2.7 CSA W48-01
Filler Metals and Allied Materials for Metal Arc Welding
The CSA W48 Electrode Standard is a companion to the W59 and W47.1 Standards.
Fabricators undertaking work specified to CSA Standard W59, Welded Steel Construction, are required
to use welding electrodes and filler metals conforming to CSA or equivalent standards.
The W48 Standard covers the specifications of the following types of electrodes:
- carbon steel covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding
- chromium and chromium-nickel steel covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding
- low-alloy steel covered electrodes for shielded metal arc welding
- solid carbon steel filler metals for gas shielded arc welding
- carbon steel electrodes for flux and metal cored arc welding
- fluxes and carbon steel electrodes for submerged arc welding
This standard prescribes certification requirements for electrodes for the given individual welding
process.
The CSA W48 Standard is administered by the Canadian Welding Bureau, which is under obligation to
publish lists of certified electrodes at yearly intervals.
The objective of certification under the CSA W48 Standard is to demonstrate the properties of weld
metal deposited in a standard joint under specified and controlled welding conditions.
The CWB Module 6 – Electrodes and Consumables, covers this standard in more detail.
2.8 CSA Standard W59
Welded Steel Construction – Metal Arc Welding
2.8.1 General
The CSA W59 Standard is considered to be the primary steel welding standard in Canada. As already
pointed out, it is directly linked with the CSA Standards W47.1 and W48 dealing with certification of
companies and filler metals respectively, and because of its stipulations involving the other two, may be
considered greatly responsible for the resounding success of structural welding quality throughout
Canada.
In conjunction with the CSA W178.1 qualification code for welding inspection organizations and
individual inspectors there is in Canada an encompassing framework of standards and an extremely
well-integrated system of certification and qualifications, all geared to provide a reliable measure of
assurance of safe performance of welded structures in service and hence of public safety.