Standard Codes For Visual Inspection Of Welds
Standard
Code/Standard Title Scope/Focus
Organization
Visual inspection to ensure compliance with weld design
ASME Section I Rules for Construction of Power Boilers
criteria for high-pressure and high-temperature applications.
Covers methods for visual inspection and requirements for
ASME Section V Non-destructive Examination
inspectors to ensure weld quality.
ASME Section VIII, General requirements for visual inspection, focusing on surface
Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels
Div 1 defects (e.g., undercut, cracks, porosity).
ASME Section VIII, Stricter inspection requirements for critical applications,
Alternative Rules for Pressure Vessels
Div II focusing on weld profile and surface quality.
ASME Section VIII, Advanced visual inspection for high-pressure environments; no
ASME Alternative Rules for High-Pressure Vessels
Div III tolerance for critical defects.
Qualification Standard for Welding
Focuses on qualifying welders and procedures, including the
ASME Section IX Procedures, Welders, Brazers, and Welding
visual acceptance of test welds.
Operators
Specifies visual inspection limits for process piping welds,
ASME B31.3 Process Piping
including acceptance criteria for imperfections.
Visual inspection criteria for power piping systems,
ASME B31.1 Power Piping
emphasizing alignment, undercut, and reinforcement.
Visual inspection of pressure vessel welds, focusing on surface
ASME Section VIII Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels
imperfections like cracks and porosity.
API 1104 Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities Visual inspection of pipeline welds and related facilities.
Visual inspection of welds for storage tanks, including
API API 650 Welded Tanks for Oil Storage
geometric tolerances and imperfection limits.
Visual inspection of pipelines during construction, including
API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspection
weld quality verification.
Visual inspection criteria for structural steel welds, including
AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code - Steel
undercut, reinforcement height, and weld bead appearance.
Visual inspection criteria for aluminum welds, addressing
AWS AWS D1.2 Structural Welding Code - Aluminum
porosity, surface cracks, and misalignment.
Focuses on visual inspection and acceptance of stainless steel
AWS D1.6 Structural Welding Code - Stainless Steel
welds.
Non-destructive Testing of Welds - Visual Provides procedures and guidelines for visual inspection of
ISO 17637
Testing of Fusion-welded Joints welds.
Welding – Fusion-welded Joints in Steel,
Defines acceptance criteria for weld imperfections with three
ISO 5817 Nickel, Titanium, and Their Alloys – Quality
quality levels (B, C, D).
ISO Levels for Imperfections
Quality Requirements for Fusion Welding of General quality requirements for welded structures, including
ISO 3834
Metallic Materials visual inspection guidelines.
Qualification Testing of Welders – Fusion
ISO 9606-1 Includes visual inspection as part of welder qualification testing
Welding of Steels
SUMMARY
Organization Key Standards Scope/Applications
ASME Section I, ASME Section IX, ASME B31.1, ASME B31.3,
ASME Pressure vessels, piping systems, and welder qualification.
ASME Section VIII
API API 1104, API 650, API 1169 Oil and gas pipelines, storage tanks, and related facilities.
Structural steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and inspector
AWS AWS D1.1, AWS D1.2, AWS D1.6
certification.
Global visual inspection criteria for welds in various materials
ISO ISO 17637, ISO 5817, ISO 3834, ISO 9606-1
and applications.