NOTIFICATION FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF STANDARDS NZS 4711:1984 and NZS 4703:1985 AFFECTING WELDER QUALIFICATION


NZS 4711 AND NZS 4703 – WITHDRAWAL

1.1 With effect from 1 April 2011, new or renewal welder qualifications to NZS 4711 and NZS 4703 will not be available under these Standards.

1.2 Standards New Zealand is to withdraw NZS 4711:1984 Qualification tests for metal-arc welders and NZS 4703:1985 Welder qualification tests for stainless steel pipe for the dairy industry. These outdated Standards are out of step with current international welder qualification practice. NZS 4711 and NZS 4703 will be superseded by AS/NZS 2980:2007 Qualification of welders for fusion welding of steels.

1.3 For many years Standards New Zealand has undertaken a certification role in approving testing authorities and certifying officers under NZS 4711. This function will cease from 1 April 2010.

1.4 Existing welder qualifications to NZS 4711 and NZS 4703 will remain valid until the expiry date shown on the certificate issued to its holder prior to 1 April 2010. After 1 April 2010 comparable welder qualifications will be governed by AS/NZS 2980.

2.0 AS/NZS 2980:2007 QUALIFICATION OF WELDERS FOR FUSION WELDING OF STEELS

2.1 Under AS/NZS 2980 welder qualification must be carried out using a preliminary or qualified welding procedure test. These must comply with section 3 of AS/NZS 2980.

2.2 The welder qualification testing must meet the requirements of AS/NZS 2980.

2.3 Welder qualification to AS/NZS 2980 is not intended for welders who are employed for the welding of pressure equipment.

3.0 GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING WELDER QUALIFICATIONS TO AS/NZS 2980

3.1 The Standards New Zealand welding qualifications committee1 has drafted some guidelines for industry on how to transition to AS/NZS 2980.

3.2 The guidelines (set out in sections 4 to 6 of this notification) provide advice on best practice in transitioning from NZS 4711and NZS 4703 to AS/NZS 2980.

3.3 As with NZS 4711 the requirement for welder qualification to AS/NZS 2980 is determined by the Standard the designer of the structure is working to, for example NZS 3404.1:2009 Steel structures Standard, NZS 5446:2007 for heavy vehicle drawbars, and so on.

3.4 Standards New Zealand will no longer have a role in the approval of the certifying officer and test authority as defined in NZS 4711, or in the ongoing use and implementation of AS/NZS 2980. However, for the next five months Standards New Zealand will collate your comments so that the welding qualifications committee and International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) can review your feedback with the possibility of adjusting the guidelines. The last opportunity to submit feedback/queries will be Friday 6 August, 2010.

4.0 ROLES UNDER AS/NZS 2980:2007

The following table shows how welder qualification functions are addressed under AS/NZS 2980.
AS/NZS 2980:2007
Party Function Control
Examining body Organisation accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 to verify compliance of the qualification process with the requirements of AS/NZS 2980.

The examining body is also responsible for issuing welder qualification test certificates. IANZ
Examiner – qualification process verification Person, employed by the examining body, with an approved signatory scope covering verification of compliance of the qualification process with AS/NZS 2980. 

The examiner shall verify that all processes have been correctly followed and that all tests have been carried out in accordance with the standard by competent persons in each case. IANZ accredited  body
Examiner – visual, destructive tests Person employed by an IANZ accredited non destructive testing (NDT) company with an approved signatory scope including the visual examination of destructive tests required by AS/NZS 2980.

Issuer of IANZ endorsed test reports IANZ accredited body
Examiner  – radiographic testing Person employed by an IANZ accredited NDT company with an IANZ approved signatory scope including the radiographic testing of welds required by AS/NZS 2980.

Issuer of IANZ endorsed test reports IANZ accredited body
Examiner  –ultrasonic testing Person employed by an IANZ accredited NDT company with an IANZ approved signatory scope including the ultrasonic testing of welds required by AS/NZS 2980.

Issuer of IANZ endorsed test reports IANZ accredited body

 5.0 CONSIDERATIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND

5.1 The overall responsibility for issuing welder qualification to AS/NZS 2980 will be that of an IANZ accredited 'examining body' whose functions are described in the Standard.

5.2 AS/NZS 2980 states that persons issuing reports on destructive and/or non-destructive tests in accordance with AS 2205:2003 (all parts) Methods of destructive testing of welds in metal; AS 2207:2007 Non-destructive testing – Ultrasonic testing of fusion welded joints in carbon and low alloy steel; and AS 2177:2006 Non-destructive testing – Radiography of welding butt joints in steel shall be an authorised signatory of an organisation accredited by IANZ to conduct the assessment of these tests in accordance with AS/NZS 2980.

5.3 Technicians undertaking ultrasonic or radiographic assessments need to have appropriate certification at NDT level 2 or higher to meet the requirements of ISO 9712:2005 Non-destructive testing – Qualification and certification of personnel or CBIP.

5.4 Organisations that already have IANZ accreditation and signatories to perform the above tests should not experience any significant additional costs to carry out such tests. These organisations will have to apply to IANZ for a change of scope before 1 April 2010.

5.5 AS/NZS 2980 requires the appointment of a person to carry out the examiner duties to verify the compliance of the welder qualification to AS/NZS 2980. Persons who perform this role will need to be appointed by an examining body. To be appointed by the examining body, the examiner needs to demonstrate competence to IANZ for verification of the processes carried out for any given application of AS/NZS 2980. This includes witnessing the preparation for, and performance of, a test and verifying that the correct processes required under AS/NZS 2980 have been completed for the given application.

6.0 SUMMARY

6.1 In summary

(a) the examining body will be any organisation that is IANZ accredited to ISO/IEC 17020 for welder qualification process verification

(b) the examining body will appoint the examiner whose function will be parallel to the NZS 4711 certifying officer and the supervisor - the examiner shall be employed by the examining body

(c) the competence of the examiner is to be demonstrated through a signatory assessment to the satisfaction of IANZ in each individual case

(d) the identification of the organisation performing the mechanical testing and radiography is to be included on the certificate shown in Appendix C (normative appendix) of AS/NZS 2980

(e) assistance with development of welding procedure specifications (WPS) may be available from industry organisations

(f) as per the intent of AS/NZS 2980, welder qualification to AS/NZS 2980 does not apply to pressure equipment.

1 The Welding Qualifications Committee comprises representatives from the engineering community including: New Zealand Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA), The New Zealand Welding Centre, Certification Board for Inspection Personnel (CBIP), and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ).