Confirming Welding Qualities With Metal Fabricators, Part 1

Like with many other services, metal fabrication is an area where clients in need should canvass multiple metal fabricators and choose the best based on needs and their qualifications. There are several areas to evaluate while making such a choice, and one of the most important is welding.

At Cypress Metals, we’re proud to provide a wide range of custom metal fabrication and laser cutting services, with solutions ranging from radius roofing packages and runouts to custom siding, window well covers and numerous others. We welcome comparisons of any of our fabrication elements to our competitors, including welding – not only do we want clients to get the best possible metal fabrication work, we’re supremely confident we’re the ones best-equipped to provide it. This two-part blog series will dig into the welding themes you should be inquiring about when choosing a metal fabricator, including why welding is so vital for metal fabrication to begin with.

welding qualities metal fabricators

Why Welding Matters

Those outside the industry may not hear about it as often, but quality welding capabilities are an absolutely vital element for successful metal fabrication. Multiple welds will generally be needed for a given product, helping maintain structural integrity and durability.

Even a single weld that’s poorly-done can lead t major issues. This may lead to rust, for instance, or product failure and situations where the final product does not meet OSHA regulations or industry-specific codes. However, well-trained and experienced welders eliminate these risks and ensure your welding sections are always done optimally.

Our next several sections will go over some of the areas to inquire about with a metal fabricator regarding their welding and welders.

Documentation and Certification

Firstly, can the metal fabricator provide certifications and qualifications for every welder on staff? There should not be a single individual on this area of the staff who does not meet every single qualification, which includes the following areas:

  • Ability to weld structural steel according to American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 regulations
  • Understanding and compliance with Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) conforming to ASME Section 9
  • Ability to meet AWS D1.6 standards for stainless steel
  • Fabrication of carbon-steel tanks conforming to API-50 standard
  • Following all industry-specific welding regulations

How Welders are Qualified

In addition to the above, metal fabricators should be able to show you a Welder Qualification Record that shows test results and all welding codes the welder in question has been approved for. Such records or tests may include American or Canadian Welding Society codes, various AWS codes noted above, or even various API, AISC and CSA standards.

For more on what to ask a metal fabricator about their welding, or to learn about any of our custom metal fabrication services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.