Welding Inspector
Welding Symbols
Weld symbols on drawings
A method of transferring information from the
design office to the workshop :
Please weld
here
The above information does not tell us much about the wishes
of the designer. We obviously need some sort of code which
would be understood by everyone.
Most countries have their own standards for symbols.
Some of them are AWS A2.4 & BS EN 22553 (ISO 2553)
Weld symbols on drawings
Advantages of symbolic representation:
simple and quick plotting on the drawing
does not over-burden the drawing
no need for additional view
gives all necessary indications regarding the specific joint to
be obtained
Disadvantages of symbolic representation:
used only for usual joints
requires training for properly understanding of symbols
Dimensions
Convention of dimensions
In most standards the cross sectional dimensions are given to
the left side of the symbol, and all linear dimensions are given on
the right side
BS EN ISO 22553
a = Design throat thickness
s = Depth of Penetration, Actual Throat thickness
z = Leg length (min material thickness)
AWS A2.4
•In a fillet weld, the size of the weld is the leg length
•In a butt weld, the size of the weld is based on the depth of the
joint preparation
Weld symbols on drawings
Joints in drawings may be indicated:
•by detailed sketches, showing every dimension
•by symbolic representation
Elementary Welding Symbols
(BS EN ISO 22553 & AWS A2.4)
Convention of the elementary symbols:
Various categories of joints are characterised by an elementary
symbol.
The vertical line in the symbols for a fillet weld, single/double bevel
butts and a J-butt welds must always be on the left side.
Weld type Sketch Symbol
Square edge
butt weld
Single-v
butt weld
Elementary Welding Symbols
Weld type Sketch Symbol
Single-V butt weld
with broad root face
Single bevel butt
weld
Single bevel butt
weld with broad root
face
Backing run
Elementary Welding Symbols
Weld type Sketch Symbol
Single-U
butt weld
Single-J
butt weld
Surfacing
Fillet weld
Weld symbols on drawings
The symbolic representation includes:
an arrow line
a reference line
an elementary symbol
The elementary symbol may be completed by:
a supplementary symbol
a means of showing dimensions
some complementary indications
Supplementary symbols
(BS EN ISO 22553 & AWS A2.4)
Convention of supplementary symbols
Supplementary information such as welding process, weld
profile, NDT and any special instructions
Toes to be ground smoothly
(BS EN only)
Site Weld
Concave or Convex
Weld all round
Supplementary symbols
(BS EN ISO 22553 & AWS A2.4)
Convention of supplementary symbols
Supplementary information such as welding process, weld profile,
NDT and any special instructions
Ground flush
111
MR M
Removable Permanent Welding process
backing strip backing strip numerical BS EN
Further supplementary information, such as WPS number, or
NDT may be placed in the fish tail
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Complimentary Symbols
Field weld (site weld) Welding to be carried out
all round component
(peripheral weld)
NDT WPS
The component requires Additional information,
NDT inspection the reference document
is included in the box
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Plug weld Square Butt weld
Resistance spot weld Steep flanked
Single-V Butt
Resistance seam weld Surfacing
Arrow Line
(BS EN ISO 22553 & AWS A2.4):
Convention of the arrow line:
• Shall touch the joint intersection
• Shall not be parallel to the drawing
• Shall point towards a single plate preparation (when only
one plate has preparation)
Reference Line
(BS EN ISO 22553)
Convention of the reference line:
• Shall touch the arrow line
• Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing
• There shall be a further broken identification line above or
beneath the reference line (Not necessary where the weld
is symmetrical!)
or
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Dashed Line
Reference lines
Arrow line
Other side Arrow side
Arrow side Other side
Double side weld symbols
(BS EN ISO 22553 & AWS A2.4)
Convention of the double side weld symbols:
Representation of welds done from both sides of the joint
intersection, touched by the arrow head
Fillet weld Double bevel Double J
Double V Double U
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
MR
M
Single-V Butt with Single-U Butt with
permanent backing strip removable backing strip
Single-V Butt flush cap Single-U Butt with sealing run
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Single-bevel butt Double-bevel butt
Single-bevel butt Single-J butt
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
s10
10
15
Partial penetration single-V butt
‘S’ indicates the depth of penetration
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
a = Design throat thickness
s = Depth of Penetration, Throat
thickness
z = Leg length(min material thickness)
a = (0.7 x z)
a4
a
z s 4mm Design throat
z6
s6
6mm leg 6mm Actual throat
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Arrow side
Arrow side
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
s6
6mm fillet weld
Other side
s6
Other side
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
a b
c d
Detect the wrong symbol
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Mitre Convex
Toes
Concave
shall be
blended
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
n = number of weld elements
l = length of each weld element
(e) = distance between each weld element
n x l ( e)
Welds to be
staggered
2 x 40 (50)
111
3 x 40 (50)
Process
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Chain intermittent fillet weld
z5 3 x 80 (90)
z6 3 x 80 (90)
5
80 80 80
5
6 90 90 90
6
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Staggered intermittent fillet weld
z8 3 x 80 (90)
z6 3 x 80 (90)
6
80 80 80
6
8 90 90
90
8
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
Numerical Values for Welding Processes:
111: MMA welding with covered electrode
121: Sub-arc welding with wire electrode
131: MIG welding with inert gas shield
135: MAG welding with non-inert gas shield
136: Flux core arc welding
141: TIG welding
311: Oxy-acetylene welding
72: Electro-slag welding
15: Plasma arc welding
AWS A2.4 Welding Symbols
AWS Welding Symbols
Depth of Root Opening
Bevel
1 (1-1/8)
1/8
60o
Effective Groove Angle
Throat
AWS Welding Symbols
Welding Process
GSFCAW
1 (1-1/8)
1/8
60o
GMAW
GTAW
SAW
AWS Welding Symbols
Welds to be
staggered
3 – 10
SMAW
3 – 10
Process
3 3
10
AWS Welding Symbols
3rd Operation
Sequence of
Operations 2nd Operation
1st Operation
FCAW
1(1-1/8)
1/8
60o
AWS Welding Symbols
RT
Sequence of
Operations MT
MT
FCAW
1(1-1/8)
1/8
60o
AWS Welding Symbols
Dimensions- Leg Length
6 leg on member A
6/8
Member A 6
Member B
AWS A 2.4 rules
Welds “on arrow side” of joint go underneath the
reference line while welds “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 to the left side of the symbol
All CSA dimensions are shown to the left of the symbol
All linear dimensions are shown on the right of the
symbol i.e. number of welds, length of welds, length of
any spaces
Included angle and root opening are shown on top of the
symbol
AWS A 2.4 rules-example
10 3 x 50 (70)
70
50
10
Fillet welds
Fillet weld dimensions according AWS A 2.4
8
8
5 leg on
5x8
vertical
member
5
8
Intermittent fillet welds
Chain intermittent fillet weld
pitch (e) length (l)
z
z l-e
z l-e
Intermittent fillet welds
Staggered intermittent fillet weld
e/2
pitch (e) length (l)
z l-e
z l-e
