Welding Production Assessment

For performing welding works, certification of welding production is required in accordance with STB 2349-2013. At the same time, certification is only required for joints with standardized strength (welded seams that are critically important for the reliability of the entire structure and to which the strictest rules apply when performing welding works).

A certificate is required for performing works:

on the construction site;
in factory conditions.

Such a document confirms that the organization has: qualified welders and work supervisors, certified instructions for performing welding works, an accredited laboratory for quality control of welded joints.

Certification of welding production is required for the following products:

staircases, platforms and railings for them, racks, columns;
production of products from rolled metal in accordance with GOST 23118-2012;
products from reinforcement or reinforcement and rolled metal in accordance with STB 2174-2011;
production of products in accordance with STB ISO 17660-1-2013;
products from reinforcement in accordance with GOST 10922-2012;
when performing mounting, butt, and tee joints.

Requirements for obtaining a welding production certificate

In general, the requirements for applicant organizations can be divided into the following (regardless of whether welding works are performed on the construction site or in factory conditions):

Availability of personnel.
The organization must have workers on staff: at least 2 welders with certificates for specific types of welding.
Please note that welder certificates are issued for specific types of welding. For example, types of welding:
111 – manual arc welding;
135 – arc welding (mechanized);
141 – arc welding TIG (argon-arc), etc.
Availability of production equipment.
For each type of welding, separate main and auxiliary welding equipment must be available.
For example:
– welding machines,
– masks for personnel,
– electrode dryer,
– drying oven, etc.

At the same time, the organization must also develop a Schedule of preventive maintenance and equipment servicing.
Personnel certification is carried out in accordance with the requirements of STB 2350-2013. For personnel certification, the following are required: a copy of the passport, a copy of the diploma, a copy of the medical certificate, an extract from the employment record book, a photograph.

In addition to workers, the organization must have engineering and technical specialists – welding production specialists. Engineering staff must also have certificates, including certificates for visual inspection.

Stages of obtaining a welding production assessment certificate

Stage 1. Submission of application.
The applicant submits documents to RUE “Stroytechnorm” for conducting an assessment of welding production. If the application is correctly filled out and the full set of documents is complete, a decision is made to accept the documents.
Stage 2. Expert site visit.
First, an agreement for the welding production assessment is drawn up with the Applicant. When specialists from RUE “Stroytechnorm” arrive at your facility, their task is to verify the safety of your welding production.
Stage 3. Issuance of the welding production assessment certificate.
Based on the results of the expert site visit, an Assessment Report is drawn up, which records all production indicators. If the expert review is positive, this decision is recorded in the Report and a Welding Production Assessment Certificate is issued.

Please note that already at Stage 1, all documents are submitted to RUE “Stroytechnorm”, including welding technology documents (WPS Instructions, WPQR), personnel certificates (for welders and the engineering supervisor of welding production).

During the expert site visit, a comprehensive inspection is conducted, covering the following key areas:

All technological documentation: an analysis of working drawings and all design documentation is carried out. Experts check how well the types of welded joints correspond to the design solutions and all current technical regulatory legal acts.
Professionalism of the team: the technical competence of key personnel is assessed – welding work supervisors, direct welders, as well as equipment adjusters.
Safety of technological processes: analysis of all documentation, including WPS instructions and WPQR protocols. Their compliance with design documentation is checked.
Practical work (if necessary): if necessary, welding of samples is carried out to confirm the stated qualifications.
Condition of equipment: inspection of production equipment, availability and validity of passports for welding machines, as well as preventive maintenance schedules.
Material storage conditions: control over the storage rules for metal and all consumables required for welding production, to prevent their damage and impact on the quality of seams.

This detailed audit guarantees that your production is capable of producing reliable and safe welded structures that meet all standards.

The certificate is not limited in validity period, i.e., it is valid indefinitely.

However, every 18 months, certificate holders must undergo an assessment of compliance with the requirements. That is, every 1.5 years, experts will assess how well the company maintains uninterrupted production and performs welding works with quality.