Welder certifications

A welder must have a Steel Structures Welding Certification before working on field splices of beams and girders or other structural steel connections on transportation structures. A welder must be qualified before making the miscellaneous welds described in Texas' 2014 Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Highways, Streets, and Bridges, Item 448.

Steel structures welding certifications

A certified welder has passed the AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code qualification outlined in Texas' 2014 Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Highways, Streets, and Bridges, Article 448.4.2.2, "Certified Steel Structures Welder."

All welding for certification must be performed in the presence of testing lab personnel. The welder is responsible for all costs associated with testing required for certification. The certification remains in effect as long as the welder performs acceptable work for TxDOT as determined by the Bridge Division.

Miscellaneous welding qualification

A qualified welder is an experienced welder who is capable of making welds of sound quality but does not have TxDOT certification. A qualified welder must pass a job-site Miscellaneous Weld Qualification Test before welding. See Texas' 2014 Standard Specifications for Construction and Maintenance of Highways, Streets, and Bridges, Article 448.4.2.1.

Testing laboratories

TxDOT does not maintain a list of approved testing laboratories, which must have a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and an American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) Level II Examiner available to perform tests and interpret results. TxDOT is the final authority in case of disagreement between the testing lab and TxDOT.

Send all test results to the address listed below. TxDOT reserves the right to refuse to accept certification test results from laboratories that have not performed up to the standards of AWS and ASNT. In such cases, TxDOT may perform an audit of the testing laboratory to determine its acceptance.

Questions? Contact Bridge Division Construction and Maintenance.