Welding Consulting

TMG's welding consulting covers the full life of a weld — from the procedure and the welder who runs it to the visual inspection that confirms it. Work spans the AWS D1 family of structural welding codes, with SCWI-level review on every welding engagement.

TMG's role on a project is observation and reporting. Authority to accept or reject work rests with the owner or the owner's designated representative. TMG does not direct contractor means, methods, or sequencing.

Visual welding inspection

Visual examination of welds against the controlling code — typically AWS D1.1 — Structural Welding Code – Steel, Table 8.1, for structural steel; AWS D1.5 — Bridge Welding Code for bridges; the corresponding clauses for stainless (AWS D1.6) and seismic supplement (AWS D1.8) work. Welds are observed at three stages: pre-weld (fit-up, joint configuration, cleanliness), in-process (electrode handling, bead profile, sequencing, interpass temperature), and post-weld (final profile, toe transitions, surface condition, weld size and length).

WPS / PQR development and review

TMG develops and reviews welding procedure specifications (WPS) and procedure qualification records (PQR) per the controlling AWS code. Contractor-issued WPS and PQR documentation is reviewed against the project specification and the controlling code before welding begins; discrepancies are identified in writing and routed to the Engineer of Record (EOR) for resolution.

Welder qualification

Where a project requires welder qualification testing, TMG administers welder performance qualification (WPQ) testing under its AWS Welder Performance Qualifier endorsement, maintains WPQ records, and reissues records for period-of-effectiveness extensions where the welder qualifies.

Fabrication-shop quality control plans

TMG develops, implements, reviews, and audits fabrication-shop Quality Control Plans (QCPs), including support for shops seeking American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) certification or preparing for audit. Third-party fabrication surveillance is available for owners and engineers who want independent observation of vendor shop operations — review of vendor QC procedures, in-process inspection during production, witness of crucial testing, and pre-shipment QC verification against the contract documents.

Demand-critical and seismic supplemental inspection

Seismic-resistant steel framing — Ordinary, Intermediate, and Special Moment Frames (OMF / IMF / SMF) — and AWS D1.8 demand-critical welds carry supplemental inspection requirements beyond standard AWS D1.1 visual acceptance: additional NDT on demand-critical welds, tighter acceptance criteria, and documentation of weld continuity for moment-resisting connections. TMG identifies these scope additions at the proposal stage so cost and schedule are not surprised late in fabrication.

Mill test report and material traceability

Mill test reports (MTRs) for structural steel, filler metals, and high-strength bolts are reviewed against the project specification at receipt — chemistry, mechanical properties, heat numbers, and supplier identification — with traceability recorded through the project's fabrication and erection records.

Specialty — pressure-vessel and piping welding

Welding and procedure qualification per ASME BPVC Section IX — Welding, Brazing, and Fusing Qualifications and ASME B31 pressure-piping codes is available on a project-by-project basis where retained.

Engagement

Welding-inspection visits are priced by day rate, per-visit call-out fee, or Time-and-Materials, tied to the contractor's welding schedule. Fixed-fee scopes are available for bounded work — single shop inspections, welder qualification campaigns, and WPS / PQR review packages. Welding-program and procedure consulting is available on a retainer basis. TMG serves Florida and the Southeast. See nondestructive testing, UAV services, or the contact page to request a proposal.