1. Scope 1.1
This Standard prescribes requirements for the classification and certification of (a) carbon steel covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding (formerly CSA Standard W48.1); (b) chromium and chromium-nickel steel covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding. This includes electrodes designated for welding heat-resistant steels containing more than 11% chromium and less than 50% nickel (formerly CSA Standard W48.2); (c) low alloy steel covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding (formerly CSA Standard W48.3); (d) solid carbon steel filler metals for gas-shielded arc welding (formerly CSA Standard W48.4); (e) carbon steel electrodes for flux- and metal-cored arc welding (formerly CSA Standard W48.5); (f) fluxes and solid carbon steel electrodes for submerged arc welding (formerly CSA Standard W48.6); and (g) fluxes and composite carbon steel electrodes for submerged arc welding (formerly CSA Standard W48.6). 1.2
Filler metals and allied materials covered by this Standard are classified according to one or more of the following requirements: (a) chemical composition;
(b) usability characteristics;
(c) covering type (for covered electrodes);
(d) weld metal diffusible hydrogen (hydrogen-controlled classifications);
(e) mechanical properties of the weld metal (including heat treatment condition); and
(f) positions of welding for which electrodes are suitable. 1.3
This Standard does not allow any electrode certified under one classification to be certified under any other classification for the same welding process in this Standard, with the following exceptions: (a) For submerged arc welding: (i) A composite electrode may be certified under different classifications in combination with different fluxes.
(ii) Fluxes may be classified under any number of classifications, for weld metal in either or both the as welded and post-weld heat-treated conditions, or using different electrode classifications. (b) For flux- and metal-cored arc welding: (i) E49XT-12 may also be listed as E49XT-9 and E49XT-1.
(ii) E49XT-9 may also be listed as E49XT-1.
(iii) E491X-X (or E431X-X) may also be listed as E492X-X (or E432X-X) for
sizes too large for all-position welding.
(iv) E49XC-6 may also be listed as E49XC-3.
(v) E49XT-12M may also be listed as E49XT-9M and E49XT-1M.
(vi) E49XT-9M may also be listed as E49XT-1M.
(vii) E49XT-X may also be listed as E49XT-XM, or vice versa, provided that the electrode meets the requirements of both of these classifications. (c) For chromium and chromium-nickel steel covered electrodes: (i) Materials classified under one classification may be classified under any other classification of this Standard, provided that they meet all the requirements for those classifications, except that a material may not be classified under more than one of the following: EXXX-15, EXXX-16, EXXX-17, or EXXX-26 designations. 1.4
This Standard does not address safety problems associated with welding and welding practices. Note: CSA Standard W117.2 addresses safety in welding and should be followed in addition to any applicable workplace health and safety legislation in effect. It is the responsibility of the user of this Standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.5
The values given in SI (metric) units are the standard. Yard-pound units are provided in Appendix J for information only.