Structural Welding Codes

[Haziel Barbour]

TheAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) covers all aspects of design and manufacture of boilers and pressure vessels. All sections contain welding specifications, however most relevant information is contained in the following:

The American Welding Society (AWS) publishes over 240 AWS-developed codes, recommended practices and guides which are written in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) practices.[1] The following is a partial list of the more common publications:[citation needed]

The American Petroleum Institute (API) oldest and most successful programs is in the development of API standards which started with its first standard in 1924. API maintains over 500 standards covering the oil and gas field.[2] The following is a partial list specific to welding:

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed over 18500 standards and over 1100 new standards are published every year.[6] The following is a partial list of the standards specific to welding:

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) had issued numerous standards covering welding processes, which unified and replaced former national standards. Of the former national standards, those issued by BSI and DIN were widely used outside their countries of origin. After the Vienna Agreement with ISO, CEN has replaced most of them with equivalent ISO standards (EN ISO series).[7]

Japanese Industrial Standards are the standards used for industrial activities in Japan, coordinated by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) and published by the Japanese Standards Association (JSA).

The most commonly used codes for qualifying welders are the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section IX and American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1. Committees and subcommittees comprising volunteer workers interested in furthering the quality and efficiency of the welding industry work together to develop these codes.

The most obvious difference between ASME Section IX and AWS D1.1 is that D1.1 addresses fabrication, erection, inspection, and welder and welding procedure qualification. ASME is specifically for welder and welding procedure qualification. A "code of construction," such as ASME Section VIII, Division I, must be used in conjunction with Section IX for fabrication.

Some work contracts require that a specific code be used for qualifying the welders, but in many cases either code is sufficient. If the job consists totally of structural welding and the contract specifies the AWS Structural Code, then that is the code that must be used for all aspects of the job.

If the job is related to ductwork associated with a boiler, the contract usually allows qualification with either code. Choosing a specific code when one is not specified in the contract often involves a fine line.

The welding procedure specification (WPS) is a document that is intended to provide direction for the welder. It also depicts the joint design and welding materials, parameters, and technique and code requirements.

The procedure qualification record (PQR) is a record of test results for the welds made in accordance with the WPS. Destructive testing (tensile pulls, bends, etc.) is required for PQRs in all codes. AWS D1.1 also requires nondestructive testing for procedure qualification. ASME Section IX does not.

The welder qualification test record (WQTR) comprises the results of a test to prove that a welder is qualified to weld to a certain WPS. It includes qualification of the range of base materials, weld materials, positions, and so forth. These tests consist of guided bends, breaking of fillet welds, and macroetching. In some cases, the test coupons may be radiographed in lieu of destructivetesting.

The prequalification Section 3 of AWS D1.1 lists materials for prequalifying the WPS. These materials are listed in groups that are assigned Roman numerals. Although the groups reflect a somewhat ascending alignment as to the yield strength, there are instances of overlapping within three of the four groups.

Group I lists the lowest-yield-strength materials from 30 KSI to 46 KSI. Group II lists materials at 36 KSI to 80 KSI. Group III, 46 KSI to 90 KSI. Group IV, 70 KSI materials only. Each material list shows matching electrode, and filler metal, to be used to establish prequalified procedures.

ASME materials are listed by "P" and "S" numbers. There are very few restrictions as to size and strength of material. This is a reason for qualifying welders and procedures to the ASME Section IX when possible.

The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The Fabricator has served the industry since 1970.

The American Welding Society (AWS) publishes over 240 AWS-developed codes, recommended practices and guides which are written in accordance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) practices.The following is a partial list of the more common publications:

The American Petroleum Institute (API) oldest and most successful programs is in the development of API standards which started with its first standard in 1924. API maintains over 500 standards covering the oil and gas field. The following is a partial list specific to welding:

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed over 18500 standards and over 1100 new standards are published every year. The following is a partial list of the standards specific to welding:

The European Committee for Standardization had issued numerous standards covering welding processes, which replaced former national standards. Of the former national standards, those issued by BSI and DIN were widely used outside their countries of origin. After the Vienna Agreement with ISO, CEN has replaced most of them with equivalent ISO standards (EN ISO series).

ESAB University is your online learning destination for welding and fabrication technology. Make personalized playlists of your favorite resources including videos, blogs, articles, webinars and more.

ESAB's Future for Fabricators platform is committed to highlighting those who lead education for aspiring future fabricators. We aim to share inspirational stories, facilitate initiatives to bring tools and expertise to communities, and make our equipment accessible to ensure future fabricators are set up for success - right from the start.

Enhance your knowledge of welding, cutting, and fabrication with free and accessible webinars on a variety of topics, including welding best practices, tips for using ESAB products, new product launches, and more, presented by trusted ESAB experts.

- I am currently trying to increase the amount of aluminum fabrication business and think that I should consider the possibility of producing welding procedures and qualifying my welders for aluminum. Is there a welding code like AWS D1.1 that can be used for aluminum? If so, can I transfer my D1.1 procedures and performance qualifications from steel to aluminum?

AWS has been developing codes for the welding of various steel structures since 1928. In the early 1970s, the need for developing a code for the structural welding of aluminum was recognized. Because of the interest of both The Aluminum Association and AWS, the task of developing a structural welding code for aluminum began in the mid-1970s.

However, the two codes are completely independent. This is because of the different characteristics of steel and aluminum relating to their metallurgical structure and reactions during welding, method of welding, design criteria, and inspection and testing requirements.

The current edition of AWS D1.2 is the 2014 edition. This document, divided into sections and annexes, covers the welding requirements for any type of structure made from aluminum structural alloys, except for aluminum pressure vessels and pressure piping.

Clauses 1 through 8 constitute a body of rules for the regulation of welding in an aluminum construction. A commentary on the code is also included to generate a better understanding of the application of the code.

Other sections contain additional rules applicable to specific types of non-tubular and tubular structures and should be used as a supplement to the beginning sections. Key features of each of these sections are the list of dimensional tolerances and the weld quality requirements.

These are provided for non-tubular structures under static and dynamic loadings. For tubular structures, two classes of structures are identified. Class I structures are those in the general class of luminaries, traffic signals, and overhead sign supports. All other tubular structures are class II. Many of the requirements (dimensional and weld quality) are more stringent for class II structures.

While the steel code allows for prequalified welding procedures, the code for aluminum does not. This is because of the many and varied possible welding conditions that can be obtained with the semi-automatic welding variables most often used with aluminum.

Procedures and standards are also outlined in the code for several methods of nondestructive testing. Methods included are visual, radiographic, and dye-penetrant. Ultrasonic testing is permitted, but the procedure and acceptance criteria must be specified in the contract documents.

Unlike the steel structural code, D1.1, the aluminum structural code, D1.2, does not cover design considerations, such as the allowable stresses for load-carrying members. This information is covered by reference to the Aluminum Design Manual, published by The Aluminum Association.

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