Overview
ISO/TR 17671-3:2002 - "Welding - Recommendations for welding of metallic materials - Part 3: Arc welding of stainless steels" provides general guidance for the satisfactory production and control of arc welding on stainless steels. It describes detrimental phenomena that can occur during fusion welding, gives advice to avoid them, and includes specific annexes for austenitic, austenitic-ferritic (duplex), ferritic and martensitic stainless steels (Annexes A–D). The document is informative (Technical Report) and is intended to be used alongside application and design specifications.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: General recommendations for fusion (arc) welding of all stainless steel families; does not set design stress limits, testing methods or acceptance levels (these depend on service conditions).
- Parent metal handling: Controls to preserve the passive layer and avoid contamination from carbon steel, copper, paints, tapes, etc.
- Storage and tooling: Use non-contaminating racking, dedicated tools, grinding wheels and wire brushes for stainless steel.
- Welding consumables: Selection of filler metals and consumable inserts to match parent metal and application; reference to relevant consumables standards.
- Fabrication practices: Requirements for separate fabrication areas, cleaning, run-on/run-off management, and welding procedure specification (WPS) per ISO 9956-2.
- Weld backing and purging: Guidance on permanent/temporary backing materials, copper backing precautions, and gas purging of weld roots (including a guideline of ~10 volume changes before welding).
- Distortion control: Practical measures to reduce distortion (minimize weld volume, balanced welding, reduced heat input, tack welding, jigs, backstep welding, etc.).
- Quality and inspection: Welds should be free from service-impairing imperfections; where no specific application standard exists, ISO 5817 is referenced for acceptance levels.
- Post-weld cleaning: Removal of oxides and slags to ensure corrosion resistance when required.
Applications and users
ISO/TR 17671-3 is used by:
- Welding engineers and procedure writers preparing WPS for stainless steel fabrications
- Fabricators and shop managers implementing best-practice arc welding methods
- Quality assurance teams and inspectors referencing cleaning, contamination control and acceptance guidance
- Designers and specifiers who coordinate welding requirements with application standards
- Procurement and materials specialists selecting compatible consumables and backing methods
Typical applications include pressure equipment, piping, process plant, food and pharmaceutical equipment, and general stainless steel fabrication where corrosion resistance and appearance are important.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/TR 17671-3, arc welding, stainless steels, welding recommendations, welding procedure, welding consumables, post-weld cleaning, weld quality, distortion control.