AS/NZS 2980: 2018

Revision of AS/NZS 2980: 2007 and adoption of AS/NZS 2980: 2018

AS/NZS 2980, New Zealand’s most widely used Welder Qualification Standard, has been revised. The revision moves the old AS/NZS 2980 away from local standards to International standards ISO; which is ISO 9606-1:2012, Approval testing of welders—Fusion welding, Part 1: Steels. This has been adopted as AS/NZS ISO 9606.1.

For now, the revised AS/NZS 2980: 2018 will be used as a transition to AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 rather than a complete changeover

The important changes can be summarised as:

Test piece length may be 200mm; currently the test piece length is 300mm, however we will be keeping our test plates to 250mm to enable as to do a macro test if required, prior to radiographic testing.

Butt and fillet welds require separate qualification however there is the option of a single bevel butt test piece that covers both types of weld as outlined in Annex C of AS/NZS ISO 9606.1.

Qualification of welding positions has also changed, Vertical up is now seen as a separate welding procedure and needs to be qualified separately.

The FCAW gas shielded process does not cover FCAW self-shielded, and vice versa.

The welder may grind the stop/start position on the capping run.

The current term “prolongation” has been changed to “revalidation” i.e. the requalification or extension of the certificate when it is up for renewal.

There are now three options:

Retesting every 3 years i.e. the welding of another test plate.

Every 2 years revalidation for a further 2 years is possible where there are records of 2 tests by radiographic or ultra-sonic testing on the welder’s production welds in the previous 6 months.

The certificate remains valid continuously provided that:

The welder is working for the same manufacturer (fabricator) who confirms the certificate every 6 months,

The manufacturer (fabricator) has a verified ISO 3834 quality programme,

The manufacturer (fabricator) documents that the welder has produced acceptable welds.

Qualifying welders to AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 can offer advantages to fabricators and welders as this standard is referenced in AS/NZS 1554.1, AS/NZS 3992, ASME, EN and other standards. While AS/NZS 2980 is a structural welding standard, AS/NZS ISO 9606.1 is applicable to a wider range of work including for example pressure equipment and the marine industry.