A new series of standards, called EN ISO 3834 Parts 1-5 2005, Quality Requirements for Fusion Welding of Metallic Materials, has recently been published. This series of standards has now replaced the EN 729 series and the earlier version of the ISO 3834 series.

The main change is one of flexibility with regard to the ways in which a manufacturer can comply with the standard. For example, it is no longer required to use Part 2 of the standard, Comprehensive Quality Requirements, in cases where the manufacturer operates an ISO 9001 quality system. Under the revised EN ISO 3834, the manufacturer can select one of the three parts (namely Parts 2, 3 and 4) specifying different levels of quality requirements, based on the type of products, materials used, complexity of welding, etc. Some guidance about this is given in Part 1 of the standard.

Furthermore, there is a completely new part of the standard: Part 5, Documents with which it is Necessary to Conform to Claim Conformity to the Quality Requirements of ISO 3834 Part 2, 3 or 4. Part 5 lists a large number of ISO documents which are to be used by the manufacturer in order to claim conformity with ISO 3834 Part 2, 3 or 4. The list includes standards and technical reports covering: welders and welding operators; welding co-ordination personnel; non-destructive testing personnel; welding procedure specifications; welding procedure qualification; post-weld heat treatment; inspection and testing; and calibration and validation of measuring equipment. However, it is made clear in Part 5 that the manufacturer can apply other documents as long as they provide 'technically equivalent conditions' to those listed.

Welding Co-ordination remains a key feature of the standard, and Parts 2 and 3 require Welding Co-ordinators to be appointed in accordance with ISO 14731 (also published as BS EN 719). Part 5 of EN ISO 3834 contains an informative annex which gives guidelines on qualification/education for personnel dealing with welding co-ordination and inspection. This is an updated version of the one that currently appears in ISO 14731: 1997 - it refers to IIW qualifications rather than the EWF ones, and there is a new reference to the IIW welding inspection qualifications. It is expected that a revision of ISO 14731 will be published shortly which will also contain these updates. This reinforces the desirability for welding professionals, be they co-ordinators or inspectors, to achieve the relevant IIW qualifications.

A significant and increasing number of applications and product standards emerging from CEN and ISO require the manufacturer to comply with EN ISO 3834. Therefore it seems that the standard will feature prominently in the welding world for the foreseeable future.

Tim Jessop