IIW IWI-S study guide
IIW IWI-S · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The IIW International Welding Inspector - Standard (IWI-S) is an entry-level personnel certification in the International Institute of Welding's inspector qualification framework. It is aimed at people who verify welded fabrication against drawings, welding procedure specifications and applicable standards: welding coordinators moving into inspection, fabrication and QC staff, third-party surveyors, and engineers who need a recognised inspection competence. The IIW IWI-S study guide has 9 sections and about 2,540 words.
01Welding processes and equipment
This domain tests whether you can classify a welding process by ISO 4063, state its power-source and consumable characteristics, and derive the parameters that appear on a WPS. 111 MMA, 121 SAW (wire), 131 MIG, 135 MAG, 136 flux-cored, 138 metal-cored, 141 TIG, 15 plasma, 311 oxy-acetylene, 21 resistance spot, 42 laser, 78 stud.
310 words, about 2 min02Materials and their behaviour during welding
Here the exam probes material grouping, hardenability, cracking mechanisms and the metallurgical reasons behind preheat, interpass and heat-treatment rules. ISO/TR 15608 groups steels; group 1 covers unalloyed and low-alloy steels with Re ≤ 460 MPa, and the group defines the qualification range of a WPQR.
287 words, about 1 min03Construction and design
The exam tests joint and weld design, symbol interpretation to ISO 2553, and static versus fatigue assessment - and whether you know the difference between specified and achieved throat. ISO 2553: solid reference line means the weld is on the arrow side; dashed line means the other side.
310 words, about 2 min04Fabrication
This domain is about execution discipline: preparation, fit-up, preheat, consumable handling, sequencing and distortion control - and the records that prove them. Cut edges to ISO 9013 classes; thermally cut or gouged surfaces must be cleaned before welding.
292 words, about 1 min05Welding applications and applied welding technology
This domain asks how the generic rules are applied under sector specifications and to difficult materials - pressure, structural, pipeline, rail, stainless and aluminium. Structural steel: EN 1090-2 execution classes EXC1–EXC4.
275 words, about 1 min06Inspection and testing (NDT and destructive testing)
The exam tests method selection, the governing standard, timing of inspection, and acceptance levels. Surface methods: VT to ISO 17637, PT to ISO 3452 series, MT to ISO 17638.
281 words, about 1 min07Quality management, QA/QC and documentation
This domain tests the quality system around welding: ISO 3834, coordination, qualification records, document control and deviation handling. ISO 3834-2 (full), -3 (standard), -4 (elementary) set requirements by product type; ISO 9001 certification alone does not demonstrate welding competence.
258 words, about 1 min08Health, safety and environmental protection
This domain tests recognition of welding-specific hazards and the hierarchy of controls, with the standards that quantify them. Fume: emission rate is measured by the ISO 15011 series.
268 words, about 1 min09Welding inspection practice and reporting
The final domain asks whether you can plan, witness and record inspection so another person can reconstruct exactly what happened. The inspection and test plan lists each operation, the standard, the acceptance criterion, the record, and whether the point is hold (work stops) or witness.
259 words, about 1 min