ISO TR 15608-2017 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO TR 15608-2017 — Welding — Guidelines for a metallic materials grouping system. A technical report that provides a uniform approach to grouping metallic materials for welding purposes; the grouping system can also be used for heat treatment, forming and non‑destructive testing and covers a range of standardized metallic families (steels, aluminium, copper, nickel, titanium, zirconium and cast irons).

Abstract

ISO/TR 15608:2017 gives guidelines for creating and using a consistent materials‑grouping system to support welding selection, procedure specification, qualification and related processes. The report defines the purpose and benefits of grouping, identifies the material families covered, and explains the main grouping criteria (chemical composition, mechanical properties, heat‑treatment condition and relevant processing/weldability characteristics). It is intended as informative guidance rather than prescriptive rules.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / superseded (see related standards).
• Publication date: February 2017 (published 22 February 2017).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 25.160.01 (Welding).
• Edition / version: Technical Report, Edition 4 (2017).
• Number of pages: 7.

Scope

Provides guidelines for a uniform system for grouping metallic materials for welding purposes. The guidance can be applied to steels; aluminium and its alloys; copper and its alloys; nickel and its alloys; titanium and its alloys; zirconium and its alloys; and cast irons. It is intended to assist users in selecting compatible filler materials, defining welding procedures, planning heat treatment and assessing suitability for non‑destructive testing and forming operations.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles and objectives of a materials grouping system for welding (why grouping helps procedure qualification, material selection and procurement).
• Grouping criteria: chemical composition ranges, mechanical property classes, heat‑treatment/condition status and weldability considerations.
• Examples of group assignments for major material families (steels, aluminium, copper, nickel, titanium, zirconium, cast irons).
• Guidance on mapping national/industry material designations into the grouping system.
• Recommendations for use of grouping information in welding procedure specification and qualification, and in supporting non‑destructive testing and heat‑treatment decisions.
• Limitations and informative notes: the report is guidance (informative) and does not replace detailed material‑specific testing or formal qualification where required.

Typical use and users

Used by welding engineers, materials engineers, QA/QC and inspection personnel, procedure writers, standards committees, material procurement specialists and training organisations. Typical applications include choosing compatible filler metals and process parameters, grouping materials for procedure qualifications, clarifying material families in procurement documents, and harmonising national/industry material lists for welding-related activities.

Related standards

ISO/TR 15608:2017 was later superseded by ISO 15608 (published 2025). Related and commonly referenced standards include welding procedure and qualification standards (for example, ISO 15614 series for welding procedure tests and ISO 9606 for welder qualification), national/adopted EN or PD CEN versions, and earlier ISO/TR 15608 revisions (e.g., ISO/TR 15608:2013). Users should consult the current ISO 15608 edition for the authoritative grouping system.

Keywords

materials grouping, metallic materials, welding, weldability, alloys, steels, aluminium, copper, nickel, titanium, zirconium, cast iron, heat treatment, grouping criteria, welding procedure qualification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/TR 15608:2017 is a technical report providing guidance on a uniform system for grouping metallic materials for welding and related processes.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers principles and examples for grouping steels; aluminium and its alloys; copper and its alloys; nickel and its alloys; titanium and its alloys; zirconium and its alloys; and cast irons, and explains how grouping supports welding procedure specification, qualification and related activities.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Welding and materials engineers, QA/QC and inspection staff, procedure writers, procurement specialists and standards committees use the guidance to harmonise material handling and qualification practices.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO/TR 15608:2017 has been withdrawn and superseded by the consolidated international standard ISO 15608 (published in 2025). Users should refer to ISO 15608:2025 for the current, authoritative grouping system.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of ISO technical work on welding and material qualification; it relates to other welding standards such as the ISO 15614 series (welding procedure tests) and ISO 9606 (welder qualification). Earlier TR editions (for example 2013) preceded the 2017 edition.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: materials grouping, weldability, metallic materials, alloys, welding procedures, material classification, heat treatment, non‑destructive testing.