This specification prescribes requirements for the classification of carbon steel electrodes for flux cored arc welding (FCAW) either with or without shielding gas. (Metal cored carbon steel electrodes are classified according to AWS A5.18/A5.18M.)(Footnote 1)

Safety and health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard and, therefore, are not fully addressed herein. Some safety and health information can be found in the nonmandatory Annex Sections A5 and A9. Safety and health information is available from other sources, including, but not limited to, ANSI Z49.1(Footnote 2) and applicable federal and state regulations.

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 A5.20 uses U.S. Customary Units. The specification A5.20M uses SI Units. The latter are shown within brackets [ ] or in appropriate columns in tables and figures. Standard dimensions based on either system may be used for the sizing of electrodes or packaging or both under the A5.20 and A5.20M specifications.

Footnote 1 - AWS standards can be obtained from Global Engineering Documents, an Information Handling Services (IHS) Group Company, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112-5776; telephone (800) 854-7179, (303) 397-7956; fax (303) 397-2740; internet: www.global.ihs.com.

Footnote 2 - ANSI standards can be obtained from the American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10036, and Global Engineering Documents, an Information Handling Services (IHS) Group Company, 15 Inverness Way East, Englewood, CO 80112-5776; telephone (800) 854-7179, (303) 397-7956; fax (303) 397-2740; internet: www.global.ihs.com.