Benefits & How to Belong
The National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau (NCPWB) was established to do collectively what it is difficult and economically impossible for many firms to do individually. The Bureau provides a means, recognized by the national codes and standards, to provide quality welding at an economical price.
Welding Procedure Specification - Adoption of NCPWB Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) by members of the Bureau is allowed in the B31 Codes for Pressure Piping. The B31 Codes allow employers to adopt WPSs qualified by a “technically competent group or agency.” The WPS describes all the essential, non-essential and supplementary essential variables for each welding process used in the WPS. The Bureau now has more than 100 WPSs qualified in accordance with code requirements. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company have reviewed all NCPWB WPSs, which have stated in writing that the NCPWB Procedures meet the qualification requirements of Section IX, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. When you consider the cost of qualifying a WPS on your own, particularly where more exotic base metals are concerned, having already qualified procedures is a significant benefit to any contractor.
Qualification of Welders and Welder Interchange - The ability of thousands of welders to make quality welds using NCPWB WPSs has been proven for all types of piping materials in general use throughout the mechanical construction industry. ASME Codes provide for the interchange of welders. ASME B31.1 specifically states that to avoid duplication of effort, an employer may accept a Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) made by a previous employer, subject to the approval of the owner or his agent, on piping using the same or equivalent procedure. To facilitate the interchange of welders, NCPWB has established a National Welder Data Base. This database currently contains the names of over 10,000 welders that show the date, the location and the processes that these welders have qualified on. Over 400 welder qualifications are maintained locally. The savings achieved as part of your membership in the Bureau are significant when not having to requalify a welder each time you go to a new jobsite.
United Association Welder Certification Program - The NCPWB and the UA have consolidated their efforts to make the welder qualification process more cost effective to the construction user. Under the joint effort, union welders are tested at the UA Authorized Test Facilities under the supervision and control of a NCPWB contractor representative and an Authorized Test Representative (ATR). All test coupons will be radiographed by an independent testing laboratory to determine which of the welders taking the test qualified. Appropriate Welder Performance Qualification Test Record forms are completed and made available to contractors through the UA and the NCPWB. However, since the WPSs used at the UA authorized testing facilities are for testing purposes only, you still have to have WPSs for production welding. The Bureau has identified for its members the WPSs in its inventory that compare with the essential variables of the UA testing WPSs which will eliminate, for NPCWB members, the burden of finding or developing their own WPSs that compare with those used by the UA testing facilities.
Code Committees - Another benefit, which may not be as obvious, is the participation of the Bureau member contractors who chair or sit on the various code committees. Having membership on these committees, the Bureau is able to monitor or take part in decisions that affect what is written in the Codes that stipulate how you, the contractor, have to perform your work. Code committees with Bureau member contractor participation include:
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
- B31 Codes for Pressure Piping
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- American Welding Society (AWS)
- Welding Research Council (WRC)
- The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI)
- Pipe Fabrication Institute (PFI)
Other Benefits - As a member of the Bureau, you have access to the knowledge and experience of the local Bureau Chapter and your local technical committee representative. These representatives receive up to date information on Code changes and other issues pertaining to welding through their attendance at the annual technical committee meetings. The national office through its consultant service is always ready to help with any questions you may have regarding welding requirements. The opportunity for learning more about welding is another benefit available through the Bureau. To make a difference, you need to participate in your local chapter activities and make you voice heard on matters that are important to you and to the Bureau.
Membership in the Bureau is open to any mechanical contractor who is regularly engaged in the fabrication or erecting of piping systems and who is signatory to a labor agreement with the UA. Please contact us for further information.
