Approved weld procedure specifications: For vertical tank construction and repairs and pipeline construction and repairs a weld procedure specification is required. This is to ensure: - weldability of the existing steel (ie the existing steel is an unknown!) - compatibility of the filler material (ie how will the joint mechanically perform?) Also there is a need to exercise a degree of control (the degree depends on judgement) of how all the above has occurred. This note will refer mainly to tank repairs, but pipelines and piping will be discussed briefly. For vertical tanks built to API 650 and repaired in accordance with API 653, it is stated in these documents that welding is to be in accordance with section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (often called ASME 9). Australian standard AS 3992 is very similar and I consider, in the interim, should be accepted in lieu. However I would like to investigate this further. For piping (ie inside the Terminal) weld procedures should be to AS 4041. For pipelines (ie outside the Terminal) weld procedures should be to AS 2995.2 Note the terminology and the meaning. (Note the below is to aid understanding, not to overwrite what is in the respective standards) Weld procedure specification. This is how the weld is to be undertaken, describing all the essential variables and the limits that this technique can be used for. If testing of the specification is required, this will have been performed using a welding procedure test (recorded in a procedure qualification record PQR or weld procedure qualification record WPQR). The PQR number is recorded on the WPQ. Welder qualification test. A documented test undertaken by a welding person to a weld procedure specification. However note there are certain parameters when mechanical testing is not required. A whole variety of parameters needs to be obeyed, but one example is wall thickness between 3mm and 13mm (AS 3992). The documentation, however is still necessary. AS 3992 calls this “pre-qualified welding procedure specifications”. ASME IX calls this “standard weld procedure specification”s. ASME IX does not allow a “standard weld procedure specification” to be used for welds that may be subject to brittle fracture. Brittle fracture is dealt with in API 650 and relies on thickness and temperature.