240H- 1

Liability
AG 240-H
Unit objective
This unit is intended to be used by the instructor as a reference for liability issues
that may be raised with fabrication projects.
Unit References:
Godfrey, Lex, Burley High School, Burley, ID
Lincoln Electric Company, The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding, 1973

240H- 2
A. Who is liable if a project or weld fails.
1. Liability can be affected by a number of factors.
a. If the project was sold for a profit the party receiving the profit would
be the first to assume liability. Projects can be sold to cover all
expenses including:
1) Parts and materials expenses
2) Expendable material expenses (welding rod, gas, etc.)
3) Depreciation of equipment. Projects can be marked up
beyond parts and materials to purchase new equipment.
2. If the project is not sold for a profit, the school, teacher, and student can still
be liable. However, the liability is less than if the project were sold for a
profit.
B. Reducing liability
1. Welding qualifications
a. Prior to welding on a project students should be certified for the same
welding processes and positions that will be used on the project.
b. Certifications can be done by the teacher in the shop. You do not have
to be a certified welding inspector to be able to qualify students for
welding processes.
c. By qualifying students you are saying that at the time the project was
built the student was able to produce structurally sound welds.
d. Liability is greatly reduced by qualifying students for welding
processes.
2.

Inspecting welds
a. If the teacher inspects and passes the welds before the project leaves
the shop, then the teacher is assuming all liability.
b. If the welds have been inspected and passed with good knowledge and
judgment then there is obviously very little chance that the project will
fail.
c. If the teacher does not inspect the welds he/she can still be held
responsible for negligence.

240H- 3
2. Sell projects as is
a. Have the buyer sign a form stating that he/she understands that there is
no warranty on the project because it was purchased from a school
shop at a substantially reduced price.
b. It is the buyers responsibility to inspect the project.
c. If it is written that the project is sold as is the buyer assumes all
liability.
C. Welder Qualifications
1. Qualification for welding on material less than " thick.
a. A 60 V-groove weld must be done on two coupons that measure a
minimum of 6 1/8" long (the length of the weld) x 5" wide and 3/8"
thick
b. The root opening must be ".
c. A backing strip that measures at least 3/8" x 1" x length of weld must
be used.
d. When the weld cools the backing strip must be removed flush with the
surface of the coupons. Grind the face of the weld flush with the
welding coupons
-Always grind lengthwise
-Leave no indentations or irregular spots
e. Cut (perpendicular to the weld) and discard one strip from each end
leaving 3 in the center of the weld.
f. From the remaining 3" cut two 1 " strips that are perpendicular to the
weld.
g. Round the edges of the strips to a 1/16" radius. This insures against
failure caused by cracks starting at the sharp corner.
h. Perform a root bend on each strip. The bend must be 180.
i. Inspect for cracks. The weld passes if any crack or other opening does
not exceed 1/8". Cracks at corners are not considered.
2. Electrode and process specifications

240H- 4

a. The electrode used for the qualification procedure should be the same
as will be used on the project.
b. Some electrodes will qualify welders to use other electrodes.
American welding society codes give those specifications.
c. Qualification with a low-hydrogen (E7018) electrode qualifies a
welder to use any electrode.
3. Position specifications
a. Welding position qualifications are as follows:
Test Position
Flat 1G
Horizontal 2G
Vertical 3G
Overhead 4G

Qualifications
1G
1G, 2G
1G, 2G, 3G
1G, 4G

If student qualify with a in the vertical position they are qualified

to weld in all positions except overhead. They have to qualify
separately for the overhead position. For welders to be qualified
for all positions they must qualify in the vertical and overhead
positions.
4. Metal specifications
a. The metal used for the qualification procedure should be of the same
yield strength that will be used on the project. Qualification on some
metals will qualify welders for other metals. Check American Welding
Society codes for more information.
5. Welding certificate
a. Once a student has qualified a welding certificate should be filled out
and filed. (see example and blank form in this section)

240H- 5
School Name
Address
Welding Certification (Sample)
The underlined information is to be filled in be the teacher.
Welders Name
Super Welder
Soc. Sec. No. 111-11-1111
Welding Process
SMAW
Type Manual
In accordance with Welding Procedure Specification:
Shop # that describes weld
Backing
BAR
Material Specification Metal # from metal book
Test plate thickness 3/8"
Thickness range
to "
Diameter Range
NA
Filler metal specification No. A5.1 # From rod box
Class No. E7018
Other
Position
3G Vertical
Gas
% Composition
Electrical Characteristics-Current
DC
Polarity
Reverse
Weld Progression
Uphand
Other
For Information Only
Filler Material Diameter and Trade Name 1/8" Lincoln
Gas Metal Arc Welding Shield Gas Trade Name
Type
Side
Face
Root
Test conducted at
Laboratory test date

Guided Bend Test

Figure No.
4.13
4.12
4.12

Results
Satisfactory

High School Welding Shop

We certify that the statements in this record are correct and that the test welds were
prepared, welded, and tested in accordance with the requirements of ANSI/AWS D1.1-96
Date:___________________________________________________________________
School Instructor
Note: This Performance Qualification Record is not to be used in lieu of an employers
Performance Qualification Test. It is a formal statement of the ability of this individual
on this date in a training situation only.

240H- 6
School Name
Address
Welding Certification
Welders Name
Soc. Sec. No.
Welding Process
Type
In accordance with Welding Procedure Specification:
Backing
Material Specification
Test plate thickness
Thickness range
Diameter Range
Filler metal specification No.
Class No.
Other
Position
Gas
% Composition
Electrical Characteristics-Current
Polarity
Weld Progression
Other
For Information Only
Filler Material Diameter and Trade Name
Gas Metal Arc Welding Shield Gas Trade Name
Type
Side
Face
Root

Guided Bend Test

Figure No.
4.13
4.12
4.12

Results

Test conducted at
Laboratory test date
We certify that the statements in this record are correct and that the test welds were
prepared, welded, and tested in accordance with the requirements of ANSI/AWS D1.1-96
Date:___________________________________________________________________
School Instructor
Note: This Performance Qualification Record is not to be used in lieu of an employers
Performance Qualification Test. It is a formal statement of the ability of this individual
on this date in a training situation only.