Documentation, Recording, and Reporting of Welding Activities
This domain tests the records that prove a weld was made to specification and can be traced: WPS, welder qualification, material and filler traceability, inspection records, and final reporting.
Core rules
- Use the approved WPS and confirm the welder is qualified for the process, position, thickness, and joint. Record the WPS number, welder ID, and unique weld or joint number.
- Record base-metal grade and heat number, filler classification and lot or batch, shielding-gas type, and any backing or purge gas. These details support traceability if a problem appears later.
- Record essential variables actually used: process, polarity, current range, voltage or arc length, travel speed, preheat and interpass temperature, and postweld heat treatment. Record date, time, location, and environmental conditions where required.
- Complete inspection and NDT reports with method, standard, acceptance criteria, results, inspector, and date. Record repairs, the defect found, the repair method, and re-inspection results.
- Make corrections legibly with a single line, initials, and date. Do not erase, backdate, or copy a WPS as an as-built record. Submit records in the required format and retain them for the specified period.
Worked example
A welder finishes a stainless pipe joint but the daily log has no heat number for the base metal. The correct action is to stop and trace the pipe to its material certificate or heat-number marking, then record it. If the heat number cannot be established, the joint is a traceability nonconformance and must be reported. Guessing a number or leaving the field blank undermines the record and may require re-inspection or rejection.
Traps that cost marks
- Recording only the WPS number and omitting actual variables.
- Missing heat numbers, filler lots, or gas details.
- Erasing or backdating entries.
- Omitting repair and re-inspection records.
- Submitting undocumented verbal instructions as approved changes.