I'm preparing to give a presentation on welding symbols to a group of drafters. A note in Table 8-2 of the AISC Steel Construction Manual, 13th Ed., states "The point of the field weld symbol must point toward the tail". Section 5.8 of AWS A2.4:2007 clearly shows the point of a field weld symbol pointing away from the tail (bottom left symbol). Which is correct?
Since there is no other symbol in the welding lexicon that resembles the "field weld" symbol, I don't see how the person reading the print would struggle with the symbol pointing one way or the other. The symbol can also be either proceeding from the arrow side or the other side of the reference line..
This is not answering your question; but I dont see this as a technical issue to loose alot of sleep over either.
For the sake of consistancy, if your work is to be in compliance to AISC and this compliance is noted in your contract doccuments, it might be wise to simply make them all the same.
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In all the years of seeing weld symbols on erection drawings and such I have found they go either way depending on the room on the print and how the detailer wants to see it fly.
AWS has had errors in the welding symbols chart regarding field welds in the past(see Supplementary Symbols in the example below). It could have been an oversight flying the flag towards the arrow vs flying it towards the tail. I personally like to see it flying towards the tail for consistancy. <---Just my two cents.
Al, I've have my AWS A2.4 2007 and 5.8 page 11 Field weld Symbol .A flag is used to specify a field weld.The flag shall be place at a right angle to, and on either side of, the reference line at junction with the arrow(see Annex D5.8).
I think your reference specifies a different point than Al made. Yours has to do with which side of the reference line the symbol is placed on (more properly- the flag pole). Al's has to do with which direction the flag's tail points.
when I was doing doing welding drawings I always drew my flag tail pointing to the right, just seems to look better. as mentioned there's no other symbol close to the field welding symbol and the flag direction is not a factor in anything, so I think either would be sufficient.
I also drew stick figure saluting the flag... but that's a different story...