All standards (codes, specifcations, recommended practices, methods, classifcations, and guides) of the American
Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS American National Standards are either incorporated in, or
made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental
bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must
be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and
regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the
AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS standard
must be by agreement between the contracting parties.
AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together
volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While AWS administers the process and
establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the
accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.