Welding and fabrication
ISO 17637: Non-destructive testing of welds, visual testing of fusion-welded joints
The method standard for visual inspection of welds, the most important and most underestimated weld test.
Reference noteThis page is an independent plain-language summary written by QUALITAS TR. It does not reproduce the standard. Always work from the current official edition, available from ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and national standards bodies such as TSE in Turkey (official page). QUALITAS TR supports organisations against this standard; it does not certify them.
01Purpose
ISO 17637 specifies visual testing of fusion welds in metallic materials, covering the conditions and equipment for testing and the items to be examined.
02Scope
Applies to welds in the as-welded condition and after treatment. Acceptance criteria are not part of the standard; they come from ISO 5817 or other specified levels.
03Main requirements
- Viewing conditions: illumination, distance and angle
- Aids: magnifiers, gauges, remote visual devices
- Testing of joint preparation, during welding and of the completed weld
- Items examined: profile, surface imperfections, dimensions
- Records and report content
04Typical applications and industries
Visual testing is performed on 100% of welds in most specifications.
05Audit and inspection considerations
- Is lighting adequate?
- Are gauges calibrated?
- Is visual testing done before NDT?
06Common nonconformities
- Visual testing skipped because RT or UT is specified
- Weld profile not measured
- Records without measured values
07How QUALITAS TR can support
Visual testing is performed by our engineers in every welding inspection.