The American Welding Society and the Welding Research Council have joined in a cooperative effort to generate
standard welding procedures for industry. The need for pretested welding procedures that are supported by adequate test
data and that satisfy the technical requirements for the commonly used construction codes and specifications has been
expressed by many individuals and organizations. The purpose of a welding procedure qualification is to provide test
data for assessing the properties of a weld joint.
This Standard Welding Procedure Specification is an outgrowth of the coordinated work of the Welding Procedures
Committee of WRC and the Committee on Welding Qualification of the AWS. The Welding Procedures Committee has
provided the test data documented on the Summary of Procedure Qualification Records, which are available from the
Welding Research Council.
The welding terms used in this specification shall be interpreted in accordance with the definitions given in the latest
edition of AWS A3.0, Standard Welding Terms and Definitions. Welding symbols shall be those shown in the latest edition
of AWS A2.4, Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive Examination.
The AWS B2 Committee on Welding Qualification was formed in 1979 to provide welding standards concerning the
subject of qualification. The primary document developed by this committee is AWS B2.1, Standard for Welding Procedure
and Performance Qualification. This document established the foundation and framework for Standard Welding Procedure
Specifications.