CANADIAN WELDING CERTIFICATION – AN OVERVIEW Canada, like many countries around the world, has specific rules and regulations governing the construction of buildings and their related structural components. In Canada, companies doing such work are governed by the National or Provincial Building Code(s) and CSA Standard S16 Design of Steel Structures. These codes and standards are mandatory and apply to all Canadian welding, fabricating or erection companies, as well as US or International companies, working with or providing applicable structural welded products for use within Canada. In addition to the above, there are also several additional product and safety codes that include requirements for CWB Certification.

For over 60 years, the CWB, as the administrators of the relevant CSA standards in support of the above, has been providing valuable assistance and guidance for companies seeking certification and welder qualification.

ABOUT CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATIONThe work CWB does on behalf of our clients can be divided into five main categories:

Certification Services for Welding Professionals and Welding Companies, comprising of:

CWB Company Certification: Welder, Welding Supervisor, Welding Engineer Qualifications, and CWB Welding Inspector Certification

CWB Qualification of Welding Procedures

CWB Certification of Electrodes and Filler Metals

Qualification and Certification of Canadian Welding professional and Welding Companies to International requirements (eg. IIW/ ISO 3834)

CWB Stud base Qualification 1

1

234

51

CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICESCWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES

2

CWB COMPANY CERTIFICATIONAny company that is CWB Certified has undergone a review and qualification process to ensure that they meet the requirements for welding companies as specified in CSA Standards W47.1, W47.2, W55.3 or W186. Within CSA W47.1 and W47.2, a company may be Certified in one of three Divisions, based on the type of work to be undertaken, and the customer or end user. Within each Division, the CSA Standards provide clear requirements with respect to the personnel, procedures, as well as workmanship, as verified though auditing, that will be required. Under the Standards/ Divisional require-ments, each Certified Company is required to employ an adequate number of Welding Supervisors, and Welding Engineers with welding related experience, to control welding operations. Although not mandated by the above noted Standards, there may be an additional requirement (such as under CSA W59, another very common CSA Standard) for Certified Welding Inspectors to be also employed by a CWB Certified company.

CWB WELDER, WELDING SUPERVISOR AND WELDING ENGINEER QUALIFICATIONStarting at the welder level, all welders working for a CWB Certified company must be qualified by the CWB once every two years. This is a practical test administered by a CWB certification representative that normally takes place at the welder’s place of employment, using a test plate provided and evaluated by the CWB. Further, depending on the company’s CSA Division, there may be requirements for welders to be designated by their employer as Welding Supervisors. All Welding Supervisors must successfully complete written CWB examinations on welding symbols, weld faults, quality control and inspection methods and the applicable standard(s) and demonstrate relevant experience before they can be qualified. In addition, depending on the scope of work being done, there may be an additional requirement under CSA Standards for a CWB Qualified Welding Engineer. To become a CWB Welding Engineer it requires suitable experience and knowledge and writing and passing examinations on the standards administered by the CWB. To help individuals acquire the required qualification the CWB Institute runs regular online and classroom courses for Welding Supervisors as well as providing self study material for prospective Welding Engineers.

CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES

CWB QUALIFICATION OF WELDING PROCEDURESUnder CSA Standard W47.1, W47.2, W186 and W55.3, all CWB Certified Companies are required to submit their welding procedures to CWB for evaluation and approval to ensure they meet the requirements of the governing standard. This must be done before the start of any work, as outlined within the applicable Standard(s).

CWB WELDING INSPECTOR CERTIFICATIONMandated by some Canadian Codes and Standards a CWB Certified Welding Inspector is always a valuable asset to any company interested in delivering quality products within a quality management system such as ISO 9001 or ISO 3834. All Welding Inspectors are trained in the theory and application of visual inspection with respect to welded assemblies and must pass both a CWB practical and theoretical exam to become certified. Training for Welding Inspectors (Inspector Level 1,2 & 3) is available through the CWB Institute. Beyond visual inspection the CWB Group can also provide training for various Non-destructive Testing methods (NDT) that complement and extend the skill set of CWB Certified Inspectors.

CWB CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRODES AND FILLER METALSCertification of welding electrodes and filler metal are required in Canada when welding under CSA Certification Standards. It is also required by certain other codes and standards in Canada, as well as when specified by users as part of their quality requirements.

3

CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES

QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF CANADIAN WELDING PROFESSIONAL AND WELDING COMPANIES TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS As the Authorized National Body (ANB) for the International Institute of Welding (IIW), the CWB is able to provide several levels of internationally recognized certification and qualification for welding professionals, as well as welding companies.

Within the scope of the IIW ANB agreement, the CWB can provide:Training Facility CertificationFor Canadian trade schools, colleges or other post secondary institution who are looking to grant IIW diplomas, the CWB can grant approval as an Authorized Training Body (ATB).

Company CertificationFor Canadian companies looking to be certified to IS0 3834 standards under IIW’s internationally recognized “Quality Requirements for Welding” Standard.

Welding Professional Qualification - diplomas in :• International Welding Engineer (IWE)• International Welding Technologist (IWT)• International Welding Specialist (IWS)• International Welding Practitioner (IWP)

In addition, the CWB can provide inspector code endorsement and qualification relating to:• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)• Canadian Standards Association (CSA): • Z662 • W47.1 • W59 • American Petroleum Institute (API)

CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES

4

CWB STUD BASE QUALIFICATIONFabricators performing stud welding under CSA Standard W59 are required to use only qualified studs through CWB qualification program. Studs that are shop or field applied must be qualified by the manufacturer through CWB to the extent of one of the following codes: CSA W59, AWS D1.1, AWS D1.5 or AWS D1.6. Qualification of studs will ensure that the stud manufacturer has successfully met the tests and the quality system requirements as specified in the applicable standard.

5

CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES

CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES

6

1. Anchors (wall) for beams or open-web steel joists 2. Anchor rods for structural steel 3. Base plates of steel for steel columns 4. Beams 5. Bearing plates for structural steel 6. Bolts 7. Bracing for steel members or frames 8. Brackets attached to the steel frame 9. Clipped double connection 10. Columns 11. Conveyor structural steel frame work 12. Crane, girders, rails and stops 13. Door frames constituting part of and connected to

the steel frame 14. Floor and roof plates (raised pattern or plain),

grating, connected to steel frame 15. Gerber girder 16. Girders 17. Girts 18. Grillage beams of steel 19. Headers or trimmers for support of open-web steel

joists where such headers or trimmers frame into structural steel members

20. Hollow structural section (HSS) column 21. Light-gauge cold formed steel used to support floor and roofs

22. Lintels attached to steel frame23. Marquee or canopy (structural frame only)

when forming an integral part of the steel frame24. Monorail beams of standard structural shapes,

attached to steel frame25. Open-web steel joists, bridging and

accessories when supplied with steel joists

26. Purlins27. Sash angles connected to the steel frame28. Separators, angles, tees, clips and other detail

fittings essential to the structural steel frame29. Shear connectors30. Shelf angles attached to the steel frame31. Steel cores for composite columns32. Steel window sills attached to the steel frame33. Steel stairs and handrails34. Struts35. Stub girders36. Suspended ceiling supports of structural steel

shapes 75mm or greater in depth37. Ties, hangers and sag rods forming part of the

structural frame38. Trusses and brace frames

Steel Beams and Column Connections that may be used in Single Family dwellings

Structural drawings with an engineer’s stamp are required for welded or bolted steel connections, splices and beam framing

rev.

Nov

. 99

28

33

13

10

30

12

38

11

20

22

12

28

23

38

8

29

21

26

1737

16

27

287

144

16 4

5621

34

33

10

24 32

1

18

37

25

25

2

25

25

19

31

3736

28

Gerber Girder

Stub-Girder

Clipped DoubleConnection

15 9 35

LEGEND

3

Reproduced by permission of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction

Most of the above components may be welded during fabrication or installation

WELDED BUILDING COMPONENTS