ISO 3834-1:2021 Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials

This document specifies a general outline of the ISO 3834 series and criteria to be taken into account for the selection of the appropriate level of quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials, among the three levels specified in ISO 3834-2, ISO 3834-3 and ISO 3834-4. It aims to provide the quality requirements for a welded product because quality is a primary need for all customers.

It is emphasized that the ISO 3834 series is not a quality management system (QMS) standard replacing ISO 9001:2015. However, it can be a useful tool when ISO 9001:2015 is applied by manufacturers.

Specification of quality requirements for welding processes is important because the quality of these processes cannot be readily or economically validated. Therefore, they are considered to be special processes as noted by ISO 9000:2015. ISO 3834 consists of the following parts, under the general title Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials:
⎯ Part 1: Criteria for the selection of the appropriate level of quality requirements
⎯ Part 2: Comprehensive quality requirements
⎯ Part 3: Standard quality requirements
⎯ Part 4: Elementary quality requirements
⎯ Part 5: Documents with which it is necessary to conform to claim conformity to the quality requirements of
ISO 3834-2, ISO 3834-3 or ISO 3834-4

The ISO 3834 series identifies measures that are applicable for different situations. Typically, they can be applied in the following circumstances:

— in contractual situations: specification of welding quality requirements;
— by manufacturers: establishment and maintenance of welding quality requirements;
— by committees drafting manufacturing codes or application standards: specification of welding quality requirements;
— by organizations assessing welding quality performance, e.g. third parties, customers or manufacturers.

The ISO 3834 series can be used by internal and external organizations, including certification bodies, to assess the manufacturer’s ability to meet customer, regulatory or the manufacturer’s own requirements.

NOTE 1 ISO 3834-2, ISO 3834-3 and ISO 3834-4 provide complete sets of quality requirements for process control related to all fusion welding processes (for each process separately or in combination as specified). ISO 3834-5 specifies the documents with which it is necessary to conform to claim conformity to the quality requirements of ISO 3834-2, ISO 3834-3 or ISO 3834-4.

NOTE 2 ISO 3834-2, ISO 3834-3 and ISO 3834-4 can be used on their own by a manufacturer or in conjunction with ISO 9001:2015.

Benefit to Organisation

This standard will assist organisations with:
Ensuring that they have competent welders by having written welding instructions;
Confidence that their welding procedure specification will produce a welded component with properties that satisfy the design requirements;
Consistency on products, with high quality level;
Taking all welding quality affecting aspects into consideration;
Ensuring that the welding process and procedure is correctly formulated and approved.
Improved processes and procedures are put in place
Reduced costs and overheads
Internationally recognised credibility and capability through demonstrated compliance.
Mitigation of risks.

Customers’ Benefits

More assurance of contract delivery dates
Greater assurance of the quality of welded products
Greater reliability and performance of plant
Reduction in maintenance costs
Reduction or elimination of third-party inspection costs
More competent suppliers of welded products