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What Is a Welder Qualification Record (WQR)? | Piping Engineering Glossary
What Is a Welder Qualification Record (WQR)?
In piping engineering and process engineering, a welder qualification record (WQR) is the document that records the results of a welder’s qualification test and the range of work the welder is qualified to perform. Under ASME Section IX it is formally called the Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) record, and many projects use the terms WQR and WPQ interchangeably.
What a WQR Records
When a welder completes a welder qualification test, the test coupon is examined by bend tests, radiography, or other approved methods. The WQR documents the welding process used, such as TIG welding or shielded metal arc welding, along with the base material group, filler metal, positions, thickness and diameter ranges, and other variables, plus the examination results. From these, it states the range of production welding the welder is qualified for.
The WQR is linked to the welding procedure specification the welder followed, which is itself supported by a procedure qualification record. Together, these documents show that both the procedure and the person are qualified.
Applications
Project Welder Approval
Fabricators submit WQRs for review before welders start production work. Inspectors check that each welder is qualified for the process, position, and material of every joint they weld.
Weld Records
Each welder’s identification is recorded against joints in the weld log, linking every production weld back to the welder’s qualification.
Continuity of Qualification
Qualifications generally remain valid as long as the welder uses the process at least once every six months, which is tracked through continuity records.
Benefits
Confirms Competence
A WQR provides documented proof that a welder can produce sound welds within a defined range. It protects both the owner and the fabricator.
Supports Inspection
Inspectors can quickly verify that the right person welded each joint during weld inspection and audits.
Standardized Records
Common formats under recognized codes make it easier to review welders across contractors and projects. Reviewers know where to find each variable and test result.
Limitations
Qualification Has Limits
A WQR covers only the ranges tested or allowed by the code. Welders must not work outside their qualified process, position, or thickness range.
Records Must Be Maintained
Expired continuity or missing records can invalidate qualifications and force requalification, delaying work. Digital welder management systems help track continuity across sites.
Not a Guarantee of Quality
Qualified welders can still make defective welds, so production welds still need inspection as part of quality assurance.
FAQ
Is a WQR the same as a WPS?
No. A WPS describes how a weld must be made, while a WQR shows that a specific welder is qualified to make welds using that procedure.
How long is a welder qualification valid?
Under ASME Section IX, it remains effective as long as the welder uses the process within any six-month period, unless there is a specific reason to question the welder’s ability.
What tests are used to qualify a welder?
Common tests include bend testing or volumetric examination of a test coupon, often a butt weld in pipe or plate made in a specified position.
Does a WQR cover all welding positions?
It depends on the test position. A pipe test in the 6G position, for example, generally qualifies the welder for all positions within the other limits of the test.
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