CWB CERTIFICATION/
QUALIFICATION
SERVICES
CWB CERTIFICATION/
QUALIFICATION
SERVICES
CANADIAN WELDING CERTIFICATION – AN OVERVIEW
Canada, like many countries around the world, has specific rules and regulations
governing the construction of buildings and their related structural components.
In Canada, companies doing such work are governed by the National or Provincial
Building Code(s) and CSA Standard S16 Design of Steel Structures. These codes and
standards are mandatory and apply to all Canadian welding, fabricating or erection
companies, as well as US or International companies, working with or providing
applicable structural welded products for use within Canada. In addition to the
above, there are also several additional product and safety codes that include
requirements for CWB Certification.
For over 60 years, the CWB, as the administrators of the relevant CSA standards in
support of the above, has been providing valuable assistance and guidance for
companies seeking certification and welder qualification.
ABOUT CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION
The work CWB does on behalf of our clients can be divided into five main categories:
Certification Services for Welding Professionals and Welding Companies,
comprising of:
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CWB Company Certification: Welder, Welding Supervisor, Welding Engineer
Qualifications, and CWB Welding Inspector Certification
CWB Qualification of Welding Procedures
CWB Certification of Electrodes and Filler Metals
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Qualification and Certification of Canadian Welding professional and Welding
Companies to International requirements (eg. IIW/ ISO 3834)
CWB Stud base Qualification
CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES
CWB COMPANY CERTIFICATION
Any company that is CWB Certified has undergone a review and qualification process
to ensure that they meet the requirements for welding companies as specified in CSA
Standards W47.1, W47.2, W55.3 or W186. Within CSA W47.1 and W47.2, a company
may be Certified in one of three Divisions, based on the type of work to be undertaken,
and the customer or end user. Within each Division, the CSA Standards provide clear
requirements with respect to the personnel, procedures, as well as workmanship, as
verified though auditing, that will be required. Under the Standards/ Divisional requirements, each Certified Company is required to employ an adequate number of Welding
Supervisors, and Welding Engineers with welding related experience, to control welding
operations. Although not mandated by the above noted Standards, there may be an
additional requirement (such as under CSA W59, another very common CSA Standard)
for Certified Welding Inspectors to be also employed by a CWB Certified company.
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CWB WELDER, WELDING SUPERVISOR AND WELDING ENGINEER QUALIFICATION
Starting at the welder level, all welders working for a CWB Certified company must be
qualified by the CWB once every two years. This is a practical test administered by a
CWB certification representative that normally takes place at the welder’s place of
employment, using a test plate provided and evaluated by the CWB. Further, depending
on the company’s CSA Division, there may be requirements for welders to be
designated by their employer as Welding Supervisors. All Welding Supervisors must
successfully complete written CWB examinations on welding symbols, weld faults,
quality control and inspection methods and the applicable standard(s) and demonstrate
relevant experience before they can be qualified. In addition, depending on the scope
of work being done, there may be an additional requirement under CSA Standards for
a CWB Qualified Welding Engineer. To become a CWB Welding Engineer it requires
suitable experience and knowledge and writing and passing examinations on the
standards administered by the CWB. To help individuals acquire the required qualification
the CWB Institute runs regular online and classroom courses for Welding Supervisors
as well as providing self study material for prospective Welding Engineers.
CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES
CWB QUALIFICATION OF WELDING PROCEDURES
Under CSA Standard W47.1, W47.2, W186 and W55.3, all CWB Certified Companies
are required to submit their welding procedures to CWB for evaluation and approval
to ensure they meet the requirements of the governing standard. This must be done
before the start of any work, as outlined within the applicable Standard(s).
CWB WELDING INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION
Mandated by some Canadian Codes and Standards a CWB Certified Welding Inspector
is always a valuable asset to any company interested in delivering quality products
within a quality management system such as ISO 9001 or ISO 3834. All Welding
Inspectors are trained in the theory and application of visual inspection with respect
to welded assemblies and must pass both a CWB practical and theoretical exam to
become certified. Training for Welding Inspectors (Inspector Level 1,2 & 3) is available
through the CWB Institute. Beyond visual inspection the CWB Group can also provide
training for various Non-destructive Testing methods (NDT) that complement and
extend the skill set of CWB Certified Inspectors.
CWB CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRODES AND FILLER METALS
Certification of welding electrodes and filler metal are required in Canada when
welding under CSA Certification Standards. It is also required by certain other codes
and standards in Canada, as well as when specified by users as part of their quality
requirements.
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CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES
QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF CANADIAN WELDING PROFESSIONAL
AND WELDING COMPANIES TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
As the Authorized National Body (ANB) for the International Institute of Welding (IIW),
the CWB is able to provide several levels of internationally recognized certification
and qualification for welding professionals, as well as welding companies.
Within the scope of the IIW ANB agreement, the CWB can provide:
Training Facility Certification
For Canadian trade schools, colleges or other post secondary institution who are
looking to grant IIW diplomas, the CWB can grant approval as an Authorized Training
Body (ATB).
Company Certification
For Canadian companies looking to be certified to IS0 3834 standards under IIW’s
internationally recognized “Quality Requirements for Welding” Standard.
Welding Professional Qualification - diplomas in :
• International Welding Engineer (IWE)
• International Welding Technologist (IWT)
• International Welding Specialist (IWS)
• International Welding Practitioner (IWP)
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In addition, the CWB can provide inspector code endorsement and qualification
relating to:
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA):
• Z662
• W47.1
• W59
• American Petroleum Institute (API)
CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES
CWB STUD BASE QUALIFICATION
Fabricators performing stud welding under CSA Standard W59 are required to use
only qualified studs through CWB qualification program. Studs that are shop or field
applied must be qualified by the manufacturer through CWB to the extent of one of
the following codes: CSA W59, AWS D1.1, AWS D1.5 or AWS D1.6. Qualification of
studs will ensure that the stud manufacturer has successfully met the tests and the
quality system requirements as specified in the applicable standard.
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CWB CERTIFICATION/ QUALIFICATION SERVICES
WELDED BUILDING COMPONENTS
26
21
6
25
38
1
16
21
5
25
22
19
14
4
16
12
4
28
31
28
36
7
33
8
37
34
12
28
29
25
28
37
30
24
23
33
11
13
32
10
10
18
3
Stub-Girder
2
Clipped Double
Connection
re
v.
ov N
.9
9
25
17
37
27
38
20
Gerber Girder
15
LEGEND
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13.
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15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
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Most of the above components may be welded during fabrication or installation
Anchors (wall) for beams or open-web steel joists
Anchor rods for structural steel
Base plates of steel for steel columns
Beams
Bearing plates for structural steel
Bolts
Bracing for steel members or frames
Brackets attached to the steel frame
Clipped double connection
Columns
Conveyor structural steel frame work
Crane, girders, rails and stops
Door frames constituting part of and connected to
the steel frame
Floor and roof plates (raised pattern or plain),
grating, connected to steel frame
Gerber girder
Girders
Girts
Grillage beams of steel
Headers or trimmers for support of open-web steel
joists where such headers or trimmers frame into
structural steel members
Hollow structural section (HSS) column
Light-gauge cold formed steel used to support floor
and roofs
22. Lintels attached to steel frame
23. Marquee or canopy (structural frame only)
when forming an integral part of the steel frame
24. Monorail beams of standard structural shapes,
attached to steel frame
25. Open-web steel joists, bridging and
accessories when supplied
with steel joists
26. Purlins
27. Sash angles connected to the steel frame
28. Separators, angles, tees, clips and other detail
fittings essential to the structural steel frame
29. Shear connectors
30. Shelf angles attached to the steel frame
31. Steel cores for composite columns
32. Steel window sills attached to the steel frame
33. Steel stairs and handrails
34. Struts
35. Stub girders
36. Suspended ceiling supports of structural steel
shapes 75mm or greater in depth
37. Ties, hangers and sag rods forming part of the
structural frame
38. Trusses and brace frames
Steel Beams and Column Connections
that may be used in Single Family dwellings
Structural drawings with an engineer’s stamp are
required for welded or bolted steel connections,
splices and beam framing
Reproduced by permission of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction