THE WELDING INSTITUTE ‘We use weld symbols to transfer information from the design office to the workshop. It is essential that a competent welding inspector can interpret weld symbols, as a large proportion of the inspector's time may be spent checking that the welder is completing the weld in accordance with the approved fabrication drawing. Therefore without a good knowledge of weld symbois, a welding inspector is unable to carry out his full scope of work, Standards for weld symbols do not follow logic, but are based on simple conventions. It is important to understand the basic differences between different standard conventions and to be able to recognise any drawing standard being used. Reference should be always be made to a standard for specific symbolic information. Basically a weld symbol is made of 5 different components, common to major standards. (BS EN 22533 BS 499 & AWS A 2.4) 1) The Arrow Line The arrow line is always a single, straight and unbroken line, (Exception in AWS A2.4 {for single plate preparations) and shall touch the joint intersection, as is shown below. It has a major function indicating which plate is to be prepared in a bevel or J preparation. Either/or BS EN 22553 & BS 499 (AWS A2.4 has exceptions) 2) The Reference Line ‘The reference line must touch the arrow line, and is generally parallel to the bottom of the drawing. There should be an angle between the arrow line and reference line, where the point of the joint of these 2 lines is referred to as the knuckle. In some standards a broken line is also placed either above or beneath the solid line i.e. as in BS EN 22553 Either/or p= Kitheror = BSHOGAWS ADA LZ BS EN 22553, Z 3) ‘The Symbol ‘The orientation/representation of the symbol on the line is the same in most standards, however the concept of Arrow-side and Other-side can differ. BS 499 and AWS A2.4 indicate this using only the solid line, while BS EN also uses a solid and broken line. 4) The Dimensions Basically, all cross sectional dimensions are given to the left, and all liner dimensions are given to the right hand of the symbols in most standards. §) Supplementary Information Supplementary information, i.e. Welding process, profile, NDT, or special instructions may differ within standards. The following section indicates the basic convention and variations of these 5 components listed above for BS 499. BS EN 22553 & AWS A2.4 ‘Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 31 oo Section 03 Welding Symbols Nims NING Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Ltd TremoLacrTWI MT. ‘THE WELDING INSTITUTE 1) Convention of BS 499 (UK) The Arrow Line a) — Shall touch the joint intersection b) Shall not be parallel to the drawing ©) Shall point towards a single plate preparation The Reference Line a) Shall join the arrow line b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing The Weld Symbol a) Welds done from this side (Arrow side) of joint go underneath the reference line b) Welds done from the other side of the joint go on top of the reference line ©) Symbols with a vertical line component must be drawn with the vertical line drawn to the left side of the symbol 4) _Allcross sectional dimensions are shown to the left of the symbol Fillet throat thickness is preceded by the letter a and the leg length by the letter b ‘When only leg length is shown the reference letter (b) is optional The throat thickness for partial penetration butt welds is preceded by the letter s ¢) _Alllinear dimensions are shown on the right of the symbol ie, Number of welds, length of welds, length of any spaces Example: a. Throat. b. Leg Number X — Length (Space) Example: a.7 b.10 x 50 Welding Inspection of Stecls WIS 10 3.2 WORLD CENTRE FOR, Section 03 Welding Symbols Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWILtd ULM ‘ecisoeres THE VEL DING INSTITUTE Examples of Weld Symbols common to BS 499 and BS EN 22553 Double-sided butt weld symbols Double bevel DoubleV Double J Double U Supplementary & further weld symbols ‘Weld all around Weld on site Square butt weld a Profile of filet weld 111 (Welding process to BS EN 4063 \ spot weld sa Compound weld (Single bevel and double fillet) Intermittent welds in BS 499 and BS EN 22553 are given as shown as below with number of welds x length of each weld and gap length given in brackets i.e. 3 x 20 (50) A staggered intermittent weld may de shown with a Z drawn across the axis between the weld length and gap. 3.No’s 20mm length 50 mm gap 3x20 (50) Staggered Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 33 Section 03 Welding Symbols MATERIALS ONING Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Ltd ELT recmoexTWI VIM. ‘THE WELDING INSTITUTE 2) _ Convention of BS EN 22553 (Has replaced BS 499 in UK) The Arrow Line (As for BS 499) a) Shall touch the joint intersection b) Shall not be parallel to the drawing c) Shall point towards a single plate preparation The Reference Line a) Shall join the arrow line ‘As per BS 499 b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing oj Asper c) Shall have a broken line placed either above, or beneath the reference line or The Symbol (As for BS 499 with the following exceptions) The other side of the joint is represented by the broken line, which shall be shown above or below the reference line, except in the case where the welds are totally symmetrical about the central axis of the joint. Fillet weld leg length shall always be preceded by the letter z ‘Nominal fillet weld throat thickness shalll always be preceded by the letter a. Effective throat thickness shall always be preceded by the letter s for deep penetration fillet welds and partial penetration butt welds. Unbroken line representing the arrow side of the joint Removable backing strip ‘Welding process to BS EN 4063 Reference information [MR] s.10 “ 131 a8 s.10 z.10 y Broken line indicating other side of the joint ‘Weld toes to be ground smoothly ‘Welding laspection of Steels WIS 10 3.4 WORLD CENTRE FOR Section 03 Welding Symbols TW rename Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI LtdTWI UM. Elementary Symbols as extracted from BS EN 22553 ‘THE WELDING INSTITUTE, Number Designation Symbol 1 | USA) The raised Butt weld between plates with raised edges. (Edge flanged weld edges being melted down completely XQ ya 2 | Square Butt Weld 3 | Single-V Butt Weld 4 | Single-bevel Butt Weld Single-V Butt Weld 5 | With a Broad Root Face Single-bevel Butt Weld 6 | With a Broad Root Face ‘Single-U Butt Weld 7 (Parallel or Sloping Sides) Backing run 8 Single J-Butt Weld 9 | Backing Weld USA 10 | Fillet Weld iy Plug Weld; Plug 11 _| Slot Weld USA WY \ TIW | d es \ — 19 | Inclined joint KE ZA 20 | Fold Joint ey 2] ‘Supplementary Symbols Extracted from BS EN 22553 Shape of weld surface or weld ‘Symbol a) __| Flat (Usually finished flush) — b) | Convex an ©) Concave ~~, 4) _ | Toes shall be ground smoothly WL ¢) Permanent backing strip M f) _| Removable backing strip MR “Welding Inspection of Steals WIS 10 36 tes Section 03 Welding Symbols Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Ltd ULM s0oi008TWI UT. 3) Convention of AWS A2.4 (USA) ‘THE WELDING INSTITUTE This symbols standard uses the same convention as BS499 to indicate this side and other side of the weld, though there are some changes in the symbolic representation. Single plate preparations are also indicated by a directional change of arrow line, though the arrow remains pointing to the plate requiring preparation. When any plate to be prepared within a joint is obvious (Le. T joints) then the direction of the arrow line is optional. Other Side - Finish Symbol F Field Weld A - Groove Angle R Weld all around, - Root Gap Size & Throat Length & Pitch ‘These bracketed elements remain in the same order regardless in the orientation of the arrow line Process Arrow Side AWS A2.4 may also use a number of reference lines from the arrow line to indicate the sequence of welding, Weld dimensions may be given as fractions or decimals, and in metric or imperial units. Processes are indicated using standard AWS notation, as shown: Staggered arrow indicates. a single plate preparation GTAW GMAW In AWS A2.4 the dimensions the pitch of intermittent fillet welds and plug welds to the centre of each weld. (The BS and BS EN dimension these to the start of each weld) Staggered intermittent fillet welds are indicated in AWS A2.4 as shown below: ac Length of weld 25 - 100 25 - 100 Pitched to weld centers ‘Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 37 Section 03 Welding Symbols NaTEMALS ono Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Lid LMT scsxo.0s ‘WORLD CENTRE FoR,TWI LMT. Common Examples: THE WELDING INSTITUTE Welded Joint l BS 499 Part IT BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4 Single Bevel Butt Welds (Ground Flush) 1) Single Bevel Arrow Side Left Plate Left \] Right 2) Single Bevel Other Side Left Plate Left /| Right 3) Single Bevel | — — Other Side V Right Plate Left [\Right 4) Single J Arrow Side Left Plate TR Lett {Right 5) Single J Other Side Left Plate Left ( [Right 6) Single J Other Side Right Plate Left [))Right "Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 38 Section 03 Welding Symbols Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI LtdTWI CM. Common Examples Continued: THE WELDING INSTITUTE Welded Joint | BS 499 Part IT BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4 Single V Butt Welds (Ground Flush) 7) Single V Arrow Side J\ 8) Single V V » Othee Side ww A 9) Single U Arrow Side 10) Single U Other Side Y © Double Butt Welds (4s Welded) Note: ‘The dashed line can be 11) Double Bevel omitted only when the weld is symmetrical about its axis Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 39 ‘WORLD CENTRE FOR Section 03 Welding Symbols TW virennisoon Rey 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI LtdTWI CT. ‘Common Examples Continued: THE WELDING INSTITUTE Welded Joint | BS 499 Part II BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4 A” Single Fillet Welds (Mitre and Concave) lw” Leg length may be _| Leg length shall be preceded by preceded by the letter b_ | the etter 2 ‘Throat by the letter a | Throat by the letter @ if nominal| throat ot § if an effective throat 13) Single Fillet Other Side Concave Ne J)” a Double Fillet Welds (Convex) 14) Double Fillet Convex N\ N l Dy V) NZ Note: The dashed line can be omitted only when the weld is symmetrical about its axis ‘Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 3.10 TWI wouvcemeroe Section 03 Welding Symbols Natenas one Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWLLtd YLTWI CLM. Common Examples Continued: ‘THE WELDING INSTITUTE Welded Joint | BS 499 Part II BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4 Compound Welds (Butts and Fillets) 15) Single Bevel Arrow Side (Ground Flush) Mitred V Fillet Weld aS a £ Other Side N 16) Single Bevel K Optional arrow direction Butt Weld K\ V +Mived | ff LV Fillet Weld yo a Ke Other Side l \ 7 OI 17) Single J + Optional Arrow Direction Cc Fillet Arrow Side wy ao 2s wo Single bevel +] S15 815 \/or 820 15 Convex Fillet ok 3 Other Side a sr Fe Y) \ Y — ‘Welding Inspection of Sccls WIS 10 3a Section 03 Welding Symbols STERN oBaNe Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Ltd UZ ‘vecssetocsTWI CIMT. ‘THE WELDING INSTITUTE Numerical Indications of Selected Welding Processes (As extracted from BS EN 4063:2000) No. | Process No. | Process 1| ARC WELDING 5 | BEAM WELDING TH | Metal-are welding without gas protection. 51 | Electron beam welding TIT | Metal-arc welding with covered electrode 311 | Electron beam welding in a vacuum 112 | Gravity arc welding with covered electrode 512 | Blectron beam welding out of vacuum [114 | Flux cored metal-arc welding 52 | Laser welding [22 | Submerged are welding. 521 | Solid state LASER welding T2I | Submerged arc welding with I wire electrode | 522 | Gas LASER welding 122 | Submerged are welding with strip electrode 123 | Submerged arc welding with multi electrodes 7 | OTHER WELDING PROCESSES 124 | Submerged arc welding + metallic powders 71 | Alumino-thermic welding (Thermit) 125 | Submerged arc welding tubular cored wire 72. | Blectro-slag welding 13 | Gas shielded metal-are welding 73 | lectro-gas welding 131 | MIG welding: (With an inet sits px) 74 | Induction welding 135 | MAG welding: (With an sctive gs shield) 775 | Light radiation welding 136 | Flux cored arc welding (Wilh an active gx dis) 777 | Percussion welding 137 [ Flux cored arc welding (With an inert rset) 78:| Stud welding 14 | Gas-shiclded welding (vos-consumable dectrode) | 782 | Resistance stud welding T41 | TIG welding 15 | Plasma are welding 8 | CUTTING & GOUGING 151 | Plasma MIG Welding 81 | Flame eutting 152 | Powder Plasma Are Welding 82 | Are cutting 18 | Other are welding processes $21 | Air Arc cutting 185 | Magnetically impelled Arc Butt Welding. 822 | Oxygen Are cutting 83 | Plasma cutting 2 | RESISTANCE WELDING ‘84 | Laser cutting 21 | Spot welding 86 | Flame gouging 22 | Seam welding 87 | Arc Gouging 23 | Projection welding ‘871 | Air-Are Gouging (Using Carbon Electrodes) | 24 | Flash welding ‘872. | Oxy-Are gouging 25 | Resistance butt welding 83 | Plasma gouging 29 | Other resistance welding processes 9 | BRAZING, SOLDERING & BRAZE 3 | GAS WELDING WELDING 31 | Oxy-fuel gas welding ‘97 | Brazing 311 | Oxy-acerylene welding 912 | Flame brazing ] 313 | Oxy-hydrogen welding 913 | Furnace brazing 32| Air fuel gas welding 914 | Dip brazing 93 | Other brazing processes |" 4 | WELDING WITH PRESSURE 94 | Soldering 41 | Ultrasonic welding 942_| Flame soldering 42 | Friction welding 1952 | Soldering with soldering iron 44 | Welding by high mechanical energy 96 | Other soldering processes 45 | Diffusion welding ‘97 | Braze welding 47 | Gas pressure welding 971 | Gas braze welding 48 | Cold pressure welding ‘97 | Arc braze welding ‘Welding Taspection of Steels WIS 10 3.12 Section 03 Welding Symbols Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Ltd MATERIALS JOBING CLTWI LMT. WIS 5 Section 8 Exercises: ‘THE WELDING INSTITUTE ‘Complete a symbols drawing for the welded cruciform joint given below All butt weld are welded with the MIG process and fillet welds with MMA. All let weld leg lengths are 10 mm Use the sheets overleaf to transcribe the information shown above into weld symbols complying with the following standards BS 499 Part II BS EN 22553 Use the drawings provided overleaf ‘The course lecturer will present the solutions, after you have completed the exercise. “Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 3.13 Section 03 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOnING. Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Ltd TretNOLOoYTWI LM. THE WELDING INSTITUTE, BS 499 Part II 1Q} im BS EN 22553 }4) ™ "$20 Bo 7 Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 10 3.14 Section 03 Welding Symbols DaTERIALS JOD0N6 Rev 30-03-06 Copyright © 2006 TWI Ltd ZAP recisoto6x