ISO 15618-2:2001

Overview

ISO 15618-2:2001 - Qualification testing of welders for underwater welding - Part 2: Diver‑welders and welding operators for hyperbaric dry welding sets out principles and requirements for approval testing of personnel who perform fusion welding in a dry, hyperbaric (pressurised habitat) underwater environment. The standard is intended to provide a consistent basis for examiner bodies to assess and certify the skill, job knowledge and practical performance of diver‑welders and hyperbaric welding operators.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Applies to fusion welding processes where the operator’s skill significantly affects weld quality; covers manual/partly mechanized methods for diver‑welders and fully mechanized/automatic methods for welding operators.
• Essential variables: Defines the significant factors to be assessed during approval testing, including:
  • Welding processes (examples listed: 111 MMA, 114 self‑shielded tubular, 131 MIG, 135 MAG, 136/137 cored‑wire variants, 141 TIG, 15 plasma)
  • Joint types - butt (BW) and fillet (FW) in plates and pipes
  • Material groups - steel groups per CR ISO 15608 (groups 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 are addressed)
  • Consumables, dimensions, welding positions and hyperbaric environment parameters
• Test pieces and examination: Specifies shapes, dimensions and testpiece preparation; includes both destructive and non‑destructive testing methods referenced in normative documents.
• Acceptance, re‑tests and validity: Acceptance criteria for test pieces, rules for re‑testing and guidance on period of validity for approvals.
• Certification and documentation: Recommends certificate format (Annex A) and job knowledge guidance (Annex B); certificates issued under examiner responsibility.
• Normative references: Cross‑references related standards for procedures and NDT (for example EN 288‑1, EN 1418, EN ISO 4063, CR ISO 15608 and various NDT/destructive test standards).

Applications and users

• Who uses it: Diving contractors, offshore construction companies, inspection bodies, welding examiners, certification authorities and training organisations involved in underwater construction, offshore repair, shipbuilding and subsea infrastructure.
• Practical value: Ensures consistent, recognised approval of diver‑welders and hyperbaric welding operators; supports mutual recognition of qualifications; helps verify that personnel can produce welds meeting application‑specific quality and safety requirements in hyperbaric dry conditions.

Related standards

• EN 1418 (welding personnel approval)
• EN ISO 4063 (welding process nomenclature)
• CR ISO 15608 (material grouping)
• Associated NDT and weld test standards cited in the normative references for inspection and acceptance criteria.