AWS A2.4-2020 PDF

Full title and description

A2.4:2020 — Standard Symbols for Welding, Brazing, and Nondestructive Examination. This American Welding Society (AWS) standard establishes a system of graphical welding, brazing, and nondestructive-examination (NDE) symbols for use on engineering drawings and fabrication documents, including conventions for indicating location, extent, method, frequency, and optional supplementary requirements.

Abstract

AWS A2.4:2020 defines the construction and interpretation of standardized symbols used to specify welding, brazing, and NDE requirements on drawings. The standard provides figures and illustrative examples that demonstrate correct symbol format and application, describes optional elements and supplementary symbols, and clarifies the relationship between symbol notation and referenced specifications or drawing notes. Safety practices and detailed welding procedure requirements are outside the document’s scope.

General information

• Status: Current / Active.
• Publication date: 2020 (A2.4:2020; published January 1, 2020 in most listings).
• Publisher: American Welding Society (AWS).
• ICS / categories: 25.160 (Welding, brazing and soldering).
• Edition / version: 8th edition (A2.4:2020; revises A2.4:2012).
• Number of pages: Typically listed as 166 pages in distributor records (page counts vary by vendor/format).

Scope

The standard presents a system for indicating welding, brazing, and nondestructive-examination requirements by means of graphical symbols. It covers conventions for showing weld types, joint location, size (where applicable), contour, finish, supplementary instructions, brazing notation (including scarf symbol), and NDE method/frequency/extent symbols. It does not mandate welding procedures, units of measurement, nor address safety/health practices; those topics are referenced to other AWS and industry documents.

Key topics and requirements

• Standardized graphical notation for welding and brazing symbols (reference line, arrow, tail, and optional elements).
• Symbols and conventions for groove, fillet, plug/slot, spot and seam, flare-groove, and combination groove welds.
• Specification of weld size, length, pitch, contour and finish, and permissible ways to indicate strength or dimensional requirements.
• Expanded clause and symbols for nondestructive examination specifying method, frequency, and extent of inspection.
• Rules for subreference lines, multiple subreference lines, and use of supplementary symbols to convey additional requirements.
• Guidance on interpreting figures and illustrative examples; statements that additional requirements not detailed on a symbol must be provided elsewhere on the drawing.

Typical use and users

AWS A2.4:2020 is used by design engineers, detailers, drafters, fabricators, welding supervisors, welders, welding inspectors, NDE technicians, quality managers, and standards/technical educators to communicate precise welding, brazing, and inspection requirements on drawings, shop documents, and inspection plans. It is commonly referenced in construction, structural, pipeline, shipbuilding, pressure-vessel, and general fabrication industries.

Related standards

Commonly referenced standards and guides include AWS B1.10M/B1.10 (Guide for the Nondestructive Examination of Welds), AWS A3.0/A3.0M (Welding Terms and Definitions), AWS D1.1 (Structural Welding Code — Steel) and other AWS structural codes, and safety guidance such as ANSI Z49.1. A2.4 is often bundled with related AWS codes and guides for design and inspection workflows.

Keywords

welding symbols, brazing symbols, nondestructive examination, NDE symbols, welding notation, AWS A2.4, drawing symbols, weld specification, fabrication drawings, inspection symbols.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: AWS A2.4:2020 is the American Welding Society’s standard that defines the standardized graphical symbols and conventions used to indicate welding, brazing, and nondestructive examination requirements on engineering drawings.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the construction and interpretation of symbols for weld type, location, size, contour/finish, brazing notation, and NDE method/frequency/extent; it also provides figures and examples. It does not prescribe welding procedures or safety practices.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Engineers, drafters, fabricators, welding supervisors and welders, welding inspectors and NDE technicians, quality personnel, and vocational/technical instructors use the standard to ensure consistent interpretation of weld and inspection requirements.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: A2.4:2020 is the current edition published in 2020 and supersedes AWS A2.4:2012. Users should check AWS or their national standards body for any amendments or corrigenda.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: A2.4 is part of the AWS family of standards and is frequently used alongside other AWS documents (for example, AWS B1.10 for NDE guidance and AWS A3.0 for terminology) and with AWS structural welding codes (e.g., D1.1). It is commonly offered in bundled packages with related AWS standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Key keywords include welding symbols, brazing symbols, NDE, nondestructive examination, fabrication drawings, welding notation, AWS A2.4.