A 4G welding certification demonstrates a welder’s proficiency in the overhead position. ATS offers numerous services to fulfill our clients’ needs, from welding sites to observations to quality testing. Our clients frequently request an ATS facility, inspector, or quality test for the following reasons:
- Pre-employment screening
- Recommendations for AWS certification
- Documenting a welder’s ability
- Proving a welder’s output meets code requirements
Welders with 4G welding certification benefit from increased work opportunities. A certification proves the welder is dedicated to the safe and proper protocol for this difficult weld and other groove and fillet welds in other positions.
Workforce Applications
4G weld certification proves that a welder:
- Can meet the specifications set by an employer or client
- Follows codes and standards
- Produces a reliable weld of high quality
When hired to weld professionally, a welder may need to work with fixed materials, such as a steel frame at a construction site. The 4G position allows the welding equipment to reach the beveled edges of pieces that may be positioned above the welder and at an angle. Proficient use of this technique is a critical skill for welders in industries such as aerospace, construction, manufacturing, and military tank fabrication.
Weld Certification Services
On the day of the test, the welder should bring their own testing coupon, either a plate or pipe; however, ATS also has a limited selection of popular coupons available for purchase. The welder should also bring the necessary documentation for AWS certification, such as a record of the Welding Procedure Specifications.
ATS provides the equipment for the welder’s method of choice. The four most popular welding methods are:
- Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG/GMAW)
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG/GTAW)
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick/SMAW)
Clients can also request an official observation from an AWS-Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) from ATS. The CWI will observe the welder’s technique, such as their equipment setup, posture, and cleaning between passes. The quality of the end weld often depends on whether the weld is free of oxidation, scale, and slag. If the welder leaves debris behind, the weld will likely have discontinuities and cracks that indicate poor quality. The inspector can also determine whether the welder followed the required Welding Procedure Specifications and any other requirements.
Quality Testing from ATS Labs
ATS’s nondestructive and mechanical testing labs are certified by A2LA to perform numerous inspections and analyses. Our weld testing team consists of expert metallurgists, chemists, API inspectors, professional engineers, certified welders, and CWIs. Many of our inspectors hold AWS and ASNT-TC-1A certifications. We can test for compliance with industry standards, such as:
- AWS
- ASME
- API
- AMS
- PED/EN
- MIL-STD
Before recommending a welder for certification, CWIs test samples of the weld coupon to determine the weld’s qualities, such as strength. The CWI may detect damages and discontinuities through nondestructive inspection methods, such as radiography, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, and visual testing.To determine how well the weld holds up to mechanical pressure and harsher environment, our inspectors also subject the testing coupons to destructive tests, including bend, load, hardness, corrosion, tensile, drop weight impact, Charpy impact, chemical analysis, macro/microhardness, and macro etching.
About Applied Technical Services
ATS provides high-quality consulting engineering, calibration, testing, and inspection services that support national and global businesses. Founded in 1967, ATS has developed a reputation for thorough analysis and reliable test results. Today, we lead a Family of Companies that reaches clients in a range of industries, such as aerospace, automotive, construction, and defense.When clients request laboratory testing services, they can depend on ATS to follow industry standards. Our super lab at our Marietta headquarters has been accredited by A2LA and NADCAP. To learn more about our accreditations and standards, click here.
Contact Us
Call +1 (888) 287-5227 or complete the form on this page to book a welding site, schedule a certified welder observation, or request weld quality tests at an ATS facility.
