For SAW prequalification of CJP welds, back gouging is required under which conditions?

• A. Back gouging is required on joints having root openings greater than 0
• B. Back gouging if root opening equals zero but root face not defined or exceeds maximum
• C. Both A and B
• D. Back gouging is never required

Answer: (C)

Back gouging is used to expose the root area so you can verify full penetration and root quality in a SAW prequalification for a CJP weld. If there is any root opening (a gap at the joint root), you must back gouge to remove the potential root-area defects and allow proper inspection of fusion and penetration. Even when the root opening is zero, if the root face isn’t defined or it exceeds the allowable maximum, the groove geometry can conceal issues at the root; back gouging on the root side ensures the root is exposed and can be inspected to confirm proper fusion and penetration. Therefore, back gouging is required in both situations.