Welding and fabrication
AWS D1.1: Structural welding code, steel
The welding code used for structural steel in North America and many international projects.
Reference noteThis page is an independent plain-language summary written by QUALITAS TR. It does not reproduce the standard. Always work from the current official edition, available from AWS, the American Welding Society (official page). QUALITAS TR supports organisations against this standard; it does not certify them.
01Purpose
AWS D1.1 covers welding requirements for steel structures, including design of welded connections, prequalification and qualification of procedures and personnel, fabrication, inspection and acceptance.
02Scope
Applies to carbon and low alloy structural steels within its scope, for statically and cyclically loaded structures and tubular structures.
03Main requirements
- Prequalified WPS within defined limits, or WPS qualified by test
- Welder, welding operator and tack welder qualification
- Fabrication requirements: preparation, preheat, workmanship
- Inspection responsibilities of the fabricator and verification inspector
- Visual and NDT acceptance criteria by connection type
04Typical applications and industries
Structural steel for North American projects and international clients specifying American codes.
05Audit and inspection considerations
- Are prequalified WPS within all limits?
- Is the inspector qualified as required by the contract?
- Are acceptance criteria for cyclic loading applied where required?
06Common nonconformities
- WPS claimed as prequalified outside limits
- Preheat not applied per tables
- Undercut beyond limits
07How QUALITAS TR can support
We inspect AWS D1.1 fabrication through welding inspection and review WPS through qualification review.