As a UKAS-accredited Type A Inspection Body, NECIT delivers fully independent, third-party Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) and Welder Qualification Testing services to the engineering sector across the UK. We operate as a Registered Third Party Organisation (RTPO) under the UK Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation and maintain UKAS accreditation under both ISO/IEC 17020 (Inspection Bodies) and ISO/IEC 17024 (Personnel Certification).
This enables NECIT to certify welding procedures and welders to any international standard such as ISO 15614, ASME IX, and ISO 9606, with full technical oversight and traceable conformity to the applicable standards.
Before a welding procedure can be formally implemented, a Preliminary Welding Procedure Specification (pWPS) must be developed. This forms the basis of the welding trial and outlines all relevant welding variables that must be qualified. The structure and content of a WPS or pWPS are typically aligned to ISO 15609-1 (Welding Procedure Specification for arc welding) or equivalent standards such as ASME Section IX, QW-482.
A compliant pWPS should include, at minimum:
WPS Identification
Unique WPS number
Revision number and date
Project or client reference (if applicable)
Joint Design
Joint type (e.g., butt, fillet, T-joint)
Joint configuration and preparation (e.g., bevel angle, root face, root gap)
Backing type (permanent/removable, material)
Weld access and positional constraints
Base Material
Material designation (EN/ISO/ASME)
Material group and subgroup (classified to ISO/TR 15608 or ASME P-number/SFA specs)
Thickness(es) of parent metal
Product form (e.g., plate, pipe, tube)
Filler Metal
Filler metal classification (e.g., ISO 2560-A E 42 5 B 32 H5 or AWS A5.1 E7018)
Diameter of electrodes/wire
Type of consumable (solid wire, flux-cored, coated electrode, etc.)
Flux and wire combination (if applicable)
Consumable trade name (optional but common)
Welding Process
Process(es) used (e.g., 135 MAG, 111 MMA, 141 TIG)
Multi-process indication (if applicable)
Manual, semi-automatic, automatic, mechanised
Welding Positions
Welding position per ISO 6947 or ASME IX (e.g., PA, PC, PF)
Inclination of welding, vertical/up/down progression
Preheat and Interpass Temperature
Minimum preheat temperature
Interpass temperature control range
Method of heating and temperature monitoring
Heat Input Control
Travel speed
Amperage and voltage range
Heat input calculation (if applicable)
Control measures for heat input
Welding Technique
Stringer or weave beads
Number of passes and bead sequence
Direction of welding (left to right, vertical up/down)
Cleaning methods between passes
Torch angle, electrode inclination
Degree of mechanisation
Shielding and Backing Gases
Type and composition (e.g., Ar + 18% CO₂)
Flow rate in l/min
Gas purity class (ISO 14175)
Gas nozzle size / Diameter
Post Weld Heat Treatment (if applicable)
PWHT temperature and duration
Heating and cooling rates
Holding time
Method of PWHT (furnace, local, etc.)
Other Requirements
Welding environment (e.g., indoor/outdoor, temperature limits)
Special precautions (e.g., hydrogen control, restraint methods)
NDT method planned for testing the qualification
Sketches/Drawings
Joint details with dimensions
Pass sequence illustration (optional but useful)
Applicable Standards
Referenced welding standard (e.g., ISO 15614, ASME IX)
Additional client or project-specific requirements
If you’re developing a WPS for the first time, standards like ISO 15609-1 and ISO 15614-1 are essential reading.
The Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR) captures all actual values and observations recorded during the test weld. NECIT ensures complete compliance and traceability throughout:
Documentation check: Prior to welding, NECIT examiners review the pWPS, material certificates, filler metal documentation, and welding plant calibration certificates to ensure all equipment and inputs are compliant and traceable.
Validation of parameters: Using UKAS-calibrated measuring instruments, we independently verify and record amperage, voltage, travel speed, and preheat/interpass temperatures during the procedure test.
Welding supervision: All welding passes are directly witnessed by NECIT personnel, ensuring the process adheres to the approved pWPS.
Visual inspection: Carried out post-weld and recorded on standard inspection forms, in accordance with ISO 17637 or ASME Visual Weld Examination criteria.
Destructive & NDT coordination: NECIT arranges required mechanical testing (e.g., tensile, bend, impact) and NDT (e.g., radiography, ultrasonic) through UKAS-accredited laboratories, ensuring impartiality and confidence in the test results.
In addition to WPQRs, NECIT provides Welder Qualification Testing to international standards such as:
All welder testing is conducted under NECIT’s ISO/IEC 17024-accredited Personnel Certification Scheme, ensuring certification is fully third-party verified and traceable to an internationally recognised competence standard. Welder qualification Certificates can be grandfathered to the welder who produces an acceptable WPQR test coupon.
For those needing a quick guide to welder qualification requirements, ISO 9606-1 is the go-to reference for steel, while ISO 9606-2 to 5 cover aluminium, copper, nickel, and titanium.
Upon successful completion of testing and results verification, NECIT compiles a complete document pack, including:
We are more than an inspection body; we are welding engineers with deep technical knowledge, international accreditation, and industry trust. Whether qualifying procedures for pressure vessels, pipelines, structural steel, or rail components, NECIT delivers independent, technically assured certification that supports your quality, compliance, and business goals.
