EN ISO 15011-1:2009 (published by CEN / ISO) specifies a laboratory method for measuring welding fume emission rate during arc welding and for collecting fume for subsequent analysis. The standard applies to all open arc welding processes except tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, which produces negligible fume. It provides a reproducible test protocol to quantify fume generation (mass per unit time) and to obtain samples for chemical analysis - supporting occupational hygiene, product development and regulatory assessment.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Laboratory measurement of fume emission rate from arc welding and collection of fume for analysis. Useful for comparing consumables, processes and parameters.
- Principle: Perform arc welding inside a semi-enclosed, continuously extracted test chamber; collect fume on pre-weighed filters; record arcing time; calculate emission rate by dividing fume mass (mg) by arcing time (s) to give mg/s.
- Equipment & materials:
- Test chamber designs (hood, fume box or convertible types) that minimize internal deposition.
- Filters: glass or quartz fibre for emission-rate weighing; cellulose or paper filters for chemical extraction and analysis.
- Extraction unit: maintain adequate airflow so generated fume is contained and removed from the chamber.
- Test procedures: Guidance on selecting welding procedures and parameters for:
- Manual metal arc (MMA) welding
- Continuous-wire processes (automatic or semi-automatic)
- Sample handling and analytical techniques for fume composition
- Data reporting & uncertainty: Procedures for calculating, reporting results and referencing measurement uncertainty (normative references such as ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 are cited).
- Supplementary material: Annexes provide sample chamber designs, equipment notes, welding parameters, test procedures and report templates.
Practical applications and users
- Occupational hygienists and safety professionals assessing relative exposure risks and selecting controls (local extraction, PPE).
- Laboratory analysts and test houses quantifying welding emissions for R&D and product comparison (electrodes, wires, shielding gases).
- Welding consumable manufacturers validating lower-emission formulations.
- Regulators and standardization bodies establishing emission profiles and safety guidance.
Note: emission-rate data indicate relative changes in exposure but do not alone determine workplace ventilation requirements.
Related standards and references
- Other parts of ISO 15011 series: Part 2 (CO/CO2/NO/NO2), Part 3 (ozone), Part 4 (fume data sheets), Part 5 (thermal-degradation products), Part 6 (in preparation).
- Normative references: ISO/TR 25901 (welding vocabulary), ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (measurement uncertainty).
Keywords: welding fume, fume emission rate, arc welding, laboratory method, fume sampling, occupational hygiene, welding emissions, fume collection, fume analysis, test chamber.