2) Applicable welding processes are those used in actual fabrication operations:
- shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
- flux cored arc welding (FCAW)
- metal cored arc welding (MCAW)
- gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
- submerged arc welding (SAW)
- gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
- electroslag welding (ESW)
- electrogas welding (EGW)
- stud welding (SW)
A further requirement of the Standard is that the filler metals (consumables) for each process be
approved either in accordance with the provisions of the CSA W48 electrode standard series or
when not applicable in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the CSA W47.1 Standard.
3) Pre-approved materials, meaning those acceptable without reservation, are identified as steels,
whose specified minimum yield strength does not exceed 700 MPa (100 ksi). A comprehensive
listing of the eligible steels together with their CSA or ASTM designation is provided.
4) An important requirement of the Standard is directed towards the technological capability of the
fabricator. It requires the fabricator:
- to be either certified under the provisions of the CSA W47.1 Standard, or
- to demonstrate competency to produce welded structures of desired quality and soundness
to the engineer, the professionally qualified, designated representative of the regulatory
authority or of the purchaser, as applicable.
Although this requirement appears optional, the fact is that in almost all types of steel structures
it can be said to be mandatory by virtue of other, governing design standards demanding
certification to the W47.1 standard. As a matter of fact, imposed on this fundamental
requirement is the additional stipulation in the CSA S16-01 Standard “Steel Structures for
Buildings” that only fabricators certified to Division 1 and 2 under the CSA W47.1 standard are
eligible to undertake work on any steel structures the design of which is governed by S16-01.
5) With respect to inspection, the Standard stipulates that preferably, organizations certified to
CSA W178 “Qualification Code for Welding Inspection Organizations” be used. The nonmandatory
certification to W47.1 (point 4) and to W178 (point 5) was prompted by “no trade
restriction” considerations.