Featured Resources
Welding isn’t the only way to assemble piping. Sometimes contractors thread pipe together and sometimes they use flanges. Flanges appear to be simple to assemble—and they are—but when you don’t want them to leak, certain practices need to be followed. Those practices are addressed in ASME standard PCC-1, Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Joint Assembly.
NCPWB Technical Bulletin: Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC)
What is Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) and why do contractors need to know anything about it? Well, it turns out that MIC can negatively affect your profits.
NCPWB Technical Bulletin: Purge to Protect Stainless-Steel Pipe Welds
On occasion we get questions from our members who would like to use backing flux in lieu of purging when making welds on stainless steel or other corrosion resistant materials. This bulletin describes an experiment conducted by NCPWB Consultant Walter Sperko where he had a colleague make stainless steel butt welds without any protection of the root of the weld, with inert gas backing, with backing flux and with flux-coated wire.
When reviewing a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) or a welder qualification record, the term “backing” frequently appears. In some cases, backing is required, while in others, it is optional. Backing can take various forms, including metal, non-fusing metal, nonmetallic materials, or even weld metal. But what exactly is “backing,” and why is it important in welding?
The National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau (NCPWB) has released a new Technical Bulletin that delves into ASME standard PCC-1, Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Joint Assembly. The bulletin explains what PCC-1 is, and shares lessons learned to help contractors maximize the probability of a leak-free joint. The bulletin also includes requirements for an industry standard certification program for bolted joint assemblers and a troubleshooting guide to assist should a leak occur.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) created an above-the-line federal income tax deduction for “qualified overtime compensation.” This applies to overtime mandated by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) time-a-half requirements triggered by an employee working over 40 hours in a week. It is available for tax years 2025 through 2028. Below is a general outline of the deduction and its requirements and limitations.
The NCPWB Technical Conference returns April 26–28, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas, with a renewed focus on the real-world welding challenges mechanical contractors face—particularly those related to compliance with ASME Section IX. What began years ago as a primarily technical gathering has evolved into a broader, more dynamic conference that reflects the changing needs of today’s industry.
The MCAA Sponsorship Prospectus is here! Explore exclusive ways to connect with contractors, leaders, and decision-makers throughout the year. This prospectus gives you everything you need for planning the year ahead for MCAA exhibits, brand visibility, and supporting the future of our industry.
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Network with pipe welding contractors, United Association folks, and welding experts. Nationally or as a member of one of our NCPWB Chapters.
Everything from lists of Certified Welders to technical resources and bulletins. NCPWB is focused solely on Pipe Welding, so if you’re in the business, you need to belong.
Confused about compliance? Have questions about the NCPWB WPSs and BPSs? We’ll connect you to the right person for everything NCPWB.