SELF-LEARNING HOME TASK (SLHT)

Subject: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) Grade Level : 10

Quarter: Q3 Week: LHT 12 (Q3-W4)
MELC: shows an understanding of the different WELDING POSITIONS in (FILLET AND GROOVE) weld in steel
plate and on steel pipe.
Competency Code: TLE_IAAW10FC-IIIaIVj-2
School: Buanoy National High School District: Balamban II

Readings:

TYPES OF WELDING POSITIONS

Welding Positions are basically the different angles of joining metals. Normally, there are four types of
welding positions namely horizontal, flat, vertical, and overhead.  And the most common types of welds
are groove and fillet welds. Welders can perform these two welds in all four positions. Besides this, there are
special letters to designate fillet and groove welds.

Fillet Weld (F) – It is a welding method for combining two parts of metal vertically or slightly at an angle.

Groove Weld (G) – It is a weld made in the groove. It requires full penetration for laying strong welds.

Grove and Fillet Welding Positions

Normally, the following numbers and letters are used.

For groove welding positions-

 1G – (flat welding position)
 2G – (horizontal welding position)
 3G – (vertical welding position)
 4G – (welding position overhead or overhead)
 5G – (uphill/downhill vertical welding position)
 6G/6GR – (overhead vertical welding position)
For fillet welding positions-
 1F – (flat welding position)
 2F – (horizontal welding position)
 3F – (vertical welding position)
 4F – (welding position overhead or overhead)

Types of Welding Positions by AWS

and ASME
=1G/1F = 2F/2G
= 3G Uphill
=4F/4G = 5G Uphill
= 5G Downhill
=6G Uphill = 6G
Downhill

Pipe and Plate Weld Joint

Positions
Normally there are six welding
positions with certain numbers
and letter i.e. 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G,
and 6G/6GR. All the positions are
used in various angles and shapes
while performing welding.
Generally, the ways and ideas of
welding are similar in different
countries. But the AWS D1.1
(referring to AWS A3.0), ASME IX,
and ISO 15614-1 use different
names in their Tables.

1G/1F/PA Position (Flat) =1G/1F/PA position is a flat

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welding position. In this weld position, welders put metal piece right below the torch. This position is
performed for butt, groove and fillet welds as well.
In pipe 1G welding position, the pipe is rolled horizontally. The weld is made in the flat position
(approximately 12:00 [o’clock] as the pipe is rolled.

2G/PC Position (Horizontal)= This is a horizontal position for butt welds. In this welding
position, the metal piece remains parallel to welder’s body and he welds it while remaining in
front of him.

2F(2f)/PB Position (Horizontal)= 2F/PB Position is a horizontal welding position used for
fillet welds. It is harder than the 1F position. A welder needs to hold the torch at a 45° angle
most of the time with the piece next to him. But the exact angle of torch depends on the
angles of the plate and pipe.
In the 2F/2f position, the butt weld is a bit more difficult than flat welding. This
happens due to the molten metal flowing downward of the joint and the torch heat rises
upward of the joint. Consequently, a uniform deposit cannot be applied to joints.

For better welds, welders need to align the metals and weld at both ends. The movements of the torch
should be slightly up and down for spreading equal heat to both sides of the joint. In this way, the molten
metal will not flow the lower side of the joint and solidify the weld metal faster. For master, a welder needs a
lot of experience in 2f or any horizontal position. 2f is one of the horizontal positions for the fillet test.

There is another horizontal fixed weld position or pipe welding position. In this, the pipe axis remains
nearly horizontal. It is noteworthy that the pipe being welded should not move or rotate while performing
welding.
In another horizontal rolled welding position, pipe puts flat and welding is done on by rotating it as
required. First, the welder needs to align the joints and weld it. For gripping pipe, welders can use steel made
bridge clamps while using a welding torch.

Another similar welding position is 2G, which means a horizontal welding position for groove not for
fillet welds. In this position, the weld axis remains horizontal and the weld is facing the vertical plane.

3G Uphill/PF Position (Vertical)= It is a vertical-up position used for both butt and
fillet welds. While welding, the angle of the torch remains at 45°, and welder used the
metal from the lower part.

3G Downhill/PG Position (Vertical)=It is a vertical-down position used for fillet and

butt welds. Welders used the metal from the upper part. This position is considered
good in terms of productivity.

4G/PE Position (Overhead)=It is an overhead position used for butt welds. Welders
need to hold the torch from below the metal piece. Normally, it is a complex and hard position. Welders must
set proper parameters before welding.

4F/PD Position (Overhead)=This is also an overhead position used for fillet welds. Mostly, welder holds the
torch at a 45° angle while being below the metal piece and it depends on the pipe/plate positions.

5G Welding Positions-=5G welding position is used for pipe welding and the axis of the PIPE is stable in a
horizontal position without turning or rotating. 5G stands for ‘groove weld’. The American Welding
Society/The American Society of Mechanical Engineers names it as 5G; and that of ISO/EN standards
as PF.

5G Uphill Position (Vertical)=It is a vertical-upward position used for pipe butt welds. It is a common
manual way of pipe welds. In this position, welders follow three ways of welding in sequence starting from
overhead position to horizontal and then the flat position. In the 5G position, the pipe is not turned or
rotated; that is why it is difficult.

5G Downhill Position (Vertical)=It is a vertical-downward position used for pipe butt welds. 5G downhill
position is a very good and productive way of welding pipes manually. In this position, welders should use
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proper and specific equipment for welding pipes against the dragging force of gravity of molten metal. By
doing so, welding productivity is increased, and imparts desired welding results. During 5G, welders go
through three welding stages starting from flat position, then horizontal position and ending with the
overhead position.

Different names of 5G welding position by the following bodies:

ASME/AWS Nomenclatures ISO Standard Positions
5G Uphill welding position PH welding position
5G Downhill welding position PJ welding position

6G Welding Positions= This is one of the hardest types of welding positions for welders to perform. The
position is a pre-condition for getting certified. To some extent, this position is similar to 5G/PH/PJ BUT THE
PIPE stands at 45° to the other one. Other names are 6G Uphill/H-L045  and 6G Downhill/J-L045 Position.
6G welding position also known as overhead weld position or welder  certification test position. In this
position, one pipe needs to position at a 45° angle to the other one. That’s why it becomes the most complex
and challenging position for welders. Further, welders need to make so many body positions while
performing welding.

While 6G position welding, there are mainly three welds i.e. horizontal (difficult), flat (easy), and vertical
welds (demanding). Filling metal flow downwards is the main cause of the difficulty. And in a vertical position,
it becomes more difficult for welders as it is overhead welding. Therefore, a welder needs a lot of practice in a
6G position before going for the actual weld. A certified welder rarely faces a 6G position while working in
industry during their service, but it is a common pre-employment test for them.

The main use of a 6G weld position is for fabrication and installation of pipe and pipelines mostly
in chemical plants, oil and gas plants, industrial plants, and any other similar industry using pipe and
pipelines.

6GR Test
It is another form of a 6G test. The letter R stands for ‘restricted’. It means the weld is performed in a
“ring mode” by placing a steel plate below the weld site with an inch gap . Basically, this is another
difficulty level for welders in the certification process. In 6GR, welders need to make joints near to
impediments like brackets, walls and attaching pipe to another structure.

Fillet Weld Position-Pipe:

Flat Position 1F: Pipe with its axis inclined at 45 degrees

to horizontal and rotated during welding so that the weld
metal is deposited from above and at the point of deposition
the axis of the weld is horizontal and the throat vertical.

Horizontal
Positions 2F and 2FR:
(I) Position 2F: Pipe with its axis vertical so that the weld is
deposited on the upper side of the horizontal surface and against the
vertical surface. The axis of the weld will be horizontal and the
pipe is not to be rotated during
welding.

(II) Position 2FR: Pipe with its axis horizontal and the axis of the deposited
weld in the vertical plane. The pipe is
rotated during welding.

Overhead Position 4F: Pipe with its axis vertical so that the weld is
deposited on the underside of the horizontal surface and against the
vertical surface. The axis of the weld will be horizontal and the pipe is not

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 to be rotated during welding.

Multiple Position 5F: Pipe with its axis horizontal and the

axis of the deposited weld in the vertical plane. The pipe is
NOT to be rotated during welding.

Conclusion
Thus, the information on types of welding positions like 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G/6GR is beneficial for
students, welders, educators, and other professionals. Welding positions play the main role in the
certification process for welders. They may be tested for positions starting from 1G to 6G both for the fillet
and groove welds.

Application of Welding Position:

1) 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G plate position are mainly applicable in the fabrication of tank, pressure vessel and
reactor.

2) 1G, 2G, 5G and 6G pipe positions are applicable in the fabrication and installation of piping and pipelines
for oil and gas industries, Chemical plants.

3) 6GR is applicable mainly in the fabrication and installation of offshore structure and other structure that
have the TKY configuration.
Exercise 01: MULTIPLE CHOICE
Directions: Choice the LETTER of the right answer and write it on your answer SHEET (1 whole SHEET of
PAPER).

C. Assessment/Application/Outputs
Directions: Copy the table below in your bond paper and define the following WELDING TERMINOLOGIES.
(2-3 sentences only) (your score will be X2/10 x 2=20).

References:
-https://www.keenovens.com/products/stick-electrodes-details.html#:~:text=Welding%20electrodes%20are
%20metal%20wires,arc%2C%20and%20improves%20the%20weld.
-WELDING SKILLS/WELDING CHAP 7-21.pdf
- https://www.weldinginfo.org/welding-processes/types-of-welding-positions-and-joins/

Prepared by: JUDY C. SINGIT

Checked By: Verified by:

ROMMEL C. MELGAR SUSAN C. TRIBUNALO
TLE Dept. Coordinator School Principal I