CANADIAN WELDING BUREAU
CHANGES TO
CSA STANDARD
W178.2-2014
There are several changes to CSA Standard W178.2-2014
This document is a list of noted changes for a smooth transition
between CSA Standard W178.2-08 and W178.2-2014.
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“Foreword” section detailing with CWB role, liabilities and appeals process has been removed.
Preface has been updated so that this publication requires review very five years as opposed to
periodically.
Clause 1 – Scope
• Clause 1.6 revised to state that this standard does not address the certification of individuals performing non- destructive examinations.
• Clause 1.7 added to replace Clause 1.6 as written in 2008 code.
Clause 2 – Reference Publications
• No changes.
Clause 3 – Definitions
• “Product Categories” has been removed.
Clause 4 – Administration
• Clause 4.4 revised to state that “CWB shall make available to the public a directory of welding inspectors who are certified to this standard”, i.e. website, rather than publishing a list periodically.
• Updated to include the new requirements of a welding quality system
Clause 5 – Levels and Responsibilities
• Clause 5.1 revised to include requirement for welding inspectors to perform welding inspection in
accordance with documented procedures “or in accordance with the applicable governing code or
standard”. 2014 code also includes Annex C which is copy of non-mandatory sample visual inspection
report form.
• Clauses 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 revised to reference “Welding inspectors, regardless of their certification”
rather than referencing specific requirements for each specific Level of certification.
• Clause 5.5 added to include “Level 1 welding inspectors may independently perform welding inspection
duties (See Clause 7.2) under appropriate qualified supervision. Note: Definition provided in Clause 3”.
Clause 6 – Code of Ethics
• Statement (g) revised to exclude “strive to” from statement.
• New statements (h) through (m) have been added as follows:
h) comply with the applicable provisions of this Standard relevant to their level of certification and responsibilities;
i) discontinue all claims to certification upon expiry, suspension, or withdrawal of certification, and upon request return any certificates and/or wallet cards issued by the CWB;
j) not perform unethical or dishonest acts or making statements that would discredit or bring the certification scheme of this Standard into disrepute;
k) not falsify documents, falsely claim, misrepresent or permit misrepresentation or misuse of their own or other’s academic or professional qualifications, knowledge, training, experience, work responsibilities, or certifications;
l) maintain knowledge of codes or standards applicable to the product or structure being inspected; and m) inspect products or structures in accordance with the applicable governing codes or
standards.
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CHANGES IN W178.2-2014
Clause 7 – Competency Requirements
• Clause 7.1 (d) revised to include “Annex C – sample of non-mandatory inspection report form”.
• Clause 7.5 “Nondestructive examinations” has been removed.
Clause 8 – Requirements for Certification has replaced “Qualification requirements for offshore structures”
which has been completely removed in 2014 version. (“Requirements for Certification” was Clause 9 in 2008
code).
• Clause 8.1.1 (a) i) experience requirements revised to reference Clause 8.1.2 (changed from 9.1.2).
• Clause 8.1.1 (a) ii) revised to include at least six months of work experience in the areas specified Clause
8.1.2 in addition to successful completion of recognized course.
• Clause 8.1.1 (b) revised to specify that Level 1 shall complete two years documented welding inspection
experience performing duties specified in Clauses 7.1 and 7.2. It further states that “welding inspectors
who have at least 18 months of documented welding inspection experience performing the duties
specified in Clauses 7.1 and 7.2 may apply for certification in Level 2 and may write the applicable
examinations for Level 2. In such cases, certification shall not be granted until all examinations have been
successfully completed and the additional two years of welding inspection experience as specified have
been completed”.
• Clause 8.1.1 (c) revised to specify that Level 2 shall complete four years documented welding inspection
experience performing duties specified in Clauses 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3. It further states that “welding
inspectors who have at least three and one half years of documented welding inspection experience
performing the duties specified in Clauses 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 may apply for certification in Level 3 and
may write the applicable examinations for Level 3. In such cases, certification shall not be granted until
all examinations have been successfully completed and the additional four years of welding inspection
experience as specified have been completed”.
• Clause 8.1.1 (d) revised to specify that in exceptional cases welding inspectors may be eligible to
qualify directly to Level 2 provided they have 5 years of prior welding inspection experience and
candidates may be eligible to qualify directly to Level 3 provided they have 10 years of prior welding
inspection experience. (The 2008 version did not specify the 5 and 10 year requirement). Removed is the
requirement for candidates to demonstrate to the CWB that their combination of education, training,
and experience is equivalent to either Level 2 or Level 3.
• Clause 8.1.1 (e) added to include option for candidates with at least two years of teaching experience
related to welding fundamentals and welding inspection may apply for an exemption from the
requirements of Clause 8.1.1 (a) or (b) and may apply directly for certification in Level 2.
• Clause 8.1.2 examples revised to include “automatic” welding.
• Clause 8.1.2 examples removed are “weld designing or detailing” and “fabrication planning”.
• Clause 8.2 – Examinations (replaces Clause 9.2 from 2008)
• Clause 8.2.1 revised to specify required exams for candidates seeking Level 1 certification. Visual
examination requirement expanded to read as follows: “Visual detection, identification, and descriptive
reporting of basic weld faults and their assessment as related to a specific code or Standard. See Annex
B for applicable codes and Standards.”
• Clause 8.2.2 revised to specify required exams for candidates with a current Level 1 certification and
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CHANGES IN W178.2-2014
seeking Level 2. Visual examination requirement expanded to read as follows: “Visual detection,
identification and descriptive reporting of weld faults, dimensional faults, material deficiencies and
structural discontinuities and their assessment as related to a specific code or Standard. See Annex B for
applicable codes and Standards.”
• Clause 8.2.3 revised to specify required exams for candidates with a current Level 2 certification and
seeking Level 3. Noted changes were removal of Visual examination and Report Writing examination.
• Clause 8.2.4 revised to specify required exams for candidates without certification in Level 1 but who are
seeking Level 2 certification under Clause 8.1.1 (e).
• Clause 8.2.5 revised to specify required exams for candidates without any certification to W178.2 and
seeking Level 3 certification under Clause 8.1.1 (e).
• Clause 8.2.6 added to state that “For all levels, initial certification shall include an open book
examination on at least one code or standard as shown in Annex B. Additional code or standard
endorsements may be obtained at any time by writing the open book examination on the required code
or standard regardless of the level of certification held”.
• Clause 8.3 – Vision Requirements – revised to include specific reference to “Jaeger number 1 or Times
Roman N4.5 or equivalent letters (having a height of 1.6 mm)”.
Clause 9 - Certification (replaces Clause 10 in 2008 version)
• Clause 9.1 removed is statement “The certificate shall indicate the product categories and the codes,
standards, or specifications passed by the welding inspector”.
Clause 10 – Renewal of Certification (replaces Clause 11 in 2008 version)
• Clause 10.1 revised to specify Level 1, 2, and 3.
• Clause 10.5 retitled “Six year recertification” from “Re-examination on codes and standards” in 2008
version.
• Clause 10.5.1 revised to state that: “Certified welding inspectors shall be recertified at six-year intervals
by completing either
a) an examination on the visual detection, identification and descriptive reporting of weld faults,
dimensional faults, material deficiencies and structural discontinuities and their assessment as related to
a specific code or Standard (see Clauses 8.2.2, 8.2.4, and 8.2.5). See Annex B for applicable codes and
Standards or;
b) 40 hours of instruction through a course or courses acceptable to the CWB related to one or more of
the following subjects, and training shall have been completed within three years of the recertification
date:
i) visual welding inspection;
ii) non-destructive examination of welds;
iii) quality assurance and/or quality control;
iv) codes and standards; and
v) other welding or inspection related courses.”
• Clause 10.5.2 revised to state that “certified inspectors who do not recertify by their expiry date shall be
decertified”.
• Clause 10.5.3 revised to reference Clause 10.5.2 pertaining to decertification and reapplication.
Clause 11 completely removed from 2014 code.
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CHANGES IN W178.2-2014