Welding Procedure Qualifications

If your company wants to apply a welding method for clients, a welding procedure qualification (WPQR) is required. As an accredited and independent testing laboratory, Materials Testing Veendam helps companies across the Netherlands obtain welding procedure qualifications in accordance with EN ISO 15614. You can come to us for a variety of welding methods, such as those involving circular welded pipes, fillet welds, or different joint types (V-, K-, or X-joints).

What is a Welding Procedure Qualification (WPQR)?

A welding procedure qualification (WPQR) is the formal recognition that demonstrates a specific welding method meets the standards and quality requirements demanded by clients and insurers. This ensures the welding method is deemed suitable for practical application.

In principle, a WPQR has an unlimited validity period. However, technological advancements and changing regulations may necessitate new qualifications. Welding procedure qualifications often go hand-in-hand with welder qualifications, where both the company and the individual welder are certified.

The process to obtain a welding procedure qualification includes:

• Drafting a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)
• Performing test welds under supervision
• Conducting destructive and non-destructive testing of the test welds
• Compiling a test report

Why is a Welding Procedure Qualification Necessary?

A welding procedure qualification is essential to:

• Provide demonstrable quality in an increasingly competitive market.
• Comply with EU regulations and international standards.
• Build trust with clients and insurers.
• Strengthen your competitive position against cheaper, often lower-quality products from emerging economies.

Standards for Welding Procedure Qualification

We perform welding procedure qualifications according to:

• EN ISO 15614 series – Qualification of welding procedures
• EN ISO 15613 – Pre-production welding procedures
• ASME Section IX
• AWS codes (e.g., D1.1)
• Client-specific standards and company-specific procedures

How Does a Welding Procedure Qualification Work at Materials Testing Veendam?

1. Appointment with our regional examiner to lay the test weld.
2. Visual inspection on-site.
3. Non-destructive testing (by our partner Applus).
4. Destructive testing in our accredited laboratory (ISO 17025, L647), including tensile tests, impact tests, and hardness measurements.
5. Comprehensive test report within 4–5 working days.
6. Certification by your chosen body (DNV, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, etc.).