What should be listed for cleaning in a WPS form?

• A. Listed under technique will be the how the joint should be initially cleaned as well as how cleaning should take place between welding passes, including mechanical and chemical cleaning.
• B. Cleaning is optional and not specified.
• C. Only cleaning after welding is required.
• D. Cleaning methods are the same for all metals.

Answer: (A)

Cleaning instructions belong in the WPS because keeping the joint free of contaminants at the start and between passes is essential for sound fusion and avoiding defects. The best answer puts cleaning details in the technique section, covering how the joint should be cleaned initially and how cleaning should occur between welding passes, and it includes both mechanical and chemical methods. This ensures the weld is not polluted by oil, grease, moisture, oxides, or slag that can cause porosity, lack of fusion, or other defects. Initial cleaning removes surface contaminants before welding, while cleaning between passes prevents oxide buildup that would interfere with subsequent weld passes; different metals and coatings may require different cleaning approaches, so the specification should spell out both methods. It isn’t optional, and it isn’t correct to say the same cleaning method applies to all metals, or to limit requirements only to post-weld cleaning.