Overview
SIST-TP CEN ISO/TR 20173:2018 - Welding: Grouping systems for materials - American materials provides a harmonized American-style grouping system for materials used in welding and allied processes. Classified in accordance with the grouping system of ISO/TR 15608, this technical report lists common North American (and a number of Canadian, Australian and New Zealand) standardized materials across ferrous and non‑ferrous categories. The document is informative (a Technical Report) and supersedes the 2009 edition.
Key facts:
- Covers steels, aluminium, nickel, copper, titanium, zirconium, and cast irons.
- Contains two main tables: Table 1 (ferrous materials) and Table 2 (non‑ferrous materials).
- References material specifications from organizations such as ASTM, ASME, API, AAR, ABS, CSA, MSS, NACE, AS/NZS.
- Intended primarily for welding purposes, but also applicable to heat treatment, forming, and non‑destructive testing (NDT).
Key technical topics and requirements
- Material grouping aligned to ISO/TR 15608 - Materials are classified into groups to support consistent selection of welding procedures and consumables.
- Comprehensive listing - Tables provide standard specification numbers, type/grade names, nominal compositions and group allocations for a wide range of American and commonly used allied materials.
- Cross-reference of international specifications - Includes comparable materials from Canadian, Australian and New Zealand standards commonly used in North America.
- Note: ISO/TR 20173:2018 is an informative report and contains no normative references; it is intended to standardize material grouping rather than prescribe mandatory requirements.
Practical applications
- Use the grouping system to:
- Select compatible welding consumables and filler metals.
- Define preheat/post‑weld heat treatment and forming practices based on material group.
- Develop and qualify welding procedures (WPS/PQR) and support welder qualification.
- Guide non‑destructive testing (NDT) and inspection planning by material category.
- Assist procurement and material identification by providing harmonized group references.
Who should use this standard
- Welding engineers and fabricators
- Materials and metallurgical engineers
- Welding procedure writers and QA/QC teams
- Inspection bodies and NDT technicians
- Procurement specialists and specifiers working with American/ANSI/ASTM/ASME materials
- Standards committees and code organizations seeking harmonization across regions
Related standards and references
- ISO/TR 15608 - Grouping system for materials (basis for classification)
- Previous edition: ISO/TR 20173:2009 (superseded)
- Developed by ISO/TC 44 (Welding and allied processes) and CEN/TC 121
Keywords: welding, grouping systems, materials classification, American materials, ISO/TR 20173:2018, ferrous, non‑ferrous, welding consumables, ISO/TR 15608, ASTM, ASME, API, NDT.
