17.2 Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) Welding Code
17.2 Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) Welding Code
David Colameco, M.Ed.
WABO describes its history and purpose as WABO “was incorporated in 1977 to promote building codes and standards that safeguard the public health and safety; advise on legislative matters; assist in the development of national and state codes; provide educational opportunities for its members; and preserve local government control of code administration” (WABO, n.d.).
Development of the WABO welding code
For welders and welding operators, WABO mainly consists of their welder certification program and not the other building codes that are part of WABO. This welder certification program developed WABO Standard 27-13, which outlines the requirements for testing welders and welding operators for certification under WABO for structural welding. You will find that the WABO welder certification is similar to a welder certification under AWS D1.1 because WABO references the AWS standards heavily.
Basics of the WABO welding code 27-13
Similar to other welding codes, WABO 27-13 describes its purpose and scope. It describes requirements that agencies, such as your welding school, must meet to apply to be a test facility to certify welders and welding operators through welder qualification tests. It describes the test that WABO requires and what the limitations of those tests are. To ensure that welders and welding operators produce quality weldments during their qualification test, WABO also puts forth the requirements for inspection of test weldments both visually and destructively. The code also includes ways to send in questions, the process for challenges and appeals, suspensions and withdrawals, and terms and definitions.
Uses of the WABO 27-13 welding code in industry today
As a welder or welding operator, you will find that many companies that use welders in structural applications will be looking for WABO certifications in WA and the nearby states of Idaho, Oregon, and even some parts of Montana. It is possible that other companies in other states have heard of WABO and may accept it as a qualification.
A company can build structures to the WABO requirements if they are welding to an approved WABO code by having WABO-certified welders. In Washington State, local governments and state inspectors will inspect structural buildings, such as those seen in Figure 17.1, to WABO-adopted standards. More specifically, this means WABO is an important set of certifications you can earn because they are required for company welders to have to weld structural steel in WA state. As a WABO-certified welder, you will be able to show that you can successfully weld to WABO-approved standards.
Getting certified to the WABO 27-13 welding code
Many WA State community colleges and other organizations offer WABO certification tests. Check to see if your college or organization offers WABO certification tests or find a place that is convenient for you. Then you would choose a certifi