CSA Standard W178.

1-02
Certification of Welding Inspection Organizations
Scope and Application:
The standard covers requirements for establishing and maintaining welding inspection
organizations. The standard includes requirements for all welding inspection and testing
done by a certified welding inspection organization. It also specifies minimum
requirements for the certification of organizations engaged in welding inspection.
The standard includes specific clauses to integrate the requirements of certification with
those of the Canadian General Standard Board with respect to personnel performing
radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant and eddy current
examination. It also includes requirements for maintenance and calibration of inspection
equipment, and management of inspection records.
The standard is administered by the Canadian Welding Bureau (Bureau). Certification
shall be issued to the chief executive officer (CEO) and to eligible personnel of the
certified organization.
Requirements for obtaining certification are outlined in the standard and
summarized as follows:
the named, qualifications and designated responsibilities of all the personnel to
be involved;
the certification plan detailing the product category and weld inspection methods;
copies of weld inspection procedures for approval;
description of the type, capacities and locations of the welding inspection
equipment;
a description of the organizations training program where applicable;
a description of the system providing control of the inspection records.
Requirements for maintaining certification is detailed in the standard.
Certified organizations shall:
use only personnel qualified welding inspections, The Bureau shall be notified if
any changes occur;
perform inspection in the product categories use only the inspection methods that
is certified for;
use only inspection procedures approved
report to the Bureau changes in the equipment or facilities.
The organizations are subject to annual audit by the Bureau. Corrective actions may be
requested as a result of the audit, followed by a re-audit. The Bureau may de-certify an
organization if it does not adhere to the requirements.
Welding Inspection Personnel Required - Each welding inspection centre is required
under the standard to have the following welding inspection personnel:
a qualified welding inspection supervisor employed at the centre;
qualified welding inspectors, where applicable;
qualified equipment operators for the facilities and equipment provided, where
applicable.
The welding inspection supervisor shall have the technical control over the
organizations welding inspection work. The supervisor must be a Level 3 welding
inspector, with certification to include at least one code or standard from the categories
over which the supervisor has control, as detailed in the CSA standard W178.2. The
supervisor shall demonstrate knowledge of the standard by written examination and
performance.
Duties of the welding inspector supervisor include:
supervision of Level 2 and 1 welding inspectors
report writing of inspections
possess knowledge of the inspection procedures of the organization.

(Over)

(contd)
Welding inspectors shall be certified as per CSA Standard W178.2 with endorsement of
the codes and standards under which they are to conduct inspections for the product
category identified. Refer to the CSA W 178.2 for details on different levels of certifications
(standards information sheet available).
Equipment operators for non-destructive testing shall be certified in accordance with
the CGSB Standard CAN/CGSB-48.9712.
Mechanical and mettallographic testing operators shall satisfy the Bureau that they are
suitably qualified.
Product categories shall be as follows:
(a) buildings, bridges, industrial structures, machinery, cranes, and rails and road
vehicles;
(b) ships and floating marine structures ;
(c) mobile drilling units and steel fixed offshore structures;
(d) industrial pipes;
(e) pipelines
(f) pressure vessels, boilers, and heat exchangers; and
(g) storage tanks.
Weld inspection methods are classified under the standard in:
(a) Non-destructive methods of testings:
a. Visual examination
b. Radiographic examination
c. Ultrasonic examination
d. Magnetic particle testing
e. Liquid penetrant testing;
f. Eddy current testing; and
g. Alternating current field measurements (ACFM).
(b) Other methods of testing:
a. Mechanical testing;
b. Chemical testing; and
c. Positive material identification
Weld inspections procedures shall be in writing along with the work instructions and
checklists. The standard recommends basic operations to be included in the welding
inspections and these are, as applicable:
(a) Checking the contractor qualifications and their personnel;
(b) Identification and inspection of base materials, welding procedures, and filler metals
to be used;
(c) Inspection of fill-up period of welding;
(d) In progress monitoring and inspection;
(e) Visual examination of completed weld products according to specific criteria;
(f) Nondestructive testing.
(g) Physical identification and description of nonconformance;
(h) Mechanical testing and metallographic examination;
(i) Verifications;
(j) Inspection reports.
Equipment maintenance and calibrations - this section of the standard refers to the
labeling of equipment, the necessity to have it calibrated by acceptable government or
industrial agencies, and used and maintained as per manufacturer recommendations.
Records required under the standard are: personnel training and qualifications, equipment
calibration procedures and history; inspections and test procedures, inspection and test
results.
The inspection and test results records shall be current, accurate, and traceable to the
item, process or stage of production; equipment use; identify the inspector and his/her
qualifications. They shall be retained for further reference and audit.

This bulletin contains a summary of excerpts taken from the Standard, for general
information purposes only. This bulletin is not reflective of the complete
requirements that the Standard prescribes.
Note: Manitoba Regulation M.R. 217/2006 Section 1.4 inconsistency:
If there is an inconsistency between this regulation and a requirement contained in a
publication, code or standard referenced in this regulation, the provisions in this
regulation prevail.