This recommended practice expresses an industry consensus of quality characteristics and metrics pertinent to resistance spot welds on automotive materials. The subject matter is considered to be realistic and tempered with the knowledge of what a resistance spot welding process is capable of accomplishing in a high volume production environment. The criteria and metrics are the same for all welds regardless of service load and intended to be applied in conditions typically encountered during manufacturing. Welds at variance from the stated criteria can have mechanical properties that satisfy product and design requirements. Any attempted application of this document or the evaluation criteria used herein to other uses@ as for example post-crash weld quality assessment@ may lead to an erroneous result.This standard makes sole use of the International System of Units (SI).