AWS D1.5M - D1.5-2025 PDF

Full title and description

AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2025 — Bridge Welding Code. Jointly published by the American Welding Society (AWS) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), this 2025 edition provides mandatory welding requirements and guidance for welded bridges fabricated from carbon and low-alloy structural steels, with provisions presented in both SI (metric) and U.S. customary units.

Abstract

The D1.5M/D1.5:2025 Bridge Welding Code establishes qualification, fabrication, inspection, and acceptance criteria for welds in bridge components designed to AASHTO or AREMA requirements. It consolidates clauses covering general welding rules (Clauses 1–9), and specific provisions such as fracture‑critical fabrication (Clause 12), and includes updated guidance and tolerances (for example, revised undercut tolerances) to reflect current practice.

General information

• Status: Current (published 2025).
• Publication date: 2025 (AASHTO/AWS joint publication).
• Publisher: American Welding Society (AWS) in coordination with AASHTO; code is distributed through the AWS publications program.
• ICS / categories: 25.160 (Welding, brazing and soldering); relevant civil/bridge categories such as 93.040 (bridges) and steel product classifications (e.g., 77.140 series).
• Edition / version: 2025 edition (identified as AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2025); listed as the 9th edition in bibliographic records.
• Number of pages: 504 pages (pagination reported in bibliographic records).

Scope

This code specifies welding requirements for welded bridges made from carbon and low‑alloy constructional steels and intended to meet AASHTO or AREMA design requirements. It covers welding procedure and welder qualifications, pre‑ and post‑weld preparation, inspection and nondestructive examination, fabrication controls, and special provisions for fracture‑critical members and fatigue‑sensitive details. The 2025 edition updates tolerances, inspection practices, and aligns requirements with current bridge fabrication and inspection practices.

Key topics and requirements

• Welding procedure specification (WPS) and procedure qualification (PQR) requirements for bridge materials and processes.
• Welder and welding operator performance qualification and recordkeeping.
• Pre‑fabrication and pre‑qualification controls, base‑metal preparation, joint design and fit‑up tolerances.
• Inspection and nondestructive examination requirements and acceptance criteria (visual, radiographic, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, penetrant testing as applicable).
• Fatigue and fracture‑critical member fabrication and special controls (Clause 12).
• Updated geometric tolerances and treatment of common discontinuities—example: new undercut tolerances and guidance for applying them in fillet and wrapped weld conditions.
• Dual‑unit presentation: metric (SI) and U.S. customary units provided as separate, non‑interchangeable systems within the text.

Typical use and users

The code is used by bridge designers, structural and welding engineers, fabricators, inspection agencies, certified welding inspectors (CWIs), contractors, and railroad bridge personnel when specifying, qualifying, fabricating, and inspecting welded bridge components. Owners and agency inspectors use the code to establish acceptance criteria and to ensure consistent quality across shop and field fabrication.

Related standards

Closely related documents include other AWS D1 series structural welding codes (for example D1.1 for structural steel), AASHTO bridge design and construction specifications, AREMA guidance for railroad bridges, and AWS material and electrode specifications (A5 series). The D1.5 code is maintained by AWS D1 committees and is published in coordination with AASHTO for bridge‑specific requirements.

Keywords

Bridge welding, D1.5, AASHTO, AWS, fracture‑critical, welder qualification, welding procedure specification (WPS), nondestructive examination, undercut tolerances, carbon steel, low‑alloy steel, metric and U.S. customary units.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2025 is the Bridge Welding Code — a joint AWS/AASHTO standard that defines welding requirements for welded bridges made from carbon and low‑alloy constructional steels.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers welding procedure and welder qualification, fabrication and fit‑up requirements, inspection and nondestructive testing, acceptance criteria, special provisions for fracture‑critical members, and unit presentations in SI and U.S. customary units. The 2025 edition includes updated tolerances and clarified inspection guidance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Structural and welding engineers, fabricators, certified welding inspectors, contractors, transportation agencies, and railroad bridge professionals use the code to specify, qualify, inspect, and accept welded bridge work.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: This is the current published edition for the D1.5 code (2025). It supersedes earlier editions and interim revisions; users should reference the 2025 edition for the latest requirements unless a contract or authority specifies an earlier edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the AWS/AASHTO/AASHTO‑endorsed family of structural welding codes (the AWS D1 series) and is coordinated with related AASHTO and AREMA provisions for bridge design and construction.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Bridge welding, fracture‑critical, welder qualification, WPS/PQR, nondestructive examination, undercut tolerances, AASHTO, AWS, carbon steel, low‑alloy steel, SI and U.S. customary units.