ASME IX but jobs are all aws d1.1 work

[killian20]

My friend we studied together at college been telling me the shop he's at requires all new hires to have an ASME section IX pipe cert before they'll even look at you but naturally, 90% of what we actually weld is structural steel under AWS D1.1 code
The ASME cert qualifies you for pressure vessels and boilers, but we're doing building frames, stairs, and railings, I think that's completely different work and I'm sure most of the guys there have never touched a boiler tube since their initial cert test
Maybe they're just using it as a filter since it's harder to pass, but it doesn't actually match what the job requires, just off putting

 

[Rhett_]

they are definitely using the ASME cert for a perceived quality advantage or maybe even a marketing edge. they want to tell the clients that all their welders are ASME certified, which sounds way more impressive than just saying "AWSD1.1 certified."
It gives them the option to take on a higher spec boiler repair job if it comes along, even if they only do structural 95% of the time. It’s about having that higher legal ceiling, even if they rarely touch it

 

[t0mmy j]

It might look like overkill, but the requirement is often about business flexibility and liability.
Even if 90% of the work is structural, the shop might occasionally land a small pressure vessel or utility pipe job. If they need to reassign a welder, they don't want to lose a day having them take a new test. By requiring the highest level cert upfront, they can legally put any welder on any job with minimal notice, reducing their liability and maximizing scheduling flexibility

 

[Alan]

Yep, that’s pretty much the reason. Even if most work is AWS D1.1, having ASME IX on hand gives the shop flexibility and looks better to clients. Think of it as a “just in case” cert, not a reflection of what you’ll actually be welding day to day.