2010 Welding: Pipe Competition

FACT SHEET
Project Manager
Mike Stilley, S&B Engineers and Constructors Ltd.
For questions related specifically to the pipe welding competition, contact Mike Stilley, 2010 Welding Project
Manager, 713/845-4286 or mlstilley@sbec.com. For all event questions, contact Todd Staub, National Craft
Championships
Director,
703/812-2003
or
staub@abc.org.

Specific Competition Eligibility

The Pipe Welding Practical Performance Test may include one or more welding processes (i.e., SMAW, GTAW
and/or GMAW). Welders may be certified longer than six months in the structural welding process used in the
Pipe Welding Practical Performance Test. A welder who is deemed certified by his/her employer in concurrence
with the AWS QC7-93 supplemental F performance test description F2 shall be certified no longer than six
months from the date of the National Craft Championships.
Please Note: The AWS QC7-93 supplemental F performance test description F2 is a pre-qualified welding
procedure, qualified and written by the American Welding Society. This welding procedure is used in the ABC
National Craft Championships Practical Performance Test. The AWS QC7-93 supplemental F performance
test description F2 also describes in detail the restricted weld test jig required by AWS and used in the ABC
National Craft Championships Pipe Welding Practical Performance Test.

Written Exam
Every competitor should have a thorough understanding of the craft in which he/she is registered. All
exams/tests are based on the standardized craft training process. In addition to the knowledge and skills
required for each competition, all competitors, with the exception of those in the metal building competition,
should have completed the NCCER Contren Learning Series Core Curriculum modules. Reference materials
and calculators are not permitted in the written exam.

Practical Performance Test Description

Each competitor will perform three tasks utilizing knowledge and skills applicable to pipe welding, torch set-up
and weldment assembly.
Welding Task: Pipe Welding
Each competitor will be issued two pipe coupons for this portion of the test. The task will be judged in either the
2G or 5G position. The judges will decide which position will be used on the day of the test. The AWS QC793 Supplemental F Performance Test description F2 will be used for judging the Pipe Welding Practical
Performance Test. The judges will inform the competitors regarding the steps they expect the competitors to
follow during the procedure and answer any questions on the day of the Competitor Practical Performance Test
Site Orientation as well as the morning of the test. Each competitor must stencil the coupon when each
declares they are finished. The finished coupon cannot be removed from their individual work areas until the
judges and the Project Manager give approval.
Lastly, safety, work planning and housekeeping will be judged as a high priority during the test as well as
disassembly/clean-up. These are also identified on the following Pipe Welding Sample Score Sheet.

Knowledge and Skills Required

The knowledge and skills for this competition are based on all levels of the NCCER Contren Learning Series
Welding curriculum, with particular emphasis on the following modules:

Weld Quality
Joint Fit-Up and Alignment
Welding Symbols
Air Carbon Arc Cutting and Gouging

Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)

GMAW and FCAW Equipment and Filler
Metals

2010 Guidebook, Appendix Section 14 Welding: Pipe Fact Sheet

Physical Characteristics and Mechanical

Properties of Metals
Mechanical Properties and Preparation
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas
Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Core Arc
Welding (FCAW) and Gas Tungsten Arc
Welding (GTAW) Equipment Setup and
Technique

Stainless Steel
Nickel Alloy
Safe and Proper Use of Hand and Power
Tools
Application of OSHA Safety Standards

AWS QC7-93 Supplement F Performance Test description F2 will be used and can be requested for
review (excluding thermal cutting criteria) from AWS, P.O. Box 351040, Miami, Florida 33135. The
supplemental F is used for pipe performance test only. Each competitor will perform the pipe welding
procedure equally. The competitors will be required to set up and take down an oxyfuel-cutting rig and
determine the correct cutting tip to be used. On test day, the judges will determine which position (2G
or 5G) will be used in the Pipe Welding Practical Performance Test. The competitors will be required to
cut with an oxyfuel torch to assemble a weldment using a welding detail drawing and will be judged on
dimensional accuracy, weld quality, proper weld size and proper length/pitch.

Tools Required
Each competitor should bring only the tools listed below to the competition. Tools may be examined prior to the
Practical Performance Test and additional tools will be stored until the competition has concluded. If a tool,
necessary to complete the Practical Performance Test, is not listed, the National Craft Championships
Committee will provide it:

Appropriate 100% cotton, long-sleeve shirt

Welding helmet with a minimum #10 filter
lenses (Hard hat attachment hoods or
head-mounted, ratchet-type welding hoods
are acceptable.)
Leather gauntlet-type welding gloves
(SMAW)
Ear protection (earplugs)
Optional leather sleeves
Chipping hammer (tomahawk style)

Optional leather rod bag

Hand brush C/S
9-inch channel-lock pliers
10-inch or 12-inch adjustable wrench
12-inch half-round file with handle
Soapstone (flat or round)
2 to 4 lb hammer
Flashlight (welders choice)
Wrap-around

2010 Guidebook, Appendix Section 14 Welding: Pipe Fact Sheet

Sample Score Sheet

The following sample score sheet is provided to give competitors an example of the criteria that may be
included in the Practical Performance Test. However, this score sheet is only a sample and not intended to
act as a study guide in preparation or to imply specific criteria that will be judged during the actual
Practical Performance Test.

ABC National Craft Championships

Pipe Welding Sample Score Sheet

Judging Criteria
Fit Up 2G
Fit Up 5G
Tack Welds 2G
Tack Welds 5G
Root Pass 2G
Root Pass 5G
Fill Passes 2G
Fill Passes 5G
Cover Passes 2G
Cover Passes 5G
Overall Appearance 2G
Overall Appearance 5G
SUBTOTAL:
Safety housekeeping
Use of hard hat
Use of safety glasses
Use of power tools
Proper footwear
SUBTOTAL:
GRAND TOTAL:
Tie Breaker #1
Tie Breaker #2
Tie Breaker #3
Tie Breaker #4

Competitor Identification Numbers

Maximum Points

160

40
200

2010 Guidebook, Appendix Section 14 Welding: Pipe Fact Sheet