Requirements. This standard establishes the qualification requirements for Hot Gas@ Hot Gas Extrusion@ and Heated Tool Butt Thermoplastic plastics welding inspection personnel; the requirements for structuring the examination to qualify these personnel; and defines the body of knowledge for plastics welding inspectors. Levels. There are three levels of qualification: Associate Plastics Welding Inspector (APWI)@ Plastics Welding Inspector (PWI)@ and Senior Plastics Welding Inspector (SPWI). Capabilities. No determination is made of an individual's capabilities in applying that knowledge within a specific work environment or under actual working conditions. Qualifications for individual capabilities are outlined within this document for varying levels of welding inspectors. Responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the employer to determine that the APWI/PWI/SPWI is capable of performing the duties involved in his/her particular plastics welding inspection assignment. Employer. This standard is intended to supplement the requirements of an employer@ code@ or other documents and shall not be construed as a preemption of the employer's responsibility for the work or for the performance of the work. Safety Precautions. This document is not intended to address safety and health matters regarding plastics welding inspection personnel. Safety and health requirements are provided in MSDS sheets and OSHA recommendations as well as other safety and health standards@ and federal@ state@ and local government regulations. This standard only covers AWS qualification requirements of the APWI/PWI/SPWI. A recommended safety reference is Guide to the Safe Handling of Fluoropolymer Resins. Verb Usage. As used in this standard@ the word shall denotes a requirement@ the word should denotes a guideline@ and the word may denotes a choice.