to weld or not to weld

Date 01-21-2009 17:06

I'm inspecting welds for concrete precast connections (wall to roof) and the plate straps they are using are CSA G40.21. I do not have any CSA code books so I dont know if it is weldable or not and if it is what electrode to use. the iron workers are using a 7018 SMAW 3/16" rod also the dog gone plate is electorplated whats the deal with that? any way alittle help would be greatly appreciated.

By G.S.Crisi (****)

Date 01-22-2009 13:44

I also have no idea of what kind of steel is that, and this is the first thing you should care about.
You say that " ... they are using a 7018 SMAW rod ..", which means that they're presently welding the straps. Didn't they prepare a WPS before starting welding? The WPS should clear up what kind of steel it was intended for.
Giovanni S. Crisi
Sao Paulo - Brazil

By James Corbin (**)

Date 01-22-2009 18:55

W59-03 has a lot of search references to G40.21
"3.2.1 CSA Standard G40.21, Structural Quality Steels
Steel base metal to be welded under this standard shall conform to the requirements of CSA Standard G40.21 in the following grades:
260W (33W) and 260WT (33WT)
300W (W44) and 300WT (44WT)
350W (50W), 350WT (50WT), 350R, (50R), 350A (50A) and 350AT (50AT)
380W (55W) and 380WT (55WT)"
and so on
See also "Table 5.1 Filler-Metal Requirements for Exposed Bare Applications of CSA Standard G40.21"
It lists the SMAW Electrodes as "E5516 or 18-C3, E4916 or 18-C1L, E5516 or 18-C1" and so on.

As you can see you still don't know what the embed or strap material is.
As for the electroplate I can only assume it's for in service corrosion problems.
Does you contract docs tell you anything about the connection or material?

By clutch

Date 01-23-2009 18:57

Unfortunatlly in the St. Louis Mo area a WPS is like a myth or something. every engineer over here uses prequalified joints. but this contractor is from Iowa and I cant get anything out of them. I basically wrote the report as stating a WPS was not provided. but the welds appear meet table 6.1 of D1.1, but I do know the strap is connecting to an A36 plate. yeah the STL, Mo area needs help when it comes to chapter 17 of IBC. we almost have to have a disaster where people are killed before some studies are done to determine these inspections are necessary even though the state has adopted the code.