Welding Symbols

Faculty of Engineering
Mechanical Dept.
Objectives

1. Know the name of the AWS & ISO

standards for welding symbols
2. List the eight elements that may be found
on a welding symbol
3. List the basic weld symbols
4. List the supplementary symbols
5. Identify the applications of the different
weld symbols
Weld symbols on drawings
A method of transferring information from the
design office to the workshop is:

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)
AWS Standard
 Weld symbol
 Graphic symbol that indicates weld required
 Welding symbol
 Following eight elements:
 Reference line (required)
 Arrow (required)
 Basic weld symbols
 Dimensions and other data
 Supplementary symbols
 Finish symbols
 Tail
 Other specifications
Welding Symbol Components
Welding Symbol Components
Welding Symbol Components
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 give on
the right side

BS EN ISO 22553
a = Design throat thickness
s = Depth of Penetration, 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 Weld Symbols
Square Groove Weld

Single V Groove Weld

Elementary Weld Symbols
Single Bevel Groove Weld

Single V Groove Weld with Broad Root Face

 Elementary Weld Symbols
Single Bevel Groove Weld with Broad Root Face

Single U Groove Weld

Elementary Weld Symbols

Single J Groove Weld

Backing Weld
Elementary Weld Symbols
Fillet Weld

Plug / Slot Weld

Elementary Weld Symbols
Spot Weld

Seam Weld
Elementary Weld Symbols
Edge Weld

Surfacing
SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOLS
Weld Profile

Flat
Convex Concave
SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOLS

M MR

Toes blended Permanent Removable

smoothly Backing Strip Backing Strip
SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOLS
Peripheral Welds
Basic Weld Symbols

AWS
Basic Weld Symbols

AWS
Welding Symbols

AWS
 ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
24 of 691

Plug weld Square Butt weld

Resistance spot weld Steep flanked

Single-V Butt

Resistance seam weld Surfacing

ISO & AWS
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
(AWS A2.4)
Convention of the reference line:
Shall touch the arrow line
Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing
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
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
30 of 691
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
31 of 691

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
33 of 691 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
34 of 691

Arrow side

Arrow side
 ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553

35 of 691
s6

6mm fillet weld

Other side

s6

Other side
 ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553
36 of 691
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
All dimensions in mm
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
All dimensions in mm

z8 3 x 80 (90)
z6 3 x 80 (90)
6
80 80 80
6

8 90 90
90

8
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
41 of 691

a b

c d
ISO 2553 / BS EN 22553

Mitre Convex

Toes
Concave
shall be
blended
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
44 of 691
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

Root Opening
Depth of Bevel

1 (1-1/8)
1/8
60o

Effective Throat Groove Angle

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

Sequence of 3rd Operation

Operations
2nd Operation

1st Operation
FCAW
1 (1-1/8)
1/8
60o
AWS Welding Symbols

Sequence of RT
Operations
MT
MT
FCAW
1 (1-1/8)
1/8
60o
Fillet Welds and Symbol
 Fillet weld triangular-shaped weld placed on the
joint
 Fillet weld symbol triangular in shape
 Verticalline of fillet weld symbol always drawn to left
of symbol
 Size always shown to left of symbol and length to right
of symbol
 No length given, then weld should run full length of
joint
 AWS Welding Symbols
52 of 691
Dimensions- Leg Length

6 leg on member A
6/8

Member A 6

Member B
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

Symbol to AWS A2.4

 Intermittent fillet welds
Staggered intermittent fillet weld
e/2
pitch (e) length (l)

z l-e
z l-e
Symbol to AWS A2.4
Examples:
Fillet Welds on T-Joints
Example: Fillet Weld Length and
Pitch Indications
Weld-All-Around Symbol
 Used when weld is to extend all way around joint
or series of connected joints
 Symbol: circle viewable at junction of reference
line and arrow
Groove Welds
 Seven types of groove welds and symbols to
represent them
 Square
V
 Bevel
Symbols take the shape
U
J
of the groove the weld
 Flare-V
is to be placed in.
 Flare-bevel
Groove Welds
 Place in a joint
 Used to make butt joints, but can be used to
make other types of joints
 Double bevel
 One of joint members has bevel on both sides and joint
is to be welded from both sides
 V shape
V-groove Weld on Butt Joint
Double V-groove Weld on Butt Joint
Contour Symbol and Letters Which
Indicate Finishing Method