The Methodology of The Number System of The Welding World

The Methodology of the Number System of the
Welding World
Sep 28, 2015 by Antonio Howard
In this mysterious world of hot metal and welding torches we could use a bit of a break. How often do we wish
that there was something we could use to make our lives easier? No need to wish anymore, its already here:
The Numbers are here to help. The P-Numbers, S-Numbers, Group-Numbers, F-Numbers, and A-Numbers are
here to make welding easier and more affordable. These numbers have been assigned to base metals and
filler metals alike, grouping materials in an effort to reduce the number of welding procedures and welder
performance qualification tests needed to qualify a wide range of materials (base metals and filler metals). The
base metal grouping scheme consists of The P- and Group-Numbers. It also included the S-Numbers until they
were removed from the ASME code in 2009. The filler metal grouping scheme consists of The F- and ANumbers.
Base Metals
The P-Number
This number is used to group similar Base Metals, allowing qualification of an entire selection versus
qualification of just one. These base metals are grouped by material and assigned P-Numbers based on what
material they are. For example, the P-Number 1 is assigned to Carbon Manganese or Low Carbon Steel base
metals.
The table below provides an approximate summary of the P-Number assignments:
P-Number
Base M
Carbon
Not Us
1/2 Mo
1 1/4 C
5A
2 1/4 C
5B
5 Chro
5C
Chrom
Marten
Ferritic
Austen
9A, B, C
2-4N
10A, B, C, F
Various
10H
Duplex
10I
High C
10J
High C
10K
High C
11A
Various
11B
Various
12 to 20
Not Us
21
High A
22
Alumin
23
Alumin
24
Not Us
25
Alumin
26 to 30
Not Us
31
High C
32
Brass
33
Copper
34
Copper
35
Copper
36 to 40
Not Us
41
High N
42
Nickel,
43
Nickel,
44
Nickel,
45
Nickel,
46
Nickel,
47
Nickel,
47 to 50
Not Us
51, 52, 53
Titaniu
61, 62
Zirconi
Because of these assignments, the cost for continuous procedure and performance qualification testing does
not exist. In most cases, qualifying a welder on a specific material will also qualify that welder on a variety of
related materials. For example, a welder who qualifies on a P1 to P1 material is also qualified to weld P-1
through P-15F, P-34, and any P-40s. The following tables provide more information.
Table from QW-423 Welder Qualifications
Base Metals for Welder Qualification

P No. 1 through P No. 15F,
P No.34, or P No. 41 through P No. 49
P No. 21 through P No. 26
P No. 51 through P No. 53 or P No. 61 or P No. 62
In some cases, qualifying a production coupon for procedure specification also qualifies that procedure to a
wider range of materials.
Table from QW-424 Procedure Qualifications
Base Metal(s) used for Production Qualification Coupon

One metal from a P-Number to any metal from the same P-Number
One metal from P No. 15E to any metal from P No. 15E
One metal from a P Number to any metal from any other P Number
One metal from P No. 15E to any metal from any other P Number
One metal from P No. 3 to any metal from P No. 3
One metal from P No. 4 to any metal from P No. 4
One metal from P No. 5A to any metal from P No. 5A
One metal from P No. 5A to any metal from P No. 4, P No. 3, or P No. 1
One metal from P No. 4 to any metal from P No. 3, or P No. 1
Any unassigned metal to the same unassigned metal
Any unassigned metal to any P Number metal
Any unassigned metal to any metal from P No. 15E
Any unassigned metal to any other unassigned metal
The S-Number
The S-Number was removed from ASME Section IX in 2009. The S-Numbers purpose was identical to the PNumber. However, these numbers were assigned to those materials included for pipework to the ASME B31
Code for Pressure Piping. These materials were also covered by the P-Number, but not the converse.
The Group-Number
This number is used only for impact testing requirements of ferrous metals, subgrouping the P-Number
materials by similarity of metallurgical properties (see above P-Number table). However, per ASME Section IX,
These assignments are based essentially on comparable base metal characteristics, such as composition,
weldability, brazeability, and mechanical properties, where this can logically be done. These assignments do
not imply that base metals may be indiscriminately substituted for a base metal that was used in the
qualification test without consideration of compatibility from the standpoint of metallurgical properties, postweld
heat treatment, design, mechanical properties, and service requirements.
The following table is a replica from QW-420 that shows the assignment groups for various alloy systems:
Base M
Steel and Steel alloys
Aluminum and aluminum-base alloys
Copper and copper-base alloys
Nickel and nickel-base alloys
Titanium and titanium-base alloys
Zirconium and zirconium-base alloys
Filler Metals
The F-Number
This number is used to group filler metals used in welding procedures and welder performance qualifications.
The definition of F-Numbers is provided in QW-431 of ASME IX:
The following FNumber grouping of electrodes and welding rods in Table QW-432 is based essentially on
their usability characteristics, which fundamentally determine the ability of welders to make satisfactory welds
with a given filler metal. This grouping is made to reduce the number of welding procedure and performance
qualifications, where this can logically be done. The grouping does not imply that base metals or filler metals
within a group may be indiscriminately substituted for a metal that was used in the qualification test without
consideration of the compatibility of the base and filler metals from the standpoint of metallurgical properties,
postweld heat treatment design and service requirements, and mechanical properties.
F-Numbers of filler metals can be found in QW-432 of ASME IX:
FNo. 1 through FNo. 6


FNo. 61
QW-433 ALTERNATE FNUMBERS FOR WELDER PERFORMANCE QUALIFICATION
Qualified With
FNo. 1 With Backing
Qualified For
FNo. 1 With Backing
FNo. 1 Without Backing
FNo. 2 With Backing
FNo. 3 With Backing
FNo. 4 With Backing
FNo. 5 With Backing
Any F-No.6
Any FNo. 21 through FNo. 25
Any FNo. 31, FNo. 32, FNo. 33, FNo.
FNo. 34 or any FNo. 41 through FNo. 4

Any FNo. 61
NOTE:
(1) Deposited weld metal made using a ba
The A-Number
The A-Number is a calculated value based on a combination of the chemical composition of the weld filler
metal (which may be found in ASME Section II Part C), and ASME Section IXs A-Number Table QW-442:
Table QW-442
A-Numbers
Classification of Ferrous Weld Metal Analysis for Procedure Qualification
A-No.
1
Mild Steel
Carbon-Molybdenum
Chrome (0.4% to 2%)Molybdenum
Chrome (2% to 4%)Molybdenum
Chrome (4% to 10.5%)Molybdenum
ChromeMartensitic
ChromeFerritic
ChromiumNickel
ChromiumNickel
10
Nickel to 4%
11
ManganeseMolybdenum
12
NickelChromeMolybdenum
NOTES:
(1) Single values shown above are maximum.
(2) Only listed elements are used to determine A-numbers.
The A-Number is an essential variable for welding procedure specifications for multiple welding processes. It
identifies related filler metals based on their chemical composition and allows procedure qualifications for the
whole host of related materials.
The Numbers System

The purpose of the number system is to help. It alleviates extra time and cost by qualifying welders and
procedures to a host of materials by simply qualifying to one. Again I ask, how often do we wish that there was
something we could use to make our lives easier? No need to wish anymore, its already here: The Numbers
are here to help.

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The Methodology of the Number System of the

Base Metals for Welder Qualification

Base Metal(s) used for Production Qualification Coupon

FNo. 1 through FNo. 6

FNo. 31 through FNo. 37

FNo. 1 With Backing

FNo. 5 Without Backing

FNo. 34 or any FNo. 41 through FNo. 4

(1) Deposited weld metal made using a ba

Chrome (0.4% to 2%)Molybdenum

Chrome (2% to 4%)Molybdenum

Chrome (4% to 10.5%)Molybdenum

The Numbers System

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