NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.

Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

Designation: A 488/A 488M – 01 An American National Standard

Standard Practice for

Steel Castings, Welding, Qualifications of Procedures and
Personnel1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 488/A 488M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope General Application2

1.1 This practice establishes the qualification of procedures, A 148/A 148M Specification for Steel Castings, High
welders, and operators for the fabrication and repair of steel Strength, for Structural Purposes2
castings by electric arc welding. A 216/A 216M Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon,
1.1.1 Qualifications of a procedure and either or both the Suitable for Fusion Welding, for High-Temperature Ser-
operator or welder under Section IX of the ASME Boiler and vice2
Pressure Vessel Code shall automatically qualify the procedure A 217/A 217M Specification for Steel Castings, Martensi-
and either or both the operator or welder under this practice. tic Stainless and Alloy, for Pressure-Containing Parts,
P-number designations in the ASME grouping of base metals Suitable for High-Temperature Service2
for qualification may be different than the category numbers A 351/A 351M Specification for Castings, Austenitic, Aus-
listed in Table 1. Refer to Appendix X1 for a comparison of tenitic–Ferritic (Duplex), for Pressure–Containing Parts2
A 352/A 352M Specification for Steel Castings, Ferritic
iTeh Standards
ASTM category numbers with the corresponding ASME
P-Number designations. and Martensitic, for Pressure-Containing Parts, Suitable
1.2 Each manufacturer or contractor is responsible for the for Low-Temperature Service2

(https://standards.iteh.ai)
welding done by his organization and shall conduct the tests
required to qualify his welding procedures, welders, and
A 356/A 356M Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon,
Low Alloy, and Stainless Steel, Heavy-Walled for Steam
2

Document Preview
operators. Turbines
1.3 Each manufacturer or contractor shall maintain a record A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
of welding procedure qualification tests (Fig. 1), welder or of Steel Products3
operator performance qualification tests (Fig. 2), and welding A 389/A 389M Specification for Steel Castings, Alloy,
procedure specification (Fig. 3), which shall be made ASTM A488/A488M-01
available Specially Heat-Treated, for Pressure-Containing Parts,
Suitable for High-Temperature Service2
to https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/71792c50-9397-4d74-8ddb-c00fff0ceade/astm-a488-a488m-01
the purchaser’s representative on request.
1.4 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units A 447/A 447M Specification for Steel Castings,
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the Chromium-Nickel-Iron Alloy (25-12 Class), for High-
2
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each Temperature Service
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must A 487/A 487M Specification for Steel Castings Suitable
be used independently of the other. Combining values from the for Pressure Service2
two systems may result in nonconformance with this practice. A 494/A 494M Specification for Castings, Nickel and
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the Nickel Alloy2
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the A 732/A 732M Specification for Castings, Investment,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- Carbon and Low Alloy Steel for General Application, and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- Cobalt Alloy for High Strength at Elevated Temperatures2
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. A 743/A 743M Specification for Castings, Iron-Chromium,
Iron-Chromium-Nickel, Corrosion-Resistant, for General
2. Referenced Documents Application2
2.1 ASTM Standards: A 744/A 744M Specification for Castings, Iron-
A 27/A 27M Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, for Chromium-Nickel, Corrosion-Resistant, for Severe Ser-
vice2
A 747/A 747M Specification for Steel Castings, Stainless,
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Precipitation Hardening2
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.18 on Castings.
2
Current edition approved Mar. 10, 2001. Published May 2001. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.02.
3
published as A 488 – 63 T. Last previous edition A 488/A 488M – 99. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 A 488/A 488M

iTeh Standards
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
Document Preview FIG. 1 Report Form 1

ASTM A488/A488M-01
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/71792c50-9397-4d74-8ddb-c00fff0ceade/astm-a488-a488m-01

FIG. 2 Report Form 2

A 757/A 757M Specification for Steel Castings, Ferritic cations, for Low-Temperature Service2
and Martensitic, for Pressure-Containing and Other Appli- A 872/A 872M Specification for Centrifugally Cast

2
 A 488/A 488M

iTeh Standards
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
Document Preview
ASTM A488/A488M-01
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/71792c50-9397-4d74-8ddb-c00fff0ceade/astm-a488-a488m-01

FIG. 3 Report Form 3

3
 A 488/A 488M
Ferritic/Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipe for Corrosive En- Ferritic (Duplex) Stainless Steel, for Pressure-Containing
vironments4 Parts2
A 890/A 890M Specification for Castings, Iron- 2.2 American Society of Mechanical Engineers:
Chromium-Nickel-Molybdenum Corrosion-Resistant, Du- ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section IX5
plex (Austenitic/Ferritic) for General Application2 2.3 American Welding Society:
A 990/A 990M Specification for Castings, Iron-Nickel- ANSI/AWS 3.0 Definitions for Welding and Cutting6
Chromium and Nickel Alloys, Specially Controlled for
Pressure Retaining Parts for Corrosive Service2
A 995/A 995M Specification for Castings, Austenitic- 5
Available from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 E. 47th St.,
New York, NY 10017.
6
Available from the American Welding Society, 550 NW LeJeune Rd., P.O. Box
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.01. 351040, Miami, FL 33135.

TABLE 1 Categories of Base Materials

Category
Material Description ASTM Specification Grades
Number
1 Carbon steel (carbon less than 0.35 %, tensile strength less than or A 27/A 27M all grades
equal to 70 ksi [480 MPa]).
A 216/A 216M WCA, WCB
A 352/A 352M LCB, LCA
A 356/A 356M 1
A 732/A 732M 1A, 2A
A 757/A 757M A1Q

2 Carbon steel (tensile strength greater than 70 ksi [480 MPa]). Carbon- A 148/A 148M 80-40

iTeh Standards
manganese steel (tensile strength equal to or greater than 70 ksi but
less than 90 ksi [620 MPa]).
A 216/A 216M WCC
A 352/A 352M LCC

(https://standards.iteh.ai) A 732/A 732M

A 757/A 757M
2Q, 3A
A2Q

3
greater than 90 ksi [620 MPa]). Document Preview
Carbon and carbon-manganese steel (tensile strength equal to or A 732/A 732M 3Q, 4A, 4Q, 5N

4 Low-alloy steel (annealed, normalized, or normalized and tempered. A 148/A 148M 80-50
Tensile strength less than 85 ksi [585 MPa]).
ASTM A488/A488M-01
A 217/A 217M WC1, WC4, WC5, WC6, WC9
A 352/A 352M LC1, LC2, LC3, LC4
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/71792c50-9397-4d74-8ddb-c00fff0ceade/astm-a488-a488m-01
A 356/A 356M 2, 5, 6, 8
A 389/A 389M C23, C24
A 487/A 487M 11A, 12A, 16A
A 757/A 757M B2N, B3N, B4N

5 Low-alloy steel (annealed, normalized, or normalized and tempered. A 148/A 148M 90-60, 105-85
Tensile strength equal to or greater than 85 ksi [585 MPa]). A 217/A 217M C5, C12, C12A, WC11
A 356/A 356M 9, 10, C12
A 487/A 487M 1A, 1C, 2A, 2C, 4A, 4C, 6A, 8A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 13A
A 732/A 732M 6N, 15A
A 757/A 757M D1N1, D1N2, D1N3, E2N1, E2N2, E2N3

6 Low-alloy steel (quenched and tempered) A 148/A 148M 90-60, 105-85, 115-95, 130-115, 135-125, 150-135,
160-145, 165-150, 165-150L, 210-180, 210-180L,
260-210, 260-210L
A 352/A 352M LC2-1, LC1, LC2, LC3, LC4, LC9
A 487/A 487M 1B, 1C, 2B, 2C, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 6B, 7A, 8B, 8C,
9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 10B, 11B, 12B, 13B, 14A
A 732/A 732M 7Q, 8Q, 9Q, 10Q, 11Q, 12Q, 13Q, 14Q
A 757/A 757M B2Q, B3Q, B4Q, C1Q, D1Q1, D1Q2, D1Q3, E1Q,
E2Q1, E2Q2, E2Q3

7 Ferritic stainless steel A 743/A 743M CB-30, CC-50

8 Martensitic stainless steel A 217/A 217M CA-15

A 352/A 352M CA6NM
A 356/A 356M CA6NM
A 487/A 487M CA15-A, CA15-B, CA15-C, CA15-D, CA15M-A,
CA6NM-A, CA6NM-B
A 743/A 743M CA-15, CA-15M, CA6NM, CA-40, CA6N, CB6
A 757/A 757M E3N

4
 A 488/A 488M

TABLE 1 Continued
Category
Material Description ASTM Specification Grades
Number
9 Low-carbon austenitic stainless steel (carbon equal to or less than A 351/A 351M CF-3, CF-3A, CF-3M, CF-3MA, CF-3MN, CK-3MCUN,
0.03 %) CG3M, CN3MN
A 743/A 743M CF-3, CF-3M, CF-3MN, CK-3MCUN, CN-3M, CG3M,
CN3MN
A 744/A 744M CF-3, CF-3M, CK-3MCUN, CG3M , CN3MN

10 Unstabilized austenitic stainless steel (carbon greater than 0.03 %) A 351/A 351M CE-8MN, CF-8, CF-8A, CF-8M, CF-10, CF-10M,
CG-8M, CH-8, CH-10, CH-20, CG6MMN,
CF10S1MNN, CE20N
A 447/A 447M Type I
A 743/A 743M CF-8, CG-12, CF-20, CF-8M, CF-16F, CF10SMNN,
CH-20, CG-8M, CE-30, CG6MMN, CH10, CF16Fa
A 744/A 744M CF-8, CF-8M, CG-8M

11 Stabilized austenitic stainless steel A 351/A 351M CF-8C, CF-10MC, CK-20, HK-30, HK-40, HT-30,
CN-7M, CT-15C
A 447/A 447M Type II
A 743/A 743M CF-8C, CN-7M, CN-7MS, CK-20
A 744/A 744M CF-8C, CN-7M, CN-7MS

12 Duplex (austenitic-ferritic) stainless steel A 351/A 351M CD3MWCuN, CD-4MCU

A 872/A 872M J93183, J93550
A 890/A 890M 1A, 1B, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A
A 995/A 995M 1B, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A

13 Precipitation-hardened austenitic stainless steel A 747/A 747M CB7CU-1, CB7CU-2

14 Nickel-base alloys A 494/A 494M CW-12MW, CY-40 Class 1, CY-40 Class 2, CZ-100,

iTeh Standards A 990/A 990M

M-35-1, M-35-2, M-30C, N-12MV, N-7M, CW-6M, CW-
2M, CW-6MC, CX-2MW, CU5MCUC
CW2M

3. Terminology
(https://standards.iteh.ai) without rotating the pipe or casting so that the weld metal is
3.1 Definitions— Definitions of termsDocument
relating to welding Preview
deposited from the flat, vertical, and overhead position.
shall be in agreement with the definitions of the American 4.7 Qualification— Qualification in the horizontal, vertical,
Welding Society, ANSI/AWS A3.0. or overhead position shall qualify also for the flat position.
Qualification in the horizontal fixed position, or in the hori-
ASTM A488/A488M-01
4. Weld Orientation zontal and vertical and overhead positions, shall qualify for all
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/71792c50-9397-4d74-8ddb-c00fff0ceade/astm-a488-a488m-01
positions (Fig. 4(f )).
4.1 Orientation— The orientation of welds with respect to
horizontal and vertical planes of reference are classified into 5. Preparation of Test Plate
four positions, namely, flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead 5.1 Procedure qualification testing shall be performed on
as shown in Fig. 4. Test material shall be oriented as shown in cast or wrought material having the same category number as
Fig. 4; however, an angular deviation of 615° from the the casting being welded. Test material shall be subjected to the
specified horizontal and vertical planes is permitted during same heat-treatment before and after welding as will be applied
welding. to the casting. If the castings are not to be postweld heat-
4.2 Flat Position (Fig. 4(a))—This position covers plate in treated, then the test material is not to be postweld heat-treated.
a horizontal plane with the weld metal deposited from above, Test plate material for performance qualification testing is
or pipe or a cylindrical casting with its axis horizontal and covered in 12.2.
rolled during welding so that the weld metal is deposited from 5.2 The dimensions of the test plate shall be such as to
above. provide the required number of test specimens.
4.3 Horizontal Position (Fig. 4(b))—This position covers 5.3 The test joint shall be welded using the type of welding
plate in a vertical plane with the axis of the weld horizontal, or groove proposed in the welding procedure. The dimensions of
pipe or a cylindrical casting with its axis vertical and the axis the welding groove are not essential variables of the welding
of the weld horizontal. procedure.
4.4 Vertical Position (Fig. 4(c))—In this position the plate 5.4 The thickness of the test plate shall depend on the range
is in a vertical plane with the axis of the weld vertical. of thickness to be qualified as shown in Table 2 and Table 3.
4.5 Overhead Position (Fig. 4(d))—In this position the 5.5 The joint preparation shown in Fig. 5 shall qualify the
plate is in a horizontal plane with the weld metal deposited supplier for all welding on steel castings.
from underneath. 5.6 Where pipe or a cylindrical casting is used for qualifi-
4.6 Horizontal Fixed Position (Fig. 4(e))—In this position cation, it is recommended that a minimum nominal diameter of
the pipe or cylindrical casting has its axis horizontal and the 5 in. [125 mm] and a minimum thickness of 3⁄8 in. [10 mm] be
welding groove in a vertical plane. Welding shall be done used.

5
 A 488/A 488M

iTeh Standards
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
Document Preview
ASTM A488/A488M-01
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/71792c50-9397-4d74-8ddb-c00fff0ceade/astm-a488-a488m-01

Tabulation of Positions of Groove Welds

Diagram Inclination of
Position Rotation of Face,°
Reference Axis, °
Flat A 0 to 15 150 to 210

Horizontal B 0 to 15 80 to 150
210 to 280
Overhead C 0 to 75 0 to 80
280 to 360

Vertical D 15 to 75 80 to 280
E 75 to 90 0 to 360

NOTE 1—(a) Flat Position; (b) Horizontal Position; (c) Vertical Position; (d) Overhead Position; (e) Horizontal Fixed Position;
(f ) Positions of Groove Welds
FIG. 4 Orientation of Welds