AWS F4.

1:2007
An American National Standard

Safe Practices
for the Preparation
of Containers and
Piping for Welding
and Cutting

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 AWS F4.1:2007
An American National Standard

Approved by the
American National Standards Institute
August 24, 2007

Safe Practices
for the Preparation of
Containers and Piping for
Welding and Cutting

5th Edition

Supersedes AWS F4.1:1999

Prepared by the
American Welding Society (AWS) Committee on Labeling and Safe Practices
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Under the Direction of the

AWS Committee on Safety and Health

Approved by the
AWS Board of Directors

Abstract
This standard informs the reader of the necessary safe practices to be followed in the cleaning and preparation of
containers and piping for welding or cutting. It describes various methods for cleaning, including water, steam, hot
chemical, and mechanical, and techniques to be used for their proper preparation, such as inerting.

550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126

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 AWS F4.1:2007

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International Standard Book Number: 978-0-87171-078-9

American Welding Society
550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126
© 2007 by American Welding Society
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America

Photocopy Rights. No portion of this standard may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
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 AWS F4.1:2007

Statement on the Use of American Welding Society Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, 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 govern-
mental 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.

AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether
special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance
on this standard. AWS also makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information
published herein.

In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is neither undertaking to render professional or other services for or
on behalf of any person or entity, nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone
else. Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the
advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances.

This standard may be superseded by the issuance of new editions. Users should ensure that they have the latest edition.

Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent or trade name. Users of this standard accept
any and all liabilities for infringement of any patent or trade name items. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of
any patent or product trade name resulting from the use of this standard.

Finally, AWS does not monitor, police, or enforce compliance with this standard, nor does it have the power to do so.

On occasion, text, tables, or figures are printed incorrectly, constituting errata. Such errata, when discovered, are posted
on the AWS web page (www.aws.org).

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request,

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in writing, to the appropriate technical committee. Such requests should be addressed to the American Welding Society,
Attention: Managing Director, Technical Services Division, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126 (see Annex B).
With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered.
These opinions are offered solely as a convenience to users of this standard, and they do not constitute professional
advice. Such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals
do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unofficial opinions or interpretations of
AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS Safety and Health Committee. It must be reviewed every five
years, and if not revised, it must be either reaffirmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations, additions, or deletions)
and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are required and should be addressed to AWS
Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS Safety and Health Committee and the
author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are invited to attend all
meetings of the AWS Safety and Health Committee to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of
an adverse decision concerning all such comments are provided in the Rules of Operation of the Technical Activities
Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road,
Miami, FL 33126.

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 AWS F4.1:2007

Personnel
AWS Safety and Health Committee
D. E. Clark, Chair Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
J. M. Antonini, 1st Vice Chair National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
J. D. Jennings, 2nd Vice Chair Miller Electric Manufacturing Company
S. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society
M. S. Anderson Consultant
K. Bancroft U.S. Geological Survey
S. E. Ferree ESAB Welding & Cutting Products
D. A. Fink The Lincoln Electric Company
S. R. Fiore Edison Welding Institute
K. A. Lyttle Praxair, Incorporated
A. F. Manz A. F. Manz Associates
A. A. Odermatt Hobart Brothers

Advisors to the Safety and Health Committee

K. L. Brown The Lincoln Electric Company
J. F. Hinrichs Friction Stir Link, Incorporated
R. J. Simonton U.S. Department of Energy
D. H. Sliney U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive
Medicine
R. J. Tucker Consultant
M. E. Wallace U.S. Public Health Service

AWS Subcommittee on Labeling and Safe Practices

A. F. Manz, Chair A. F. Manz Associates
S. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society
M. Amata Consultant
J. W. Dimler JWD Associates
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S. E. Ferree ESAB Welding & Cutting Products

D. A. Fink The Lincoln Electric Company
C. Frey 3M Company
J. L. Hege ESAB Welding & Cutting Products
J. D. Jennings Miller Electric Manufacturing Company
M. P. Snyder U.S. Department of Labor
D. Werba Miller Electric Manufacturing Company
W. G. Wuest Sulzet Metco (US), Incorporated

Advisors to the AWS Subcommittee on Labeling and Safe Practices

D. G. Anderson Retired
G. C. Barnes Consultant
K. L. Brown The Lincoln Electric Company
D. Diaz ETMS
C. W. Philp Consultant
A. B. Spencer National Fire Protection Association
J. Steinmetz Marine Technology Services

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 AWS F4.1:2007

Foreword
This foreword is not part of AWS F4.1:2007, Safe Practices for the Preparation of Containers
and Piping for Welding and Cutting, but is included for informational purposes only.
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In 1940, the AWS Committee on Safety Recommendations published Recommended Procedure to Be Followed in Pre-
paring for Welding or Cutting Certain Types of Containers which have Held Combustibles. The title of the document
changed several times on subsequent revisions in 1952, 1965, 1980, 1988, 1994, and 1999. This document addresses one
of the leading causes of accidents among welders and cutters, that is, work on closed containers where previous contents
are unknown. It provides the safety precautions necessary for prevention of such accidents, and the techniques used for
preparation of containers, including piping, and represents current practice in various segments of U.S. industry.
Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary,
AWS Safety and Health Committee, American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126.

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 AWS F4.1:2007
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 AWS F4.1:2007

Table of Contents
Page No.
Personnel......................................................................................................................................................................v
Foreword .................................................................................................................................................................. vii
1. Introduction and Scope.......................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Scope............................................................................................................................................................1
2. Definitions ............................................................................................................................................................1
2.1 Hazardous Substances .................................................................................................................................1
2.2 Qualified Person ..........................................................................................................................................1
3. Preparing the Container for Cleaning ..............................................................................................................2
3.1 Determination of Hazardous Characteristics of Contents ...........................................................................2
3.2 Unknown Substances...................................................................................................................................2
3.3 Designation of Cleaning Procedure .............................................................................................................2
3.4 Cleaning Containers.....................................................................................................................................2
3.5 Other Precautions.........................................................................................................................................2
4. Methods of Cleaning and Guidelines for Selection ..........................................................................................2
4.1 Water Cleaning ............................................................................................................................................2
4.2 Hot Chemical Solution Cleaning .................................................................................................................2
4.3 Steam Cleaning............................................................................................................................................3
4.4 Mechanical Cleaning ...................................................................................................................................3
4.5 Chemical Cleaning.......................................................................................................................................3
4.6 Combination of Methods .............................................................................................................................3
5. Preparation for Welding and Cutting ...............................................................................................................3
5.1 Guidelines ....................................................................................................................................................3
5.2 Safe Practices...............................................................................................................................................3
Annex A (Informative)—Bibliography........................................................................................................................5
Annex B (Informative)—Guidelines for the Preparation of Technical Inquiries .........................................................7

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Safe Practices for the Preparation of
Containers and Piping for Welding and Cutting
1. Introduction and Scope
1.1 Introduction. Explosions, fires, and health hazards
may result if welding, cutting, or other hot work is per-
formed on containers that are not free of hazardous sub-
stances, such as combustible, reactive, or toxic solids,
liquids, vapors, dusts, and gases. No container shall be
presumed to be clean or safe, but containers can be made
safe for work, provided the safe practices prescribed
herein or their equivalent are followed.
1.2 Scope. These safe practices shall apply to the prepa-
ration for welding of metal containers and piping. For the
purposes of this document, references to precautions for
welding are also intended to apply to all metal working
operations (such as cutting or brazing) involving the
application of heat. Cleaning of used containers is neces-
sary in all cases before welding. The term container, as
used herein, includes piping.
The safe practices presented here are not intended to
replace either regulatory standards or more stringent
practices of industries that have expert knowledge of
handling hazardous substances. Consequently, safe prac-
tices presented here are not intended to apply to the
following:1
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(1) Containers and confined spaces that can be
entered by workers (see ANSI Z117.1, Safety Require-
ments for Confined Spaces2).
(2) Containers that have contained radioactive
substances
(3) Compressed gas containers
(4) Containers that have held explosive substances
(such as nitrocellulose, pyroxylin solution, etc.)
1 See Annex A, Bibliography, for other standards and practices.
2 This ANSI standard is published by the American Society of
Safety Engineers, 1800 East Oakton Street, Des Plaines, IL
60018.
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(5) Tanks, bunkers, or compartments on ships
(6) Gasometers or gas holders for natural and manu-
factured gases
(7) Outside, above-ground, vertical petroleum storage
tanks
(8) Containers holding flammables that are to be
repaired while in service
2. Definitions
2.1 Hazardous Substances. Hazardous substances
include, but are not limited to, those that are explosive,
combustible, toxic, or corrosive. They may be present in
a container having previously held one of the following:
(1) Volatile liquid that can release potentially hazard-
ous flammable or toxic vapors, or any combination
thereof.
(2) An acid or alkaline material that reacts with
metals to produce hydrogen.
(3) A nonvolatile liquid or solid that at ordinary tem-
peratures will not release potentially hazardous vapors,
but will do so if the container is heated. (NOTE: Com-
bustible vapors or hazardous decomposition products
may be generated by the heat of welding or cutting.)
(4) A dust cloud or finely divided airborne particles
that may still be present in an explosive concentration.
(5) A flammable or toxic gas.
(6) Corrosion by-products due to reaction of the con-
tainer with its contents.
2.2 Qualified Person. A person designated by the
employer or contractor, in writing, as capable by edu-
cation or specialized training, or both, of anticipating,
recognizing, and evaluating employee exposure to haz-
ardous substances or other unsafe conditions. This
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 AWS F4.1:2007
person shall be capable of specifying the necessary
control and protective action for worker safety.
3. Preparing the Container for
Cleaning
3.1 Determination of Hazardous Characteristics of
Contents. Before any container is cleaned, the hazardous
characteristics of the substance previously held by the
container shall be determined by a qualified person. The
container label shall not be solely relied upon to identify
its contents. When in doubt, tests shall be made to deter-
mine the identity. Applying an improper cleaning
method might not remove the hazardous substance from
the container, or it might cause a more hazardous sub-
stance to be produced. For example, arbitrary application
of rinsing and cleaning with water may leave peroxides
that may explode if heat, friction, or impact were applied
to the container.
3.2 Unknown Substances. Cleaning and welding a con-
tainer that has held unknown substances shall not be
done since this practice involves unknown risk. If the
source and identity of the material in the container can-
not be determined, and if chemical analysis cannot be
performed, the container shall be disposed of according
to local, state, and federal regulations.
3.3 Designation of Cleaning Procedure. A qualified
person shall designate the cleaning procedure to assure
that the cleaning can be carried out safely in an environ-
mentally responsible manner and can render the con-
tainer free of all hazardous concentration of materials.
3.4 Cleaning Containers. Cleaning of containers that
have held hazardous materials shall be performed only
by a qualified person familiar with the hazardous char-
acteristics of the contents and the proper method of
cleaning.
3.5 Other Precautions. Appropriate steps shall be taken
to protect personnel cleaning the container against expo-
sure to hazardous substances that may be present during
the cleaning operation. Safety equipment may include,
but is not limited to, an air-line respirator, appropriate
air-purifying respirator, rubber apron, face shield, imper-
vious gloves, impervious boots, rain suit, and safety
glasses.
3.5.1 Container Location. The container shall be
moved outdoors, if practical. If the container is cleaned
indoors, the room shall be well ventilated so that hazard-
ous vapors will not accumulate and will be carried away
from the worker's breathing zone quickly and safely.
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3.5.2 Container Contents. The container shall be
emptied and drained thoroughly, including all internal
piping, traps, and standpipes. Sludge and sediment shall
be removed. All residue and used cleaning agents shall
be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner
according to local, state, and federal regulations.
3.5.3 Container Connections. The same safe prac-
tices shall be used on adjacent or interconnected con-
tainer compartments regardless of which compartment is
to be welded.
3.5.4 Container Coatings. Containers with metal lin-
ers and internal and external coatings of plastic, refrac-
tory, and other materials shall be handled carefully. The
coatings or liners themselves may release vapors or
fumes when heated, or liquids may be trapped between
the coating or liner and the container wall. Because of
the possibility of hazardous products being released and
of damage to the coating, hot work on such containers
shall only be performed under the supervision of persons
with knowledge of the container contents and of the
coating or liner.
4. Methods of Cleaning and
Guidelines for Selection
The choice of cleaning method depends upon the charac-
teristics of the substance previously held by the con-
tainer. Common methods use water, hot chemical
solutions, and steam. If these methods are not satisfac-
tory, other procedures may be used, some of which are
described later in this clause. Refer to MSDSs (Material
Safety Data Sheets) for additional information.
4.1 Water Cleaning. Where the substance is known to
be safely and readily soluble in water, the residue can be
removed by completely filling the container with water
and draining several times. For example, a water-soluble
acid or alkaline material may be handled this way, thus
eliminating the hazard of hydrogen produced by a reac-
tion between the acid or alkaline material and metal.
Care shall be taken to ensure that the flushing is thorough
so that all traces of the acid or alkaline material are
removed because diluted acid frequently reacts with
metal to produce hydrogen where concentrated acid may
not. Examples of other water-soluble compounds are
acetone and alcohols.
When the substance originally in the container is not
readily soluble in water, the container shall be treated by
one of the following methods.
4.2 Hot Chemical Solution Cleaning. This method gen-
erally uses trisodium phosphate (strong washing powder)
or a commercial caustic cleaning compound dissolved in
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hot water. When cleaning by this method, care shall be
taken to guard against injury from vapors, gases, or con-
tact with the cleaning compounds. Suitable goggles, face
shield, gloves, and other personal protective equipment
shall be used and adequate ventilation shall be provided.
4.3 Steam Cleaning. This method generally uses low-
pressure steam and a hot soda or soda ash solution. Solu-
tion agitation is used to flush the inside surfaces, and
steam is used to promote a good cleaning action.
Care shall be taken to avoid injury from vapors, steam,
and cleaning solution. Suitable goggles, face shield,
gloves, and other personal protection shall be used, and
adequate ventilation shall be provided. Where spray noz-
zle devices are employed and where an explosive atmo-
sphere is possible, the tank and nozzle shall be grounded
during steam cleaning to minimize the possibility of
static charge buildup and spark discharge.
4.4 Mechanical Cleaning. Mechanical cleaning is gen-
erally used when scaly, dry, or insoluble residues are left
on the surface. A disadvantage of mechanical cleaning is
that access must be provided for the cleaning equipment,
and all contaminated areas shall be visually inspected
either directly or by use of optics. Access to the interior
can be provided by mechanically cutting the container in
half or, for large containers, cutting an opening in the
shell. A cutting method requiring the application of a
flame or arc to the container shall not be used, nor shall a
method that will create sparks or other sources of igni-
tion be used before the container is cleaned.
Excessive friction heat shall be prevented by cooling
with water or a suitable fluid. The container shall be
grounded to minimize the possibility of static charge
buildup and spark discharges during mechanical clean-
ing. Where openings have been cut in rubber or plastic
coated containers, suitable fire protection (including
internal) shall be provided during rewelding to prevent or
immediately extinguish fire.
Mechanical cleaning may be performed by scraping,
sand or grit blasting, high-pressure water washing,
brushing, filling the container 1/4 full of clean dry sand
and rolling it on the floor, or any method in which the
contaminant can safely be dislodged. Following clean-
ing, the container shall be inspected and recleaned as
necessary.
4.5 Chemical Cleaning. Chemical cleaning is generally
used when the container holds deposits insoluble in
water, or when it cannot be mechanically cleaned. Care
shall be used in selecting a chemical solvent; some
solvents may be as hazardous as the deposits they are
intended to remove. If chlorinated solvents are used, all
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residue shall be removed before welding or cutting
begins.
When selecting chemical solvents, consultation with the
manufacturer of the material to be removed would be
helpful. Chemical manufacturers may recommend a
solvent to use and detail a cleaning procedure.
4.6 Combination of Methods. Occasionally, combi-
nations of the methods of cleaning prior to welding or
cutting must be used. Care shall be exercised when com-
bining some of the cleaning methods to protect personnel
and prevent hazardous reactions.
5. Preparation for Welding and
Cutting
5.1 Guidelines. This clause presents guidelines for
ensuring that the containers and work area are safe for
welding and cutting. The guidelines are intended to pro-
tect personnel and equipment by ensuring that the
hazards are understood and adequate precautions are
properly taken. The qualified person responsible for the
work done on the container shall ensure that the guide-
lines are followed.
5.2 Safe Practices. The following steps shall be taken to
ensure that the work area and container are maintained
safe for welding:
5.2.1 Area. The immediate area outside and inside the
container shall be cleared of all obstacles and hazardous
materials. When repairing containers in place, care shall
be taken to prevent entry of hazardous substances
released from the floor or soil beneath the container.
5.2.2 Equipment. Personal protection equipment and
fire protection equipment shall be available, serviceable,
and in position for immediate use.
5.2.3 Ventilation. Ventilation shall be adequate for
providing a safe work atmosphere prior to and during
welding. It may be necessary to test for toxic or flamma-
ble vapors and to verify that the oxygen content of the
atmosphere in the work area is maintained within accept-
able limits. Where adequate ventilation is not available,
an independent source of breathing air shall be provided.
5.2.4 Inspection. Qualified persons shall inspect the
used container to verify that the cleaning is adequate. All
test equipment shall be suitable for the intended mea-
surement. In addition to visual checks, tests (which mea-
sure flammability or toxicity, or both, of the atmosphere)
shall be made just prior to welding to ensure that the
atmosphere inside the container is safe for welding.
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 AWS F4.1:2007
5.2.5 Pressure Relief. Provision shall be made to pre-
vent pressure buildup in the container during welding.
Exhaust gases and other gases produced during welding
shall be discharged in a safe and environmentally accept-
able manner.
5.2.6 Testing. The container shall be tested for haz-
ardous gases, fumes, and vapors periodically to ensure
that the container and work area are safe during welding.
5.2.7 Inerting. An alternate method to provide and
maintain the container in a welding condition, free from
flammable or explosive hazards, is to fill it with an inert
medium such as water, inert gas, or sand.
5.2.7.1 Water Method. When the water-filled
method is used, the container shall be placed so that it
can be kept filled to within a few inches (25 mm to
75 mm) of the point where welding is to be done. The
space above the water level shall be vented so the heated
air can escape from the container.
5.2.7.2 Inert Gas Method. As an alternate to the
water-filled treatment, the container can be filled with
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inert gas. When this method is used, the qualified indi-
vidual shall be informed of the percentage of inert gas
that must be present and how to safely produce and
maintain this percentage during welding, as well as be
alert for suffocation hazards.
5.2.7.3 Sand Method. Sand can be used as an
alternate to displace the hazardous atmosphere inside a
container. The container shall be completely filled with
sand before welding.
5.2.7.4 Jacketed Containers. These inerting
guidelines are particularly suitable for use with metal-
lined jacketed containers that might be difficult to clean
thoroughly.
5.2.8 Isolation. The container shall be isolated from
further entry of hazardous substance. When work is to be
performed on piping in place, valves in that line shall be
closed and locked out. The pipe shall be disconnected
and drained. The open end of the pipe sections not being
worked on shall be blanked off (see 5.2.1).
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Annex A
Bibliography
This annex is not part of AWS F4.1:2007, Safe Practices for the Preparation of Containers
and Piping for Welding and Cutting, but is included for informational purposes only.
American Gas Association (AGA).3 Purging Principles
and Practices, Catalog No. XK0775-IN1, Washing-
ton, DC: American Gas Association.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety in
Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes, ANSI Z49.1
(current edition). Miami: American Welding Society.4
American Petroleum Institute (API).5 Cleaning Mobile
Tanks in Flammable or Combustible Liquid Service,
Publ. 2013, Sixth Edition. Washington: American
Petroleum Institute, 1991.
American Petroleum Institute (API). Safe Entry and
Cleaning of Petroleum Storage Tanks, Std 2015. Sixth
Edition. Washington: American Petroleum Institute,
2001.
American Petroleum Institute (API). Preparing Tank
Bottoms for Hot Work, Publ. 2207, Fifth Edition.
Washington, DC: American Petroleum Institute,
1998.
American Petroleum Institute (API). Safe Hot Tapping
Practices in the Petroleum and Petrochemical Indus-
tries, Publ. 2201, Fifth Edition. Washington, DC:
American Petroleum Institute, 2003.
3 AGA standards are published by the American Gas Asso-
ciation, 400 N. Capitol Street N.W., Washington, DC 20001.
4 AWS standards are published by the American Welding
Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126.
5 API standards are published by the American Petroleum
Institute, 1220 L Street N.W., Washington, DC 20005.
5
Copyright American Welding Society
Provided by IHS under license with AWS
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS
AWS F4.1:2007
American Petroleum Institute (API). Repairing Crude
Oil, Liquified Petroleum Gas and Product Pipelines,
RP 2200, Third Edition. Washington, DC: American
Petroleum Institute, 1994.
American Petroleum Institute (API). Safe Welding, Cut-
ting, and Other Hot Work Practices in the Petroleum
and Petrochemical Industries, Publ. 2009. Washing-
ton, DC: American Petroleum Institute, 2002.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).6 Standard
for the Control of Gas Hazards on Vessels, NFPA
No. 306, Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection
Association.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Standard
for Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and
Other Hot Work, NFPA No. 51B, Quincy, MA:
National Fire Protection Association.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Standard
Procedures for Cleaning or Safeguarding Small
Tanks and Containers Without Entry, NFPA No. 327,
Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association.
CGA Publications. Publications of the Compressed Gas
Association. 1725 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arling-
ton, Virginia 22202-4102.
6 NFPA standards are published by the National Fire Protection
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Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269.
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Annex B
Guidelines for the Preparation of Technical Inquiries
This annex is not part of AWS F4.1:2007, Safe Practices for the Preparation of Containers
and Piping for Welding and Cutting, but is included for informational purposes only.
B1. Introduction
The American Welding Society (AWS) Board of Directors
has adopted a policy whereby all official interpretations
of AWS standards are handled in a formal manner. Under
this policy, all interpretations are made by the committee
that is responsible for the standard. Official communica-
tion concerning an interpretation is directed through the
AWS staff member who works with that committee. The
policy requires that all requests for an interpretation be
submitted in writing. Such requests will be handled as
expeditiously as possible, but due to the complexity of
the work and the procedures that must be followed, some
interpretations may require considerable time.
B2. Procedure
All inquiries shall be directed to:
Managing Director
Technical Services Division
American Welding Society
550 N.W. LeJeune Road
Miami, FL 33126
All inquiries shall contain the name, address, and affilia-
tion of the inquirer, and they shall provide enough infor-
mation for the committee to understand the point of
concern in the inquiry. When the point is not clearly
defined, the inquiry will be returned for clarification. For
efficient handling, all inquiries should be typewritten and
in the format specified below.
B2.1 Scope. Each inquiry shall address one single provi-
sion of the standard unless the point of the inquiry
involves two or more interrelated provisions. The provi-
sion(s) shall be identified in the scope of the inquiry
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AWS F4.1:2007
along with the edition of the standard that contains the
provision(s) the inquirer is addressing.
B2.2 Purpose of the Inquiry. The purpose of the inquiry
shall be stated in this portion of the inquiry. The purpose
can be to obtain an interpretation of a standard’s require-
ment or to request the revision of a particular provision
in the standard.
B2.3 Content of the Inquiry. The inquiry should be
concise, yet complete, to enable the committee to under-
stand the point of the inquiry. Sketches should be used
whenever appropriate, and all paragraphs, figures, and
tables (or annex) that bear on the inquiry shall be cited. If
the point of the inquiry is to obtain a revision of the stan-
dard, the inquiry shall provide technical justification for
that revision.
B2.4 Proposed Reply. The inquirer should, as a
proposed reply, state an interpretation of the provision
that is the point of the inquiry or provide the wording for
a proposed revision, if this is what the inquirer seeks.
B3. Interpretation of Provisions of
the Standard
Interpretations of provisions of the standard are made by
the relevant AWS technical committee. The secretary of
the committee refers all inquiries to the chair of the par-
ticular subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the por-
tion of the standard addressed by the inquiry. The
subcommittee reviews the inquiry and the proposed reply
to determine what the response to the inquiry should
be. Following the subcommittee’s development of the
response, the inquiry and the response are presented to
the entire committee for review and approval. Upon
approval by the committee, the interpretation is an official
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 AWS F4.1:2007
interpretation of the Society, and the secretary transmits
the response to the inquirer and to the Welding Journal
for publication.
B4. Publication of Interpretations
All official interpretations will appear in the Welding
Journal and will be posted on the AWS web site.
B5. Telephone Inquiries
Telephone inquiries to AWS Headquarters concerning
AWS standards should be limited to questions of a gen-
eral nature or to matters directly related to the use of the
standard. The AWS Board Policy Manual requires that all
AWS staff members respond to a telephone request for
an official interpretation of any AWS standard with the
information that such an interpretation can be obtained
Copyright American Welding Society
Provided by IHS under license with AWS
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS
only through a written request. Headquarters staff cannot
provide consulting services. However, the staff can refer
a caller to any of those consultants whose names are on
file at AWS Headquarters.
B6. AWS Technical Committees
The activities of AWS technical committees regarding
interpretations are limited strictly to the interpretation of
provisions of standards prepared by the committees or to
consideration of revisions to existing provisions on the
basis of new data or technology. Neither AWS staff nor
the committees are in a position to offer interpretive or
consulting services on (1) specific engineering problems,
(2) requirements of standards applied to fabrications
outside the scope of the document, or (3) points not
specifically covered by the standard. In such cases, the
inquirer should seek assistance from a competent engi-
neer experienced in the particular field of interest.
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Copyright American Welding Society

Provided by IHS under license with AWS Licensee=IHS Employees/1111111001, User=Spiller, Kevin
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 10/07/2007 22:14:19 MDT