Overview
ISO 22688:2020 - Brazing - Quality requirements for brazing of metallic materials defines two levels of quality requirements and selection criteria for brazing metallic materials in production and on-site installation. Applicable across workshops and installation sites, the standard provides complete sets of requirements for process control, documentation and conformity for listed brazing processes. It is intended for use alone or together with a quality management system such as ISO 9001 and is similar in scope and purpose to the ISO 3834 series for welding.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard structures requirements into two levels - comprehensive and elementary - and covers practical quality controls across brazing operations. Major topics include:
- Selection of quality level: criteria to choose comprehensive or elementary requirements.
- Review and technical review of customer and design requirements before brazing.
- Sub‑contracting controls: responsibilities and communication with suppliers.
- Brazing personnel: qualification and roles for brazers, operators and coordination personnel.
- Inspection and testing personnel, including non‑destructive testing competency.
- Equipment: suitability, description, maintenance, calibration and validation of production and testing equipment.
- Brazing procedures: development, brazing procedure specifications (BPS), qualification and work instructions.
- Consumables and material handling: storage, batch testing and traceability for filler metals and parent materials.
- Brazing and post‑brazing heat treatment controls and monitoring.
- Inspection and testing before, during and after brazing, including acceptance criteria and test status.
- Non‑conformance, corrective actions and quality records: documentation and declaration of compliance.
- Identification and traceability of components and brazed assemblies.
Annexes provide selection criteria, correspondence to national standards, QMS elements to complement the requirements, and guidance for workshop and installation sites.
Practical applications and users
ISO 22688:2020 is used where brazing is a key fabrication process or a critical joining operation. Typical industries and applications include:
- Automotive components and assemblies
- Aerospace and turbomachinery parts
- Heat exchangers, refrigeration and air‑conditioning systems
- Industrial fabrication where brazed joints affect safety or performance
Primary users:
- Manufacturing and quality managers
- Brazing coordinators and process engineers
- Inspection and NDT personnel
- Procurement and supply‑chain teams
- Auditors and certification bodies
Related standards
- ISO 3834 (quality requirements for fusion welding) - comparable framework for special joining processes
- ISO 9001 - overall quality management system that can be used alongside ISO 22688
Using ISO 22688:2020 helps organizations standardize brazing process control, improve product reliability, ensure traceability and demonstrate compliance through defined documentation and declarations of compliance. Keywords: ISO 22688:2020, brazing quality, brazing requirements, brazing processes, brazing procedure specifications, brazing personnel, inspection and testing.
