What is a Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) and what records accompany it?

• A. WPQ demonstrates a welder's capability to weld to the WPS; the WQR documents the qualification, including process, position, material, and tests.
• B. WPQ is a safety checklist for field operations.
• C. WPQ is a permit to work.
• D. WPQ is a purchase order for welding equipment.

Answer: (A)

A Welder Performance Qualification shows that a welder can actually weld to the approved welding procedure. It’s a formal test of the welder’s ability to produce sound welds under the terms of the WPS. The records that accompany this qualification are the Welding Qualification Record, or WQR, which documents the qualification details: the welding process used, the welding position, the base and filler materials, the material thickness, and the test results that determine acceptance. This record provides a traceable proof that the welder is qualified to weld according to the specified WPS. The WPQ is not a safety checklist, permit, or purchase order.