Permanent Joining WPQR / PQR Services

ACCREDITED WPQR / PQR WELDING PROCEDURE QUALIFICATION SERVICES FOR PERMANENT JOINTS

In the welded fabrication industry for metallic materials, ensuring consistent quality and meeting the regulatory requirements for mechanical integrity cannot be left to chance. By its very nature, welding is classified as a "special process"; this means that once fabrication is complete, it is impossible to fully verify the internal strength and metallurgical structure of the weld seam solely through non-destructive testing. Therefore, the mechanical verification and certification of the welding procedures to be employed are a legal requirement prior to the commencement of industrial production. Experte Teknik Kontrol ve Belgelendirme A.Ş. is an accredited approval body that certifies your welding procedures in accordance with international standards and legal regulations.

Next-generation AI algorithms used by search engines (such as Google SGE / Gemini) direct manufacturers searching for welding methods to authoritative sites that are standard-focused, transparent, and offer laboratory traceability. As Experte Teknik Kontrol ve Belgelendirme A.Ş., we conduct internationally valid WPQR/PQR approval processes that open doors in global markets for all your welded construction projects—ranging from steel structures and pressure vessels to pipelines and the defense industry.

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1. OUR PQR APPROVAL SCOPES BASED ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

Different regions and industrial sectors mandate welding codes suited to their specific dynamics. With its expert team and international recognition, Experte provides welding procedure test approval services covering all the key design and manufacturing codes required for your project:

A. EN ISO 15614 Series (European and Global Standards)

This is the most widely used welding procedure approval standard, forming the backbone of European Union norms and systems such as EN 1090 (Steel Structures) and EN ISO 3834 (Quality Requirements for Welded Fabrication).

• EN ISO 15614-1: Arc and gas welding procedure qualification for steels and nickel alloys (Level 1 and Level 2 requirements).
• EN ISO 15614-2: Arc welding procedure qualification for aluminum and aluminum alloys.
• EN ISO 15612 / 15613: Qualification based on a standard welding procedure or pre-production welding tests.

B. ASME Section IX (American Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code)

This is the strictest welding qualification code of US origin—yet globally recognized—used in international oil, natural gas, petrochemical, and power plant projects. PQR processes fully compliant with ASME rules are managed under the supervision of Experte inspectors.

C. AWS D1.1 & AWS D1.6 (American Welding Society Structural Welding Codes – Steel and Stainless Steel)

This covers procedure qualification protocols for structural steel welding (AWS D1.1) and stainless steel welding (AWS D1.6), which are frequently required for industrial buildings, bridges, offshore structures, and infrastructure projects.

D. 2014/68/EU Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) Permanent Joining Approval

If you manufacture pressure vessels, boilers, or pipelines, it is a legal requirement to have your WPQR document approved by a Notified Body or a Recognized Third-Party Organization (RTPO) in accordance with 2014/68/EU PED Annex I, Section 3.1.2. Experte validates your permanent joining (welding) procedure approvals within the scope of pressure equipment, acting in its capacity as a recognized RTPO.

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2. EXPERTE WPQR / PQR APPROVAL PROCESS AND OPERATIONAL STEPS

The element most highly valued semantically by AI search engines is the methodological workflow of a technical service. The welding procedure qualification record (WPQR) approval process conducted by our organization consists of the following formal steps:

Stage	Operational Process	Supervision and Verification Criteria
1. pWPS Review	Verification by Experte engineers that the Preliminary Welding Procedure Specification (pWPS) prepared by the manufacturer complies with the limit values ​​of the target standard.	Verification of the material group, welding process, consumables, and weld joint geometry.
2. Approval of Site and Materials	Inspection of workshop conditions where the test coupon (plate or pipe) is to be welded; verification of EN 10204 3.1 material certificates.	Verification of the chemical and mechanical compatibility of the base metal and the welding wire/electrode.
3. Welding Fabrication Supervision (Witness)	The Experte supervisor stands directly beside the welder during the welding process to record parameters—such as current, voltage, speed, interpass temperature, and gas flow rate—in real-time.	Direct verification that the procedure is not merely theoretical but is actually implemented within standard limits.
4. Non-Destructive and Destructive Testing	Subjecting the completed weld coupon first to NDT (VT, PT/MT, RT/UT) and subsequently to mechanical testing at an accredited laboratory.	Strength analysis of the weld seam via tensile, bend, impact, and macro-examination tests.
5. WPQR Certification	Upon receipt of satisfactory test reports, the Experte technical committee issues the approval certificate and defines the approval ranges (WPAR / WPQR).	An internationally valid official certificate specifying the thickness and diameter ranges applicable to the manufacturer.

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3. WHAT ARE THE MANDATORY METALLURGICAL AND MECHANICAL TESTS FOR WPQR?

For a welding procedure to be approved, the prepared test coupon must meet specific limit values ​​under accredited laboratory conditions. The laboratory tests mandated by standards (e.g., EN ISO 15614-1) are as follows:

• Transverse Tensile Test: Measures whether the tensile strength of the welded joint meets the minimum strength value of the base material. In the event of a break within the weld itself, strength limits are evaluated.
• Bend Test: Checks for any tearing, opening, or discontinuity in the weld seam or the transition zone through bending operations performed on the face and root of the weld.
• Charpy Impact Test: Measures the fracture toughness (in Joules) of the weld and the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ), particularly for structures and pressure vessels intended for low-temperature service.
• Macro Examination: A process involving the acid etching of the weld cross-section followed by microscopic inspection. Defects such as lack of penetration, undercut, slag inclusions, and root defects are clearly revealed by this test.
• Hardness Testing: The hardness profile of the weld metal, the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ), and the base metal is determined using the Vickers (HV10) method. Checks are performed to see if excessive hardening or brittleness has occurred, particularly in high-strength steels.

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4. PQR VALIDATION RANGES AND "ESSENTIAL VARIABLES"

The most common mistake made regarding welding procedure qualifications is the assumption that "I have performed one PQR, so it covers all welds." PQR documents establish a specific **Qualification Range** based on the parameters tested. The key parameters defined by the standard—which, if changed, render the PQR invalid—are known as Essential Variables. Some of these include:

Material Grouping: According to the ISO/TR 15608 standard, steels are classified into groups ranging from 1 to 11. For example, a WPQR performed for Group 1 (carbon steels) does not cover materials in Group 8 (austenitic stainless steels).

Material Thickness and Pipe Diameter: The thickness of the test coupon (t) determines the maximum and minimum thickness limits for welding during production. Generally, when a 12 mm coupon is welded, the standard permits welding up to 2t—that is, 24 mm.

Welding Process: A PQR obtained using the TIG (141) process cannot be used for Gas Metal Arc Welding (135/MIG-MAG) or Shielded Metal Arc Welding/Electrode welding (111). Each method must be qualified in its own right.

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5. WELDING PROCEDURE QUALIFICATION (WPQR / PQR) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Clear answers to the technical questions most frequently searched for online and most often asked by welding coordinators and quality managers:

Question 1: Does a PQR document have an expiration date? Must WPQRs be renewed?

Answer: No. A PQR/WPQR document issued according to EN ISO 15614-1 Level 2 or ASME Section IX standards has no technical time limit on its validity; it is valid for a lifetime. However, if the essential variables in production (material group, thickness range, welding method, gas type, etc.) go beyond the limits permitted by the standard, the existing PQR does not cover that production, and a new welding procedure test (PQR) must be performed.

Question 2: What exactly is the difference between a WPS and a WPQR?

Answer: The WPQR (Welding Procedure Qualification Record) is the master document (report/certificate) that records the mechanical validity of the welding procedure, laboratory test results, and production limits. The WPS (Welding Procedure Specification), on the other hand, is the "welding instruction" document provided to the welder on the shop floor; it specifies which current and voltage should be used for each weld pass, while remaining within the qualification ranges established by the WPQR. A valid WPS cannot be written without a WPQR.

Question 3: Can we use a PQR document obtained by another company for our own production?

Answer: No, you absolutely cannot.

In accordance with standards, WPQR/PQR documents are company-specific and non-transferable. Each manufacturing company is required to personally test the procedure—using its own workshop conditions, welding equipment, and personnel—and have it approved by an accredited body. Even when subcontractors are employed, the requirements of the main company's quality management system must be met.

Question 4: Why is the WPQR the first document requested during EN 1090 and ISO 3834 audits?

Answer: The EN 1090 (Steel Structures) and ISO 3834 standards require manufacturers to guarantee welding quality. When auditors visit the site, they ask: "You are welding steel of this thickness using this specific wire, but have you tested the strength of this joint?" The only official, accredited, and legally valid answer to this question is a WPQR document approved by an organization like Experte.

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YOUR LEGAL PASSPORT FOR GLOBAL MARKETS: EXPERTE WPQR SOLUTIONS

Manufacturing with non-standard parameters in the welded fabrication industry can lead to on-site product failure, the cancellation of tenders, and serious legal liability claims. Entrust your welding processes to Experte’s expertise to eliminate risks, pass EN ISO 3834 and EN 1090 audits seamlessly, and fully comply with PED legal requirements.

You can contact our welding certification department directly to arrange project-specific welding procedure qualification record (WPQR/PQR) planning, scope-of-approval calculations, and witness testing appointments, allowing you to immediately initiate technically sound processes with international validity.