Overview
ISO 14174:2019 - "Welding consumables - Fluxes for submerged arc welding and electroslag welding - Classification" defines a standardized system for classifying granular fluxes used in submerged arc welding (SAW) and electroslag welding (ESW). The standard covers fluxes used for both joining and overlay (cladding) operations with wire electrodes, tubular cored electrodes and strip electrodes. ISO 14174:2019 (third edition) is based on EN 760:1996 and is intended for manufacturers, weld designers, fabricators and quality personnel dealing with welding consumables.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Classification of fluxes that influence weld metal chemistry and mechanical properties for SAW and ESW.
- Structured classification: The designation comprises seven parts:
- Product/process symbol (S for SAW, ES for ESW)
- Method of manufacture (F = fused, A = agglomerated, M = mixed)
- Type of flux / characteristic chemical constituents (see Table 1)
- Application / flux class (1, 2, 2B, 3, 4)
- Metallurgical behaviour (pick-up and/or burn-out of alloying elements)
- Type of welding current
- Diffusible hydrogen content in deposited weld metal (applicable to class 1 fluxes only)
- Flux types and chemical limits: Table 1 lists flux-type symbols (e.g., MS, CS, CG, CB, GS, ZS, RS, AR, BA, AAS, AB, AS, AF, FB, Z) with characteristic oxide constituents and mass-percentage limits determined by elemental analysis.
- Class definitions:
- Class 1: fluxes for non-alloy, fine grain and high-strength steels (minimal alloying from flux)
- Class 2 / 2B: fluxes for stainless / heat-resisting steels, nickel alloys and corrosion-resistant overlays (compensate for burn-out; 2B for strip cladding)
- Class 3: hard-facing overlay fluxes (transfer alloying elements like C, Cr, Mo)
- Class 4: other specialty fluxes (e.g., for copper alloys)
- Additional requirements: particle size range, rounding procedures, retest, marking, technical delivery conditions, and designation rules. Annex A and B provide chemical-determination examples and flux-type descriptions.
Practical applications and users
Who uses ISO 14174:2019:
- Welding engineers specifying flux selection for SAW/ESW processes
- Manufacturers and suppliers of welding consumables for product marking and quality control
- Fabrication shops and cladding specialists selecting fluxes for overlay, corrosion resistance, or hard-facing
- Inspectors and QA managers ensuring conformity to international flux classification
Practical benefits:
- Enables consistent flux selection to achieve desired weld chemistry and metallurgical behaviour
- Improves interoperability between consumable suppliers and end-users
- Supports procurement specifications, testing, and traceability
Related standards
- ISO 3690 - Determination of hydrogen in arc weld metal
- ISO 14171 - Classification of wire/tubular electrodes for SAW
- ISO 14343 - Classification for stainless/heat-resisting welding electrodes
- ISO 18274 - Classification for nickel and nickel-alloy welding consumables
- ISO 80000-1 - Quantities and units
Keywords: ISO 14174:2019, flux classification, submerged arc welding flux, electroslag welding flux, welding consumables, flux types, metallurgical behaviour, diffusible hydrogen.
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