This standard identifies various information necessary for communication between a purchaser and a supplier of welding or brazing consumables. This standard, together with an AWS, ISO, or other recognized welding or brazing consumable standard, provides a method for preparing those specific details needed for welding and brazing consumable procurement which consist of the following:

(1) the welding or brazing consumable classification (selected from the pertinent AWS, ISO, or other applicable welding or brazing consumable standard),

(2) the lot class (selected from Clause 4 of this standard),

(3) the testing schedule (selected from Clause 5 of this standard).

Selection of the specific welding or brazing consumable classification, lot class, and testing schedule will depend upon the requirements of the application for which the consumable is being procured.

This specification makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). The measurements are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other without combining in any way when referring to weld metal properties. The specification with the designation A5.01M uses SI Units. The specification A5.01 uses U.S. Customary Units. The latter are shown within brackets [ ] or in appropriate columns in tables and figures. The standard dimensions based on either system may be used for the sizing of electrodes, packaging, or both under A5.01M or A5.01 specifications.