Mastering the differences in global welding standards is a compulsory course for the industry: European EN standards mandate CE certification, the American AWS system is flexible and practical, and Chinese GB standards are accelerating their integration with international standards.
Overview of the European Welding Standard System
The European welding standard system is mainly formulated by the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN) and closely cooperates with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to form the EN ISO series of standards. These standards cover the entire process of welding technology, personnel qualifications, material requirements, quality control, etc., and are an important basis for EU market access (such as CE certification). The following is a classification and detailed explanation of core specifications:
1. Basic and General Standards (EN ISO Series)
Welding Procedure Qualification
EN ISO 15607~15614 Series
EN ISO 15607: General rules for welding procedure qualification.
EN ISO 15609: Requirements for the preparation of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS).
EN ISO 15614-1: Welding procedure qualification for arc welding of steels (most commonly used).
EN ISO 15614-2: Welding procedure qualification for arc welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys.
Other parts cover special processes such as oxyfuel welding, laser welding, and electron beam welding.
Welder Skill Qualification
EN ISO 9606 Series
EN ISO 9606-1: Qualification test of welders for steels (covering shielded metal arc welding, TIG, MIG/MAG, etc.).
EN ISO 9606-2: Qualification test of welders for aluminium and aluminium alloys.
EN ISO 9606-3: Qualification test of welders for copper and copper alloys.
EN ISO 9606-4: Qualification test of welders for nickel and nickel alloys.
EN ISO 14732: Skill qualification of welding operators (mechanized welding).
2.Implementation Standards (EN 1090: Steel and Aluminium Structures)
EN 1090-1: Factory Production Control (FPC) requirements for CE certification of steel and aluminium structures.
EN 1090-2: Welding requirements for steel structures (technical core), including:
Welded joint design (compliant with EN 1993 series).
Material weldability (compliant with EN 1011 series).
Procedure qualification (EN ISO 15614), welder qualifications (EN ISO 9606).
Non-destructive testing standards (EN ISO 5817, EN ISO 10042, etc.).
EN 1090-3: Welding technical requirements for aluminium structures.
3.Welding Material Standards (Related to EN ISO)
Electrodes/Wires/Fluxes
EN ISO 2560: Covered electrodes for non-alloy and fine-grain steels.
EN ISO 14341: MIG/MAG wires for non-alloy and fine-grain steels.
EN ISO 18276: Wires for aluminium and aluminium alloys.
EN ISO 14172: Covered electrodes for nickel-based alloys.
Acceptance of Filler Metals
EN ISO 14344: Guide for the procurement of welding consumables (composition and performance requirements).
4.Welding Quality and Inspection Standards
Defect Acceptance Levels
EN ISO 5817: Quality levels for imperfections in arc-welded joints in steel, nickel, titanium and their alloys (grades B/C/D).
EN ISO 10042: Quality levels for imperfections in arc-welded joints in aluminium and aluminium alloys.
EN ISO 17637: Specifies non-destructive testing methods for fusion welded joints in metallic materials, including visual inspection, penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, etc., for detecting defects in welded joints.
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Methods
EN ISO 17635: General rules for non-destructive testing of welds.
EN ISO 17636: Radiographic testing (RT).
EN ISO 17637: Visual testing (VT).
EN ISO 17638: Magnetic particle testing (MT).
EN ISO 17640: Ultrasonic testing (UT).
Destructive Testing
EN ISO 4136: Tensile test of welded joints.
EN ISO 5173: Bend test.
EN ISO 9015: Hardness test.
5. Other Key Standards
EN 1011 Series: Welding process guidelines (e.g., preheating temperature, heat input control).
EN 1011-1: Specifies recommended specifications for the welding of metallic materials, including the selection of welding methods, the determination of welding process parameters, and the preparation of welded joints.
EN 1011-2: Provides more detailed welding recommendations for arc welding processes, including requirements for welding equipment, welding materials, and welding operations.
EN 1011-3: Relates to arc welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys, specifying special requirements and precautions for welding aluminium and aluminium alloys.
EN 1993-1-8 (Eurocode 3): Design of steel structures (including welded joint design).
EN 13445: Pressure vessel standard (including special welding requirements).
EN 15085: Welding certification system for railway vehicles (mandatory for the railway industry).
6.EU Market Access Relevance
CE Marking: Welded products (such as steel structures) must comply with EN 1090, and enterprises must obtain certification from a Welding Coordinator (IWE/EWE) (in accordance with EN 1090-1).
Personnel Qualifications:
IWE (International Welding Engineer): In accordance with EN ISO 14731.
IWS (International Welding Specialist), IWT (International Welding Technologist), etc.
Application Recommendations:
Products exported to the EU: Prioritize confirming whether compliance with EN 1090 (steel structures) or EN 15085 (railway transportation) is required.
Process development: Qualify processes in accordance with EN ISO 15614, and welders shall hold EN ISO 9606 certificates.
Quality control: Implement defect acceptance in accordance with EN ISO 5817 (steel) or EN ISO 10042 (aluminium), combined with non-destructive testing standards.
Important Note: Standards are continuously updated (e.g., EN ISO 9606-1:2017 replaces the old version). The latest versions should be obtained through the CEN official website or national standards bodies (such as Germany’s DIN, the UK’s BSI).
For detailed explanations of standards in specific fields (such as aerospace, shipbuilding), a list of subdivided specifications can be provided further.
Comparison of Welding Standard Systems in Major Industrial Countries
The European welding standard system is based on EN 1090 and ISO 3834 as the core framework, emphasizing full-process quality control and the CE certification system. The following are the main specifications:
- European Welding Standard System (EN Series)
The European welding standard is based on EN 1090 and ISO 3834 as the core framework, emphasizing full-process quality control.
EN 1090 classifies steel structures into four grades (EXC1 to EXC4), corresponding to different welding process requirements. A characteristic of European standards is the implementation of a mandatory CE certification system, requiring enterprises to establish a sound quality assurance system and pass third-party audits. In terms of welder certification, the unified EN ISO 9606 standard is adopted, and certificates are valid across European countries.
European standards focus on Welding Procedure Approval Records (WPAR) and personnel qualification management, with detailed provisions for the welding of stainless steel and aluminium structures. They have strict environmental protection requirements, with clear limits on welding fume emissions and energy efficiency.
ISO 3834: Defines quality management requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials, including three grades: comprehensive quality (ISO 3834-2), general quality (ISO 3834-3), and basic quality (ISO 3834-4), which are widely used in the certification of fusion welding factories.
1.1 Process Control
- EN ISO 15614: Covers welding procedure qualification tests for materials such as steel, aluminium, copper, and nickel, consisting of 14 parts, specifying welding parameters, defect detection, and quality control for different materials.
- EN 287-1(Obsolete): Former European standard for steel welder qualification tests, replaced by ISO 9606-1 in 2015. The validity period of the new standard is extended to 2 or 3 years.
1.2 Materials and Testing
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- EN 1418: Acceptance standard for fusion welding and resistance welding operators in automated welding.
- JIS Z 3050: Japanese standard, which has 20%-30% higher requirements for welding defect detection than international standards and is often used in critical fields.
European standards focus on environmental protection requirements (such as fume emission limits) and process qualification (WPAR), with an update cycle of usually 3-5 years.
2. American Welding Standards (AWS Series)
The D1.1 Structural Welding Code formulated by the American Welding Society (AWS) is one of the most widely used standards globally. Unlike European standards, the American system emphasizes practicality and flexibility, allowing certain defects exceeding standard limits to be accepted through engineering evaluation.
AWS standards classify welded joints into six grades (A to F), and acceptance standards are determined according to structural purposes. In terms of personnel certification, AWS provides an independent welder certification program, but enterprises can also formulate internal assessment standards based on their own needs. The American standard has a fast acceptance rate for emerging welding technologies, with an update cycle of usually 3-5 years.
3. Chinese National Standards (GB Series)
The GB welding standard system is accelerating its integration with international standards. Standards such as GB 50661 “Code for Welding of Steel Structures” and GB/T 19866 “Specification for Welding Procedure Qualification” have extensively adopted content from ISO and EN standards. Its distinctive welding procedure qualification database system realizes process sharing among enterprises.
3.1 Basic and General Standards
GB/T 3375-2022 “Welding Terms”: Defines 7 categories of terms such as arc welding, pressure welding, and brazing, adding 36 new technical terms including laser welding and friction stir welding.
GB/T 12467-2023 “Quality Requirements for Welding of Metallic Materials” (equivalent to ISO 3834)
Hierarchical management and control: Part 1 (comprehensive requirements) to Part 4 (basic requirements); mandatory filing of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and traceability of personnel qualifications.
3.2 Material and Process Standards
GB 50661-2011 “Code for Welding of Steel Structures”: For construction/bridge steel structures.
GB/T 985-2023 “Preparation of Welded Joints for Oxyfuel Welding, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and Gas Shielded Welding”: Adds groove design specifications for laser-arc hybrid welding.
GB/T 5117-2023 “Covered Electrodes for Non-Alloy and Fine-Grain Steels”.
3.3 Special Equipment and New Energy Standards
- Welding of Pressure Equipment
GB/T 150.4-2024 “Pressure Vessels” – Welding Section: Post-weld heat treatment specifications for nickel-based alloys.
NB/T 47015-2023 “Welding Procedure for Pressure Vessels”: Replaces the former JB/T 4709, mandating welder project examinations.
- New Energy Equipment
GB/T 35590-2023 “Technical Requirements for Welding of Lithium-Ion Battery Casings”: Helium leak detection rate ≤ 10⁻⁸ Pa·m³/s.
GB 31241-2024 “Safety Requirements for Lithium Batteries for Portable Electronic Products”: 96-hour salt spray test for welded joints.
3.4 Safety and Inspection Standards
- Mandatory Safety Standards
GB 9448-2025 “Safety in Welding and Cutting” (to be implemented on February 2026): Operation restrictions for laser protection classes 1-4; two-person monitoring system for confined space operations.
- Non-Destructive Testing
GB/T 3323-2022 “Radiography of Fusion Welded Joints in Metallic Materials”: Digital detection replaces film.
GB/T 11345-2022 “Ultrasonic Testing Method for Welds”: Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) application specifications.
3.5 Welder Certification and Quality System
GB 50205-2023 “Qualification Certification Standard for Steel Structure Welding Practitioners”: Examination items cover 6 categories of welding methods; certificate validity period extended to 3 years (previously 2 years).
GB/T 19001-2023 “Requirements for Welding Quality Management Systems”: Integrates ISO 3834 quality control elements, requiring registration of Welding Responsible Engineers (WRE).
Currently, China’s standard system is accelerating its integration with ISO (such as ISO 9606 welder certification) and EU EN 1090. Export-oriented enterprises need to pay attention to the dual-standard parallel requirement (e.g., steel structures must meet both GB 50661 and EN 1090 EXC grades).
In recent years, independent intellectual property welding standard systems have been developed in some critical fields. Welder certification adopts a national unified qualification examination system for special equipment operators.
4. Differences Between ISO 3834 and DIN Standards
The ISO 3834 series of standards focuses on “quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials” and is an internationally recognized specification. EN 15085 targets “Railway applications – Welding of railway vehicles and their components” and is an authoritative standard in Europe. DIN 18800 and DIN 4113 relate to German specifications for “steel structures” and “aluminium structures” respectively, while EN 1090 covers the “execution of steel structures and aluminium structures” more extensively as a unified European standard.
4.1 Similarities and Differences Between Standards
The ISO 3834 standard focuses on the quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials, with a wide scope of application, applicable to various fusion welding production enterprises. In contrast, EN 15085, DIN 18800, DIN 4113, and EN 1090 target specific fields such as the welding of railway vehicles and their components, and the execution of steel and aluminium structures. Although these standards focus on different fields, their basic welding requirements must comply with the relevant provisions of ISO 3834.
4.2 Requirements for International Qualification Application
- Personnel Qualification Requirements:
Personnel qualifications are crucial for welding enterprises seeking international certification. Welders must hold ISO 9606-1 or ISO 9606-2 qualifications, and welding operators must have EN 1418 or ISO 14732 qualifications. Meanwhile, welding responsible personnel must possess qualifications such as International Welding Engineer (IWE), International Welding Technologist (IWT), or International Welding Specialist (IWS), and non-destructive testing personnel must obtain EN 473 or ISO 9712 qualifications.
- Welding Process and Equipment Requirements:
In terms of welding processes, enterprises must conduct process qualification in accordance with the ISO 15614 series of standards and ensure that welding procedure specifications meet the requirements of ISO 15609. In addition, enterprises must meet standards in multiple aspects such as materials, equipment, and workshops. During the certification consulting process, we will assist enterprises in meeting these conditions, but it should be noted that enterprises must have qualified welding responsible personnel as a prerequisite.
4.3 Selection and Process of ISO 3834 Certification
- Classification of ISO 3834 Standards:
The ISO 3834 standard is divided into three grades: ISO 3834-2 for comprehensive quality requirements, ISO 3834-3 for general quality requirements, and ISO 3834-4 for basic quality requirements. Compliance with higher-level requirements is deemed compliance with lower-level requirements.
- Recommendations for Obtaining Welding Certification:
When an enterprise plans to apply for ISO 3834 certification, it must first confirm the qualification conditions. Usually, enterprises need to go through detailed document preparation and on-site inspections.
- Equipment and Facility Requirements:
The ISO 3834 standard requires equipment to be suitable for its intended purpose. For the manufacture of railway vehicles and their components, there are specific requirements such as workshops and workstations must have roofs, be dry, well-ventilated, and well-lit.
- Analysis of Specific Standard Differences:
ISO 3834-2 is a comprehensive standard, while EN 15085-2 adds detailed requirements in the railway transportation field, such as clear requirements for the qualifications and quantity of welding personnel, and detailed provisions for the qualifications of non-destructive testing personnel.
- Technical Review and Qualification:
Welding procedure qualification aims to verify whether the welding process adopted by an enterprise can produce qualified products. During the qualification process, the enterprise’s welding engineer will formulate a Preliminary Welding Procedure Specification (pWPS), conduct test piece welding and testing to prove the reliability of the process. WPS and WPQR ensure the compliance and continuous effectiveness of the process.
