The most common control points for welder performance are:

• Welding position
• Base metal
• F-No of Electrode/Filler
• Backing inert condition
• Pre-Heating prior to next weld (special interval between shifts)
• Electrode storage condition
• The qualified thickness

Refer to the ASME IX & D1.1 extract as below:

D1.1 WELDER PERFORMANCE POSITION AND VARIABLES

IX WELDER PERFORMANCE POSITION AND VARIABLES

Key Note on Down-hill welding:

Normally, the Downhill welding should be avoided in design to prevent any mis-observed defects and make it sound welding practices on-board. Following the Code requirement, the changes in welding position is extracted as below:

ASME IX : Down-hill welding –> WPS (Non-essential) , Welder (Essential )

AWS D1.1: Down-hill welding –> WPS (Essential) see this chapter , Welder ( Essential )