ISO 15614-1:2017

Overview

ISO 15614-1:2017 is an internationally recognized standard developed by ISO for the specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials. The focus of this part is on the welding procedure test for arc and gas welding of steels, and arc welding of nickel and nickel alloys. This standard establishes a clear process to qualify preliminary welding procedure specifications, ensuring that welded joints meet the required mechanical properties for production, repair, and build-up welding operations.

Qualification under ISO 15614-1:2017 involves practical welding procedure tests that verify the adequacy of the proposed welding process for various applications. The document covers a wide array of welding processes, including manual metal arc welding, self-shielded tubular-cored arc welding, submerged arc welding, gas-shielded metal arc welding, gas-shielded arc welding with non-consumable electrode, plasma arc welding, and oxy-acetylene welding.

Key Topics

• Welding Procedure Qualification: The standard details how to prepare and verify a preliminary welding procedure specification (pWPS) through a series of standardized tests.
• Testing Levels: It defines two levels of procedure test requirements - Level 1 (basic) and Level 2 (more stringent). Tests qualifying at Level 2 automatically meet Level 1 requirements.
• Test Piece Preparation: ISO 15614-1:2017 specifies the shapes, dimensions, and preparation methods for test pieces representing actual production welds.
• Examination and Testing: The standard covers both non-destructive and destructive testing methods, including visual examination, radiographic/ultrasonic testing, tensile and bend tests, impact and hardness testing, and macroscopic examination.
• Acceptance Criteria: Clear guidelines are set for acceptance levels post-testing to ensure compliance and quality.
• Qualification Range: It provides details on the extent of qualification, covering factors such as material thickness, welding process, joint configuration, and positions.
• Documentation: Requirements for the preparation and maintenance of a Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) are included.

Applications

ISO 15614-1:2017 is widely used across various sectors of the metalworking, manufacturing, and construction industries where the integrity of welded joints is critical. Its applications include:

• Fabrication and Manufacturing: Essential for maintaining consistent weld quality in the production of pressure vessels, pipelines, structural steelwork, and machinery.
• Construction: Applied in building steel structures, bridges, and industrial facilities where safety and durability depend on weld quality.
• Repair and Maintenance: Utilized to qualify welding procedures for repair welding or restorative build-up, ensuring continued reliability of equipment and infrastructure.
• Compliance and Certification: Meets the requirements of clients, regulatory bodies, and quality management systems by providing a proven framework for welding procedure approval.
• International Trade: Facilitates global projects by ensuring harmonized welding standards and compatibility across borders.

Related Standards

ISO 15614-1:2017 is part of a broader series of welding standards. Key related documents include:

• ISO 15609-1 / ISO 15609-2 – Guidelines for preparing welding procedure specifications for arc and gas welding.
• ISO 4063 – Classification of welding and allied processes.
• ISO 4136, ISO 5173, ISO 9015-1, ISO 9016 – Standards for destructive testing on welds, including tensile, bend, hardness, and impact tests.
• ISO 17636-1 / 17636-2, ISO 17640, ISO 17637, ISO 17638 – Standards covering various non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for welded joints.
• ISO 6520-1, ISO 5817 – Guidelines on imperfections and quality levels for fusion-welded joints.
• ISO/TR 15608 – Guidelines for grouping materials in welding
• ISO 15613 – Qualification based on pre-production welding test

Summary

Implementing ISO 15614-1:2017 in welding operations ensures a systematic, internationally accepted approach to qualifying welding procedures. Industries benefit from improved weld quality, increased safety compliance, and enhanced global compatibility when using this comprehensive standard on arc and gas welding of steels and nickel alloys.