Weld Procedure Qualification
WELD PROCEDURE TESTING, WPQR AND WPS ACROSS THE UK
Weld Procedure Qualification
WELD PROCEDURE TESTING, WPQR AND WPS ACROSS THE UK
Before a single production weld is made on a regulated project, the procedure behind it has to be proven. A qualified Weld Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR/PQR) gives you documented evidence that your welding method produces sound, compliant welds every time, backed by testing and records that hold firm under client, insurer and third party inspection. Rambaldini Welding Services delivers independent Weld Procedure Qualification across the UK, handling everything from preliminary specifications to fully approved documentation.
- Independent witnessing and Weld Procedure testing to recognised standards
- Full production of WPQR/PQR and WPS documentation
- pWPS through to approved procedure, managed end to end
- On-site testing UK-wide or at our Northamptonshire facilities
- Award-winning, ISO 9001 certified management system
- UKAS accredited welding documentation to meet the requirements of PESR, PSSR and third party verified certification for the PED (2014/68/EU)
Get in touch to get a weld procedure qualified or discuss your project requirements.
What Weld Procedure Qualification Proves
Weld Procedure Qualification (WPQR/PQR) is the process of proving that a specific welding method will produce welds that meet the required mechanical and metallurgical properties. It confirms that your chosen combination of process, material, joint design, position and parameters delivers a sound result, and it records that proof in a way auditors, clients and regulators recognise.
This is distinct from Welder Qualification. Welder Qualification proves an individual can weld to a standard. Weld Procedure Qualification proves the method itself is fit for purpose. Both matter on a compliant project, but they answer different questions and carry their own documentation.
For businesses in oil and gas, construction, structural engineering, rail, marine, aerospace, energy and power, an unqualified or poorly documented procedure is a genuine risk. It can stall work, fail an audit, and undermine your quality assurance records. Getting procedures properly qualified and certified removes that exposure and keeps your projects moving.
How pWPS, WPQR/PQR and WPS Fit Together
These acronyms often cause confusion, so here is the clear version.
A Preliminary Weld Procedure Specification (pWPS) is your starting draft. It sets out the intended welding parameters before anything has been formally tested. It is a proposal, not an approval.
A Weld Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR)/Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) is the formal record confirming the procedure has been qualified against the relevant standard. It draws together the test piece, the results and the approved range of application.
A Weld Procedure Specification (WPS) is the final, approved instruction your welders work from in production. It is validated by the qualification testing behind it.
In short, the pWPS proposes, the WPQR/PQR prove, and the WPS instructs. We manage this full sequence, so your welding procedure documentation is consistent and ready to use.
What Our Weld Procedure Qualification Service Includes
We handle the whole process so your team can concentrate on the work in front of them.
- pWPS and WPS development. We help draft the preliminary Weld Procedure Specification and produce the approved WPS once testing confirms the method
- Weld Procedure testing and witnessing. Our surveillance team provides independent procedure witnessing services and weld test witnessing, verifying the qualification against the applicable standard
- PQR/WPQR preparation. We produce accurate procedure qualification records and complete WPQR preparation, so your evidence is clear and audit-ready
- Weld Procedure Certification. We formalise the certification that demonstrates compliance to clients, insurers and inspectors
- Welding Procedure Approval support. We guide you through approval, confirming the qualified range covers the work you actually carry out
You always know what stage you are at, what each document proves, and what happens next.
Standards We Qualify Weld Procedures To
Our Weld Procedure work aligns with British, European, American and International welding standards. Depending on your sector, materials and process, this commonly includes:
- BS EN ISO 15614 all parts, for the specification and qualification of Weld Procedures for metallic materials
- BS EN ISO 15613, for qualification based on a pre-production welding test
- ASME Boiler Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Section IX, for welding, brazing and fusing qualifications
- BS ISO 17779, for the specification and qualification of brazing procedures for metallic materials
- BS EN ISO 15609, Specification and Qualification of weld procedures for metallic materials - Welding Procedure Specification (WPS)
If you are unsure which standard your project demands, we confirm it before any testing begins, so you only pay for the qualification you genuinely need.
Documentation and Procedure Records Which Hold Up
A qualified procedure is only as strong as the paperwork behind it. Weak or inconsistent records are one of the most common reasons a procedure fails to satisfy an auditor, even when the welding itself is sound.
We produce complete, accurate Weld Procedure records, from the preliminary specification through to the final approved WPS. Our WPQR/PQR services give you a clear evidence trail that ties the test piece, the results and the approved range together. Beyond proving compliance, well-prepared Weld Procedure documentation acts as a genuine promotional asset, signalling your commitment to quality and operational excellence when you tender for work.
Our surveyors collate the relevant data efficiently whilst on site, which keeps disruption low and turns your qualification testing into usable documentation quickly.
When Your Business Needs Weld Procedure Qualification
Arrange Weld Procedure Qualification or approval when any of the following apply:
- You are starting regulated or contract-controlled work. Many clients and codes require qualified procedures before production begins
- You are introducing a new process, material or joint type. A change outside your existing approved range needs its own qualification
- You are tendering for higher-assurance sectors. Approved procedures strengthen your bid and prove capability
- An audit or client review has flagged a gap. Missing or no longer relevant welding procedure qualification records can be resolved with fresh testing and documentation
- You need independent verification. Third party witnessing carries more weight than internal sign-off alone
Acting early keeps live work compliant and avoids costly delays when a project is ready to start.
Why Independent Witnessing Matters
Weld Procedure Qualification carries far more credibility when an independent party witnesses and verifies the test. Independent weld test witnessing removes any suggestion of internal bias and gives clients, insurers and regulators confidence that the result is genuine.
Our surveillance team is trained in the independent witnessing and verification of Weld Procedures across all welding processes and materials. This means the welding documentation we produce is led by real practical understanding, not box ticking, which stands up when it counts.
Why UK Businesses Choose Rambaldini Welding Services
We combine hands-on welding knowledge with independent, standards-led testing which holds firm under client and third party audit.
Rambaldini Welding Services is a family-run business founded in 2016 by experienced welder and director Jake Rambaldini, working alongside his wife, and fellow director Kerry Rambaldini. That practical background shapes how we approach every procedure, grounding decisions in real welding experience rather than paperwork alone.
Our work is backed by recognition you can verify. We were named Best Welder Training and Qualification Provider 2024, 2025 & 2026 at the SME News UK Enterprise Awards and are a Central England Prestige Awards 2024/25 Winner. E2 media also recognised our hard work with an Award of Excellence in 2026. We operate under an ISO 9001 certified management system through SCCS and UKAS, and we are proud members of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce.
UK-Wide and International Coverage From Our Northamptonshire Base
We deliver flexible witnessing wherever you need it. Weld Procedure testing can take place on-site at your premises, which keeps downtime low and gets skilled hands back on the tools quickly. Where it suits your operation better, qualification can be carried out at our fully equipped facility in Northamptonshire.
Whether you run a single workshop or manage welding across multiple sites nationally, we adapt to your schedule and work around live production.
Get Your Weld Procedures Qualified
Qualified Procedures protect your compliance, your quality records and your ability to win work. With independent witnessing, complete WPS, WPQR/PQR documentation, and an award-winning ISO 9001 certified team behind you, your welding methods are approved and ready for production.
Contact us to arrange weld procedure qualifications or to discuss WPS, welder certification and compliance services for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
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ABOUT US
Rambaldini Welding offers a comprehensive range of Weld Procedure Qualification and Certification Services, tailored to meet the specific needs of your business.
We provide specialised welder training, along with the supply of welding equipment and consumables, giving your team the tools and knowledge they need to perform at the highest standards.
From initial training and certification through to documentation, equipment support, and ongoing re-qualification, we manage the entire process - ensuring your compliance with international welding standards.