Title: Welding Positions

SATIP No: N/A Activity No: N/A

SAIC No: N/A SATR No: N/A
References: ASME SEC-IX, AWS D1.1, AWS D3.0, BS EN ISO 15614-1
A. General:

1. Welding Positions are the positional relation between the welder and the production piece to be welded.
2. In BS EN ISO 15614-1, ASME SEC-IX and AWS D1.1 (referring to AWS A3.0), the ideals are pretty
similar, but have a different naming system.
3. This whole article and the diagrams below will already be featuring the conversion between BS EN
ISO standards to AWS / ASME standards naming system.
4. You will notice that you will essentially only need to pay attention to half of this diagram, as the other
half is exactly the same (mirrored), which means the PC / 2G position is the same on either side of the
plate or pipe.

B. Welding Positions for Plate (Fillet), Pipe Welds as per BS EN ISO 15614-1, ASME IX
and AWS D1.1:

1. Horizontal travel positions: In the horizontal travel welding positions, in which the weld
progression is perpendicular to the welder’s position.

a. PA / 1G / 1F: This is the flat position, in which the welder has the piece right below the torch, this
is used for butt or groove welds, although it can be used for fillet welds.
b. PB / 2F: This is the horizontal position for fillet welds. The welder will be holding the torch at
around 45° most of the times (although it depends on the plate or pipe position) with the piece right
next to him.

c. PC / 2G: Commonly referred to as the horizontal position for butt welds. The piece will be directly
parallel to the welder’s body and he’ll usually weld the piece while it is right in front of him.

d. PD / 4F: This is the Horizontal- Vertical Overhead position for fillet welds. The welder will be
holding the torch at around 45° most of the times (even if it depends on the plate or pipe position),
this time while being below the piece.

e. PE / 4G: This is the Overhead position for butt welds. The welder will be holding the torch from
directly below the piece. It is quite hard as a position and requires proper weld parameter settings.
2. Uphill and Downhill travel positions: In the Uphill and Downhill welding positions, in
which the weld progression is parallel to the welder’s position.

a. PF / 3G Uphill: This is the Vertical up for butt or fillet welds. The welder uses the metal from the
lower parts of the test piece and some superficial tension to perform welding against the force of
gravity, while aiming the torch at around 45º.

b. PG / 3G Downhill: This is the Vertical down for butt or fillet welds. The welder will use the metal
from the upper parts of the test piece and the electric arc’s own kinetic force (as well as some
superficial tension) to maintain the weld puddle. This is a good position in terms of productivity,
and there are already very competent systems to weld in this position on semi-automatic welding.

c. PH / 5G Uphill: This is the Vertical up position for pipe butt welds. This is a very common way
of welding pipes manually. The welder will be welding in three different positions, starting with
the overhead position, then going through the horizontal position, and finishing on the flat position.
d. PJ / 5G Downhill: This is the Vertical down position for pipe butt welds. This is a very productive
way of welding pipes manually, but should be done only with specific equipment for pipe welding
against the force of gravity. The welder will be welding in three different positions, starting with
the flat position, then going through the horizontal position, and finishing on the overhead position.

e. H-L045 / 6G Uphill: This is the Vertical up position for pipe butt welds. The hardest positions
for a welder to perform. Usually only performed on weld tests, in order to qualify a welder for all
other positions. This is essentially the same as PH/5G but with the pipe at a 45° angle.

a. J-L045 / 6G Downhill: This is the Vertical down position for pipe butt welds. The hardest
positions for a welder to perform. Usually only performed on weld tests, in order to qualify a welder
for all other positions. This is essentially the same as PJ/5G but with the pipe at a 45° angle.
3. So, to summarize, these are the comparisons between ISO standard positions and
ASME / AWS nomenclature:

Welding Positions for Plate & Pipe As per BS EN ISO As per ASME/AWS
Flat/ Downward-Plate & Pipe PA 1G /1F
Horizontal / Horizontally Rotated-Plate PB 2F /2FR
Horizontal-Pipe PC 2G
Horizontal-Vertical Overhead-Plate PD 4F
Overhead-Pipe PE 4G
Vertical Upwards-Plate & Pipe PF 3F / 3G Uphill
Vertical Downwards-Plate & Pipe PG 3F / 3G Downhill

Pipe fixed Vertical Upwards PH 5G Uphill

Pipe fixed Vertical Downwards PJ 5G Downhill
Inclined Pipe fixed @ 45° Upwards H-L045 6G Uphill
Inclined Pipe fixed @ 45° Downwards J-L045 6G Down Hill
C. Test Positions for Welder’s Performance Qualification as per ASME SEC-IX:

Figure QW-461.4
Figure QW-461.6