Preface

This is the fifth edition of CSA W178.1, Certification of welding inspection organizations. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 2002, 1996, 1990, and 1973 (as W178-1973, Qualification Code for Welding Inspection Organizations).

1 Scope

1.1
This Standard specifies the requirements for establishing and maintaining the certification of welding inspection organizations working within one or more product categories and using one or more inspection methods.

1.2
This Standard specifies the requirements for all welding inspection and testing to be performed by a certified welding inspection organization unless otherwise specified or agreed to by the authority having jurisdiction.

1.3
This Standard specifies the requirements for the maintenance and calibration of inspection equipment, as well as the requirements for the management of inspection records.

1.4
This Standard includes specific clauses that integrate the requirements of certification with those of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) with respect to personnel performing radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, and eddy current examinations.

1.5
This Standard does not address safety issues associated with welding. It is the responsibility of the users of this Standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations.
Note: CAN/CSA-W117.2 addresses safety in welding, cutting, and allied processes.

1.6
In CSA Standards, ""shall"" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; ""should"" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; ""may"" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard; and ""can"" is used to express possibility or capability. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.