Welding and fabrication
ISO 9606: Qualification testing of welders, fusion welding
How welders prove their skill for a process, material, thickness and position, and how long their qualification remains valid.
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 9606 specifies requirements for qualification testing of welders for fusion welding. Part 1 covers steels; other parts cover aluminium, copper, nickel and titanium and zirconium alloys.
02Scope
The qualification depends on essential variables: welding process, product type (plate or pipe), weld type (butt or fillet), material group, consumable, dimensions and position.
03Main requirements
- Test pieces welded and examined by visual and destructive or non-destructive tests
- Range of qualification derived from the test conditions
- Certificate issued by an examiner or examining body
- Periodic confirmation of continued welding
- Revalidation by one of the methods defined in the standard
04Typical applications and industries
Referenced by ISO 3834, EN 1090 and many specifications. ASME Section IX and AWS D1.1 have their own welder qualification rules.
05Audit and inspection considerations
- Does each welder's range cover the production welds?
- Are six-monthly confirmations recorded?
- Is revalidation current?
06Common nonconformities
- Welders welding positions not covered
- Missing confirmation signatures
- Certificates for a different process variant
07How QUALITAS TR can support
Welder qualification review is part of our WPS, PQR and welder qualification review.