During the welder qualification process, what must be done if a weld does not conform to the established criteria?

In the welder qualification process, if a weld does not conform to the established criteria, retesting must be conducted to ensure that the welder has the necessary skills to produce acceptable welds. This action is crucial because it allows for the evaluation of the welder's abilities under controlled conditions, ensuring that they can meet the specified standards required for the project.

Retesting provides a direct assessment of the welder's performance and helps identify any deficiencies that may have influenced the initial failure. By conducting a retest, the procedure reaffirms that the welder is capable of achieving the quality and integrity needed in welding applications, thereby maintaining the safety and reliability of the pipeline or facility.

While documentation submission, supervision renewal, and quality control measures are important aspects of the overall welding process, they do not address the fundamental need to verify and validate the welder’s qualifications through direct testing after a failure to conform to standards. Thus, retesting is the appropriate and necessary response to ensure compliance with welding standards set forth in API 1104.