Fundamentals of

ASME Section IX
Introduction to ASME IX
Section IX of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
is a standard, prepared by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Committee.

Section IX specifies the requirements for the

qualification of welders and the welding procedure
specifications employed when welding in accordance
with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the
ASME B31Codes for Pressure Piping.

The American Society of

Mechanical Engineers.
There are three steps involved in qualifying
welders and welding procedure specifications for
Codes construction.
The first step requires the Codes user to prepare
welding procedures specification (WPS).
• The WPS must contain the minimum requirement
that are specified by the reference codes.
• The WPS is intended to provides guidance for
welding by specifying ranges for each variable.
• The WPS must be supported by a procedure
qualification record (PQR).
The second step requires the Codes user to
qualify the WPS by welding procedure
qualification test coupons.
• The Code user must record the variable used, and
must certified the test and test results on the a PQR
(procedure qualification report).
Note:
• The tests include Destructive and Nondestructive test such as guided
bend test, tensile test, visual inspection and radiography test.
• To record actual current and voltage used, gas flow rate, traveling
speed, preheat and post heat treatment, etc.
The American Society of
Mechanical Engineers.
 Have 5 Articles.

Articles I - Welding General Requirement.

Articles II - Welding Procedures Qualification.
Articles III - Welding Performance Qualification.
Articles IV - Welding Data.
Articles V - Standard Welding Procedures Specification
(SWPS)
Article I - Welding General Requirements QW-100

Article I covers the scope of ASME Section IX, the

purpose and use of the WPS, PQR and WPQ,
responsibility, test positions, types and purposes of
tests and examinations, test procedures, acceptance
criteria, visual examination, and radiographic
examination.
 Articles I - Welding General Requirement.

Test Orientation
Test Position
 UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WELDING POSITION
ON BUTT JOINTS.

HORIZONTAL POSITION VERTICAL POSITION OVERHEAD POSITION

FLAT POSITION

PLATES AND
PLATES VERTICAL PLATES AND AXIS
AXIS OF WELD
PLATES VERTICAL AND AXIS OF WELD OF WELD
HORIZONTAL AND AXIS OF WELD VERTICAL HORIZONTAL
HORIZONTAL
1G 3G 4G
2G
WELDING POSITIONS -- GROOVE WELDS -- PLATE.
 FLAT POSITION HORIZONTAL POSITION

1F 2F

AXIS OF WELD HORIZONTAL

AXIS OF WELD VERTICAL

VERTICAL POSITION OVERHEAD POSITION

3F 4F
WELDING POSITIONS ---
FILLET WELDS ---
PLATE
AXIS OF WELD VERTICAL AXIS OF WELD HORIZONTAL
 PIPE OR TUBE HORIZONTAL FIXED
WELD FLAT, VERTICAL & OVERHEAD
POSITION:
5G.

0 45 0 + - 50
50
PIPE INCLINED FIXED ( 45 + - ) AND NOT
ROTATED DURING WELDING.
POSITION:
6G

WELDING POSITION -- PIPE WELDS.

Articles I - Welding General Requirement.

Mechanical Test.
• Bend Test.
• Tensile Test.
• Nick Break Test.
 Articles II - Welding Procedures Qualification.

Article II - Welding Procedure Qualifications QW-200

Article II covers the rules for the preparation of WPS and

PQR.

Each process is listed separately in QW-250 with the

essential, supplementary essential, and nonessential
variables.

The WPS shall specify a value or range for each essential,

nonessential and, when necessary, each supplementary
essential variable listed for each welding process.
 Articles II - Welding Procedures Qualification.

Article II - Welding Procedure Qualifications QW-200

When a change is made in an essential variable, the WPS must

be revised, and re-qualified with a new PQR, unless the revision
can be supported by an existing PQR.

Similarly, when the code requires notch-toughness,

supplementary essential variables become additional essential
variables. When a change is made in a supplementary
essential variable, the WPS must be revised, and re-qualified by
a new PQR, unless the revision can be supported by an existing
PQR for notch-toughness applications.
Articles II - Welding Procedures Qualification.

• Preparation of Test Coupon.

• Welding Variable.
 Articles III - Welding Performance Qualification.

Article III - Welding Performance Qualifications QW-300

Article III covers the preparation of WPQ records.

Each welding process is listed separately in QW-350 with the

essential variables for welding performance. The WPQ form must
record a value for each essential variable used and must list a
range qualified for each of these essential variables.

Article III covers responsibility, type of tests, records, welder

identification, positions, diameters, expiration and renewal of
qualifications. Welders and Welding Operators may be qualified
by visual and mechanical tests, or by radiography of a test coupon,
or by radiography of the initial production weld.
Articles III - Welding Performance Qualification.

• Qualification of Test Coupon

• Retest and Renewal of Qualification
• Welding Variable for Welder
 Articles IV - Welding Data.

Article IV - Welding Data QW-400

Article IV covers welding variables that are used in the preparation and
qualification of the WPS, PQR or the WPQ as applicable.

Some of the welding variables are listed below:

• Joints
• Base Materials
• Filler Materials
• Positions
• Preheat
• Post weld Heat Treatment
• Gas
• Electrical Characteristics
• Technique
 Articles IV - Welding Data.

Article IV - Welding Data QW-400

Article IV also includes assignments of :-

• P-Numbers (ASME base materials),
• S-Numbers (other materials),
• F-Numbers (grouping of filler metals) and
• A-Numbers (weld metal chemical analysis).

Tables for WPS qualification thickness limits and tables for WPQ thickness and
diameter limits are also included. There are tables for welding positions
signifying that a welder who qualifies in a particular position is qualified to weld
within a range of positions as appropriate.

Furthermore, test coupons, the removal of test specimens, and the test jig
dimensions are identified.
 Articles IV - Welding Data.

• Variable
• Technique
• Material Grouping (P-Numbers)
• Filler Metal Grouping F-
Numbers
 Articles IV - Welding Data.

Material Grouping (P-Numbers)

P-Number Group Specification P-Number Group Specification

1 2 SA-105 8 2 SA-182
1 2 SA-106 8 2 SA-182
1 2 SA-178 8 2 SA-182
1 2 SA-181 8 2 SA-213
1 2 SA-210 8 2 SA-213
1 2 SA-216 8 2 SA-213
1 2 SA-216 8 2 SA-213
 Articles IV - Welding Data.

Filler Metal Grouping F-Numbers

F-Number General Type Specification AWS Classification

1 Steel and Steel Alloys SFA-5.1 EXX20
1 Steel and Steel Alloys SFA-5.5 EXX20-X
1 Steel and Steel Alloys SFA-5.1 EXX22
1 Steel and Steel Alloys SFA-5.1 EXX24

F-Number General Type Specification AWS Classification

6 Steel and Steel Alloys SFA-5.2 All classifications
6 Steel and Steel Alloys SFA-5.30 IN3XX(X)
6 Steel and Steel Alloys SFA-5.30 IN5XX
 Articles IV - Welding Data.

Filler Metal Grouping F-Numbers

Nickel And Nickel Alloys

F-Number Types ASME Specification AWS Classification
41 Nickel And Nickel Alloys SFA-5.11 ENi-1
43 Nickel And Nickel Alloys SFA-5.11 ENiCrCoMo-1
43 Nickel And Nickel Alloys SFA-5.11 ENiCrFe-1
43 Nickel And Nickel Alloys SFA-5.11 ENiCrFe-10
 Article V - Standard Welding Procedure
Specifications (SWPS) .

Article V - Standard Welding Procedure

Specifications (SWPS) QW-500

Article V covers rules for the adoption,

demonstration, and application of the Standard
Welding Procedure Specifications, (SWPSs).
Another way of conceptualizing these
requirements is shown below:

Specify:
• Variable ranges
WPS • Essential variables
• Nonessential variables
Record:
• Actual variables
PQR • Essential variables
• Tests and results
Record:
• Actual variables
WPQ • Specify Ranges Qualified
• Tests and results