ISO 15612:2018

Overview

ISO 15612:2018 is an international standard that details the specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials, specifically focusing on the qualification by adopting a standard welding procedure specification (SWPS). Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this standard outlines requirements for adopting SWPSs, their range of application, as well as the necessary documentation and validation processes. ISO 15612:2018 supports consistency and quality assurance in the welding industry, enabling manufacturers to utilize pre-qualified welding procedures from other organizations, thereby streamlining production and ensuring internationally recognized compliance.

Key Topics

• Definition and Adoption of SWPS: ISO 15612 sets out how organizations can adopt a standard welding procedure specification based on qualification tests performed elsewhere. A key requirement is that these specifications must be based on adequate welding procedure qualification records.
• Scope of Application: The standard is applicable to the welding of steels and aluminium and its alloys, as aligned with the ISO/TR 15608 parent material groups, excluding joints between dissimilar material groups except for specific subgroups as listed in the standard.
• Limits and Restrictions:
  • SWPSs cannot be issued for materials exceeding 50 mm in thickness.
  • Use of SWPSs may be restricted by other application standards or specifications.
• Responsibilities of the User: The manufacturer or user adopting an SWPS is responsible for correctly applying and documenting the use of the SWPS, including signing and dating the applicable documents and restricting the use of welding variables to those covered by the SWPS.
• Validation and Traceability: SWPSs adopted under ISO 15612 remain valid unless withdrawn or revised. Documentation must be traceable, and users must verify the status of the SWPS before use in production.

Applications

ISO 15612:2018 is essential across a variety of industries where metallic materials are welded, providing recognized best practices for:

• Manufacturing and Fabrication: Streamlines the implementation of welding procedures by allowing organizations to utilize proven, pre-qualified specifications, especially when dealing with steels and aluminium alloys.
• Quality Assurance: Supports compliance with international welding standards, reducing the need for redundant procedure qualifications, and ensuring weld quality is maintained.
• Project Efficiency: Adoption of SWPSs can reduce project timelines by minimizing the scope of in-house procedure qualification testing, particularly beneficial for contractors working with repeatable or standardized welding tasks.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assists organizations in meeting legal and contractual obligations for welding procedure qualification, as required in many regulated sectors such as construction, shipbuilding, automotive, and aerospace.

Related Standards

ISO 15612:2018 works within a broader standards framework for welding procedure specification and qualification. Related standards include:

• ISO 15607: General rules for specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials.
• ISO 15609 (all parts): Detailed guidelines for preparing welding procedure specifications.
• ISO 15614 (all parts): Procedures for welding procedure tests and qualification.
• ISO 9606-1 & ISO 9606-2: Qualification testing of welders for steels and aluminium alloys.
• ISO 14731: Welding coordination - tasks and responsibilities.
• ISO 14732: Qualification testing of welding operators and weld setters.
• ISO/TR 15608: Guidelines for the metallic materials grouping system.

For organizations committed to high-quality welding practice, ISO 15612:2018 is a vital component of welding procedure standardization, enabling the effective transfer and adoption of qualified welding procedures while ensuring full compliance and traceability in line with international expectations.