Once the weld is complete, it undergoes a final evaluation. The inspector cleans the surface to remove slag, spatter, and scale. They then examine the weld for surface-breaking discontinuities like cracks, porosity, undercut, and incorrect weld profiles. Relationship with ISO 5817
In practice, these two standards are used together. An inspector follows the to prepare for the inspection, but they use the criteria of ISO 5817 to make the pass/fail decision. You cannot have effective visual quality control without both documents.
If you can tell me the (e.g., oil & gas, construction) or welding process you are working with, I can give you more targeted information on acceptance criteria and commonly used gauges. ISO 17637:2016 - Visual testing of fusion-welded joints iso 17637 pdf
| Standard | Scope | Key Difference | |----------|-------|----------------| | | Fusion welds in metals | Global standard; references ISO 5817 | | AWS D1.1 | Structural steel welding | US-centric; has its own visual acceptance criteria | | ASME Section V | Pressure vessel and piping visual exam | More focused on nuclear and boiler codes | | EN 970 | (Withdrawn, replaced by ISO 17637) | Historical European standard |
: ISO 17637 is applicable to the visual testing of fusion welds in metallic materials (e.g., steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel alloys). It covers the inspection of the joint before welding, the welding process itself, and the finished weld. However, it does not define the extent of testing, which must be determined in advance by an application or product standard. Once the weld is complete, it undergoes a final evaluation
Visual testing (VT) is the most cost-effective and immediate method to catch defects. Implementing ISO 17637 framework provides several operational advantages.
Clear descriptions of any identified imperfections, their locations, and dimensions. Relationship with ISO 5817 In practice, these two
Standardization ensures that inspections are repeatable. The standard dictates that for direct visual inspection (using the naked eye or a magnifying glass):