CSWIP 3.

1 Welding Inspection
Welding Symbols
TWI Training & Examination
Services

Course Reference WIS 5

Course notes section reference 9.0
 Weld symbols on drawings

Joints in drawings may be indicated:

•by detailed sketches, showing every dimension

•by symbolic representation

 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)
 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
 Weld symbols on drawings

The symbolic representation includes:

 an arrow line

 a reference line

 an elementary symbol

The elementary symbol may be completed by:

 a supplementary symbol

 a means of showing dimensions

 some complementary indications

 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
Elementary Welding Symbols
(BS EN ISO 22553 & AWS A2.4)
Convention of the elementary symbols:
Various categories of joints are characterised by an elementary
symbol.
The vertical line in the symbols for a fillet weld, single/double bevel
butts and a J-butt welds must always be on the left side.

Weld type Sketch Symbol

Square edge
butt weld

Single-v
butt weld
Elementary Welding Symbols
Weld type Sketch Symbol

Single-V butt weld

with broad root
face

Single bevel
butt weld

Single bevel butt

weld with broad
root face

Backing run
Elementary Welding Symbols
Weld type Sketch Symbol
Single-U
butt weld

Single-J
butt weld

Surfacing

Fillet weld
 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
 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
 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
 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

BS EN 22553 (ISO 2553)
 Reference
lines
Arrow line
Other side
Arrow side

Arrow side Other side

Arrow side

Arrow side
Other side

Other side
Both sides

Both sides
Mitre Convex

Toes
Concave
shall be
blended
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
 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

Single-bevel butt Double-bevel butt

Single-bevel butt Single-J butt

 Peripheral Welds

z10 z8
10 8

10 8
 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
 All dimensions in mm
z5 3 x 80 (90)

z6 3 x 80 (90)

5
80 80 80
5

6 90 90 90

6
 All dimensions in mm

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

8 90 90
90

8
 s10

10
15

Partial penetration single-V butt

‘S’ indicates the depth of penetration
 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
Depth of Root Opening
Bevel

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

Effective Groove Angle

Throat
 Welding Process

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

GMAW
GTAW
SAW
 Fillet welds

Fillet weld dimensions according AWS A 2.4

8
8

5 leg on
5x8
vertical
member
5
8
 GSFCAW
1 (1-1/8)

Applicable to any
single groove Single Bevel
weld
 Welds to be
staggered

3 – 10
SMAW
3 – 10
Process

3 3

10
 3rd Operation
Sequence of
Operations 2nd Operation

1st Operation
FCAW
1(1-1/8)
1/8
60o
 RT
Sequence of
Operations MT
MT
FCAW
1(1-1/8)
1/8
60o
 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
Included angle and root opening are shown on top of the
symbol
 AWS A 2.4 rules-example

10 3 x 50 (70)

70

50
10
 BS EN 22553 rules
Welds this side of joint, go on the unbroken reference
line while welds the other side of the joint, go on the
broken 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
Included angle and root opening are shown on top of the
symbol
All leg lengths shall be preceded by z and throat by a or
s (in case of deep penetration welds)

z 10 3 x 50 (50)

50
50

10
 Weld symbols on drawings

Example:
Produce a drawing giving symbols for the weld given
as shown below to the specification AWS A2.4

Weld Drawing

Symbol Drawing
 Weld symbols on drawings

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

MMA
Weld drawing

111
Symbol Drawing
 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

 Weld symbols on drawings

Solution AWS A2.4 10

30
20
10

10
35
15
10
 Weld symbols on drawings

z 10
Solution BS EN 22553
s 30

s 20
z 10

a 7 z 10
s 35

s 15
z 10
Any Questions