I looked on the AWS website for someone listed on D1.1 committee. Only name I found to link to was a Mr. John Gaylor. Asked him to reference this thread and see if anyone could shed some light on verbiage. This is a copy of his response to me:
"The views expressed in this message are my own interpretation of the code and do not constitute an official position of the American Welding Society or the D1 Committee on Structural Welding. Official interpretations are made by the D1 Committee in accordance with the inquiry process specified in the annex of the code. Responses to official inquiries may take several months."
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"Judging from the initial inquiry that resulting in this revision and the supporting committee meeting minutes, this change was done to make D1.1 consistent with ASME Section IX and AWS B2.1 requirements. This change would assist fabricators, who qualified and tested procedures and welders to ASME and D1.1, to minimize testing. There were no objections from any members on this revision indicating there was no technical justification not to allow this overlap/substitution.
Regards,
John Gayler
Senior Staff Engineer"
Have not worked with ASME IX in many years and do not have current copy. I looked up in AWS B2.1 and it says between T= 3/8" to 3/4", side bends are allowable instead of root or face bends. Never noticed that before and really don't understand why someone would do side bends instead of R&F bends.