procedure
qualification is to be used.

Change: Subparagraph (f) added

QG-101 PROCEDURE SPECIFICATION

Change: Last two paragraphs deleted

Background – the referencing Construction Code mandates the requirements for Section IX procedure and performance
qualification, and may have additional, or less restrictive, requirements to Section IX {see QG‐100 (b)}.
QG-105.1

QG-105.1 Essential Variables (Procedure). Essential variables are

conditions in which a change, as described in the specific variables, is
considered to affect the mechanical properties (other than notch
toughness) of the joint. Before…………...
Change at numerous
locations

Change: First sentence revised

Background – numerous references to “Notch Toughness Testing” and “Charpy V‐Notch Testing”
revised to “toughness testing” since some Construction Codes require toughness testing other than
Charpy V‐Notch such as ASTM E1820 JIC.
QG-105.5 Special Process Variables.

QG-105.5 Special Process Variables. Special process

variables are conditions that apply only to special processes
that are described in the Part that addresses those
processes. When these special processes are used, only
the applicable special process variables shall apply. A change in these
process variables shall require requalification of the procedure
specification.

Change: Last sentence deleted

QG-106.1 ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

(c) If the effective operational control of procedure

qualifications for two or more companies of different
names exists under the same corporate ownership, the
companies involved shall describe in their Quality Control
System / or Quality Assurance Program the operational
control of procedure qualifications. In this case, separate
procedure qualifications are not required, provided all
other requirements of this Section are met. Change at numerous
locations

Change: Subparagraph (c) revised

Background ‐ Replaced slashes with the appropriate word, which is “or” in most cases.
QG-106.3 Simultaneous Performance Qualifications

2017
QG-106.3 Simultaneous Performance
Qualifications. Organizations may participate in
an association to collectively qualify the
performance of one or more persons for
material-joining processes simultaneously and
may share performance qualification
information with other participating
organizations within the association. When
simultaneous performance qualifications are
conducted, each participating organization shall
be represented by an employee with designated
responsibility for performance qualifications.
Revised in its entirety
2015
QG-106.3 Simultaneous Performance
Qualifications. Organizations may participate in
an association to collectively qualify the
performance of one or more persons
for material-joining processes simultaneously.
When simultaneous performance qualifications
are conducted, each participating organization
shall be represented during the preparation of
the joint test by an employee with
designated responsibility for performance
qualifications.

Background – Revised QG‐106.3 Simultaneous Qualifications in its entirety for improved clarity. See
Code for details. QG‐106.3 provides rules for when Organizations participate in an association to
collectively qualify the performance of one or more persons for material‐joining processes
simultaneously and share performance qualification information with other participating organizations
within the association.
QG-109.2 DEFINITIONS

Trailing gas:
a gas used to produce a protective atmosphere that extends beyond the
weld pool in the direction opposite of travel.

Low‐power density Laser Beam Welding (LLBW):

a variation of the laser beam welding process in which the coherent light
beam employs reduced power density, such that coalescence of materials
is achieved by conduction (i.e., melt‐in) without keyhole welding.

Change: Definitions revised/added

Definitions of build-up of base metal (restoration of base metal thickness); flux (welding or brazing); melt-in; test specimen; and
welding, laser beam (LBW) revised
(2) Definitions of trailing gas and welding, low-power density laser beam (LLBW) added
QW-191.1.1 Radiographic Examination

(a) A written radiographic examination procedure is

not required. Demonstration of density and image quality requirements
on production or technique radiographs shall be
considered satisfactory evidence of compliance with Section
V, Article 2.

Change: Subparagraph (a) revised

Background ‐ Revised to remove implication that only film radiography is acceptable and permit radiography other than film RT.
QW-191.2.1 Ultrasonic Examination

2017 2015

Change: Subparagraph (a) revised

Background – Minimum thickness for applicability of UT examination reduced to be consistent with Construction Codes, ASME
Section VIII Divisions 1 and 2.
QW-191.2.2 Personnel Qualifications and Certifications.

2017 2015

(1) Subparagraph (b) revised

(2) Subparagraphs (c) and (d) deleted
Background – Requirements for qualification and certification of examination personnel moved to ASME Section V to be
consistent with the Construction Codes.
T-120 GENERAL

(e) For those documents that directly reference this

Article for the qualification of NDE personnel, the qualification
shall be in accordance with their employer’s written
practice which shall be in accordance with one of the
following documents:

(1)SNT-TC-1A (2006 Edition), Personnel Qualification and Certification in

Nondestructive Testing;
Or
(2) ANSI/ASNT CP-189 (2006 Edition), ASNT Standard for Qualification
and Certification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel
 QW-200.4 Combination of Welding Procedures.

2017 2015

(1) In subpara. (a), second paragraph revised

(2) In subpara. (b), first line revised
QW-211.1 BASE METAL

Added
Table QW-253

WPS change

(1) For QW-403.6, entry under “Brief of Variables” revised (15-247)

(2) QW-407.4, third row deleted (15-1961)
(3) For QW-410.1, entry under “Brief of Variables” revised (14-1118)
(4) Legend revised (14-1118)
Table QW-253.1

Nonessential variable QW‐409.8 for HFO and CRO added – ϕ I & E range
WPS change

(1) QW-409.8 added (15-2720)

(2) For QW-410.1, entry under “Nonessential Variables for HFO and CRO” revised (14-1118)
(3) Legend revised (14-1118)
Table QW-255 [GMAW and FCAW]

QW-408.10 ϕ Shielding or trailing

QW-408.10 − Trail or ϕ comp. WPS change

(1) QW-407.4 deleted (15-1961)

(2) For QW-408.10, entry under “Brief of Variables” revised (15-961)
(3) For QW-410.1 and QW-410.9, entry under “Brief of Variables” revised (14-1118)
(4) Legend revised (14-1118)
Table QW-264.2

Added (14-1028)
QW‐288.1

QW-288 TUBE-TO-TUBESHEET QUALIFICATION ESSENTIAL VARIABLES

2017 2015

Subparagraph (c) revised (14-2273)

QW-290.3 Variables for Temper Bead Welding
Qualifications.

2017 2015

Revised

Background – Revisions were proposed to hold hardness testing, toughness testing, and no additional testing independent and
to require the method of acceptance and the acceptance criteria to be specified by the Construction Code or the Design
Specification if required to be either hardness or toughness. If hardness or toughness are not specified, the qualification test
requirement is bend testing. Table QW‐290.4 was revised to include a new essential variables column for cases where the
Construction Code or Design Specification does not specify or require hardness or impact testing. Examples of this type of
application are previous multipass repair methodologies in the NBIC.
 Table QW-290.4 Welding Variables for Temper Bead
Procedure Qualification

2017 2015

Revised
QW-303.1 LIMITS OF QUALIFIED POSITIONS AND
DIAMETERS

2017 2015

revised

Background – Added text clarify the intent of Section IX regarding performance qualification requirements for welders
depositing tack welds; {See also the addition of Note (2) to Table QW‐461.9}.
QW-303.1 LIMITS OF QUALIFIED POSITIONS AND
DIAMETERS

2017 2015 Manual change

Revised in its entirety

Background – Revised to clarify that the six month continuity period is from the date of the welder or
welding operator last welding with the qualified process.
Table QW-355 Semiautomatic Gas Metal-Arc Welding
(GMAW)

2017 2015
For QW-408.8,

− Inert backing
WOPQ change
− Backing gas

For QW-408.8, entry under “Brief of Variables” revised

Background – Revised the variable QW‐408.8 to say “the omission of backing gas…,” deleting the word “inert.” The backing
gas could be “active” and therefore not always “inert”.
QW‐403.6

2017 2015

revised

Background – previously, if the thickness of the test coupon T was less than 1/4 in. (6 mm), the minimum base metal thickness
qualified was 1/2T. Now, if the test coupon T is 1/4 in. (6 mm) or less, the minimum thickness qualified is 1/2T.
QW-403.16

Subparagraphs (a) and (b) added

Background – Revised to define welder qualification diameter limits for set‐on and set‐in nozzle or branch connections.
QW‐406.8

2017 2015

Deleted

Background – Deleted variable as being overkill and partially redundant.

QW‐406.9

2017 2015

Revised

Background – Revised the limitation on the minimum preheat when hardness testing is required to
limit the minimum preheat to the temperature during the qualification welding without a further
reduction of 100°F in Table QW‐290.4 Welding Variables for Temper Bead Procedure Qualification.
QW-407.4

QW‐407.4 For ferrous base metals other than P‐No. 7, P‐No. 8, and P‐No.
45, when a procedure qualification test coupon receives a postweld heat
treatment exceeding the upper transformation temperature or a solution
heat treatment for P‐No. 10H materials, the maximum qualified base
metal thickness, T, shall not exceed 1.1 times the thickness of the test
coupon.
2017

2015

Deleted
QW 422 and Table QW432

• QW 422: Some 26 new specifications and 82 new grades of

materials were assigned P-numbers.
• Table QW 432: Added new filler metal specification SFA-5.36,
Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for FCAW and Metal Cored
Electrodes for GMAW. This standard will be replacing
AWS A5.20/A5.20M, Specification for Carbon Steel Electrodes for
FCAW
AWS A5.29/A5.29M, Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for
FCAW
Neither SFA-5.20 nor SFA-5.29 will be withdrawn for five years
 Table QW-452.1(b) Thickness of Weld Metal Qualified

2017 2015

Note (1) revised

Background – Revised to add that use of more than one set of essential variables impacts the determination of thickness of
weld metal qualified.
Table QW-461.9

Final column head revised –

Fillet or Tack (note 2)

Note (2) added –

Tack welds are not limited by pipe
or tube diameters when their aggregate
length does not exceed 25% of the
weld circumference.

(1) Final column head revised (14-2063)

(2) Note (2) added
QW-462 TEST SPECIMENS

Final paragraph and subparas. (a) through (i) added

Background – Added a new paragraph to list the specific standards whose tension specimens would be acceptable for Section
IX use.
Figure QW-462.3(b)

2017 2015

Illustration for “Root Bend” revised

Background – Revised by removing the sketch of the root bend with one showing the excess material
removal on the face side, instead of the root side.
Form QW‐482

Revised –
Sketches may be attached to illustrate joint
Form change
design, weld layers, and bead sequence
(e.g., for notch toughness procedures, for
multiple process procedures, etc.)

Revised –
Specification and type, grade, or UNS Number

Errata –
Spelling of “Maximum” corrected

(1) “Sketches may be attached” and “Specification and type” lines revised (15-201)
(2) Spelling of “Maximum” corrected by errata (16-611)
Form QW‐483

Revised –
Type or Grade, or UNS Number
Form change
Revised ‐
Impact Toughness Values

Added four lines to “Electrical Characteristics” –

Waveform Control
Power or Energy
Arc Time
Weld Bead Length
Form QW‐483

Date welded

Revised – Form change

Filler Metal Product Form
(soild/metal or flux cored/powder)
(QW‐404.23) (GTAW or PAW)

Inert gas backing Use of backing gas

(GTAW, PAW, GMAW)

Background ‐ Revised to be able to differentiate between the date the personnel qualification coupon is welded and the date
the WPQ is certified. This is important because the 6‐month continuity period mentioned in QW‐322.1 starts from the date the
test coupon was welded.
Anandan Rajamani
Senior Surveyor In Charge/Authorized Inspector Supervisor
Lloyd’s Register Inspection Services
T +971 4 701 4118; M +971 509946265 E anandan.rajamani@lr.org

Lloyd’s Register EMEA

71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS

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