Lesson 6 - Weld Symbols
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Midhun K ChandraboseLesson 6 - Weld Symbols
Uploaded by
Midhun K ChandraboseApplication of weld symbols on drawings
Weld symbols have been used for many years and are a simple way of communicating design office
details to a number of different industrial shop floor personnel such as welders, supervisors, and
inspectors. Subcontractors are often required to interpret weld symbols on engineering drawings, from
perhaps the main contractor or client. It is essential that everyone should have a full understanding of
weld symbol requirements to ensure that the initial design requirement is met.
There are a number of standards which relate to weld symbols including British, European,
International and American (American Welding Society) standards. Most of the details are often
similar or indeed, the same, but it is essential that everyone concerned knows the standard to be
used. One of the first requirements therefore is:
Standard
The UK has traditionally used BS 499 Part 2. This standard has now been superseded by BS EN
22553, however in many welding and fabrication organisations there will be old drawings used that
make reference to out of date standards such as BS 499 Pt 2.
BS EN 22553 is almost identical to the original ISO 2553 standard on which it was based. Therefore
we can say, for at least this article's scope, there are no significant differences, but it is essential that
the reader consults the specific standard. The American system is also similar in many respects but
will not be covered here.
Basic requirements
All the standards have the same requirements in relation to the following items:
Arrow line and arrow head
Reference line
The arrow line can be at any angle (except 180 degrees) and can point up or down. The arrow head
must touch the surfaces of the components to be joined and the location of the weld. Any intended
edge preparation or weldment is not shown as an actual cross sectional representation, but is
replaced by a line. The arrow also points to the component to be prepared with single prepared
components. See Figs. 1-4.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Symbol types
Fig. 4.
To the basic set-up of the arrow and reference line, the design draughtsperson can apply the
appropriate symbol, or symbols for more complex situations.
The symbols, in particular for arc and gas welding, are often shown as cross sectional representations
of either a joint design or a completed weld. Simple, single edge preparations are shown in Fig. 5.
For resistance welding, a spot weld and seam weld are shown in Fig. 6:
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Joint and/or weld shape
The above examples can be interpreted as either the joint details alone or the completed weld,
however, for a finished weld it is normal to find that an appropriate weld shape is specified. Using the
examples above, there are a number of options and methods to specify an appropriate weld shape or
finish.
Butt welded configurations would normally be shown as a convex profile (Fig.7 'a', 'd' and 'f') or as a
dressed-off weld as shown in 'b' and 'c'. Fillet weld symbols are always shown as a 'mitre' fillet weld (a
right angled triangle) and a convex or concave profile can be superimposed over the original symbol's
mitre shape. See Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.
Part 2 of this explanation of weld symbols covering more complex situations will appear in the next
issue.
Weld sizing
In order that the correct size of weld can be applied, it is common to find numbers to either the left or
to the right of the symbol.
For fillet welds, numbers to the left of the symbol indicate the design throat thickness, leg length, or
both design throat thickness and leg length requirements. Fig 1 gives examples of symbols used in
different Standards.
For fillet welds:
Superseded BS499 Pt 2 gives
a = design throat thickness
b = leg length
ISO 2553/EN 22553
requirements
a = design throat
thickness
z = leg length
s = penetration throat
thickness
Fig.1
Fig.2
For butt joints and welds, an S
with a number to the left of a
symbol refers to the depth of penetration as shown in Fig.2.
When there are no specific
dimensional requirements
specified for butt welds on a
drawing using weld symbols, it
would normally be assumed that
the requirement is for a full
penetration butt weld (Fig.3).
Numbers to the right of a
symbol or symbols relate to
the longitudinal dimension of
welds, eg for fillets, the
number of welds, weld length
and weld spacing for noncontinuous welds, as Fig.4.
Fig.3
Fig.4
On fillet welded joints made from both sides, a
staggered weld can be shown by placing a 'Z' through
the reference line (Fig.5).
Fig.5
Supplemetary symbols
Weld symbols indicate the type of preparation to use or
the weld type. However, there may still be occasions
where other information is required. The basic
information can therefore be added to in order to provide
further details as shown in Figs.6, 7 and 8.
Fig.7
Fig.8
Fig.6
Weld all round
For a Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) welded to a plate, for example:
Weld in the field or on site
The box attached to the arrow can be used to contain, or point to, other information.
Welding process type
ISO 4063 gives welding processes specific reference numbers. As shown in Fig.9 the appropriate
process number is placed in the tail of the arrow. Other processes are given a unique number. In this
example, 135 refers to MAG welding.
Fig.9
There are a number of additional symbols given in the Standards (eg ISO 22553) which refer to
additional welding or joint requirements. Figure 10 shows the requirement for a sealing run.
Fig.10
Compound joints/welds
A compound weld could be a 'T' butt weld which requires fillet welds to be added to increase the
throat thickness as shown in Fig.11.
Fig.11
Fig.12
The broken reference line
The main feature that distinguishes weld symbol standards is that
for ISO 2553 and BS EN 22553, there is an additional feature of a
broken reference line.
This method is used when a weldment or weld preparation needs
to be specified on the 'other side' of the arrow as shown in Fig.12.
Any symbol that is used to show a joint or weld type feature on
the other side of the arrow line is always placed on a dotted line.
BS 499 and AWS require symbols to be placed above the
reference line (which indicate the other side) or below the
reference line (indicating the arrow side).
Summary
Weld symbols are a very useful way of communicating welding requirements from the design office to
the shop floor.
It is essential that the 'rules' of the standard used are correctly applied by drawing office personnel.
However, it is also important that shop floor personnel are able to read and understand the details of
weld symbols.
Much of this requirement can be met by reference to the standard being used within the organisation
and by the drawing office personnel considering the needs of the end user such as the welders,
welding supervisors, welding inspection personnel and welding engineers in order to minimise costly
mistakes due to misinterpretation.
Training of all personnel in the correct use of weld symbol specifications also plays an important role
in ensuring that weld symbols are both correctly applied and correctly read.
