Equivalency
There are no domestic or international equivalents to CSA welding certification standards.
CSA Welding Standards Key Concepts
Canadian design and product standards are established to ensure the highest levels of public safety. CSA standards feature key concepts including:
- independent and on-going verification
- witnessing of welders' qualification
- review and acceptance of welding procedures
- witnessing of procedure qualification testing
- qualification of welding supervisors and welding engineers
Other national systems, such as that of the American Welding Society (AWS), do not include these key public safety concepts. In fact, there are no domestic or international equivalents to CSA welding certification standards.
The CWB Group strongly cautions specifiers and owners around accepting substitutions.
Doing so may contravene the intent of Canadian design and product standards and place public safety at risk.
Equivalency Document List
We have summarized the key similarities and differences between CSA and AWS certification programs in the following documents:
- Comparative Review AWS D1.1 vs CSA W47.1 & CSA W59
- CSA W47.1 vs AWS D1.1 - The Similarities and Differences
- CSA W47.2 vs AWS D1.2 - The Similarities and Differences
- Welding Personnel Qualification Testing CSA W47.1:2009 U7 vs AWS D1.1:2015
- Welding Procedure Qualification AWS D1.1 vs CSA W47.1
Acceptance by USA Jurisdictions
The United States has no mandatory code or standard for certification of a company’s welding operations.
The “International Building Code” (IBC) published by the International Code Council (ICC) is the national model building code used in the United States. The IBC requires either “special inspections” in the fabricating shops to ensure conformance with the approved plans, specifications and workmanship provisions of the building code and standards of quality, or fabricator approval. Weld inspection requirements are in accordance with AWS D1.1 “Structural Welding Code”.
The Canadian Welding Bureau has worked with building authorities in US states and cities to obtain recognition of the Canadian welding certification system to demonstrate both the value of the CWB certification program and that it can meet the requirements of the IBC. The recognition waives the need for “special inspections” in the fabrication plants of certified companies.
In addition, the State of Ohio Board of Building Standards has recognized the both the Canadian Welding Bureau and QUASAR as accredited conformity assessment bodies. Details of these accreditations can be accessed below: