Inquiry & Scope Definition
Submit via Inquiry & Quotation or inspection@guardian.qa.
01Welding Inspection
Guardian Middle East LLC delivers UAF-accredited third-party welding inspection in Qatar under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (Type A — third-party independent). Inspections cover welder qualification (WQT), weld procedure qualification record (PQR/WPS), in-process inspection during fabrication, and post-weld inspection of completed welds. Standards aligned: AWS D1.1/D1.2/D1.6, ASME Section IX, ISO 3834, ISO 9606, and ISO 15614. Reports issued under TNV Global Limited’s UAF-Accredited Inspection Body Certificate 5241222IB04. Guardian Middle East LLC is the local representative in Qatar (QFC Licence 03870).
Accreditation Chain
Issuing Inspection Body: TNV Global Limited. Accreditation: UAF — Inspection Body Certificate 5241222IB04. Validity: 28 December 2024 – 27 December 2028. Standard: ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (Type A — third-party independent). Local representation in Qatar: Guardian Middle East LLC (QFC Licence 03870). The applicable accreditation framework explains the TNV inspection body role and Guardian’s local representation in Qatar.
Welding inspection reports are issued under TNV Global Limited’s name and UAF-accredited mark. Review the full Inspection Services pillar for the full accreditation framework, partnership model, and engagement model that governs all inspection scopes.
Welding Inspection Activities
Welding inspection covers four principal activity areas — each supported by specific standards and conducted under documented inspection plans:
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Welder Qualification (WQT) | Witness and certify welder performance qualification tests under AWS D1.1, ASME Section IX (QW-301 series), ISO 9606-1 for steel, ISO 9606-2 for aluminium, and other applicable codes. Output: Welder Qualification Test Record (WQTR) and certificate. |
| Weld Procedure Qualification (PQR / WPS) | Witness Procedure Qualification Records (PQR), review Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), and verify that the procedure has been demonstrated against the applicable code, including AWS, ASME IX, and ISO 15614. Output: PQR endorsement and WPS validation. |
| In-Process Inspection | Inspection during fabrication, including joint preparation, fit-up, pre-heat where applicable, interpass temperature, deposition sequence, run-in / run-out, and contamination control. Output: in-process inspection records aligned with the project Inspection and Test Plan (ITP). |
| Post-Weld Inspection | Visual inspection of completed welds against acceptance criteria, dimensional verification, witness of post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) where required, and oversight of NDT activities such as radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and liquid penetrant testing, typically as a separate NDT engagement under NDT inspection. |
Specific scope of each engagement is defined in the inspection contract and the agreed inspection plan. Multi-activity engagements are common — for example, welder qualification + procedure qualification + in-process inspection bundled across a project lifecycle.
Standards & Codes Framework
Welding inspection references multiple international standards and codes. The applicable code is determined by the project specification, regulatory requirement, or client preference. Common code applications:
| Standard / Code | Application |
|---|---|
| AWS D1.1 | Structural Welding Code — Steel. The dominant US code for structural steel welding in buildings, bridges, and similar structures. Covers welder / operator qualification, procedure qualification, fabrication, inspection, and acceptance criteria. |
| AWS D1.2 | Structural Welding Code — Aluminum. The corresponding code for aluminum structural welding. |
| AWS D1.6 | Structural Welding Code — Stainless Steel. The corresponding code for stainless steel structural welding. |
| ASME Section IX | Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications within ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The dominant code for welder qualification and procedure qualification in pressure equipment, piping, and related applications. References from ASME B31, ASME VIII, and API 1104. |
| ISO 3834 series | Quality Requirements for Fusion Welding of Metallic Materials. Five-part series covering comprehensive, standard, elementary, and supporting parts. Defines a quality framework for welding fabricators. |
| ISO 9606-1 | Qualification testing of welders — Fusion welding — Steels. ISO equivalent of AWS / ASME welder qualification, used widely in European and international project specifications. |
| ISO 15614 series | Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials — Welding procedure test. Multi-part series covering arc welding, arc and gas welding, and other process-specific parts. |
| API 1104 | Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities. Pipeline-specific welding and inspection code used in oil-and-gas pipeline projects. For pipeline-specific welding requirements, see API 1104 pipeline welding. |
| EN 1090 / Eurocode references | Used where European structural codes are contractually specified, including execution of steel and aluminum structures and welding fabrication. |
Project-specific code requirements are accommodated. Where multiple codes apply (common in international projects), the inspection plan identifies the governing code and the scope of additional code references.
Inspector Competence
Welding inspectors deployed under TNV Global Limited’s UAF accreditation hold relevant international certifications, with deployment matched to the applicable code:
- AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) — for projects under AWS D1.1 / D1.2 / D1.6 or where CWI certification is contractually specified. Structural steel projects often connect with the AWS D1.1 structural steel context.
- AWS Senior Certified Welding Inspector (SCWI) — for senior-level oversight where required.
- CSWIP 3.1 / CSWIP 3.2 — Certification Scheme for Welding Inspection Personnel (TWI, UK) — Levels 1 and 2 — widely accepted in international projects.
- ISO 14731-aligned Welding Coordinators — at IWE, IWT, IWS, or IWP levels — for procedure-qualification supervision and overall welding-quality coordination.
- ASNT NDT Level II / III — where the welding inspection scope includes NDT supervision (typically separate engagement).
- Sector-specific certifications — including API 510 / 570 / 580 inspector certification this supports the ASME Section IX context for pressure equipment where the welding inspection is part of pressure equipment or piping inspection.
Inspector qualifications are matched to the engagement requirements at quotation stage. Specific inspector CVs and certification copies are provided to clients on request, subject to confidentiality and impartiality safeguards.
Engagement Model
Welding inspection follows the standard 5-step engagement model documented in /inspection/ §16:
Contract & Inspection Plan
Contract executed, inspection plan agreed, CDD / EDD completed, and inspector COI declarations recorded.
02On-site Inspection
Inspector or inspection team deployed per agreed schedule, with in-process records maintained throughout.
03Inspection Report
Issued under TNV Global Limited's UAF-accredited mark, with report content per ISO/IEC 17020:2012 §7.4.
04Follow-up Activities
Re-inspection, periodic inspection, and regulatory liaison are completed as commissioned.
05Welding-specific deliverables typically include: WQT records, PQR endorsements, WPS validation, in-process inspection records aligned with the project Inspection and Test Plan (ITP), final welding inspection reports.
Typical Use Cases
| Use Case | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project welder qualification | Project specification requires welder performance qualification before fabrication. Guardian witnesses welder coupon tests, supervises destructive / non-destructive evaluation, and issues third-party-endorsed Welder Qualification Test Records. |
| Procedure qualification campaign | New material, thickness, or process combinations require Procedure Qualification Records (PQR). Guardian witnesses PQR coupons, oversees subsequent destructive testing, and endorses the resulting WPS. |
| In-process fabrication inspection | Third-party in-process witness during fabrication, including joint fit-up, pre-heat, interpass, contamination, and deposition sequence, aligned with the project ITP. Common in EPC projects, structural steel, and pressure equipment. |
| Pre-shipment / FAT witness | Witness of completed welded items before shipment, including visual inspection, dimensional verification, oversight of post-weld heat treatment, and witness of NDT, typically as an integrated engagement. See third-party inspection. |
| In-service welding inspection | Inspection of welds on in-service equipment, including repair welding, maintenance welding, and service-induced weld degradation. Often integrated with pressure vessel or piping inspection campaigns. |
| Tender / supplier verification | Independent verification of a supplier's welding capability, including review of welding personnel qualifications, procedure qualification records, fabrication facility, and quality system. Useful for buyers evaluating new suppliers. |
Why Choose Guardian for Welding Inspection
- UAF-accredited reports under TNV Global Limited’s Inspection Body Cert 5241222IB04 — internationally recognized under the IAF MLA Inspection arrangement.
- Type A independence — third-party independent classification under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 — required for inspection reports relied on by regulators, owners, or insurers.
- Multi-code competence — inspectors qualified to AWS, ASME IX, CSWIP, and ISO 14731 frameworks, matched to project requirements.
- Local Qatar presence — Guardian Middle East LLC operates as a QFC-licensed firm with on-the-ground capability for client engagement, scheduling, and regulatory liaison.
- Project lifecycle support — from welder qualification at project start through in-process and post-weld inspection through to in-service follow-up.
- Absolute non-consultancy commitment — preserves the integrity and stakeholder value of the inspection report. Guardian does not design weld procedures, train welders, or supervise client implementation.
- Confidentiality framework under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 §4.2 — inspection findings are confidential to the client.
- Integrated with NDT capability — see Inspection ndt-inspection — for integrated welding + NDT scope coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
WQT (Welder Qualification Test) qualifies an individual welder to perform a specified welding process within a defined range. PQR (Procedure Qualification Record) qualifies the welding procedure itself — the combination of process, materials, parameters, and conditions — through coupon tests. The WPS (Welding Procedure Specification) is the operational document derived from a successful PQR. Both WQT and PQR are typically required before production welding starts.
Depends on the application. AWS D1.x is dominant for structural steel/aluminium/stainless welding (buildings, bridges, structures). ASME Section IX is dominant for pressure equipment and piping (vessels, boilers, process piping). Some projects specify ISO 9606 / ISO 15614 — common in European specifications. The applicable code is in the project specification — Guardian inspectors deploy with the matching certification.
No. Guardian and TNV are inspection bodies, not welding contractors. We do not supply welders, perform welding, or provide welding training. Our role is independent third-party inspection of work performed by others. This separation is required by ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Type A — and by Guardian's absolute non-consultancy commitment.
We witness the welder qualification test and issue a Welder Qualification Test Record (WQTR) endorsed by TNV's UAF-accredited inspection body. The record evidences the test result, the test conditions, and the witnessed performance against the applicable code. Whether this is referred to as a 'certificate' depends on the code framework — under ISO 9606, a Certificate of Welder Qualification is issued; under AWS, the WQTR itself is the qualification record.
A single welder qualification test typically takes one day on-site (welder preparation, coupon welding, witness, marking) plus subsequent destructive/non-destructive evaluation that can run several days to a week. Multiple welders can be qualified in parallel. Procedure qualification (PQR) generally takes longer due to the test matrix and the depth of evaluation required.
Yes — destructive testing (bend tests, tensile tests, macro examination) is part of the qualification framework under both AWS and ASME IX. Guardian inspectors witness the destructive testing or oversee an accredited testing laboratory's conduct of the destructive testing. Test results are integrated into the WQTR / PQR endorsement.
Failed coupons are documented in the WQTR with the failure mode and the applicable code's requirements for retesting. Some codes (e.g., AWS D1.1) permit one retest under defined conditions; others require new welder qualification with extended scope. Guardian inspectors document the failure objectively and reference the code's retesting provisions — but do not coach welders or recommend specific corrective approaches (consultancy).
Yes — where Eurocode or EN 1090 is contractually specified, inspectors with matching competence are deployed. EN 1090 execution-class requirements (EXC1–EXC4) are accommodated. The inspection plan identifies the governing standard and any cross-references to AWS or ISO frameworks.
NDT (radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, visual) is a separate scope under /inspection/ndt-inspection/. Many engagements integrate welding inspection and NDT in a single contract for client convenience — particularly for in-process and post-weld inspection where NDT evidences weld quality. Both scopes operate under the same UAF-accredited inspection body framework.
Submit an inquiry via /process/inquiry-and-quotation/ — selecting 'Inspection Services' as engagement type and 'Welding Inspection' as scope. Or email inspection@guardian.qa with project details: applicable code, welder/procedure scope, project location, indicative timeline. The inquiry triggers Step 1 of the engagement model — scope definition and quotation.
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Compliance Notes
Welding inspection services are delivered under TNV Global Limited’s UAF-Accredited Inspection Body Certificate 5241222IB04 (valid 28 December 2024 – 27 December 2028) under ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (Type A — third-party independent). Guardian Middle East LLC is the local representative in Qatar (QFC Licence 03870) and primary contractual counterparty. Inspection reports are issued under TNV’s UAF-accredited mark and are recognised under the IAF MLA Inspection arrangement where applicable. Welding inspection scopes covered: welder qualification (WQT), weld procedure qualification (PQR / WPS), in-process inspection during fabrication, post-weld inspection. Standards aligned: AWS D1.1 / D1.2 / D1.6, ASME Section IX, ISO 3834 series, ISO 9606 series, ISO 15614 series, API 1104, EN 1090 / Eurocode where applicable. Activities operate under the impartiality framework (ISO/IEC 17020:2012 §4.1), confidentiality framework (§4.2), and an absolute non-consultancy commitment.