2007 SECTION 1X
ARTICLE Xi
BRAZING PERFORMANCE QUALIFICATIONS
QB-300 GENERAL
QB-300.1 This Articie lists the brazing processes sepa
rately, with the essential variables which apply to brazer
and btezing operator performance qualifications,
‘The brazer qualification is limited by the essential va
ables given for each brazing process. These variables are
listed in QB-350, and are defined in Article XIV, Brazing
Data, The brazing operator qualification is limited by the
essential variables given in QB-350 for each brazing
process
QB-300.2
(a) The basic premises of responsibility in regard to
brazing are contained within QB-103 and QB-301.2. These
paragraphs require that each manufacturer or contractor
shall be responsible for condkicting tests to qualify the
performance of brazers and brazing operators in accordance
with one of his qualified Brazing Procedure Specifications,
which his organization employs in the construction of
brazements built in accordance withthe Code. The purpose
of this requirement is to ensure that the manufacturer or
contractor has determined that his brazers and brazing oper-
ators using his procedures are capable of developing the
minimum requirements specified for an acceptable
brazement. This responsibility cannot be delegated to
another onganization.
(0) The brazers or brazing operators used to produce
such brazements shall be tested under the full supervision
and control of the manufacturer or contractor during the
production of these test brazements. It is not permissible
for the manufacturer or contractor to have the brazing
performed by another organization, It is permissible, how
ever, to subcontract any or all ofthe work of preparation
of test materials for brazing, subsequent work on the preps-
ration of fest specimens from the completed brazement,
and performance of nondestructive examination and
mechanical tests, provided the manufacturer or contractor
accepts full responsibility for any such work.
(c) The Code recognizes a manufacturer or contractor
as the organization which has responsible operational con-
trol of the production of the brazement to be made in
ocordanee with this Code. If in an organization effective
‘operational control ofthe brazer performance qualification
for two or more companies of different names exists, the
companies involved must establish, to the satisfaction of
the ASME Boiter and Pressure Vessel Committe, that the
necessary controls are applied, in which case requalifica-
tion of brazers and brazing operators within the companies
of such an organization will not be required, provided all
other requirements of Section IX are met.
(d) The Code recognizes that manufacturers or contrac:
{ors may maintain effective operational control of Brazet/
Brazing Operator Performance Qualification (BPQ) rec-
ords under different ownership than existed during the
‘original Brazer ot Brazing Operator qualification. When a
manufacturer of contractor or part of « manufacturer or
contractor is acquired by a new owner(s), the BPQs may
bbe used by the new owner(s) without requalification, pro-
vided all of the following are met:
(1) the new owner(s) takes responsibility for the
BPQs
(2) the BPQs reflect the name of the new owner(s)
(3) the Quality Control System/Quality Assurance
Program reflects the source of the BPQs as being from the
former manufacturer or contractor
QB-300.3 More than one manufacturer or contractor
may simultaneously qualify one or more brazers or brazing
operators. When simultaneous qualifications are con-
ducted, each participating organization shall be represented
by a responsible employee during brazing of the test
coupons.
‘The brazing procedure specifications (BPS) that are fol-
lowed during simultaneous qnalifications shall be com-
pated by the participating organizations, The BPSs shall
‘be identical forall essential variables, except that the flow
Position, base metal thickness, and overlap lengths need
not be identical, bt they shall be adequate to permit brazing
of the fest coupons. Altematively, the participating organi-
zations shall agree upon the use of a single BPS, provided
each participating organization has a PQR(S) to support
the BPS covering the range of vasiables to be followed in
the performance qualification. When a single BPS is to be
followed, each participating organization shall review and
accept that BPS.
Each participating organization's representative shall
positively identify each brazer or brazing operator who is,
being tested. Bach organizational representative shall also2007 SECTION 1X
verify marking of the test coupon with the brazer’s or
brazing operator's identification, and marking of the top
‘of the test coupon when the orientation must be known in
‘order {0 remove test specimens.
Each organizational representative shall complete and
certify a Record of Brazer or Brazing Operator Qualifica-
tion orm QB-484 of equivalent) for each brazer or braz-
ing operator.
When a brazer or brazing operator changes employers,
that new participating organization shall verify that the
brazer’s continuity of qualifications has been maintained
as required by QB-322 by previous employers since his
qualification date. If the brazer or brazing operator has
had his qualification withdrawn for specific reasons, the
‘employing organization shall notify all participating orga-
nizations that the brazer's ot brazing operator's qualifica-
tion(s) has been revoked in accordance with QB-322(b).
‘The new organization shall determine that the brazer oF
brazing operator can perform satisfactory work in accor
dance with this Section.
‘When a brazer's or brazing operator's qualifications are
renewed in accordance with the provisions of QB-322, each
renewing organization shall be represented by a responsible
‘employee and the testing procedures shall follow the rules
of this paragraph
QB-301 Tests
QB-301.1 Intent of Tests. The pesformance qualifica-
tion tests are intended to determine the ability of brazers
and brazing operators to make sound braze joints,
QB-301.2 Qualification Tests, Each manufacturer or
contractor shall qualify each brazet ot brazing operator for
each brazing process to be used in production brazing, The
performance qualification test shall be brazed in accordance
with one of any of his qualified Brazing Procedure Specif-
cations (BPS)
‘The brazer ot brazing operator who prepares the BPS
‘qualification test coupons is also qualified within the limits
of the performance qualifications, listed in QB-304 for
brazers and in QB-305 for brazing operators. Heis qualified
‘only for the positions tested in the procedure qualification
in accordance with QB-407,
‘The performance test may be terminated at any stage of
the testing procedure, whenever it becomes apparent t0 the
supervisor conducting the tests that the brazer or brazing
operator does not bave the required skill to produce satis-
factory results
QB-301.3 Identification of Brazers and Brazing
Operators. Each qualified brazer and brazing operator
shall be assigned an identifying number, letter, or symbol
by the manufacturer or contractor, which shall be used to
identify the work of that brazer or brazing operator
210
QB-301.4 Record of Tests. The record of Beazer or
Brazing Operator Performance Qualification (BPQ) tests
shall include the essential variables (QB-350), the type
of tests and the test results, and the ranges qualified in
accordance with QB-452 for each brazer and brazing opera-
tor, A suggested form for these records is given in Form
‘QB-484 (see Nonmandatory Appendix B).
QB-302 Type of Test Required
QB-3021 Test Specimens. The type and number of
test specimens required shall be in accordance with
(QB-452, and shall be removed in a manner similar to that
shown in QB-463.
Al test specimens shall meet the requirements pre-
scribed in QB-170 or QB-180, as applicable. Tests for
brazing operators shall meet the requirements of QB-305,
QB-302.2 Test Coupons in Pipe. For test coupons
‘macle in pipe, specimens shall be removed as shown in
figure QB-463,2(¢) at approximately 180 deg apart
QB-302.3 Combination of Base Metal Thicknesses.
‘When joints are brazed between two base metals of differ-
cent thicknesses, a performance qualification shall be made.
for the applicable combination of thicknesses, even though
{qualification tests have been made foreach of the individual
base metals brazed to itself. The range of thickness of each
of the base metals shall be determined individually per
QB-452,
QB-303 Limits of Qualified Positions
(See figures QB-461.1 and QB-461.2)
QB-303.1. For plate, qualification inthe lat flow, vest
cal-upfiow, or borizontal-flow positions shall qualify for
the vertical-downflow position
QB-303.2 For pipe, qualification in either the hori-
zontal-flow or vertical-upflow position shall qualify for the
vertical-lownflow position.
QB-303.3 Qualification in pipe shail qualify for plate,
but not vice versa. Horizontal-low in pipe shall qualify
for flat-flow in plate,
QB-303.4 Special Positions. A fabricator who does
production brazing in a special orientation may make the
tests for performance qualification in this specific orienta-
tion. Such qualifications are valid ony for the flow posi-
tions actually tested, except that an angular deviation of
£15 deg is permitted in the inclination of the braze plane,
as defined in figures QB-461.1 and QB-461.2,
QB-304
Each brazer who brazes under the cules of this Code shall
hhave passed the tests prescribed in QB-302 for performance,
qualifications.
Brazers