AWS Certified Welding Inspector — FundamentalsInspector Duties and ResponsibilitiesMedium
A CWI is conducting a post-weld visual inspection of a critical structural steel connection. The Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and applicable code (AWS D1.1) require a specific weld size for a fillet weld, measured as leg length. The CWI measures the leg length of a fillet weld to be 1/4 inch, but the WPS specifies a minimum leg length of 5/16 inch. What is the most appropriate next step for the CWI?
- AAccept the weld, as the 1/16 inch difference is negligible and within acceptable industry tolerance.
- BRequire the welder to add an additional pass to increase the leg length to the specified size.
- CDocument the deviation and request a non-conformance report (NCR) to be initiated.
- DPerform a non-destructive testing (NDT) method like magnetic particle testing to confirm weld integrity.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Document the deviation and request a non-conformance report (NCR) to be initiated.
A weld that does not meet the specified minimum size is a non-conformance. The CWI's role is to identify such deviations and initiate the appropriate corrective action process, which typically involves documenting the issue and raising an NCR. While adding a pass might be the eventual repair, the CWI's immediate step is formal documentation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A 1/16 inch undersize is a significant deviation when a minimum is specified and is not negligible; it impacts the weld's strength.
- B. While this might be the repair, the CWI's immediate action is to document the non-conformance and initiate formal procedures.
- D. NDT confirms integrity but doesn't address the undersized weld; the size non-conformance must be resolved first.
Post-Weld Undersize Fillet
A fillet weld whose leg length or throat dimension is less than the minimum size specified by the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) or applicable code, constituting a non-conformance requiring formal action.
- Directly impacts weld strength.
- Must be documented as a non-conformance.
- Requires repair or engineering disposition.
Memory trick: Small weld, big problem, formal solution.