According to the latest revision of EN 10225 (2024), weldability testing for offshore structural steels now mandates stricter through-thickness property verification for plates over 50 mm. This directly impacts welding procedure qualification (WPQR) for jacket and monopile fabrication.
Clause 7.4.3 requires Z-direction tensile testing (EN 10164) for every parent plate thickness group used in tubular joints. Previously, this was only recommended for thicknesses above 63 mm. Now it applies from 50 mm upward. For welding coordinators, this means additional PQR coupons and potentially higher repair rates if lamellar tearing susceptibility is discovered late.
What does this mean on the shop floor? If your WPQR for a 55 mm plate was qualified under the old 63 mm threshold, it may not be valid for the new requirement. A delta-qualification or supplementary PQR may be needed before production welding begins.
The standard also aligns Charpy V-notch sub-size specimen rules with EN ISO 148-1, closing a long-standing ambiguity for thicknesses below 10 mm.
How is your team handling the transition to EN 10225:2024 for ongoing or upcoming offshore projects?
Source: EN 10225:2024, European Committee for Standardization