Visual inspection of arc welds - a

guide to best practice

Section 3. Practical application of visual
inspection
Inspection details
Parent materials and edge preparations
Welding consumables
Inspection details
Introduction
There is some flexibility in applying the 'rules' for assessing weld details because
much depends on the type of product being examined. It appears to be a human
trait that we tend to find fault with items under scrutiny. In my many years as a
trainer of inspectors, I have found that most people are likely to assess initially
only the negative features evident on a particular weld or product, i.e. they only
look for, and assess, visible DEFECTS.
Frequently, there are many positive features to assess initially. By carrying out a
general assessment beforehand, an inspector, with experience, can very