Welding certification for structural steel, domestic jobs (extensions ect.) and HGV chassis + mobile plant work.

[Stickmaister]

Hello everyone!
I have been wondering what type of qualifications / codings or insurances are required to do freelance welding work on structural steel, home renovation work and HGV chassis repair + mobile plant work?
I am currently employed but have been doing the odd gate, handrails, various brackets and everything in-between. My own work is beginning to come at me more frequently and I'm trying to balance both my own work and also working full time + overtime in my place of work.
So, just wanted to know a few legalities about doing my own work before I commit to jobs that I maybe I'm not supposed to do for now. I'm keen to get the right paperwork behind me so any help in doing so would be greatly appreciated.
(Not been on here a great deal and maybe I've posted this in the wrong place?) If so, apologies.
Thanks for your time

 

[Nick DV]

I imagine there is quite a lot to cover to obtain these qualifications! IIRC @Munkul went through this a few years ago, so his advice would be invaluable.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Enquire about the liability insurance required for such work.

 

[chrismac]

Some bed time reading for you

Structural Steel, CE Marking and ISO 3834

The Construction Products Regulations (CPR) requires structural steel work that is placed on the market to be CE marked. The CPR requires conformance with ISO 3834 to ensure correct management of welding operations

www.twi-global.com

 

[Munkul]

So, vehicles and mobile plant aren't highly regulated for weld repairs. Generally people just require things to look good and not fail. Certain people's insurances may require codings. Your own liability insurance may require something (but honestly, mention welding and liability insurance goes through the freakin roof) up to you and your business risk tolerance.

Structural steel is slightly different. If you're doing structural steelwork from scratch, then legally you should have EN1090 UKCA certification, EXC2 or higher. Its not super hard to get, but if you don't have any background in welding inspection and codings then its a steep learning curve. Our notified body helped us with anything i asked for, but be prepared to write up a full quality system to tick boxes.
Budget £5k to get 3 weld codings (we call them WPQRs these days) another 1k for someone to get trained up as your responsible weld coordinator (unless you know enough about welding and inspection to stonewall the auditor) and budget another few k per year in audits. But, it does open the door wide for you to advertise high quality structural welding, if you can get a designer to do you drawing packs then you'll pick up jobs easy enough.
I'd budget 10-12k total if starting from nothing.

Or, fly by the seat of your pants and take risks. It's a bit more of a grey area when modifying or repairing or fabricating on site. I can't tell you what you can and can't do.

I got my own set of WPQRs, but I never went through with en1090 for my side business, it was just too much hassle and as a result, i have to be quite selective about the jobs I take on. But i did get the company i work for through it fairly easily, we already had a 9001 quality system in place so it just needed a few tweaks.