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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD: 

Weld carbon steel workpieces using the gas tungsten arc welding process in all positions 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243058  Weld carbon steel workpieces using the gas tungsten arc welding process in all positions 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Welding 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Engineering and Related Design 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  25 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Reregistered  2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for a learner within the fabrication and welding fields.

A person credited with this unit standard is capable of:
  • Describing the gas tungsten arc welding process.
  • Selecting, setting up and conducting pre-operational checks of gas tungsten arc welding equipment.
  • Preparing workpieces prior to welding.
  • Welding workpieces.
  • Inspecting welded work piece for defects in compliance with drawing specifications.
  • Caring for and storing welding consumables and equipment.

    This unit standard will contribute to the full development of any learner by providing recognition, further mobility and transportability within the field. The knowledge, skills and understanding demonstrated in this unit standard are essential for social and economic transformation and upliftment within the fabrication and welding environment. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learning relevant to the national certificate in Welding Application and Practice level 2. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Scope:
  • Material type to be used: To be selected from the range of carbon steels (plate only), applicable to the material groups 1, 2, 3 or 11 [according to ISO (TR) 15608).
  • Material thickness: Minimum - 1,6mm.

    Context:
  • All work undertaken must comply with Occupational Health and Safety Act.
  • All work done must comply with worksite practices. All work done under consistent supervision.

    Level:
    Level (for level 3).

    A learning programme leading to the award of this unit standard should develop learners who demonstrate:
  • Ability to carry out moderate tasks that are familiar.
  • Ability to offer a clear choice of routine responses.
  • Basic operational knowledge base as indicated in the embedded knowledge component and that are readily available.
  • An understanding of known solutions to familiar problems with little generation of new ideas.
  • Ability to work under direct supervision with some responsibility. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe and explain the gas tungsten arc welding process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Components of the gas tungsten arc welding equipment are identified correctly, in terms of manufacturer's specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of correct assembly of the gas tungsten arc welding equipment, and the consequences of incorrect assembly, is explained with reference to manufacturer's requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Terms and definitions used are consistent with generally accepted welding terminology in accordance with national/international welding standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Resources include:
  • Suitable welding power source, torch, electrode, shielding gas, regulator, flow-meter, materials as specified on drawings and weld filler material.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Select, assemble and conduct pre-operational checks of gas tungsten arc welding equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Verification, identification and selection of gas tungsten arc welding equipment as per job requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Identification and rectification of hazards related to the welding process in accordance with standard work site practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Pre-operational checks are carried out in accordance with manufacturer's specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A safe worksite is created to prevent damage to equipment and injury to people. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Weld and gas flow parameters including polarity are established to satisfy job requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Resources to include:
  • Manufacturer's specification, worksite practices, and safety and environmental issues.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Prepare workpieces prior to welding. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Workpieces prepared prior to welding as specified on drawing and worksite practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Dimensions and alignment checked as specified on drawing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Workpieces assembled in position in accordance with drawing specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Safety precautions adhered to. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Inspect workpiece prior to welding. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Resources include:
  • Worksite practices, tools, equipment, safety requirements and materials.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Weld workpieces. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Despite the minimum material thickness as specified in the range statement, learners have to display sufficient competency for groove welding. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Welding consumables are used as per job requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Workpiece welded in down hand position. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Safety precautions adhered to during welding process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Workpiece cleaned after welding as per worksite practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Potential causes for welding defects/imperfections are identified prior to welding and action taken to meet job requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Resources include:
  • Suitable welding power source, shielding gas, regulator, flow-meter, materials as specified on drawings and weld filler material.

    Scope:
  • Material type to be used: To be selected from the range of carbon steels (plate only), applicable to the material groups 1, 2, 3 or 11 [according to ISO (TR) 15608).
  • Material thickness: Minimum - 1,6mm.

    Welding positions:

    Fillet weld:
  • Flat/Horizontal.
  • Vertical.
  • Overhead.

    Groove weld:
  • Flat/Horizontal.
  • Vertical.
  • Overhead.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Inspect welded workpiece for defects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Post-cleaning of welded joint is performed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Welded workpiece conforms to job specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Inspection methods and procedures selected are conducive to specifications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Documentation completed as reflected in worksite practices. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Procedures include:
  • Worksite practices, inspection methods, and cleaning procedures.
  • Welded joints acceptance criteria to be in accordance with a national and/or international welding standard.
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Care for and store welding consumables and equipment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Tools and equipment are cared for as per manufacturer's specifications and stored as per worksite practices. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Welding consumables stored in accordance with worksite practices. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited in terms of the criteria laid down by the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Names and functions of:
  • Gas tungsten arc welding equipment.
  • Welding consumables, eg. classification of electrodes, shielding gases, etc., as stipulated in the welding procedure specification, where applicable.
  • Personal protective equipment.
  • Various groupings of metals.

    Attributes, descriptions, characteristics and properties:
  • Properties and grouping of different steels.
  • Common defects.
  • Safety hazards associated with welding.
  • Welding processes.
  • Characteristics of electricity.
  • Weldability of different steels.
  • Shrinkage, residual stress, distortion.
  • Inert gases and principles of oxidation.

    Sensory cues:
  • Smell indicating overheating equipment.
  • Observing, listening during welding operations.

    Purpose of:
  • Gas tungsten arc welding.
  • Safety checks.
  • Reporting incidents and conditions.
  • Checking completed weld.

    Processes, events, causes and effects, implications:
  • Causes of hazards and responses to them.
  • Causes of defects and responses to them.
  • Overview of fusion welding processes.
  • Implications of not preparing workpiece before welding.
  • Shrinkage, residual stress, distortion.
  • Misuse and mishandling of consumables.

    Procedures and techniques:
  • For eliminating, isolating or minimising welding hazards.
  • Procedures for preparing materials before welding.
  • Safety procedures.
  • Quality procedures.
  • Recording and reporting procedures.
  • Maintenance procedures.
  • Inspection and testing.
  • Storage procedures.

    Regulations, legislation, agreements, policies, standards:
  • Health and Safety.
  • Safe working in the fabrication shop.
  • National and international standards related to the inspection of completed work.
  • International standard for the grouping of metals.

    Theory: rules, principles, laws:
  • Applicable to properties of materials.
  • Weldability of steels.

    Relationships, systems:
  • Relationship between grades, section thickness and mechanical properties of steel and welding parameters.
  • Relationship of the mechanical properties of welded joints with carbon content and cooling rate following welding. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems:
  • Recognise problems of equipment and process while welding and respond appropriately.
  • Defects are recognised and corrected.
  • Hazards are recognised and preventative action taken. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work together with others:
  • Contribute to workgroup efforts. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage myself and my activities:
  • Plan sequence of operations based on job instructions and set up equipment appropriately. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information:
  • Visually examine and conduct tests on completed weld to control quality. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively:
  • Record outcome of work.
  • Report outcome of work to appropriate personnel. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically:
  • Properties of metals.
  • Electrical and mechanical principles.
  • Principles of expansion and contraction. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems:
  • Explain the relationship between the physical properties and the weld ability of the material. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Notes to Assessors:

    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessments at title level are unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, directness, authenticity, sufficiency, openness and consistency.

    This unit standard may be obtained through RPL. The learner should be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and support and guidance should be provided. Care should be taken that the mechanism used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence and is not so onerous as to prevent learners from taking up the RPL option towards gaining a qualification. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  57886   National Certificate: Welding Application and Practice  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Reregistered  2021-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  58721   Further Education and Training Certificate: Engineering Fabrication  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Reregistered  2021-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd (VANDERBIJLPARK) (TP) 
    2. Bell Equipment Company SA (Pty) Ltd (ALTON) (TP) 
    3. Bevline Mechanical Projects (Pty) Ltd (PROSPECTON) (TP) 
    4. Blue Horison Properties 53 (Pty) Ltd T/A Durnacol Skills Innovation Hu 
    5. Coastal Kzn F.E.T. College - Swinton Road Campus 
    6. Eastcape Midlands Public FET College - Uitenhage (High Street)Campus 
    7. Eastcape Training Centre 
    8. False Bay Public FET College - Westlake Campus 
    9. Further Education Trade Training 
    10. FVW Welding Academy(Johannesburg) (TP) 
    11. Gijima AST Holdings (Pty) Ltd T/A Fundi Training Centre (BENONI) (TP) 
    12. Industries Education & Training Institute (MAITLAND) (TP) 
    13. INDUSTRIES EDUCATION & TRAINING INSTITUTE - PE TTC 
    14. Izizwe Training Centre (Pty) Ltd T/A Simtech Training (NORTHDENE) (TP) 
    15. Jericho Safety Consultants (Pty) Ltd (TP) 
    16. Majuba FET College - Newcastle Technology Centre 
    17. Mopani South East FET College - Phalaborwa Campus 
    18. Northlink College - Bellville Campus 
    19. Qualitas Training cc (SELBY) (TP) 
    20. SAMSONS SCHOOL OF WELDING 
    21. Samsons School of Welding T/A Samsons Skills Development Institute (DU 
    22. SEDIBENG TRAINING CENTRE 
    23. Skills Priority 
    24. SSS Sheet Metal Work cc T/A Sheetech SA (DURBAN) (TP) 
    25. Steinmuller Africa (Pty) Ltd T/A Steinmuller Technical Training Academ 
    26. Swift Skills Academy (SASOLBURG) (TP) 
    27. Tekmation (Pty) Ltd T/A Tekmation Training Institute (DURBAN) (TP) 
    28. THE SAJ COMPETENCY TRAINING INSTITUTE CC 
    29. Umfolozi FET College - Central Office 
    30. Umfolozi FET College - Mandeni Campus 
    31. Volkswagen of South Africa (Pty) Ltd - Technical Learning Academy (UIT 
    32. West Coast Public FET College - Vredenburg Campus 
    33. World Focus 382 cc T/A Richards Bay Technical Training & Assessment Centre (ZCBF) (RICHARDS BAY) (TP) 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.