A welder is attempting to qualify a new welding procedure for a pressure piping system using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) on P-Number 8 material, 6 mm thick. The Pressure Welding Procedure Specification (PWPS) has been drafted. Before proceeding with the qualification test coupon, what essential steps must be taken according to ASME Section IX, related to the PWPS, to ensure a valid qualification?

Question: A welder is attempting to qualify a new welding procedure for a pressure piping system using Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) on P-Number 8 material, 6 mm thick. The Pressure Welding Procedure Specification (PWPS) has been drafted. Before proceeding with the qualification test coupon, what essential steps must be taken according to ASME Section IX, related to the PWPS, to ensure a valid qualification?

Answer options:

• The PWPS only needs to be witnessed by the welder and a qualified quality control person. ✅ The PWPS must be approved and signed by a professional engineer before welding the test coupon.
• The welder must perform a dry run of the procedure on scrap material to confirm its feasibility.
• The PWPS must be submitted to the jurisdictional authority for review and approval before fabrication commences.

Correct answer: The PWPS must be approved and signed by a professional engineer before welding the test coupon.

Explanation: According to ASME Section IX and various jurisdictional requirements, a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) for pressure welding must generally be approved and signed by a professional engineer before a test coupon is welded based on that WPS. This ensures the technical soundness of the procedure before qualification. While dry runs are good practice, and jurisdictional approval is eventually needed, the engineer's sign-off on the PWPS itself is a critical prerequisite for the qualification test.