This Standard specifies requirements for the classification of gases and gas mixtures used in fusion welding and allied processes including, but not limited to:

— gas tungsten arc welding — GTAW;

— gas metal arc welding — GMAW;

— flux cored arc welding — FCAW;

— plasma arc welding — PAW;

— plasma arc cutting — PAC;

— laser beam welding — LBW;

— laser beam cutting — LBC;

— arc braze welding — ABW;

— electrogas welding — EGW.

The purpose of this Standard is to classify and designate these gases and gas mixtures in accordance with their chemical properties and metallurgical behavior as the basis for correct selection by the user and to simplify the possible qualification procedures. The modes of application for gas shielded welding processes include, but are not limited to: manual, semiautomatic, mechanized, and automatic weld methods.

Gas purities and mixing tolerances are specified as delivered by the supplier (manufacturer) and not at the point of use.

Gases or gas mixtures may be supplied in either liquid or gaseous form, but when used for welding and allied processes, the gases are always used in the gaseous form.

Fuel gases, such as acetylene, natural gas, propane, etc., and resonator gases, as used in gas lasers, are not covered by this Standard.

Transportation and handling of gases and containers shall be in accordance with local, national, and regional standards and regulations as required.

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 annex clause A5. Safety and health information is available from other sources, including, but not limited to: Safety and Health Fact Sheets listed in A8.3, ANSI Z49.1 Safety in Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes¹, and applicable federal and state regulations.

This specification makes use of both the International System of Units (SI) and U.S. Customary Units. The measurements are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other without combining in any way when referring to material properties. The specification A5.32M uses SI Units. The specification with the designation A5.32 uses U.S. Customary 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 packaging or both under A5.32M or A5.32 specifications.

1 ANSI Z49.1 is published by the American Welding Society, 550 NW LeJeune Rd,