THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Weld Symbols on Drawings: a. 7 z. 10 5 x 100 (50)

135
s. 12

We use weld symbols to transfer information from the design office to the workshop.

It is essential that a competent welding inspector can interpret weld symbols, as a large
proportion of the inspectors time may be spent checking that the welder is completing
the weld in accordance with the approved fabrication drawing. Therefore without a good
knowledge of weld symbols, a welding inspector is unable to carry out his full scope of
work. Standards for weld symbols do not follow logic, but are based on simple
conventions. It is important to understand the basic differences between different
standard conventions and to be able to recognise any drawing standard being used.
Reference should be always be made to a standard for specific symbolic information.
Basically a weld symbol is made of 5 different components, common to major standards.
(BS EN 22552 BS 499 & AWS A 2.4)

1) The Arrow Line

The arrow line is always a single, straight and unbroken line, (Exception in AWS A2.4
for single plate preparations) and shall touch the joint intersection, as is shown below. It
has a major function indicating which plate is to be prepared in a bevel or J preparation.
Either/or
BS EN 22553 & BS 499
(AWS A2.4 has exceptions)

2) The Reference Line

The reference line must touch the arrow line, and is generally parallel to the bottom of
the drawing. There should be an angle between the arrow line and reference line, where
the point of the joint of these 2 lines is referred to as the knuckle. In some standards a
broken line is also placed either above or beneath the solid line i.e. as in BS EN 22553
Either/or Either/or
BS 499 & AWS A2.4 BS EN 22553
3) The Symbol
The orientation/representation of the symbol on the line is the same in most standards,
however the concept of Arrow-side and Other-side can differ. BS 499 and AWS A2.4
indicate this using only the solid line, while BS EN also uses a solid and broken line.

4) The Dimensions
Basically, all cross sectional dimensions are given to the left, and all liner dimensions are
given to the right hand of the symbols in most standards.

5) Supplementary Information
Supplementary information, i.e. Welding process, profile, NDT, or special instructions
may differ within standards. The following section indicates the basic convention and
variations of these 5 components listed above for BS 499. BS EN 22553 & AWS A2.4

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.1 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

1) Convention of BS 499 (UK)

The Arrow Line

a) Shall touch the joint intersection
b) Shall not be parallel to the drawing
c) Shall point towards a single plate preparation

The Reference Line

a) Shall join the arrow line
b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing

The Weld Symbol

a) Welds done from this side (Arrow side) of joint go underneath the reference line

b) Welds done from the other side of the joint go on top of the reference line

c) Symbols with a vertical line component must be drawn with the vertical line drawn
to the left side of the symbol

d) All cross sectional dimensions are shown to the left of the symbol
Fillet throat thickness is preceded by the letter a and the leg length by the letter b

When only leg length is shown the reference letter (b) is optional

The throat thickness for partial penetration butt welds is preceded by the letter s

e) All linear dimensions are shown on the right of the symbol

i.e. Number of welds, length of welds, length of any spaces

Example:

a. Throat. b. Leg Number X Length (Space)

Example: a.7 b.10 10 X 50 (100)

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.2 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Examples of Weld Symbols common to BS 499 and BS EN 22553

Double-sided butt weld symbols

Double bevel Double V Double J Double U

Supplementary & further weld symbols

Weld all around Weld on site Square butt weld

Profile of fillet weld

NDT
10
111 (Welding process to BS EN 4063
s. 10
Spot weld
a. 7 b. 10

Compound weld (Single bevel and double fillet)

Intermittent welds in BS 499 and BS EN 22553 are given as shown as below with
number of welds x length of each weld and gap length given in brackets i.e. 3 x 20 (50)
A staggered intermittent weld may be shown with a Z drawn across the axis between
the weld length and gap.

3 Nos 20mm length 50 mm gap

3 x 20 (50)

3 x 20 (50)
10

Staggered

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.3 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

2) Convention of BS EN 22553 (Has replaced BS 499 in UK)

The Arrow Line (As for BS 499)

a) Shall touch the joint intersection
b) Shall not be parallel to the drawing
c) Shall point towards a single plate preparation

The Reference Line

a) Shall join the arrow line As per BS 499
b) Shall be parallel to the bottom of the drawing
c) Shall have a broken line placed above, or beneath the reference line

or

The Symbol (As for BS 499 with the following exceptions)

The other side of the joint is represented by the broken line, which shall be shown
above or below the reference line, except in the case where the welds are totally
symmetrical about the central axis of the joint.

Fillet weld leg length shall always be preceded by the letter z.

Nominal fillet weld throat thickness shall always be preceded by the letter a.
Effective throat thickness shall always be preceded by the letter s for deep penetration
fillet welds and partial penetration butt welds.

Unbroken line representing the arrow side of the joint

Removable backing strip
Welding process to BS EN 4063

Reference information
MR s.10
131 A1
131

a.8 s.10 z.10

Broken line indicating
other side of the joint
Weld toes to be
ground smoothly

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.4 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Elementary Symbols as extracted from BS EN 22553

Number Designation Illustration Symbol

Butt weld between plates with
raised edges. (Edge flanged weld
1 USA) The raised edges being
melted down completely

2 Square Butt Weld

3 Single-V Butt Weld

4 Single-bevel Butt Weld

Single-V Butt Weld

5 With a Broad Root Face

Single-bevel Butt Weld

6 With a Broad Root Face

Single-U Butt Weld

7 (Parallel or Sloping Sides)

8 Single J-Butt Weld

Backing run
9 Backing Weld USA

10 Fillet Weld

Plug Weld; Plug

11 Slot Weld USA

Resistance
Welding process
12 Spot Weld
Other Fusion
Welding Process

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.5 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Resistance
Welding process
13 Seam Weld
Other Fusion
Welding Process

Steep Flanked Single-V Butt

14 Weld. (Narrow Gap Preparation)

Steep-flanked Single-bevel Butt

15 Weld. (Narrow Gap Preparation)

16 Edge Weld

17 Surfacing

18 Surface Joint

19 Inclined joint

20 Fold Joint

Supplementary Symbols Extracted from BS EN 22553

Shape of weld surface or weld Symbol

a) Flat (Usually finished flush)

b) Convex

c) Concave

d) Toes shall be ground smoothly

e) Permanent backing strip M

f) Removable backing strip MR

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.6 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

3) Convention of AWS A2.4 (USA)

This symbols standard uses the same convention as BS499 to indicate this side and other
side of the weld, though there are some changes in the symbolic representation. Single
plate preparations are also indicated by a directional change of arrow line, though the
arrow remains pointing to the plate requiring preparation. When any plate to be prepared
within a joint is obvious (i.e. T joints) then the direction of the arrow line is optional.

Other Side F - Finish Symbol

Field Weld A - Groove Angle

Weld all around R - Root Gap

Leg & Throat Length & Pitch
Process
These bracketed elements remain in the same order
regardless in the orientation of the arrow line
Arrow Side

AWS A2.4 may also use a number of reference lines from the arrow line to indicate the
sequence of welding. Weld dimensions may be given as fractions or decimals, and in
metric or imperial units. Processes are indicated using standard AWS notation, as shown:

3/8
Staggered arrow indicates 1st Operation
a single plate preparation GTAW
1/4
2nd Operation
GMAW
3rd Operation RT

In AWS A2.4 the dimensions the pitch of intermittent fillet welds and plug welds to the
centre of each weld. (The BS and BS EN dimension these to the start of each weld)
Staggered intermittent fillet welds are indicated in AWS A2.4 as shown below:

Length of weld
5/16 25 - 100

5/16 25 - 100
Pitched to weld centers

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.7 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Common Examples:

Welded Joint BS 499 Part II BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4

Single Bevel Butt Welds (Ground Flush)

1) Single Bevel or
Arrow Side
Left Plate
Left Right

2) Single Bevel
or
Other Side
Left Plate

Left Right

3) Single Bevel
Other Side
or
Right Plate

Left Right

Single J Butt Welds (As Welded)

4) Single J
Arrow Side or
Left Plate

Left Right

5) Single J or
Other Side
Left Plate

Left Right

6) Single J
Other Side or
Right Plate

Left Right

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.8 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Common Examples Continued:

Welded Joint BS 499 Part II BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4

Single V Butt Welds (Ground Flush)

7) Single V or
Arrow Side

8) Single V
Other Side or

Single U Butt Welds (As Welded)

9) Single U
or
Arrow Side

10) Single U
Other Side or

Double Butt Welds (As Welded)

Note: The dashed line can be
11) Double Bevel omitted only when the weld is
symmetrical about its axis

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.9 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Common Examples Continued:

Welded Joint BS 499 Part II BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4

Single Fillet Welds (Mitre and Concave)

12) Single Fillet

Arrow Side or
Mitred

b or z Leg length may be Leg length shall be preceded by

preceded by the letter b the letter z

a or s Throat by the letter a Throat by the letter a if nominal

throat or s if an effective throat

13) Single Fillet

Other Side
Concave
or

Double Fillet Welds (Convex)

14) Double Fillet

Convex

Note: The dashed line can be

omitted only when the weld is
symmetrical about its axis

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.10 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Common Examples Continued:

Welded Joint BS 499 Part II BS EN 22553 AWS A2.4

Compound Welds (Butts and Fillets)

15) Single Bevel

Arrow Side
(Ground Flush)
Mitred
or
Fillet Weld
Other Side

16) Single Bevel Optional Arrow Direction

Butt Weld
+ Mitred or
Fillet Weld
Other Side

17) Single J + Optional Arrow Direction

Concave Fillet z15
10 z10 10
Arrow Side
Single bevel + s15 s15 or s20 15
Convex Fillet 20
s20 s20 s15
Other Side
15 z15 z10 15
15 mm
20 mm

15 mm

10 mm

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.11 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

Numerical Indications of Selected Welding Processes

(As extracted from BS EN 4063:2000)

No. Process No. Process

1 ARC WELDING 5 BEAM WELDING
11 Metal-arc welding without gas protection. 51 Electron beam welding
111 Metal-arc welding with covered electrode 511 Electron beam welding in a vacuum
112 Gravity arc welding with covered electrode 512 Electron beam welding out of vacuum
114 Flux cored metal-arc welding 52 Laser welding
12 Submerged arc welding. 521 Solid state LASER welding
121 Submerged arc welding with 1 wire electrode 522 Gas LASER welding
122 Submerged arc welding with strip electrode
123 Submerged arc welding with multi electrodes 7 OTHER WELDING PROCESSES
124 Submerged arc welding + metallic powders 71 Alumino-thermic welding (Thermit)
125 Submerged arc welding tubular cored wire 72 Electro-slag welding
13 Gas shielded metal-arc welding 73 Electro-gas welding
131 MIG welding: (With an inert shield gas) 74 Induction welding
135 MAG welding: (With an active gas shield) 75 Light radiation welding
136 Flux cored arc welding (With an active gas shield) 77 Percussion welding
137 Flux cored arc welding (With an inert gas shield) 78 Stud welding
14 Gas-shielded welding (Non-consumable electrode) 782 Resistance stud welding
141 TIG welding
15 Plasma arc welding 8 CUTTING & GOUGING
151 Plasma MIG Welding 81 Flame cutting
152 Powder Plasma Arc Welding 82 Arc cutting
18 Other arc welding processes 821 Air Arc cutting
185 Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt Welding 822 Oxygen Arc cutting
83 Plasma cutting
2 RESISTANCE WELDING 84 Laser cutting
21 Spot welding 86 Flame gouging
22 Seam welding 87 Arc Gouging
23 Projection welding 871 Air-Arc Gouging (Using Carbon Electrodes)
24 Flash welding 872 Oxy-Arc gouging
25 Resistance butt welding 88 Plasma gouging
29 Other resistance welding processes
9 BRAZING, SOLDERING & BRAZE
3 GAS WELDING WELDING
31 Oxy-fuel gas welding 91 Brazing
311 Oxy-acetylene welding 912 Flame brazing
313 Oxy-hydrogen welding 913 Furnace brazing
32 Air fuel gas welding 914 Dip brazing
93 Other brazing processes
4 WELDING WITH PRESSURE 94 Soldering
41 Ultrasonic welding 942 Flame soldering
42 Friction welding 952 Soldering with soldering iron
44 Welding by high mechanical energy 96 Other soldering processes
45 Diffusion welding 97 Braze welding
47 Gas pressure welding 971 Gas braze welding
48 Cold pressure welding 972 Arc braze welding

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.12 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

WIS 5 Section 8 Exercises:

Complete a symbols drawing for the welded cruciform joint given below

All butt weld are welded with the MIG process and fillet welds with MMA.

7 10

35 20

30
15

All fillet weld leg lengths are 10 mm

Use the sheets overleaf to transcribe the information shown above into weld
symbols complying with the following standards

BS 499 Part II
BS EN 22553
Use the drawings provided overleaf

The course lecturer will present the solutions, after you have completed the
exercise.

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.13 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY
 THE WELDING INSTITUTE

BS 499 Part II

BS EN 22553

Welding Inspection of Steels WIS 5 8.14 WORLD CENTRE FOR

Section 08 Welding Symbols MATERIALS JOINING
Rev 30-03-07 Copyright 2007 TWI Middle East TECHNOLOGY