TWI

CSWIP 3.1WIS 5
WELDING INSPECTION
WELDING SYMBOLS
BSEN ISO 22553 /AWS A2.
SECTION 8

Weld symbols on drawings

One method of transferring information from
the design office to the workshop could be:

Please
weld
This method does nothere
give enough information
and does not convey the actual or design
requirements.
Most countries have their own standards for
symbols.
The two most common are BS EN 22553 (ISO
2553), which has now replaced BS 499 Part 2 &
AWS A2.4

Weld symbols on drawings

Welded joints may be indicated:
- by detailed sketches, showing every dimension

or by symbolic representation

Weld symbols on drawings

Advantages of symbolic representation:

simple and accurate

should not over-complicate the drawing
no need for additional views
should give all necessary information regarding the
specific joint to be obtained

Disadvantages of symbolic representation:

can only be used only for standard joints
requires training for properly understanding of
symbols

WELDING SYMBOLS

BS EN ISO 22553.
Welded,brazed and soldered
joints Symbolic representation on
drawings.

WELDING SYMBOLS
BSEN 22553 (UK & Europe)
There are 7 components to this standard;
1. THE ARROW LINE
2. THE DUAL REFERENCE LINE
3. THE ELEMENTARY SYMBOL
4. COMBINED SYMBOLS FOR SYMMETRICAL
WELDS
5. THE SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOL
6. DIMENSIONS
7. COMPLEMENTARY INDICATIONS

ARROW LINE
Convention of the arrow line:

a)

b)

Shall touch the joint intersection

Shall not be parallel to the drawing

c) Shall point towards a single plate

preparation (when only one plate has
preparation)

OTHER
SIDE

ARROW SIDE

THE DUAL REFERENCE LINE

Convention of the reference
line:
a) Shall touch the arrow line
b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the
drawing
c) There shall be a further broken line
above or beneath the reference line ,
identification line. (Not necessary
where
o
the weld is symmetrical!) r

BS EN 22553 - example

Arrow side
Other side

BS EN 22553 - example
Joint A
Other side joint A

Arrow side joint B

Joint B

Arrow side joint A

Other side joint B

BS EN 22553 - example
Joint A
Other side joint B

Arrow side joint B

Joint B

Arrow side joint A

Other side joint A

BS EN 22553 - example

Other side

Arrow side

TABLE 1-ELEMENTARY SYMBOLS

Various categories of joints are characterised by an
elementary symbol.
The elementary symbol is similar to the shape of the
weld to be made.
Weld type

Square butt weld

Single V butt weld

Sketch

Symbol

TABLE 1 - ELEMENTARY SYMBOLS

Weld type
Single-V butt weld
with broad root face

Single bevel butt

weld
Single bevel butt
weld with broad root
face

Backing run

Sketch

Symbol

TABLE 1 - ELEMENTARY SYMBOLS

Weld type
Single-U
butt weld
Single-J
butt weld

Fillet weld

Surfacing

Sketch

Symbol

TABLE 1 - ELEMENTARY SYMBOLS

Weld type

Edge weld

Sketch

Symbol

TABLE 2 - COMBINED SYMBOLS FOR SYMMETRICAL

WELDS

Representation of welds done from both

sides of the joint intersection, touched by
the arrow head
Double
V

Double
bevel

Double U

Fillet
weld

Double J

SYMMETRICAL WELDS

TABLE 3 - SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOLS.

Supplementary weld
symbols;
Ground
flush

OR

TABLE 3 -SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOLS

Supplementary weld
symbols;

Convex

Concave

SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOLS
Supplementary weld
symbols;
Toes shall be blended smoothly

TABLE 3 - SUPPLEMENTARY SYMBOLS

Supplementary weld
symbols;
Removable
backing
strip used

MR

Permanent
backing
strip used

METHOD OF REPRESENTATION
WELD SYMBOL

REFERENCE LINE
ARROW LINE
IDENTIFICATION LINE

BS EN 22553 rules - example

Arrow side

Arrow side

BS EN 22553 rules - example

Other side

Other side

DIMENSIONS
Dimensions;
Leg length prefixed by the letter z.
Design throat thickness prefixed by
the letter a.
z6
a4.2

Fillet welds
Fillet weld dimensions according BS EN
22553
z8

or

z8

z8
a5
5
8

or

a5 z8

DIMENSIONS
Dimensions;
For intermittent fillet welds

z1
0

25

( 50 )

Number of welds (n) x Length of weld (l)

( Distance between each weld (e))

BS EN 22553 rules - example

z 10

3 x 25
(50)

50
25
10

DIMENSIONS
Dimensions;
For deep penetration fillet welds.

s8
s = Effective throat
thickness

DIMENSIONS
Dimensions;
For single vee butt welds with a
broad root face (partial penetration
welds).
s6

s = nominal throat
thickness

PARTIAL PENETRATION WELDS

s6

6
4

10

INTERMITTENT FILLET WELDS

Chain intermittent fillet weld
Distance between
(e)

length (l)

z
z
z

nl(e
)nl(e
)
Symbol to BS EN 22553

a
a
or

nl(e
)nl(e
)

STAGGERED INTERMITTENT
Staggered intermittent fillet weld
Distance(e)

length
(l)

z
z

nl
(e)
z nl
(e)
Symbol to BS EN 22553

a nl
a (e)
nl
(e)
or

COMPLEMENTARY INDICATIONS

Weld all round ( peripheral weld )

COMPLEMENTARY INDICATIONS

Site (Field) Weld

COMPLEMENTARY INDICATIONS
Indication of welding process to
ISO 4063;
MMA111.

MIG-131. MAG135.

FCAW136

TIG-141

111

COMPLEMENTARY INDICATIONS
Indication of welding
procedure

WPS

COMPLEMENTARY INDICATIONS
Non Destructive
Testing - other than
visual

NDT

BS EN 22553 rules
Welds Arrow Side of joint, Symbol on the Solid reference
line. Welds on Other Side of the joint, Symbol on the
Dashed identification line.
Symbols with a Vertical Line component must be drawn
with the vertical line to the Left side of the symbol
All CSA dimensions are shown to the Left of the symbol
All Linear dimensions are shown on the Right of the
symbol i.e. number of welds, length of welds and
distance between welds
The dashed line must be omitted when
symmetrical welds are required

BS EN 22553 rules

Fillet welds that are intermittent and staggered

are shown by an Elongated Z symbol through
the dual reference line.

WELD SYMBOLS

QUESTIONS ?

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
BS EN 22553 FILLET WELDS
1

z6

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
BS EN 22553 FILLET WELDS
2

z6
z6

25

3x 25 (40)
3x 25 (40)

40
40

25

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES.
BS EN 22553 FILLET WELDS
3

40

30

50

z6

3x 50 (25)

z10

3x 40 (30)

40

25

30

50

40

25

50

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
BS EN 22553 FILLET WELDS
4

25

50

20

z8

3x 25 (50)

z10

2x 20 (40)

25

40

50

20

25

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
BS EN 22553 BUTT WELDS
1

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
BS EN 22553 BUTT WELDS
2

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
BS EN 22553 BUTT WELDS
s10
3

ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
BS EN 22553 BUTT
WELDS
4

z8
s12
z12

AWS A 2.4 RULES

Welds on arrow side of joint go underneath
the reference line while welds the other side
of the joint, go on top of the reference line
Symbols with a vertical line component must be
drawn with the vertical line to the left side of
the symbol
All CSA dimensions are shown to the left of the
symbol
All linear dimensions are shown on the right of
the symbol i.e. number of welds, length of
welds, length of any spaces

AWS A 2.4 SUMMARY

Welds on arrow side of joint symbol below the
reference line.
welds on other side of the joint, symbol above
the reference line.

Arrow
Side

Other
Side

AWS A 2.4 SUMMARY

Use of 3 reference lines to show sequence of
operations.
3
UT
2
1

AWS A 2.4 SUMMARY

Staggered intermittent fillet welds are
indicated by the symbol about the reference
line.

AWS A 2.4 SUMMARY

Fillet weld distances are measured center to
center

AWS A 2.4 SUMMARY

Definite break in the arrow line when only one
side is prepared.

AWS A 2.4 SUMMARY

Dimensions may be shown in imperial
measurement.
3/4
or
0.75
"

NDT PRACTICLE.

QUESTIONS ?

WELD SYMBOLS

QUESTIONS ?

Reference line
Convention of the reference line AWS
A 2.4
a) Shall touch the arrow line

b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the

drawing

AWS A 2.4 rules-example

10

3 x 50 (70)

70
50
10

Fillet welds
Fillet weld dimensions according AWS A
2.4

5x8
5
8

5legon
vertical
member

Intermittent fillet welds

Chain intermittent fillet weld
pitch
(e)

length
(l)
z
z
z

Symbol to AWS A2.4

l-e
l-e

Intermittent fillet welds

Staggered intermittent fillet weld
pitch
(e)

e/2

length
(l)
z
z
z

Symbol to AWS A2.4

l-e
l-e

Weld symbols on drawings

Example:
Draw the symbols for the weld given as
shown below to the specification BS EN
22553
MM
Weld drawing
A

Symbol
Drawing

111

Weld symbols on drawings

Solution BS EN
22553
Note that the arrow
lines are not drawn
correctly in the notes
on page 8.7
a7z
10
s 35

135/111

s 15
z 10

z
10
s 30
s 20
z
10

BS EN 22553 Welding Symbols

13

10

s10

10

Partial penetration single-V butt

S indicates the depth of penetration

15

Weld symbols on drawings

Solution AWS
A2.4

10
30
20
10

10
35
15
10

Weld symbols on drawings

Student symbols exercise
Complete a symbols drawing for the welded
joint given below to AWS A2.4 & BS EN
22553
7

10

35

20

15

30

All fillet weld leg lengths are 10 mm

mm