Structural Welding Code for Aluminum
The structural welding code for aluminum is the requirements outlined by the government. These codes are used to cover the fabrication and erection of aluminum products and structures. The code covers the welding process, procedures and performance of the personnel performing the work. The welding code for aluminum also covers the requirements a welding inspector must meet before being qualified to certify welds. Many organizations have welding codes or a combination of welding codes from each organization that are all recognized by federal, state and local governments.
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American Welding Society
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The American Welding Society (AWS) has the most prominent structural welding code, recognized by all federal, state and local government code enforcement regulations. The AWS D1.2 is the structural code for welding aluminum. The code covers welding any aluminum material to a structure or welding an aluminum structure completely. The code is not intended to be used for specialized aluminum welding such as in military vehicles, boilers or aerospace vessels. AWS D3.7 is the code used when welding aluminum hulls. The aluminum hull welding code is similar to the steel hull welding code but regulates the types of aluminum used in the hull of a vessel.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has a code divided into sections. Under each section, construction of boilers, nuclear facility components, heated piping and pressure vessels are covered, as well as the requirements for welding different material in the construction of these products and vessels. The aluminum welding code is also covered under ASME B31 code. The B31 covers the types of aluminum used in the construction of the devices mentioned earlier as well as the required inspection of the devices.
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American Petroleum Institute
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The American Petroleum Institute (API) code is the aluminum welding code recognized by the oil and gas industry. Even though most of the piping and devices used in the petroleum industry is made of steel, aluminum welding is discussed in several of the codes because aluminum components are used on the devices and some of the piping. API code 570 discusses the inspections required on the aluminum welds. API 620 covers the requirements for design and construction of welded low-pressure tanks. API 1104 describes the requirements for welding pipes and pipe components.
Mil-Specs
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Military specifications, or mil-specs, are the aluminum welding codes used by the U.S. armed forces. These aluminum welding codes are taken from a combination of all three major welding codes, such as AWS, ASME and API. The aluminum welding codes used by the military are based on or copy each code covered by many other industry welding codes. For example, the AWS D1.2 is used by the military for aluminum welding of structures. The ASME codes are used by the Department of Defense for the construction and welding of heat boilers, and the API welding codes are used by the military when welding oil or gas storage tanks.
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