CSA W48:23 ✓ Most Recent

Preface 

This is the fifth edition of CSA W48, Filler metals and allied materials for metal arc welding . It supersedes the previous editions published in 2018, 2014, 2006, and 2001. Filler metals standards are intended to provide a generic method of classification and evaluation that allows the end user to select appropriate welding consumables for a given welding process and product or application. The procedures and tests set out in this Standard, when correctly followed, are designed to produce a consistent product with test results that are as reproducible as possible. The following are the major changes to this edition: a) the reference to AWS A5.10/A5.10M has been added for the classification of aluminum GTAW and GMAW electrodes; b) all specifications and classifications related to carbon and low-alloy steel SMAW electrodes have been replaced by references to AWS A5.1/A5.1M and A5.5/A5.5M; c) all specifications and classifications related to SAW carbon and low-alloy electrodes/fluxes have been replaced by references to AWS A5.17/A5.17M and AWS A5.23/A5.23M; d) updates to Clauses regarding packaging and marking have been made and two new Clauses added, one for technical data sheets (TDS) and the second for decertified products; and e) Annexes have been updated and consolidated, providing information on packaging, storage, and conditioning of electrodes (Annex B); general information and an explanation of the classification system (Annex C); descriptions and intended uses of the welding filler metals and allied materials (Annexes D and E); information on diffusible hydrogen (Annex F); and information on certification (Annex G). The Standard has also been rewritten in such a manner to facilitate ease of use and future revisions with respect to adoption of other regional and international standards. During preparation of this revision, close liaison was maintained between AWS and ISO to create a robust Canadian Standard supporting global efforts towards standard harmonization while satisfying the specific and unique technical requirements of Canadian industry. This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Welding Filler Metals, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Construction and Infrastructure, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. 

Scope 

1.1 Specifications 

This Standard includes specifications (see Table 1) for the classification and certification of a) carbon steel-covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding (SMAW); b) chromium and chromium-nickel steel-covered electrodes for SMAW, including electrodes designated for welding heat-resistant steels containing more than 11% chromium and less than 50% nickel; c) low-alloy steel covered electrodes for SMAW; d) wire electrodes and deposits for gas-shielded metal arc welding (GMAW) of non-alloy and fine- grain steels; e) wire electrodes, rods, and deposits for GMAW, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and submerged arc welding (SAW) of chromium and chromium-nickel steel; f) wire rods and deposits for GTAW and plasma arc welding (PAW) of carbon and low-alloy steels; g) carbon and low-alloy steel electrodes for flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) and metal-cored arc welding (MCAW); h) chromium and chromium-nickel steel electrodes for FCAW and MCAW; i) fluxes and solid carbon/low-alloy steel electrodes for SAW; j) fluxes and composite carbon steel/low-alloy electrodes for SAW; and k) bare aluminum and aluminum alloy electrodes and rods, as specified in Clause 1.2. 

1.2 Exceptions 

This Standard does not allow an electrode certified under one classification to be certified under another classification for the same welding process, with the following exceptions: a) For SAW, i) a composite electrode may be certified under different classifications in combination with different fluxes; and ii) fluxes may be classified under any number of classifications, for weld metal in either or both the as-welded and post-weld heat-treated conditions, or using different electrode classifications. b) For FCAW and MCAW A5.36/A5.36M fixed and open classification equivalents (see Clause 1.1), E49C-6M may also be listed as E49C-3M. c) For chromium and chromium-nickel steel covered electrodes, materials classified under one classification may be classified under any other classification of AWS A5.4/A5.4M provided they meet all the requirements for those classifications, except a material shall not be classified under more than one of the following: EXXX-15, EXXX-16, EXXX-17, or EXXX-26 designations. d) For wire electrodes and deposits for GMAW of carbon and low-alloy steel, materials classified under one classification may be classified under another classification of CSA ISO 14341 or AWS A5.36/A5.36M with a different shielding gas provided they meet all requirements for those classifications (see Annex A). e) Electrodes and wire flux combinations where the only differences are in the hydrogen designators may be excepted. f) For wire electrodes, rods, and deposits for GMAW, GTAW, and SAW of chromium and chromium- nickel steel, materials classified under one classification may be classified under any other classification of AWS A5.9/A5.9M, provided they meet all requirements for those classifications. g) For wire electrodes and deposits for FCAW and MCAW of chromium and chromium-nickel steel, materials classified under one classification may be classified under another classification of AWS A5.22/A5.22M based on carbon content and shielding gas, provided they meet all requirements for those classifications. h) For MCAW carbon and low-alloy steel electrodes utilizing the open-ended classification system in AWS A5.36/A5.36M, a positional designator should be assigned by the manufacturer to the classification. "1" indicates all positions and "0" indicates flat and horizontal. i) For wire electrodes and deposits for FCAW and MCAW of carbon and low-alloy steel, materials classified under one classification may be classified under another classification of CSA ISO 14341 or AWS A5.36/A5.36M with a different shielding gas provided they meet all requirements for those classifications (see Annex I). 

1.3 Compliance 

For the purpose of determining compliance with the requirements of this Standard, the actual test values obtained are subjected to the rounding off rules of ISO 80000-1, Clause B.3, Rule A. If the measured values are obtained by equipment calibrated in units other than those of this Standard, then the measured values are converted to the units of this Standard before rounding. If an arithmetic average value is to be compared to the requirements of this Standard, then rounding is to be done only after calculating the arithmetic average. If a test method used in this Standard contains instructions for rounding that conflict with the instructions of this Standard, then the rounding requirements of the test method will apply. An observed or calculated value shall be rounded to the nearest 10 MPa for tensile and yield strength, and to the nearest unit in the last right-hand place of figures used in expressing the limiting values for other quantities. The rounded results will satisfy the requirements of the appropriate table for the classification under test. 

1.4 Safety 

This Standard does not address safety associated with welding and welding practices. Note: CAN/CSA-W117.2 addresses safety in welding and should be followed in addition to applicable workplace health and safety legislation. It is the responsibility of the users of this Standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices, and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 

1.5 Terminology 

In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application. 

1.6 SI units 

The values given in SI units are the units of record for the purposes of this Standard. The values given in Annex Hare for information and comparison only. 

1.7 Metric consumable classification 

The metric versions of AWS standards are used to certify consumables (e.g., A5.4M) except for wire diameter tolerances (see Clause 5).