Codes relate to welding style eg MMA, MIG, TIG; position - downhand, vertical, overhead, 45 degree pipe etc; and material. There is no level of standard as such, just a coding for a particular aspect, as previously mentioned.
OK. In general terms there are two commonly used standards for coding. BS 4872 is used in structural applications where a WPS (welding procedure) is not required.
ASME 9 is used in pipework and critical applications - it is the higher level.
Welders are tested to either of those codes, in different positions and materials.
The "best" coding is in 6G, which is welding a butt jointed pipe at 45 degrees - so basically covering every difficult position (not downhand). If you have a coding in ASME IX, 6G, in MMA, MIG, TIG, Flux Core, etc, and every material under the sun, to every WPS under the sun, then you have, essentially, a full set of codings (unlikely, even impossible)
If you have a coding in ASME IX, 6G in MIG on mild steel, then you have a full coding, but ONLY in MIG, on Mild steel. If the coding was a 1G coding it would be to do downhand ONLY!
College Qualifications do not give you a coding. They cover aspects of theory of welding and demonstrate that you may have had some practice, but they do not mean you can weld. A coding means you have passed a practical weld test (still doesn't mean you're any good!)
Each coding has to be paid for. It is common practise in industry for employers to pay for the codings and the welder to get a copy to prove at a future date they have previously been coded. When you leave the job, you don't take the coding with you, it doesn't belong to you.
To get work as a coded welder you would be normally be able to show evidence of previous codings, and in an ASME IX environment, would take new codings pertaining to the welding procedures and materials being used.
If you want codings, you can pay for them yourself, at a cost of around £400 each. Ideally you would get three 6G codings in MMA, MIG, and TIG in mild steel, even better in stainless, duplex etc. Then you'd have a chance of getting a start on good jobs. But if you didn't have the theory and background, you'd soon be out the door, probably.
I hope that helps! For further info, take a look at this TWI page
Below is a chart of the positions referred to in codings.
Wow. Thats a lot more complex than I would have ever given credit for! i'd like to do a welding course just to have some decent instruction rather than trying to muddle through.........Sticking two bits of metal together is easy - doing a proper job takes a bit more
Nice one for the info.
Cheers, ben
That is in depth, i done most of my coding but im finding it really hard to find a company wer i can do my codings and ahve them on paper can any one help me?
some jobs advertise here in the north east require MMA but no code no's so again what is exactly MMA?
got to admit although I've been welding (inc stick) for over 30 years I'm not time served.most of my work has been fabrications and welding.
I have welded stainless and carbon(welding pre-heated cast iron) but stick only but thats a long time ago.
most welding I've done is mig. in my last job I had to take a yearly test and passed to loyds specs. but nobody at my old job could tell me what that is or get me a cert to say I've passed.
currently I'm not working.
@58 years old I don't think I can do any site work or heavy industrial....
idealy what I'm looking for is part time work in a small fab shop.
nothing is going at the moment.