NECIT Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) Service

As a UKAS-accredited Type A Inspection Body, NECIT delivers fully independent, third-party Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) and Welder Qualification Testing services to the engineering sector across the UK. We operate as a Registered Third Party Organisation (RTPO) under the UK Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation and maintain UKAS accreditation under both ISO/IEC 17020 (Inspection Bodies) and ISO/IEC 17024 (Personnel Certification).

This enables NECIT to certify welding procedures and welders to any international standard such as ISO 15614, ASME IX, and ISO 9606, with full technical oversight and traceable conformity to the applicable standards.

Preparing for Welding Procedure Qualification

Before a welding procedure can be formally implemented, a Preliminary Welding Procedure Specification (pWPS) must be developed. This forms the basis of the welding trial and outlines all relevant welding variables that must be qualified. The structure and content of a WPS or pWPS are typically aligned to ISO 15609-1 (Welding Procedure Specification for arc welding) or equivalent standards such as ASME Section IX, QW-482.

A compliant pWPS should include, at minimum:

WPS Identification

Unique WPS number
Revision number and date
Project or client reference (if applicable)

Joint Design

Joint type (e.g., butt, fillet, T-joint)
Joint configuration and preparation (e.g., bevel angle, root face, root gap)
Backing type (permanent/removable, material)
Weld access and positional constraints

Base Material

Material designation (EN/ISO/ASME)
Material group and subgroup (classified to ISO/TR 15608 or ASME P-number/SFA specs)
Thickness(es) of parent metal
Product form (e.g., plate, pipe, tube)

Filler Metal

Filler metal classification (e.g., ISO 2560-A E 42 5 B 32 H5 or AWS A5.1 E7018)
Diameter of electrodes/wire
Type of consumable (solid wire, flux-cored, coated electrode, etc.)
Flux and wire combination (if applicable)
Consumable trade name (optional but common)

Welding Process

Process(es) used (e.g., 135 MAG, 111 MMA, 141 TIG)
Multi-process indication (if applicable)
Manual, semi-automatic, automatic, mechanised

Welding Positions

Welding position per ISO 6947 or ASME IX (e.g., PA, PC, PF)
Inclination of welding, vertical/up/down progression

Preheat and Interpass Temperature

Minimum preheat temperature
Interpass temperature control range
Method of heating and temperature monitoring

Heat Input Control

Travel speed
Amperage and voltage range
Heat input calculation (if applicable)
Control measures for heat input

Welding Technique

Stringer or weave beads
Number of passes and bead sequence
Direction of welding (left to right, vertical up/down)
Cleaning methods between passes
Torch angle, electrode inclination
Degree of mechanisation

Shielding and Backing Gases

Type and composition (e.g., Ar + 18% CO₂)
Flow rate in l/min
Gas purity class (ISO 14175)
Gas nozzle size / Diameter

Post Weld Heat Treatment (if applicable)

PWHT temperature and duration
Heating and cooling rates
Holding time
Method of PWHT (furnace, local, etc.)

Other Requirements

Welding environment (e.g., indoor/outdoor, temperature limits)
Special precautions (e.g., hydrogen control, restraint methods)
NDT method planned for testing the qualification

Sketches/Drawings

Joint details with dimensions
Pass sequence illustration (optional but useful)

Applicable Standards

Referenced welding standard (e.g., ISO 15614, ASME IX)
Additional client or project-specific requirements

If you’re developing a WPS for the first time, standards like ISO 15609-1 and ISO 15614-1 are essential reading.

NECIT’s WPQR Supervision and Technical Oversight(WPQR) Service

The Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) captures all actual values and observations recorded during the test weld. NECIT ensures complete compliance and traceability throughout:

Documentation check: Prior to welding, NECIT examiners review the pWPS, material certificates, filler metal documentation, and welding plant calibration certificates to ensure all equipment and inputs are compliant and traceable.

Validation of parameters: Using UKAS-calibrated measuring instruments, we independently verify and record amperage, voltage, travel speed, and preheat/interpass temperatures during the procedure test.

Welding supervision: All welding passes are directly witnessed by NECIT personnel, ensuring the process adheres to the approved pWPS.

Visual inspection: Carried out post-weld and recorded on standard inspection forms, in accordance with ISO 17637 or ASME Visual Weld Examination criteria.

Destructive & NDT coordination: NECIT arranges required mechanical testing (e.g., tensile, bend, impact) and NDT (e.g., radiography, ultrasonic) through UKAS-accredited laboratories, ensuring impartiality and confidence in the test results.

The Complete Certification Package

Upon successful completion of testing and results verification, NECIT compiles a complete document pack, including:

Verified Preliminary WPS (pWPS)
Finalised and approved Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR)
Welder qualification records (if applicable)
Visual inspection reports
Destructive and NDT test results from UKAS-accredited labs
Calibration certificates for welding machines and measuring equipment
Signed-off certification to ISO 15614, ASME IX, or the relevant standard
Electronic and hard-copy document sets for client and audit use

Why NECIT?

We are more than an inspection body; we are welding engineers with deep technical knowledge, international accreditation, and industry trust. Whether qualifying procedures for pressure vessels, pipelines, structural steel, or rail components, NECIT delivers independent, technically assured certification that supports your quality, compliance, and business goals.