Code & compliance
What a commercial buyer should ask of any welder they hire.
Plain-English explanations of the documents and rules that separate sound structural welding from a bead that just looks good. We are qualified to AWS D1.1 and AWS D1.2, all positions.
Welding procedure specification (WPS)
A WPS is the written recipe for a weld — the process, the filler metal, the thickness range, the position, the heat input, and the joint type. It says exactly how this weld is to be made so the result is repeatable and inspectable, not just a bead that looks good to the eye.
A weld done to a WPS is a weld done to a recognized standard. A weld done without one is a weld done to the welder's opinion. For structural work, that difference matters.
Welder qualification record (WQR)
A WQR is the record that shows a specific welder was tested and passed a weld in a specific process, position, thickness, and material — to a recognized code like AWS D1.1 or D1.2. It is the proof that the person holding the torch is qualified for the work they are doing.
A WPS says the procedure is right. A WQR says the welder is right. Together they are how a buyer verifies structural work before it goes under load.
The licensing question
Ohio does not license welders as a trade
There is no state welder's license in Ohio. There is no board card to check, no license number to verify, no state test that every welder has to pass to work. Anyone can buy a machine and call themselves a welder.
That is exactly why a commercial buyer should ask for a WPS and a WQR. When the trade is not licensed, the documents are the only way to tell who can actually do the work to a recognized standard and who cannot. A contractor who cannot or will not show either is telling you something by that refusal.
Ask anyone you hire: What code is this weld to? What is your WPS? Where is your WQR? The answers — or the lack of them — tell you what you need to know.
Hot work permits
A hot work permit is a facility's authorization to do work that produces sparks or heat — welding, cutting, grinding — inside an occupied or operating building. It confirms the area has been checked for fire hazards, combustibles have been moved or covered, and a fire watch is in place.
When we weld inside your plant or building, we work under your facility's hot work permit and follow its requirements. Tell us your rules and we will work to them.
Fire watch
A fire watch is a person assigned to watch for fires during and after hot work. Sparks can smolder in hidden spaces — wall cavities, cable trays, dust — and catch hours after the welder leaves. The fire watch stays with the work area, with extinguishing gear, for the time the permit requires after the last spark.
Inside an occupied building, a fire watch is not optional. It is part of doing the work right.
qualified to AWS D1.1 and AWS D1.2, all positions
AWS D1.1 is the structural steel code. AWS D1.2 is the structural aluminum code. All positions means flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead — the positions real equipment actually breaks in.
FAQ
Code & compliance questions
Does Ohio license welders?
No. Ohio does not license welders as a trade. There is no state welder's license to check. That is exactly why a commercial buyer should ask for a welding procedure specification and a welder qualification record instead — those are the documents that show the work is done to a recognized standard.
What is a welding procedure specification (WPS)?
A WPS is a written instruction for how a specific weld is to be made — the process, the filler metal, the thickness range, the position, the heat input, and the joint type. It is the recipe. A weld done to a WPS is repeatable and inspectable, not just a bead that looks good.
What is a welder qualification record (WQR)?
A WQR is the record that shows a specific welder was tested and passed a weld in a specific process, position, thickness, and material — to a recognized code like AWS D1.1 or D1.2. It is the proof that the person holding the torch is qualified for the work they are doing.
Why should a commercial buyer ask for both?
Because a good-looking weld is not the same as a sound weld. A WPS says the procedure is right. A WQR says the welder is right. Together they are how a buyer verifies structural work before it goes under load. If a contractor cannot or will not show either, that tells you something.
What is a hot work permit?
A hot work permit is a facility's authorization to do work that produces sparks or heat — welding, cutting, grinding — inside an occupied or operating building. It confirms the area has been checked for fire hazards, combustibles have been moved or covered, and a fire watch is in place. We work under your facility's permit.
What is a fire watch?
A fire watch is a person assigned to watch for fires during and after hot work — sparks can smolder in hidden spaces and catch hours after the welder leaves. A fire watch stays with the work area, with extinguishing gear, for the time the permit requires after the last spark. Inside an occupied building, it is not optional.
Equipment down right now?
Call the owner personally. Any hour. You get the welder, not an answering service.