Materials System Specification

20-SAMSS-001 02 February 2017

Procurement Guidelines for
Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes
Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee

Contents
I Scope ................................................................ 2
II Conflicts and Deviations .................................... 2
III References ........................................................ 2
IV Modifications to AWS A5.01 .............................. 3
Revision Summary................................................... 6

Attachment A - AWS Filler Metal Specification

by Material and Welding Process ................ 7
Attachment B - AWS Filler Metal Specification
and Related Document ................................ 8

Previous Issue: 13 February 2012 Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020

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Contact: Tariq A. Al-Ghamdi (ghamta0e) on phone +966-13-8809561

©Saudi Aramco 2017. All rights reserved

Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

I Scope

This specification is an addendum to AWS A5.01 which covers welding consumables

procurement protocol including the requirements for welding and brazing consumables
(electrodes, rods, wires, and fluxes) to be purchased by Saudi Aramco. It is intended
primarily for, but is not restricted to, items for Saudi Aramco Materials System (SAMS)
stock. All Direct Charge Purchase Orders shall also comply with this specification.

II Conflicts and Deviations

A. Any conflicts between this specification and other applicable Saudi Aramco
Materials System Specifications (SAMSSs), Engineering Standards (SAESs),
Standard Drawings (SASDs), or industry standards, codes, and forms shall be
resolved in writing by the Company or Buyer Representative through the
Manager, Consulting Services Department of Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

B. Direct all requests to deviate from this specification in writing to the Company or
Buyer Representative, who shall follow internal company procedure SAEP-302
and forward such requests to the Manager, Consulting Services Department of
Saudi Aramco, Dhahran.

C. If approval of a new electrode is required a request for approval shall be sent from
Standardization to the Chairman of the Welding Standards Committee in CSD.

III References

Material or equipment supplied to this specification shall comply with the latest edition
of the references listed below, unless otherwise noted.

A. Saudi Aramco Documents

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure

SAEP-302 Instructions for Obtaining a Waiver of a Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirement

B. Industry Codes and Standards

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

ASME SEC II-C Specifications for Welding Rods, Electrodes, and
Filler Metals

American Welding Society

AWS A5 Series Filler Metal Specifications
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

AWS 5.01 Procurement Guidelines for Consumables-Welding

Allied Processes-Flux and Gas Shielded
Electrical Welding Processes

International Organization for Standardization

ISO 14344 Welding Consumables-Procurement of Filler
Materials and Fluxes

IV Modifications to AWS A5.01

The following paragraph numbers refer to AWS A5.01, which is the basis of this
specification. The text in each paragraph below is an addition or modification to
AWS A5.01, as noted. Paragraph numbers not appearing in AWS A5.01 are new
paragraphs to be inserted in numerical order.

1 Scope [modification]
This specification provides the requirements for welding and brazing
consumables (electrodes, rods, wires, and fluxes) to be purchased by Saudi
Aramco.

5 Lot Classification [Modification]

5.5 [Addition] All consumables shall be tested in accordance with AWS A5.01 (or
European/Japanese equivalent) and the following table for Lot Classification.

Consumable Type Lot Classification

Bare Solid Electrode wires and Strips, Rods,
Brazing and Braze Welding Filler Metal and Class S1
Consumable Inserts
Tubular cored electrodes and rods Class T1
Covered Electrodes Class C1
Flux for Submerged Arc Welding Class F1

5.6 Consumables shall be in accordance with the ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Code Section II, Part C (ASME SEC II-C) [same as American
Welding Specifications series A5 (AWS A5 Series)]. The AWS Filler Metal
Specification by Material and Welding Process are specified in Attachment A.
Attachment B highlights the AWS Filler Metal Specification Documents.

5.7 Approval for consumables not meeting these requirements shall be obtained
as per paragraph II-C. Welding consumables meeting European or Japanese
specifications can be also used after evaluation and approval by the
Chairman of the Welding Standards Committee.
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use
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Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

6 Level of Testing

6.1 [Modification] General

The supplied products shall meet the requirement of the applicable

AWS/ISO standards (or other welding consumable standards). The supplier
shall be originally certified by international and reputable testing agencies
certifying that the products are in agreement with the corresponding welding
consumable standards.

6.8 [Addition] All consumables shall be tested in accordance with AWS A5.01
(or European/Japanese equivalent) and the following table for Level of
Testing. Additional testing requirements may be included in the purchase
order. Certifications shall accompany all materials shipped.

Consumable Type Level of testing

Bare Solid Electrodes and Rods, Schedule G for carbon steel
Brazing and Braze Welding Filler
Metal and Consumable Inserts Schedule H for all other materials

Flux Cored Electrodes and Metal Schedule G for carbon steel

Cored Electrodes and Rods Schedule G and H for all other materials
Schedule G for carbon steel
Covered Electrodes
Schedule G and H for all other materials
Flux for Submerged Arc Welding
Schedule G for carbon steel
and Brazing and Braze welding

6.9 [Addition] SMAW electrodes intended specifically for SAMS stock either to
replace an existing item or as a new item shall be field tested in Saudi Arabia
by Saudi Aramco welders designated by the Chairman of the Welding
Standards Committee. Submit requests for approval of new or replacement
items in accordance with paragraph II-C. The Chairman has the authority
for specifying the type and details of the test requirements for each type of
electrode, conducting the tests, and determination of the acceptability of the
electrode tested. These tests may include but are not restricted to
“weldability” trials (operating characteristics), mechanical properties,
chemical composition, and weld quality.

6.10 [Addition] Flux-cored wire shall be produced using a continuous type flux
void detection system. Submit detection system details for approval in
accordance with paragraph II-C.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

7 Packaging [addition]

7.1 All welding consumables shall be packaged to prevent damage through

normal handling incurred by ship, air, rail, or truck transportation.

7.2 All welding consumables purchased in shipments greater than 454 kg

(1,000 lb) net weight shall be palletized, i.e., boxes or crates placed on
pallets and securely fastened down.

7.3 Submerged-arc welding (SAW) flux shall withstand storage in the original,
unopened package for at least six months in covered sheds at temperatures
up 50°C (130°F) and humidity up to 100% without adversely affecting the
flux welding characteristics or exceeding the specified moisture content.

7.4 Coated Electrodes

7.4.1 All coated electrodes shall be hermetically sealed in metal containers at the
factory. The use of cardboard or any paper product container including
plastic-sealed paper boxes is unacceptable. Any containers received with
punctures or with seals otherwise broken shall be rejected. Low hydrogen
electrodes shall conform to AWS A5 Series (or European/Japanese
equivalent) specification covering moisture content and, if applicable,
absorbed moisture and diffusible hydrogen limits, and shall not require
baking on-site prior to use.

7.4.2 Coated electrodes shall be packaged in containers not exceeding 5 kg

(11 lb) net weight. “High usage” consumables may be approved in larger
containers. Requests to use the larger packaging sizes shall be submitted in
accordance with paragraph 2.3. The container size will be indicated in the
Purchase Order description.

7.5 Bare Welding Rods and Electrodes

7.5.1 Bare rods (i.e., straight lengths) may be packaged in containers up to

5 kg (10 lb) net weight.

7.5.2 Coils or spools may be purchased in any size allowed by ASME SEC II-C
(or European/Japanese equivalent).

7.5.3 Bare filler metals may be packaged in water resistant paper or cardboard
containers.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

8 Marking and Certification [addition]

8.1 All electrodes, filler rods, and SAW fluxes shall be marked and identified in
accordance with the requirements of ASME SEC II-C (or European/Japanese
equivalent).

8.2 Bare GTAW filler rods supplied in straight lengths shall be individually
marked by tags, stencils, or stamping with the ASME/AWS classification
(or European/Japanese equivalent) or the manufacturer's designation.

8.3 All tests shall be carried out by a certified testing laboratory verifying
that the supplied materials’ lots are in agreement with the corresponding
welding consumable standards. Certification that the product meets the
AWS A 5.01/ISO 14344 or equivalent standard can be done by the
manufacturer or by a third party. Third party shall witness all tests while
they are being carried out by the manufacturer. The certifying organization
shall be at least certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 17025.

8.4 Test certificates shall accompany all materials shipped in accordance with
paragraph 5.5.

Revision Summary
13 February 2012 Major revision to allow using welding consumables that meet European or Japanese
Specifications.
02 February 2017 Major revision to apply overlay format as an addendum to international standard,
AWS A5.01.

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

Attachment A - AWS Filler Metal Specification by Material and Welding Process

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

Attachment B - AWS Filler Metal Specification and Related Document

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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Document Responsibility: Welding Standards Committee 20-SAMSS-001
Issue Date: 02 February 2017 Procurement Guidelines for
Next Planned Update: 02 February 2020 Consumables - Welding and Allied Processes

Attachment B - AWS Filler Metal Specification and Related Document (cont’d)

Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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