Welding qualification certification

Building Regulations of the federal states lay down that for welded steel buildings requiring building approval that these may only be built by companies with recognised qualifications, as there is major public interest in the safety of such constructions. The introductory decree of the state of Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania for DIN 18800, part 7, expressly notes: Welding work must be carried out by skilled operators with qualified training and experience and by employing certain equipment. Qualification for welding is considered given once the company may submit the appropriate qualification certificate of an appropriate "recognised agency". In former times, Deutsche Bundesbahn covered the entire steel construction sector.
These responsibilities have since fallen on Schweißtechnische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalten, SLV [Training and Testing Centres of Welding Engineering] as of October 1st 1976. For unlimited operations companies require a "Welding Qualification Certificate, class D and E". Conditions required include machinery and equipment, certified welders and expert supervisors of welding operations.

National operators
For national operators the Minister of the Interior of the state of Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania named SLV Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania GmbH a "recognised agency" for the issue of "Welding Qualification Certificates due to class B+C and D+E" with validity for Federal Germany and foreign states. SLV Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania GmbH was
instructed to run company tests and to make out Welding Qualification Certificates, class B+C and D+E according to DIN 18800-7:2002-09.
Such Welding Qualification Certificates shall be valid for three years. It shall at all times be possible to extend existing certificates.

Qualification certificates for concrete steel welding
In all federal states the DIN 4099 standard - Welding of Concrete Steel - (issue November 1985) has been introduced for construction supervision. In keeping with Section 6 a company needs to have a special qualification certificate. SLV Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania also is a recognised agency for the qualification certificate according to DIN 4099.

Certificate according to DIN EN ISO 3834
If a company wishes to apply quality assurance measures on welded sections in its own interest, although there is no legal or any other commitment in the context of construction legislation, for instance in mechanical engineering or in road vehicle construction, a certificate according to DIN EN ISO 3834 may be awarded after the company was tested.

Foreign operators
Following circular orders of the Supreme Building Inspection authorities of the federal states, SLV Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania GmbH is also competent to deal with operators registered outside Federal Germany and which supply steel constructions to Federal Germany as a "recognised agency" and it is also entitled to award "Welding Qualification Certificates, class B+C and D+E" according to DIN 18800-7:2002-09. Operators shall have to sign a supervision agreement with SLV Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania GmbH and - the course of a company test - they shall have to refer to required company equipment, certified welders and expert supervisors of welding operations. After approval, the operator shall be issued with a welding qualification certificate, the validity of which shall initially be limited to one year. Samples of steel construction parts, which will be delivered to Federal Germany, shall be tested on the premises and during manufacture as well as on-site. In case of a positive outcome, the validity of the certificate may later be extended to two years, after that to three years. Operators' examinations for welding qualification certificates, class B+C, are also organised abroad by SLV Mecklenburg - Western Pomerania GmbH.


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