{"id":4025,"date":"2026-05-08T17:52:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/steel-structure-welding-quality-control\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T17:52:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:52:20","slug":"steel-structure-welding-quality-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/steel-structure-welding-quality-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Steel Structure Welding and Quality Control"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Welding is one of the most critical processes in steel structure fabrication. A poorly executed weld can compromise the load-bearing capacity and safety of an entire structure. For this reason, steel structure welding is governed by strict European standards \u2014 primarily EN ISO 3834 and EN 1090-2. This article explains what these standards require, how quality control works, and what buyers of steel structures should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Is Weld Quality Critical in Steel Structures?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Welds in steel structures carry significant static and dynamic loads. Porosity, cracks, incomplete fusion, or incorrect cross-section in a weld can lead to premature structural failure \u2014 particularly in structures subject to fatigue loading such as bridges, crane runways, and industrial building frames. Under EN 1090-2, the execution class (EXC1\u2013EXC4) is determined by the criticality of the structure and its service conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">EN ISO 3834 \u2014 Welding Quality Management System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>EN ISO 3834 is the international standard establishing quality requirements for fusion welding. It is divided into three levels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>EN ISO 3834-2<\/strong> \u2014 Comprehensive quality requirements (high-consequence structures)<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>EN ISO 3834-3<\/strong> \u2014 Standard quality requirements (typical industrial structures)<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>EN ISO 3834-4<\/strong> \u2014 Elementary quality requirements (simple, low-consequence structures)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Steel Element O\u00dc operates in accordance with EN ISO 3834-2, ensuring the highest level of welding quality management. This includes certified welders (EN ISO 9606-1), qualified welding supervisors (IWI\/EWI), and documented welding procedure specifications (WPS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Qualification Records (WPQR)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every welding process must be documented in a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS). The WPS defines precisely: the welding process (MAG, MIG, TIG, manual metal arc), base material and filler material, current and voltage, travel speed, heat input, and welding position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The WPS is based on a Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR), which demonstrates that welding with the specified parameters produces a weld with the required mechanical properties. WPQR preparation involves a test weld and mechanical testing of the sample (tensile test, bend test, impact toughness test).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Welder Certification to EN ISO 9606-1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All Steel Element O\u00dc welders are certified in accordance with EN ISO 9606-1 (welding of steels). The certificate confirms the welder&#8217;s ability to work with a specific process, material group, and position. Certificates are renewed every two years, and ongoing competency is verified through continuous supervision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) \u2014 What Is Tested and When?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>EN 1090-2 requires weld inspection in accordance with the applicable execution class. NDT methods used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Visual Testing (VT)<\/strong> \u2014 all welds, always mandatory<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)<\/strong> \u2014 detection of near-surface defects in ferromagnetic materials<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>Ultrasonic Testing (UT)<\/strong> \u2014 detection of internal defects in thick welds<\/li>\n\n<li><strong>Penetrant Testing (PT)<\/strong> \u2014 detection of surface cracks in non-magnetic materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At execution class EXC2, at least 10% of butt and T-joint welds are subject to NDT; at EXC3, 100% inspection is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should a Buyer Ask About Weld Quality?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When ordering steel structures, it is important to confirm that the manufacturer can provide: an EN ISO 3834 conformity certificate, welder certificates (EN ISO 9606-1), WPS documents, NDT inspection reports, and material certificates (EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2). These documents form part of the <a href=\"\/en\/iso-9001-2015-importance-steel-structure-buyers\/\">ISO 9001:2015 quality system<\/a> output and guarantee the buyer receives a verified, compliant structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Steel Element O\u00dc supplies all required documentation with every order. Learn more about our <a href=\"\/en\/services\/\">production capabilities and services<\/a>, or request a quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/en\/contact\/\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welding is one of the most critical processes in steel structure fabrication. A poorly executed weld can compromise the load-bearing capacity and safety of an entire structure. For this reason, steel structure welding is governed by strict European standards \u2014 primarily EN ISO 3834 and EN 1090-2. This article explains what these standards require, how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technical-information"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4025\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/steelelement.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}