This specification provides requirements for the qualification of welding procedures. It also provides requirements for the performance qualification of welders and welding operators.

This specification is intended for use where referenced by a product or fabrication code, specification, contract document, or internal documents such as quality control or quality assurance manuals. The requirements imposed by the Referencing Document (see 1.3.2 Supplemental Definitions) supersede the requirements of this specification.

This specification is intended for use with the following welding processes:

OFW = Oxyfuel Gas Welding

SMAW = Shielded Metal Arc Welding

GTAW = Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

SAW = Submerged Arc Welding

GMAW = Gas Metal Arc Welding

FCAW = Flux Cored Arc Welding

PAW = Plasma Arc Welding

ESW = Electroslag Welding

EGW = Electrogas Welding

EBW = Electron Beam Welding

LBW = Laser Beam Welding

SW = Stud Arc Welding

Appropriate metric conversions are included for all dimensions. However, the customary units are standard units, and the metric units are for information only. It is intended that inspection of qualification test welds is to be accepted based on the U.S. customary dimensions, not on the metric conversion values of these dimensions.