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8.0 WELDING SYMBOLS
A weld joint can be represented on an engineering drawing by means of a
detailed sketch showing every detail and dimension of the joint preparation - as shown
below.
While this method of representation gives comprehensive information, it can be
time consuming and can also overburden the drawing.
An alternative method is to use a symbolic representation to specify the
reuired information - as shown below for the same joint detail.
Symbolic representation has ollo!in" a#$anta"es%
! simple and uick to put on the drawing
! does not over-burden the drawing
! no need for an additional view - all welding symbols can be put on the main
assembly drawing
Symbolic representation has ollo!in" #isa#$anta"es%
! it can only be used for standard joints "e.g., #$ %& '$( )*)+,
! there is not a way of giving precise dimensions for joint details
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--.+
/*
.-5mm
.-6mm
Single-U preparation
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! some training is necessary in order to interpret the symbols correctly
8.& S'(ND()DS *O) SYMBOLI+ )E,)ESEN'('ION O* WELDED
-OIN'S ON D)(WINGS
3here are two principal standards that are used for welding symbols, namely7
E.ropean Stan#ar#
%&++886 9 Welded, bra:ed ; soldered joints 9 $ymbolic representation on drawings
(merican Stan#ar#
AW$ A+.5 9 $tandard $ymbols for Welding, #ra:ing, ; &on-destructive %<amination
3hese standards are very similar in many respects, but there are also some
major differences that need to be understood to avoid misinterpretation.
=etails of the %uropean $tandard are given in the following sub-sections with
only brief information about how the American $tandard differs from the %uropean
$tandard.
Elementary Wel#in" Symbols
>arious types of weld joint are represented by a symbol that is intended to help
interpretation by being similar to the shape of the weld to be made.
%<amples of symbols used by %& ++886 are shown on following pages.
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8./ ELEMEN'()Y WELDING SYMBOLS
=esignation 'llustration of joint preparation $ymbol
$uare butt weld
$ingle-> butt weld
$ingle-bevel butt weld
$ingle-> butt weld with
broad root face
$ingle-bevel butt weld
with broad root face
$ingle-? butt weld
$ingle-1 butt weld
@illet weld
$urfacing "cladding,
#acking run
"back or backing weld,
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8.0 +OMBIN('ION O* ELEMEN'()Y SYMBOLS
@or symmetrical welds made from both sides, the applicable elementary
symbols are combined 9 as shown below.
=esignation 'llustration of joint preparation $ymbol
=ouble-> butt weld
"A weld,
=ouble-bevel butt
weld "B weld,
=ouble-? butt weld
=ouble-1 butt weld
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8.1 S2,,LEMEN'()Y SYMBOLS
Weld symbols may be complemented by a symbol to indicate the reuired
shape of the weld.
%<amples of supplementary symbols and how they are applied are given below.
=esignation 'llustration of joint preparation $ymbol
@lat "flush, single-
> butt weld
2onve< double->
butt weld
2oncave fillet weld
@lat "flush, single-
> butt weld with
flat "flush, backing
run
$ingle-> butt weld
with broad root
face and backing
run
@illet weld with
both toes blended
smoothly
Note: If the weld symbol does not have a supplementary symbol then the shape of the
weld surface does not need to be indicated precisely.
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8.3 ,OSI'ION O* SYMBOLS ON D)(WINGS
'n order to be able to provide comprehensive details for weld joints, it is
necessary to distinguish the two sides of the weld joint.
3he way this is done, according to %& ++886, is by means of7
an arrow line
a dual reference line consisting of a continuous line and a dashed line
3he schematic below illustrates the method of representation.
8.4 )EL('IONS5I, BE'WEEN '5E ())OW LINE (ND '5E -OIN'
LINE
(ne end of the joint line is called the arro! si#e and the opposite end is called
other si#e.
3he arrow side is always the end of the joint line that the arrow line points to
"and touches,.
't can be at either end of the joint line and it is the draughtsman who decides
which end to make the arrow side.
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joint line
.
+a
+b
6
. C arrow line
+a C reference line "continuous line,
+b C identification line "dashed line,
6 C welding symbol "single-> joint,
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3he schematic below illustrates these principles.
3here are some conventions about the arrow line, namely7
it must touch one end of the joint line
it joins one end of the continuous reference line such that it forms an angle with
it
'n case of a non6symmetrical 7oint, such as a single bevel joint, the arrow line
must point towards the joint member that will have the weld preparation put on to it "as
shown below,
An e<ample of how a single-bevel butt joint should be represented is shown below.



8.8 ,OSI'ION O* '5E )E*E)EN+E LINE (ND ,OSI'ION O* '5E
WELD SYMBOL
3he reference line should, wherever possible, be drawn parallel to the bottom
edge of the drawing "or perpendicular to it,.
@or a non-symmetrical weld it is essential that the arrow side and other side of the
weld be distinguished. 3he convention for doing this is as follows7
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arrow side
arrow side
arrow line
other side
arrow line
other side
arrow line
arrow side other side
arrow line
other side arrow side
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symbols for the weld details reuired on the arrow side must be placed on the
continuous line
symbols for the weld details on other side must be placed on the dashed line
3his convention is illustrated below for a single-> joint with a backing run.



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arrow side
arrow side
other side
other side
or
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8.8 ,OSI'IONS O* '5E +ON'IN2O2S LINE (ND '5E D(S5ED
LINE
%& ++886 allows the dashed line to be either above or below the continuous
line 9 as shown below.
'f the weld is a symmetrical weld then it is not necessary to distinguish between
the two sides and %& ++886 states that the dashed line should be omitted. 3hus, a
single-> butt weld with a backing run can be shown by either of the four symbolic
representations shown below.

Note: This flexibility re the position of the continuous and dashed lines is an interim
measure that EN 22553 allows so that old drawings (to the obsolete !"##
$art 2% for example& can be con'eniently con'erted to show the EN method of
representation(
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or
single-V weld with a backing run
arrow side
arrow side
other side
other side
arrow side
other side arrow side
other side
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8.9 DIMENSIONING O* WELDS
General r.les
=imensions may need to be specified for some types of weld and %& ++886
specifies a convention for this.
dimensions for the cross-section of the weld are written on the left-hand side of the
symbol
length dimensions for the weld are written on the right-hand side of the symbol
the absence of any indication to the contrary, all butt welds are full penetration
welds
8.9.& SYMBOLS *O) +)OSS6SE+'ION DIMENSIONS
3he following letters are used to indicate dimensions7
a fillet weld throat thickness
E fillet weld leg length
s penetration depth
(applicable to partial penetration butt welds ) deep penetration fillets&
$ome e<amples of how these symbols are used are shown below.
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.0mm
,artial penetration
sin"le6: b.tt !el#
s&0
-mm
;8
*illet !el# !ith 8mm le"
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8.9./ SYMBOLS *O) LENG'5 DIMENSIONS
3o specify weld length dimensions and, for intermittent welds the number of
individual weld lengths "weld elements,, the following letters are used7 -
l length of weld
<e= distance between adjacent weld elements
n number of weld elements
3he use of these letters is illustrated for the intermittent double-sided fillet weld
shown below.

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a4
*illet !el# !ith 4mm throat
*mm
-
.80mm
.00mm
,L(N :IEW
END :IEW
Note* dashed line not re+uired because it is a symmetrical weld
E- 6 .80 ".00,
E- 6 .80 ".00,
: n l "e,
: n l "e,
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'f an intermittent double-sided fillet weld is to be staggered, the convention for
indicating this is shown below.

8.9.0 +OM,LEMEN'()Y INDI+('IONS
2omplementary indications may be needed to specify some other
characteristics of welds. %<amples of these are given as follows7 -
@ield or site welds is indicated by a flag
A peripheral weld, to be made all around a part, is indicated by a circle
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: n
l "e,
: n
l "e,
,L(N :IEW
END :IEW
l <e=
>
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8.&0 INDI+('ION O* '5E WELDING ,)O+ESS
'f reuired, the welding process is to be symbolised by a number written
between the two branches of a fork at the end of the reference line 9 as shown below.

8.&& O'5E) IN*O)M('ION IN '5E '(IL O* '5E )E*E)EN+E LINE
'n addition to specifying the welding process, other information can be added to
an open tail "shown above, such as the &=3 acceptance level the working position
and the filler metal type and %& ++886 defines the seuence that must be used for
this information.
A closed tail can also be used into which reference to a specific instruction can
be added 9 as shown below.
8.&/ WELD SYMBOLS IN (++O)D(N+E WI'5 (WS /.1
Fany of the symbols and conventions that are specified by %& ++886 are the
same as those used by AW$.
3he major differences are7
only one reference line is used "a continuous line,
symbols for weld details on the arro! si#e go .n#erneath the reerence line
symbols for weld details on the other si#e go on top o the reerence line
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&&&
$ome Welding Grocess
=esignations
... C FFA
.+. C $AW
.6. C F'H
.68 C FAH
.5. C 3'H
WG$ 0.5
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3hese differences are illustrated by the following e<ample.

.
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arrow side
other side