Overview
ISO 6947:2019, "Welding and allied processes - Welding positions", defines standardized welding positions for both testing and production applications. The standard covers butt and fillet welds in all product forms, specifies the main position symbols (PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PJ, PK), and sets limits and designation rules for slope and face rotation of welds. Annex A illustrates slope/rotation limits for production positions; Annex B compares ISO 6947 with US/AWS/ASME designation systems.
Key topics and requirements
- Main welding positions: PA (flat), PB, PC (horizontal types), PD (horizontal overhead), PE (overhead), PF (vertical up), PG (vertical down), PH/PJ (pipe up/down), PK (orbital pipe welding).
- Definitions: clear terms for slope (S), rotation (R), inclined angle (L), and special test position (SP).
- Testing tolerances: welding test pieces shall not exceed ±5° slope and ±10° rotation from the main position (Clause 4.2).
- Production ranges: production welding position ranges are given separately for butt and fillet welds (Tables 1 and 2) and illustrated in Annex A. For special cases where the test piece lies outside main limits, the production allowable range is ±15° slope and ±15° rotation (Clause 4.3).
- Designation rules: position symbol may be supplemented by three‑digit slope/rotation values (example: PB 015-010) or an inclined angle for pipe welding (example: PH-L045).
- Illustrative guidance: Annex A provides sketches of slope/rotation limits; Annex B maps ISO designations to US/AWS/ASME systems.
Practical applications and users
ISO 6947:2019 is used to ensure consistency in how welding positions are described, tested and qualified. Typical users:
- Welding engineers and procedure writers preparing WPS/PQR documentation
- Quality and inspection personnel specifying test orientation for welder qualification and destructive/non‑destructive tests
- Welding training and certification bodies applying ISO 9606 (welder qualification) and ISO 15614 (procedure qualification) where positions reference is required
- Fabrication shops, pipeline and pressure‑vessel manufacturers, and aerospace/shipbuilding teams needing unambiguous position definitions for production welds and orbital welding
Benefits:
- Improves communication across international projects
- Ensures repeatable test conditions and consistent qualification scopes
- Aligns ISO and US/AWS position nomenclature through Annex B for cross‑border contracts
Related standards
- ISO 9606 series - Welder qualification (references ISO 6947 positions)
- ISO 15614 series - Welding procedure qualification
- AWS A3.0 / ASME Section IX - US/AWS position systems (comparison provided in Annex B)
Keywords: ISO 6947:2019, welding positions, butt welds, fillet welds, slope and rotation, welder qualification, production welding, welding procedure, welding standard.
