This specification establishes the minimum requirements for the Welding Quality Program for welding fabricators. This specification is intended to be used by welding fabricators regardless of the welding processes or materials used. This specification does not cover weldment design or nonwelding related fabrication processes, such as bolting and coatings. This specification is intended to offer assistance to the customers of welding fabricators who purchase weldments in various industry sectors in assessing the firm's capability to satisfy project quality needs.

The welding fabricator may be accredited by AWS as an AWS Certified Welding Fabricator, providing the fabricator meets the requirements of AWS QC17, Standard for Accreditation of Welding Fabricators for AWS Certified Welding Fabricator Program.

As used in this specification, the word ‘shall' denotes a requirement; the word ‘should' denotes a guideline or recommendation; and the word ‘may' denotes a choice. The word ‘welding' includes brazing, and the word ‘welder' includes welding operators, brazers, and brazing operators.

This standard does not require units of measure. Therefore, no equivalents or conversions are contained except when they are cited in examples.

Safety and health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard and therefore are not addressed herein.

Safety and health information is available from the following sources:

American Welding Society:

(1) ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes

(2) AWS Safety and Health Fact Sheets

(3) Other safety and health information on the AWS website

Material or Equipment Manufacturers:

(1) Safety Data Sheets supplied by materials manufacturers

(2) Operating Manuals supplied by equipment manufacturers

Applicable Regulatory Agencies

Work performed in accordance with this standard may involve the use of materials that have been deemed hazardous, and may involve operations or equipment that may cause injury or death. This standard does not purport to address all safety and health risks that may be encountered. The user of this standard should establish an appropriate safety program to address such risks as well as to meet applicable regulatory requirements. ANSI Z49.1 should be considered when developing the safety program.