Qualification of Welders, Welding Operators and Brazers under the EWF Scheme

Demonstrated competence of production personnel is essential to the quality of welding and brazing activities. Qualification under the scheme of the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF) enables personnel’s practical skills to be assessed against specified requirements and provides documented evidence of their competence.

The Kazakhstan Welding Association “KazWeld” is authorized to apply the EWF scheme for the qualification of welders, welding operators and brazers in the Republic of Kazakhstan, issuing the relevant certificates following successful completion of the required examinations and practical tests.

Who Is Qualification Intended For?

Qualification is intended for production personnel directly involved in welding and brazing:

• Welders performing manual and partly mechanized welding;

• Welding operators working with mechanized and automatic welding equipment;

• Brazers joining materials by brazing.

Candidate requirements and testing procedures are determined by the selected standard, the process used and the intended scope of qualification.

Which Standards Apply?

The EWF scheme allows qualification to be carried out against various international standards and codes. Depending on the activity and the agreed scope of qualification, the following may apply:

• ISO 9606 — Qualification testing of welders for fusion welding of metallic materials;

• ISO 14732 — Qualification testing of welding operators and weld setters for mechanized and automatic welding of metallic materials;

• ASME BPVC Section IX — Requirements for the qualification of welders, welding operators, brazers and brazing operators under the applicable code;

• AWS D1.1 — Requirements for welding steel structures, including welding personnel qualification;

• Other standards and codes covered by the scheme and the qualification body’s authorized scope.

The applicable standard and its edition are agreed before testing, taking account of customer requirements, project specifications and the work to be performed.

How Does the Qualification Process Work?

1. Defining the Scope of Qualification

The initial stage establishes the welding or brazing process, materials, joint types and requirements of the applicable standard or code.

2. Reviewing the Application and Supporting Documents

The information submitted is reviewed to confirm that the candidate meets the conditions for admission to testing.

3. Qualification Testing

The candidate completes a practical test under specified conditions. Job knowledge is assessed to the extent required by the applicable standard and qualification scheme.

4. Evaluating the Results

The completed test joints undergo the required examinations and tests. A qualification decision is made based on the results.

5. Issuing the Certificate

Upon successful completion of the procedure, a certificate is issued specifying the applicable standard or code, the range of qualification and the conditions of validity.

What Does the Certificate Confirm?

The certificate confirms that the individual has demonstrated the required skills under the specified test conditions.

The range of qualification may depend on the welding or brazing process, material group, joint type, product thickness and diameter, welding position and other variables defined by the standard.

Before assigning an individual to a task, it is therefore necessary to verify that the range covered by their certificate matches the specific work requirements.

Benefits for Personnel and Companies

For personnel, qualification provides documented evidence of practical skills and an additional advantage when seeking employment with domestic and international companies that set high requirements for production personnel.

For companies, personnel qualification helps demonstrate compliance with customer requirements and project specifications, supports the assignment of appropriately qualified personnel to specific tasks and strengthens confidence in manufacturing quality.

Harmonised EWF scheme procedures support consistency in assessment results. The applicability of a certificate to a particular project depends on its scope and the customer’s requirements.

Requalification and Confirmation of Qualification

KazWeld also reassesses previously qualified production personnel within its authorized scope and the applicable scheme.

Certificate renewal or confirmation is subject to the relevant standard, records of work performed and compliance with the requirements for maintaining qualification. Further practical testing is required where specified.

How to Apply

To determine the qualification requirements, please provide KazWeld with information about the process used, the materials and the required standard.

For enquiries about initial qualification and requalification, please contact the Kazakhstan Welding Association “KazWeld”.