If you are involved in the welding industry you are constantly surrounded by all sorts of acronyms. Below is a list of the most commonly used abbreviations in our industry.
ABS American Bureau of Shipping
AC Alternating current
AlSl American Iron and Steel Institute.
AL Aluminium
AMP Amperes (measure of current)
ANSI American National Standard Institute.
Ar Argon (inert shielding gas)
ASM American Society for Metals.
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineering
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials.
AWS American Welding Society.
BS British Standard.
BV Bureau Veritas (French classification institute)
BZ Brazing
CE Equipment with CE-markings fulfills the basic requirements of the Low Voltage and Electromagnetic Compatibility Guideline.
CSA Equipment with CSA-Test mark fulfills the requirements made in the relevant standards for Canada and the USA.
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
CTWD Contact Tip to Work Distance
CWE Certified Welding Educator
CWI Certified Welding Inspector
CWB Canadian Welding Bureau
DC Direct Current
DCEN Direct Current Electrode Negative polarity (DC-)
DCEP Direct Current Electrode Positive polarity (DC+)
DNV Det Norske Veritas (Norwegian classification institute).
EN Euro Norm (The European Community for standardization has developed a nomenclature in welding)
ESO Electrical Stick Out
FCAW Flux Cored Arc Welding
FCAW-GS Flux Cored Arc Welding – Gas Shielded
FCAW-SS Flux Cored Arc Welding – Self Shielded
Ft-Lb Foot Pounds
GMAW Gas Metal Arc Welding
GMAW-P Gas Metal Arc Welding Pulse (transfer)
GTAW Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
He Helium
In Inches
IPT Inter Pass Temperature
LR Lloyds Register of Shipping (British classification Society)
MAG Metal Active Gas (see also GMAW).
MIG Metal Inert Gas
mm Millimeter
MPa Mega Pascal
MT Magnetic Particle Testing
NDT Non Destructive Testing
NS Norwegian Standards Association.
NSFI Norwegian Research Institute for Ships.
O2 Oxygen
PAW Plasma Arc Welding
PPM Parts Per Million
PQR Procedure Qualification Record
PWHT Post Weld Heat Treatment
RT Radiographic Testing (X-ray)
SAW Submerged Arc Welding
SMAW Shielded Metal Arc Welding (stick welding)
TIG Tungsten Inert Gas (See GTAW)
TS Travel Speed
UT Ultrasonic Testing
V Volts or Voltage
VT Visual Testing
WFS Wire Feed Speed
WPS Welding Procedure Specification
Did we leave out any commonly used acronyms? Do you have an acronym you need help with?
Noticed this on my review form can you tell me what the difference is, please. GMAW and GMAW-S. I understood the S is for short circuit but what is GMAW referring to?
It refers to all other GMAW modes of metal transfer (globular, spray, pulsed spray). However, keep in mind that GMAW can also refer to short circuit transfer as it is still a mode of Gas Metal Arc Welding.
Just need to know what IPM and PPE stand for in welding.
IPM = inches per minute (used in welding travel speed and wire feed speed)
PPE = Personal Protective Equipment (safety glasses, welding jackets, steel toe boots, respirators, welding gloves, welding hoods, etc.)
is arc an abreviation or what ist
Arc as in “welding arc” is not an abbreviation. It is an electric arc (jumping the gap between the electrode and the work).
AESS- Architecturally Exposed Structural Steel
I need the acronyms for OFC, AND OAW
OFC – Oxy (oxygen) Fuel Cutting
OAW – Oxy (oxygen) Acetylene Welding
MT or Magnetic particle Testing, fairly common NDT method could be added to your list.
Thanks Bob! We’ll add it.
Hi , what s meaning NA in acronyms in welding ?. thank you.
Hello Milad, not sure about NA. Could be several things. Can you provide the context in which it is used?