American Welding Society

The American Welding Society (AWS), a not-for-profit organisation, has been advancing welding procedures and joining and cutting methods for more than 100 years and is one of the leading organisations supporting science, technology and applications in this area. The organisation offers its members a platform for exchanging ideas and improvements.

Acting in this function, the AWS publishes specifications, technical rules, guidelines, recommended procedures and codes, thereby setting the quality standard for many areas of application in welding and joining technology.

In this context, the following codes of practice must be named in particular:

• AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code – Steel
• AWS D1.2 Structural Welding Code – Aluminum
• AWS D1.3 Structural Welding Code – Sheet Steel
• AWS D1.4 Structural Welding Code – Reinforcement Steel
• AWS D1.5 Bridge Welding Code
• AWS D1.6 Structural Welding-Code – Stainless Steel
• AWS D15.1 – Railroad Welding Specification for Cars and Locomotives

The AWS D1.1 code of practice, for example, represents the standard in welding technology both in North America and worldwide, and is referred to in many contracts as the binding quality standard.

The enormous significance of this standard is based firstly on its detailed and comprehensive instructions on how to carry out welding and joining processes in order to ensure their quality assurance and quality improvement. Secondly, these recommended actions can also reduce costs, e.g. when high-quality work renders repairs or rework unnecessary. For these reasons, AWS has been recognised as a national welding standard in the USA. Companies seeking to access the US market as manufacturers in steel or plant engineering or which are working in the field of welding or exporting products for this sector of industry thus should have in-depth knowledge of AWS standards.

Under the AWS Code, Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs) play a central role. Performing welder and procedure qualifications as well as factory acceptance testing on behalf of manufacturers, they also satisfy the required quality standards. GSI SLV and AWS work together on offering CWI training and examinations. For further information we please you to visit the following link: https://www.slv-muenchen.de/en/education-and-training/education-training-available-in-english/certified-welding-inspector/

Beyond this, GSI SLV and its experienced, recognised CWIs will support you as reliable partners. Our specialists provide expert advice on all requirements of the AWS codes of practice and on how your company can achieve compliance with them, particularly in the following fields:

• Preparation of welding procedure specifications (WPS)
• Planning, preparation, and performance of welding procedure qualifications, including monitoring and supervision of welding of test specimens and preparation of the required procedure qualification reports (PQR).
• Qualification of welders and support with issuance of the required welder performance qualifications (WPQs)
• Non-destructive and destructive test methods carried out in our accredited testing laboratory
• Manufacturing support and factory acceptance testing of components and assemblies according to AWS regulations
• Training of your staff in theory and practice

Do you have further questions on the topic of AWS? Just contact us – we will be happy to be of assistance.