ISO 17663:2023

Overview

ISO 17663:2023 - Welding - Quality requirements for heat treatment in connection with welding and allied processes - defines quality and control requirements for heat treatment performed in workshops or on site in air or controlled atmospheres. It is primarily aimed at ferritic steels but may be applied to other materials as appropriate. The standard provides a flexible framework for manufacturers performing heat treatment or producing heat‑treated components and can be used to assess a supplier’s heat treatment capability.

Key topics

• Scope and flexibility: Applies to furnace and local heat treatment (including site post‑weld heat treatment); specific requirements can be waived when justified.
• Review and technical planning: Contractual and technical review requirements to ensure capability, documentation, accessibility and scheduling before heat treatment starts.
• Personnel competence: Requirement to appoint and demonstrate trained, competent staff for planning, performing and supervising heat treatment.
• Equipment and verification: Requirements for furnaces and heating equipment, validation of temperature‑control and recording devices, verification of furnace temperature uniformity and suitability of new or modified equipment.
• Heat treatment parameters and documentation: Definition and control of loading, holding and unloading temperatures, holding time, section temperature range, work instructions and heat treatment procedure specifications.
• Inspection and testing: Provisions for non‑destructive and destructive testing during or after heat treatment where required by contract or product standards.
• Records and non‑conformity: Requirements for heat treatment records, corrective actions and maintaining quality records for traceability.
• Special guidance: Local post‑weld heat treatment guidance (e.g., pipework) and treatment of arc stud welded joints added in the 2023 revision.

Applications

ISO 17663:2023 is practical for:

• Manufacturers and contractors performing heat treatment associated with welding and forming.
• Quality managers developing heat treatment control systems that align with ISO 9001.
• Welding coordinators implementing post‑weld heat treatment (PWHT) requirements under ISO 3834‑2 or ISO 3834‑3.
• Specifiers, regulators and product standards writers who need detailed control criteria for heat treatment activities. Practical uses include establishing heat treatment procedure specifications, validating furnace performance, setting up temperature measurement and recording systems, and supplier assessment.

Related standards

• ISO 4885 (heat treatment vocabulary)
• ISO 13916 (measurement of preheat, interpass and preheat maintenance temperatures)
• IEC 60584‑1 (thermocouple EMF specifications)
• ISO 9001 (quality management systems)
• ISO 3834‑2 / ISO 3834‑3 (quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials)

Keywords: ISO 17663:2023, heat treatment, welding, post‑weld heat treatment, PWHT, ferritic steels, furnace validation, temperature uniformity, quality requirements, ISO 3834, ISO 9001.