Overview
ISO 15614-10:2005 - "Specification and qualification of welding procedures for metallic materials - Welding procedure test - Part 10: Hyperbaric dry welding" defines how to qualify welding procedure specifications (WPS) for welding performed in hyperbaric dry environments (hyperbaric chambers or habitats). It sets minimum testing, examination and documentation requirements to demonstrate a welding procedure is technically suitable for underwater work performed in dry, pressurized conditions. The standard also covers mechanized and automated hyperbaric welding.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Qualification of welding procedures for hyperbaric dry welding; minimum tests required for acceptance.
- Preliminary WPS (pWPS): Must follow ISO 15609-1 and include hyperbaric-specific parameters such as:
- water depth, gas composition in the hyperbaric chamber, partial pressure of oxygen
- chamber temperature range, relative humidity
- method for measuring heat input or deposition rate, material grade and supply condition
- preheat and post-weld heat-treatment (PWHT), consumables handling, number/location of welder-divers (for pipelines), line-up clamp details
- Welding procedure test: Performed under simulated or actual site water-depth conditions; test pieces must represent production joints and be welded per the pWPS. Welding and testing shall be witnessed by an examiner or examining body.
- Test pieces and sampling: Shapes/dimensions referenced to ISO 15618-2 (steel structures) and EN 288-9 (pipelines). Tack welds fused into final joints are part of the test.
- Examination & testing:
- Non-destructive testing (NDT) prior to cutting specimens; delayed NDT (minimum 24 h) advised for materials susceptible to hydrogen-induced cracking if no PWHT is applied.
- Destructive tests per ISO 15618-2 / EN 288-9.
- Re-testing rules defined: one extra test piece after NDT failure; two extra specimens after destructive-test failure.
- Range of qualification:
- Valid only for the process(es), welding positions, joint types and consumables used in the qualification test.
- Parent-material grouping per ISO 15618-2 / EN 288-9; dissimilar-material welds require separate qualification.
- Consumables (covered electrodes, flux-cored) are restricted to the same make used in the test.
- Documentation: Results are recorded in a Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR).
Applications
ISO 15614-10:2005 is used to qualify welding procedures for:
- Offshore and subsea construction performed in dry hyperbaric habitats
- Repair and fabrication of pressure-containing structures where hyperbaric dry welding is required
- Mechanized and automated hyperbaric welding systems
It ensures consistent, auditable procedures for safety-critical welds at depth.
Who should use this standard
- Welding engineers and procedure developers for hyperbaric welding
- Offshore fabricators, diving contractors and subsea maintenance teams
- Certification bodies, examiners and inspecting authorities
- Designers and asset owners specifying qualified hyperbaric welding practices
Related standards
- ISO 15607 / ISO 15609-1 (general WPS rules)
- ISO 15618-2 (qualification testing for hyperbaric dry welding - steel structures)
- EN 288-9 (pipeline welding procedure tests)
Keywords: ISO 15614-10:2005, hyperbaric dry welding, welding procedure qualification, WPS, WPQR, hyperbaric chamber, welder-diver, mechanized hyperbaric welding.
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