ASME Definitions, Consumables, Welding Positions
ASME has adopted their own designation for welding processes, which are very different from the ISO definitions adopted by EN24063.
















DesignationDescription
OFWOxyfuel Gas Welding
SMAW Shielded Metal Arc Welding (MMA)
SAWSubmerged Arc Welding
GMAWGas Metal Arc Welding (MIG/MAG)
FCAW Flux Cored Wire
GTAWGas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG)
PAWPlasma Arc Welding

  • Straight polarity = Electrode -ve
    Reverse polarity = Electrode +ve

    ASME F Numbers


























    F NumberGeneral Description
    1Heavy rutile coated iron powder electrodes :- A5.1 : E7024
    2Most Rutile consumables such as :- A5.1 : E6013
    3Cellulosic electrodes such as :- A5.1 : E6011
    4Basic coated electrodes such as : A5.1 : E7016 and E7018
    5High alloy austenitic stainless steel and duplex :- A5.4 : E316L-16
    6Any steel solid or cored wire (with flux or metal)
    2XAluminium and its alloys
    3XCopper and its alloys
    4XNickel alloys
    5XTitanium
    6XZirconium
    7XHard Facing Overlay
    Note:- X represents any number 0 to 9
    ASME A Numbers
    These refer to the chemical analysis of the deposited weld and not the parent material. They only apply to welding procedures in steel materials.






    A1Plain unalloyed carbon manganese steels.
    A2 to A4Low alloy steels containing Moly and Chrome Moly
    A8Austenitic stainless steels such as type 316.
    ASME Welding Positions Graphic Representation
    Note the welding progression, (vertically upwards or downwards), must always be stated and it is an essential variable for both procedures and performance qualifications.
    Welding Positions For Groove welds:-


























    Welding PositionTest PositionISO and EN
    Flat1G PA
    Horizontal2GPC
    Vertical Upwards Progression3GPF
    Vertical Downwards Progression3GPG
    Overhead4GPE
    Pipe Fixed Horizontal5GPF
    Pipe Fixed @ 45 degrees Upwards6GHL045
    Pipe Fixed @ 45 degrees Downwards6GJL045
    Welding Positions For Fillet welds:-























    Welding PositionTest PositionISO and EN
    Flat (Weld flat joint at 45 degrees)1FPA
    Horizontal 2FPB
    Horizontal Rotated2FRPB
    Vertical Upwards Progression3FPF
    Vertical Downwards Progression3FPG
    Overhead4FPD
    Pipe Fixed Horizontal5FPF
    Welding Positions QW431.1 and QW461.2
    Basically there are three inclinations involved.

    • Flat, which includes from 0 to 15 degrees inclination
    • 15 - 80 degrees inclination
    • Vertical, 80 - 90 degrees
    For each of these inclinations the weld can be rotated from the flat position to Horizontal to overhead.
  • ASME Definitions, Consumables, Welding Positions Asme-positions