Quality welding is a cooperative effort. Design and execution combined with diligent regulation to provide standards that ensure safety, quality, and long term performance.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a standards organization comprised of professionals that determine best practices for various types of welds, including power boilers, nuclear facilities, and crude oil pipelines, among other applications. This is just a quick overview of the primary sections of the ASME code.

  • ASME Section I
    • Part of the ASME code referring to power boilers created or fabricated by welding. This also includes component parts such as piping.
  • ASME Section II
    • This part refers to the materials and equipment used in welding, including welding rods, filler metals, and electrodes. Distinctions are made for ferrous and non-ferrous material specifications.
  • ASME Section III
    • The nuclear part of the code with guidelines for construction and components. Fortunately, this section also includes detailed regulations for containment.
  • ASME Section IV
    • Regulations for the construction of heating boilers. This part more specifically refers to appurtenances, steam heating boilers, and hot water supply boilers. Most of these rules are not meant for potable water.
  • ASME Section V
    • Testing regulations for non-destructive examination. One of the more crucial part of the ASME rules, this section outlines the methods and requirements necessary for non-destructive testing of welds and fabricated parts. These rules are intended to detect internal defects and surface inconsistencies.
    • Methods and examinations included are ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle, acoustic emission, eddy current, and visual.
  • ASME Section VI
    • Recommendations for heating boilers maintenance and operation.
  • ASME Section VII
    • More recommendations but this is for power boilers, the kind used to power trains and traction generators.
  • ASME Section VIII
    • Rules for the construction and fabrication of pressurized tanks.
  • ASME Section IX
    • Another important welding (and brazing) section. This part details the weld specification procedures (WPR), certification requirements, and procedure qualification records (QPR) for welding professionals.
  • ASME Section X
    • Code for pressure vessels specific fiber reinforced plastic kind.
  • ASME Section XI
    • Regarding nuclear components and their inspection.