According to EN ISO 15612:2018, a Standard Welding Procedure Specification (SWPS) allows a manufacturer to adopt a welding procedure qualified and published by another organization. Here are 5 critical rules that separate compliance from rejection:
1. Organization vs User: The entity that develops and qualifies the SWPS is different from the user that adopts it. They do not have to be the same company.
2. IWE Signature is Sufficient: Clause 5.2.4 states the user's welding coordinator (IWE/EWE) shall sign and date the SWPS before production use. No accredited third-party body is required by the standard itself.
3. Demonstration: ASME Section IX QW-510 requires a groove weld coupon test before using the SWPS. EN ISO 15612 has no such requirement, but the user must implement welding coordination per ISO 14731 or qualify a welder following the SWPS.
4. No Combining SWPS: Clause 5.2.5 prohibits combining SWPSs with other SWPSs or WPSs in the same joint. ASME QW-520(j) has the same restriction.
5. Restrict Only: Variables can be narrowed but never expanded. The original SWPS content cannot be modified, only reformatted with reference back.
Source: EN ISO 15612:2018, ASME BPVC Section IX 2023