I have not used it personally but have used others standards similiar to it. AWS states that it is a guide to welding joint and procedure qualifications. That the specifications is proven technology in the demanding area of heavy duty construction equipment.
Whether or not the requirements listed in the specification apply to your particular situation depends upon what governing documents you must be in compliance. Do you have a purchase order from a customer which invokes this specification? Are there other industry codes and standards that reference this specification? If there are, then you must comply with the requirements outlined in the specification.