8 Welding Print Reading Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be reproduced or posted to a publicly accessible website. possible since incorrect print interpretation could result in weak or rejected welds that do not meet design specifications. Care of Prints If given proper care, a print will have a long, use- ful life before it must be discarded. The following is a list of precautions used when handling prints: ❍ Keep prints clean. Avoid setting food or drinks on prints. Dirty prints are difficult to read and can cause errors when welding. ❍ Avoid tearing prints. Fold and unfold prints carefully when you use them. ❍ Avoid laying tools and other objects on the prints. ❍ Do not make revisions (changes) on a print unless you have written authority to do so. ❍ Some prints are concerned with work that is secret or classified in nature. Handle and store these prints according to company or agency security policies. Penalties for ignoring security precautions can prove costly to you. Welder Certification Qualified welders can prove their skills by taking a welding certification test. Welding certification tests may be developed by individual companies, or they may fol- low national welding code specifications. Although there are many worldwide welding codes, the two major weld- ing codes followed when certifying welders in the United States are the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Structural Welding Code—Steel and the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Section IX of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Welder certification tests are similar but not identi- cal. Each limits the welder’s certification depending on the welding process used (shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, etc.), the material used (steel, aluminum, nickel, etc.), the position of the test (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead, pipe axis positions), and the structure used (plate or pipe). Test welds are usually destructively tested (bend test), and a specific acceptance criteria is used to evaluate the bend test specimen. Upon successful completion of the test, the welder receives documents (certificates) indicating the limits of the certification. Preparation for Certification Preparation is key to successfully completing welder certification tests. Often, high schools and community colleges teach preparation classes. Whether you take a preparation class or practice for a welding certification test on your own, many hours of practice are required to ensure your success. Entry Level Welding For a successful career, an entry level welder may need knowledge of welding technology in addi- tion to the ability to make a quality weld. In addition to the ability to interpret prints and welding symbols, welding technology knowledge may include an understanding of welding processes, metals and their uses, welding equipment operation and maintenance, and cutting processes. Some of the classes needed are part of the standard coursework at the school, but the American Welding Society has developed a standard to aid in the instruction of both welding knowledge and performance. This program, which is called SENSE (Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education), allows students to develop welding knowledge and welding skill through com- pliance with key knowledge and performance indica- tors developed by industry experts. Successful completion of both knowledge and performance tests are required by the AWS SENSE program to receive a credential. The performance tests are identical to the AWS certification tests, and therefore, successfully completing the SENSE per- formance tests will improve your ability to success- fully complete the AWS certification test.