ISO 9606-4:1999

Overview

ISO 9606-4:1999 - Approval testing of welders - Fusion welding - Part 4: Nickel and nickel alloys defines the requirements for approving and certifying welder performance for the fusion welding of nickel and weldable nickel alloys. The standard establishes essential requirements, test conditions, ranges of approval, acceptance criteria and certification procedures for manual and partly mechanized fusion welding (it excludes fully mechanized and automatic processes). ISO 9606-4 supports mutual recognition of welder approvals by examining bodies and is applicable when purchaser, inspection authorities or other organizations require welder qualification.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope of approval: Approval covers welding on plates and pipes (butt and fillet welds) and applies to semi‑finished and finished wrought, forged or cast nickel materials listed in the standard.
• Welding processes: Covers common fusion processes such as MMA/covered electrode (111), MIG (131), MAG (135), flux‑cored (136), TIG (141), plasma (15) and others by agreement.
• Material groups: Defines nickel parent‑metal groups (W41–W47) to avoid redundant testing. A test in W41 (pure nickel) is broadly applicable across groups; other groups cover comparable alloys as specified.
• Consumables and shielding: Filler metals should be compatible with the parent metal group; changes in electrode type or switching between active/inert shielding gas may require re‑testing.
• Test pieces and dimensions: Test pieces are plate or pipe; ranges of approval are based on plate thickness, pipe wall thickness or diameter with specified ranges (see tables in the standard).
• Welding positions and codes: Positions follow EN ISO 6947; tests must be performed at nominal angles for the chosen positions.
• Examination & testing: Supervised by an examiner; test program may include visual, nondestructive (e.g., penetrant, radiography) and destructive tests (bend, fracture, macro/micro) as referenced in the normative list.
• Certification: Certificates are issued by the examining body; Annex A provides guidance on job knowledge (practical experience and safety) though the job‑knowledge test is non‑mandatory.

Practical applications - who uses it

• Welding qualification and HR departments in industries working with nickel alloys (chemical processing, aerospace, power generation, marine).
• Inspection bodies, certification agencies and employers requiring welder certification for nickel fusion welding.
• Procurement and quality managers specifying welder competence in contracts and fabrication standards.
• Training organizations and welding schools preparing candidates for approval testing.

Related standards

• Other parts of ISO 9606 (Part 1: Steels; Part 2: Aluminium; Part 3: Copper; Part 5: Titanium; Part 6: Magnesium)
• Normative references cited in the standard (e.g., EN 287-1, EN ISO 6947, EN 1435, EN 1321) for test methods and examination procedures.

Keywords: ISO 9606-4, welder approval, nickel alloys, fusion welding, welder certification, welding processes, material groups, welding positions.