30 Dec What Is a Coded Welder and Why Is Certification Important?
Space travel, aviation and the automotive industry; all rely on welding, an essential part of the manufacturing process. Without it none of these things would exist. Welding is necessary for a wide variety of products and infrastructures, and one that plays an important role in many aspects of everyday life.
However, welding is a complex and dangerous skill that no one can do without proper training and certification. This is where a coded welder comes in. Read on to learn the meaning of a coded welder, find out why certification is important, and get an explanation of the different types of welding codes.
What is Coded Welding?
Coded welders will have completed a test in a particular welding process using a certain method. This test is known as a Welder Approval Test. Each of these welding methods is specific to certain jobs within structural steel fabrication; each welding method holds a specific type of code. Some of these codes cover more generic types of coded welding, whereas some are more specific and intricate.
Why is Welding Certification Important?
A welder’s skills and knowledge are tested to meet the requirements of specific welding codes. Their understanding of welding theory, safety, and practical skills are all assessed in written and practical exams.
Welding certification ensures welders can perform their job to the required standards. It’s necessary so that all welders have the knowledge and skills to produce quality welds that meet the job’s specifications.
Welding Code Specification
All welder approval codes are done in accordance with BS EN ISO 9606-1. This determines the abilities of a coded welder to complete work in that field. The qualification test is used to qualify a welding procedure, as well as a person’s ability to weld codes to certain welding specifications.
Usually, a welder will provide a welding sample which will be mirrored as closely to the job as possible. This sample will be examined by an approved examiner who will then make a judgement call on the coded welder’s capabilities for completing the job. If the welder passes that test, that cements him/her to be coded to that particular specification.
It is worth remembering that being coded to a certain specification does not necessarily mean you are qualified in others. Despite being coded in one, you will need to demonstrate that you are coded in other welding specifications through the same level of testing.
Types of Welding Codes
There are several types of welding codes, including:
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- American Welding Society (AWS) codes: These codes cover a wide range of welding processes and materials, including structural welding, pressure vessel welding, and pipe welding.
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) codes: These codes are specific to pressure vessel fabrication and welding, including power boilers, nuclear components, and pressure piping.
- British Standards Institution (BSI) codes: These codes are used in the UK and cover a range of welding processes and materials.
- ISO codes: These codes are international standards that cover welding processes and materials used in various industries worldwide.
For a complete list of welding codes, click here.
Common Welding Codes in the UK
Welding codes set the conditions for areas such as inspection, testing, repair, approved materials, and fabrication. These documents are developed by a mixture of associations and set the standards of practice that ensure quality is maintained throughout.
UK welders can operate under B.S. (National British Standard), B.S. EN (European British Standard European Standard), AWS (U.S. American Welding Society), ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), or ISO (International Standards Organisation).
Some of the common welding codes include:
- BS EN ISO 9606
- BS 4872
- BS EN ISO 15614 -1
- AWS D1.1/ D1.2/ D1.6
- ASME Section IX
Types of Welding
Below are some of the different styles of welding:
- Fusion Welding – this is a type of welding that uses heat to fuse two or more materials together while at melting point. Fusion welding processes are commonly used in the construction, pipework and aerospace industries.
- MIG – Metal Inert Gas is the most common type of industrial welding. This is an arc welding process where electricity is used to create an arc between electrode wires and metals. The wire is melted, then deposited to create the weld. MIG welding is ideal for mild steel (including equal and unequal angle steel), although it does cover a wide range of alloys.
- TIG – Tungsten Inert Gas (also known as Gas Tungsten Arc welding) is used to weld materials such as titanium, copper and is a very intricate procedure. TIG is commonly used where quality is of the essence, namely structural steel and hollow section steel.
- MMA – Manual Metal Arc welding is a relatively low-cost and versatile technique of welding which can be used with a huge range of materials in a variety of positions. Also known as Shielded Metal Arc welding, this process involves using an electrode (covered with a flux rod) and the work piece, where both the rod and the surface melt to create the weld.
Mobile Welding
Here at Baker Steel Trading, we are a fully qualified and experienced team of coded welders covering a wide range of specifications in welding steel.
We offer on-site mobile welding which will give you access to a qualified coded welder straight to your site. We also have an option to send structural steel fabricators to your site if any steel fabrication work is required, alongside any mobile welding processes. We offer both an hourly and a daily rate for this service.
All of our welders are qualified in numerous types of mobile welding, so you can feel comfortable knowing that the work we do will be:
- Efficient
- Completed exactly to specifications
- On-site at a convenient time
- Of the highest quality
Our mobile welding and steel fabrication work is ideal for emergency welding jobs that are under a strict time frame, as well as fixes that need someone with up-to-date and high-quality welding equipment to come to your site quickly.
FAQs
What Is 6g Coded Welding?
This is a welding technique used to weld pipes in the 6G position. The 6 represents the position and G represents the type of weld.
What is the Difference Between a Coded Welder and an Uncertified Welder?
A coded welder is qualified to weld according to specific welding codes, but an uncertified welder is not.
How Often do Welding Codes Get Updated?
In order to reflect new technologies and industry best practices this is done regularly.
Can a Welder be Certified in Multiple Welding Codes?
Yes, this is possible and will depend on their skills and qualifications.
Structural Steel Fabricators
Based out of our Woking hub, we also offer the following services:
- Fabrication drawings
- Crane hire
- Customised fabrication (including twinned steel, flitch plates and welded flat bars)
- Survey and measure services completed on-site.
We are proud to be a steel fabrication company you can rely on for any type of steel welding service. For more information on our coded welding services, contact us via the web form, email us at info@bakersteeltrading.co.uk or give us a call on 01483 481900.