AWS Certified Welding Inspection (CWI) | D1.1, API 1104, ASME IX | Western-EGI

AWS Certified Welding Inspection

The Highest Credential in Welding Inspection

AWS Certified Welding Inspectors (CWI) are tested and certified by the American Welding Society — the national standard for welding inspection qualifications. CWI certification requires demonstrated knowledge of welding processes, metallurgy, inspection methods, and applicable codes. It is the credential required by most structural, industrial, and government contracts for welding inspection work.

Western-EGI employs two AWS CWIs on staff — Brandt Lyman, PE/CWI and Zack Meek, PE/CWI — both of whom also hold Professional Engineer licenses. That combination of CWI and PE credentials is rare and meaningful: our inspectors understand not just whether a weld meets code, but how a non-conforming weld affects structural performance. We provide both standalone CWI services for clients who need inspection only, and fully integrated inspection programs bundled with CMT and Special Inspections for design-build and construction management projects.

Western-EGI inspects to any applicable welding code or standard — including the full AWS D1 series, API standards, ASME B31 piping codes, and other owner- or project-specified codes. If your contract specifies a standard not listed on this page, contact us. We also provide welder certification services — including Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) testing, Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) development, and Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) documentation — all under Brandt Lyman's AWS Welder Performance Qualification Endorsement.

Inspection Services

What We Inspect

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Structural Steel

Fabrication shop and erection inspection for structural steel framing, connections, and weldments under AWS D1.1.

Shop fabrication inspection
Field erection inspection
Visual weld inspection (VT)
Weld size, profile, and length verification
Weld procedure specification (WPS) review
Welder qualification verification
NDT coordination (UT, MT, PT)
IBC Chapter 17 Special Inspection compliance

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Structural Connections

Bolted and welded connection inspection — including high-strength bolting, moment connections, and base plate welds.

High-strength bolt inspection (AISC / RCSC)
Pretension verification
Moment connection weld inspection
Base plate and anchor rod inspection
Embed plate and hanger inspection
Column splice inspection

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Pipeline Welding

Field inspection for pipeline welding under API 1104 — oil, gas, and water transmission lines across Wyoming and the region.

API 1104 pipeline girth weld inspection
Visual and NDT inspection
Welder qualification and continuity
WPS compliance verification
Tie-in weld inspection
Repair weld inspection and documentation

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Pressure Vessels & Piping

Inspection for pressure-containing weldments under ASME Section IX — industrial, process, and energy sector applications.

ASME Section IX weld procedure qualification
Pressure vessel weld inspection
Process piping weld inspection
Welder performance qualification review
NDE coordination and documentation
Code compliance documentation

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Miscellaneous & Fabrication

Inspection for sheet metal, light structural, and specialty weldments under AWS D1.3 and D1.4.

Sheet steel structures (AWS D1.3)
Reinforcing steel (AWS D1.4)
Agricultural and industrial fabrication
Equipment support structures
Custom weldment inspection
Pre-qualified procedure verification

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Welder Certification & Qualification

Full welder qualification services — WPQ testing, WPS development, and PQR documentation — administered under Brandt Lyman's AWS Welder Performance Qualification Endorsement.

Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) testing
Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) development
Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) documentation
Qualification to any applicable AWS, API, or ASME code
Welder continuity tracking and re-qualification
Qualification records package for owner / AHJ submission

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Documentation & Reporting

Complete inspection records, nonconformance reports, and code-compliant documentation packages for owner, contractor, and AHJ use.

Daily inspection reports
Nonconformance reports (NCR)
Weld maps and inspection logs
Final inspection summary reports
Welder qualification records
Special inspection statement of compliance

Code Standards

Inspection Standards We Work Under

Western-EGI inspects to any welding code or standard applicable to your project — including the full AWS D1 series, API pipeline standards, ASME pressure codes, and owner- or contract-specified standards. The codes below represent the most common — if yours isn't listed, contact us.

AWS D1.1

Structural Welding Code — Steel

The primary standard for welded steel structures in construction. Required for structural steel framing, moment frames, braced frames, trusses, and built-up members.

Applies to: Buildings, bridges, industrial structures, equipment supports, and other load-bearing steel fabrications.

AWS D1.3

Structural Welding Code — Sheet Steel

Governs welding of sheet steel structural members commonly used in light-gauge metal framing, decking connections, and cold-formed steel construction.

Applies to: Metal decking, light structural panels, cold-formed steel assemblies, and thin-plate connections.

AWS D1.4

Structural Welding Code — Reinforcing Steel

Addresses welding of reinforcing bars used in concrete construction — including splices, dowels, and embed anchorage welds.

Applies to: Reinforced concrete construction, precast connections, embed plates, and rebar splices requiring welded joints.

API 1104

Welding of Pipelines and Related Facilities

The standard for welding on oil, gas, and liquid petroleum pipelines. Governs qualification of welding procedures, welders, and inspection methods for transmission and distribution pipelines.

Applies to: Oil and gas pipelines, water transmission lines, gathering systems, and related facilities across Wyoming and the Rockies.

ASME IX

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code — Welding

Section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code covers welding and brazing procedure and performance qualifications for pressure-containing equipment.

Applies to: Pressure vessels, boilers, heat exchangers, process piping, and industrial equipment in energy, mining, and chemical processing facilities.

IBC §1705

Special Inspections — Structural Steel & Welding

IBC Chapter 17 requires special inspection of structural steel fabrication and erection, including weld inspection, high-strength bolting, and cold-formed steel where specified by the structural engineer of record.

Applies to: Permitted construction projects governed by the IBC where the structural engineer of record requires special inspection per the Statement of Special Inspections.

ASME B31

Pressure Piping Code Series

The ASME B31 series covers process, power, and industrial piping systems. Western-EGI has performed inspection under B31 series codes for industrial and energy sector clients across Southwest Wyoming.

Applies to: Process piping (B31.3), power piping (B31.1), gas transmission (B31.8), and related industrial piping systems in refining, mining, energy, and chemical processing facilities.

+ More

Owner- & Contract-Specified Codes

Western-EGI inspects to any applicable welding code — including AWS D1.2 (aluminum), AWS D1.5 (bridge), AWS D1.6 (stainless steel), AWWA standards, military specifications, and other owner-specified standards.

If your project specifies a code not listed here, contact us. We work under contract-specified standards and can review your project requirements before committing to scope.

Our Inspectors

AWS CWI on Every Job

Western-EGI's welding inspection work is performed by credentialed AWS CWIs — not technicians supervised by a remote CWI. Our inspectors are also licensed Professional Engineers, which means they bring structural engineering judgment to every inspection, not just code compliance checking.

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Brandt Lyman

Principal Engineer & CWI

PE CWI WPQ Endorsement AWS D1.1 API 1104 ASME IX

Brandt founded Western-EGI in 2014 and has led the firm's welding inspection practice since its inception. In addition to his CWI credential, Brandt holds the AWS Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) Endorsement — authorizing him to administer and certify welder qualification tests, develop Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS), and produce Procedure Qualification Records (PQR) to any applicable code. With over 21 years of engineering and inspection experience across structural, pipeline, pressure vessel, and specialty applications, he evaluates not just code conformance but the real-world structural implications of weld quality. Licensed PE in WY, CO, UT, TX, and SD.

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Zack Meek

Project Engineer & CWI

PE CWI AWS D1.1 API 1104 ASME IX

Zack holds both a PE license and AWS CWI certification, giving Western-EGI two fully credentialed inspector-engineers for concurrent project coverage. He handles structural steel, pipeline, and fabrication inspection across the full range of projects Western-EGI serves, from school and institutional construction to industrial and energy sector work in Southwest Wyoming.

Standalone or Integrated

CWI Your Way — Standalone or Bundled

Western-EGI provides CWI services either as a standalone engagement or as part of a full CMT and Special Inspections program. Many clients start with one and expand to the other as their projects grow.

Standalone CWI Services

If your project needs welding inspection only — without CMT or other special inspections — Western-EGI can provide a CWI directly. This is common for pipeline work, industrial fabrication, equipment installation, and projects where the general contractor or owner is managing the broader QC program but needs a credentialed inspector for welding.

Direct CWI engagement — no bundled services required
Available for one-time, periodic, or continuous inspection
Documentation package tailored to your contract requirements
Available on short-notice scheduling for time-sensitive work
Coordination with owner's QC program on request

Integrated with CMT & Special Inspections

For building construction and infrastructure projects requiring IBC Special Inspections, Western-EGI provides welding inspection as part of a complete Special Inspection program. One firm covers structural steel, concrete, soils, masonry, and welding — eliminating the coordination burden of managing separate inspection contractors.

Single point of contact for all Special Inspections
Statement of Special Inspections compliance tracking
CWI inspection coordinated with concrete and soils schedule
Combined daily reports and final inspection packages
Continuity from design through construction — same firm, same team

Representative Projects

CWI Inspection in Action

Structural Steel Inspection — Rock Springs, WY

Sweetwater County Events Complex Horse Stalls

Western-EGI performed structural steel and welding inspection for this $3.3M horse stall facility at the Sweetwater County Events Complex. The project required accelerated inspection scheduling to support a 70-day construction timeline — Western-EGI's on-staff CWIs provided same-day availability that kept the schedule on track. Client: Sweetwater Events Complex (Drew Dunn).

Value: ~$3.3M

Year: 2016–2017

Staff: Lyman, Meek

Special Inspections — Rock Springs, WY

WWCC Health Sciences Building

Full CMT and Special Inspections program for WWCC's $11.1M Health Sciences facility, including structural steel and welding inspection by Western-EGI's CWI staff. Ongoing since 2024. Western-EGI provides complete IBC Chapter 17 Special Inspection coverage — structural steel, welding, concrete, soils, and masonry — under a single contract. Client: WWCC (Chris Dever).

Value: $11.1M

Year: 2024–Present

Staff: Lyman, Meek, Woods, Ditton

Structural Inspection — Rock Springs, WY

Rock Springs High School Track

Special inspections including structural steel and welding inspection for the RSHS track reconstruction. Western-EGI's integrated role — providing both the geotechnical engineering and the special inspections — allowed real-time coordination between the design and inspection teams, identifying and resolving a subsurface moisture issue before it affected construction. Client: SCSD1 (Dan Selleroli).

Value: ~$1.5M

Year: 2019–2020

Staff: Lyman, Meek, Woods

Public Safety Facility — Sweetwater County, WY

Sweetwater County Justice Center

Structural steel and welding inspection for the Sweetwater County Justice Center — a ~$20M public safety facility. Western-EGI provided AWS CWI inspection of structural steel fabrication and erection, weld quality verification, and high-strength bolting inspection throughout the construction program. Client: Sweetwater County.

Value: ~$20M

Staff: Lyman, Meek

CWI
Inspection.
On Staff.

The Highest Credential in Welding Inspection

What We Inspect

Inspection Standards We Work Under

AWS CWI on Every Job

CWI Your Way — Standalone or Bundled

Two CWIs on Staff.
Both Also PEs.

CWI Inspection in Action

Ready to Work Together?

CWIInspection.On Staff.

The Highest Credential in Welding Inspection

What We Inspect

Inspection Standards We Work Under

AWS CWI on Every Job

CWI Your Way — Standalone or Bundled

Two CWIs on Staff.Both Also PEs.

CWI Inspection in Action

Ready to Work Together?

CWI
Inspection.
On Staff.

Two CWIs on Staff.
Both Also PEs.