BS EN ISO 26304-2025 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN ISO 26304-2025 — Welding consumables. Solid wire electrodes, tubular cored electrodes and electrode-flux combinations for submerged arc welding of high strength steels. Classification. This designation refers to the ISO International Standard ISO 26304:2025 and its formal national/adopted edition as BS EN ISO 26304:2025 (British adoption of the ISO text).

Abstract

This document specifies requirements for the classification of solid wire electrodes, tubular cored electrodes, and electrode–flux combinations (all‑weld metal deposits) in the as‑welded condition and in the post‑weld heat‑treated condition for submerged arc welding of high strength steels (minimum yield strength greater than 500 MPa or minimum tensile strength greater than 570 MPa). It provides two complementary classification systems (system A based on yield strength and 47 J average impact energy; system B based on tensile strength and 27 J average impact energy), and covers how electrodes and fluxes are tested, classified and marked.

General information

• Status: Published / active national adoption (BS EN ISO edition available).
• Publication date: ISO edition published March 2025; BS EN ISO national adoption published 17 March 2025 (BSI adoption date shown for the British edition).
• Publisher: International: ISO (International Organization for Standardization); national adoption: BSI (British Standards Institution) for BS EN ISO editions.
• ICS / categories: 25.160.20 — Welding consumables; technical committee ISO/TC 44/SC 3 (Welding consumables).
• Edition / version: Edition 4 (ISO 26304:2025, 4th edition).
• Number of pages: ISO main edition: 21 pages; BS EN ISO national PDF/print editions may show different pagination (examples: BS EN listing shows ~30 pages in its published PDF listing).

Scope

The standard applies to classification and designation of solid wire electrodes, tubular cored electrodes and electrode‑flux combinations used for submerged arc welding of high‑strength steels. It covers classification of the all‑weld metal in both the as‑welded and post‑weld heat‑treated states and specifies test requirements and criteria for assigning strength/impact classifications. The document establishes two parallel classification systems and gives requirements for testing electrode‑flux combinations and for marking/classification information provided by suppliers.

Key topics and requirements

• Two classification systems: System A (based on yield strength plus average impact energy of 47 J) and System B (based on tensile strength plus average impact energy of 27 J).
• Applicability to submerged arc welding consumables for high‑strength steels (min. yield > 500 MPa or min. tensile > 570 MPa).
• Rules for testing and classifying solid wire electrodes, tubular cored electrodes and electrode‑flux combinations (one flux may be classified with different electrodes and vice versa).
• Separate chemical‑composition‑based classification for solid wire electrodes (where applicable) and combined all‑weld‑metal classification for electrode‑flux combos.
• Requirements for assessment in both as‑welded and post‑weld heat‑treated conditions and guidance on single‑run / two‑run techniques where relevant.
• Marking, designation and documentation requirements to ensure traceability of classification and test data.

Typical use and users

This standard is used by welding consumables manufacturers, materials and welding engineers, welding procedure developers, test laboratories, quality assurance and inspection personnel, procurement specialists specifying consumables for high‑strength steel fabrication, and conformity assessment bodies involved in product classification and marking. National standards bodies and technical committees also use it when adopting the ISO text as a national/EN standard.

Related standards

Relevant and related ISO standards include earlier and parallel classification documents for submerged arc welding consumables (examples: ISO 26304 earlier editions, ISO 24598 for creep‑resisting steels, ISO 14171 for wire/flux combinations for non‑alloy and fine‑grain steels, and ISO 14174 for flux classification). Users should consult these and other ISO/EN welding consumables standards for adjacent material classes and complementary classification rules.

Keywords

welding consumables; submerged arc welding (SAW); solid wire electrode; tubular cored electrode; electrode‑flux combination; classification; all‑weld metal; high‑strength steels; yield strength; tensile strength; impact energy; post‑weld heat treatment.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 26304:2025 (published March 2025) is the International Standard that specifies classification requirements for solid wire electrodes, tubular cored electrodes and electrode‑flux combinations used in submerged arc welding of high‑strength steels. It is also published/adopted in national/en formats such as BS EN ISO 26304:2025.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers classification criteria, required tests and designation/marking rules for all‑weld metal produced with the listed consumables, in both as‑welded and post‑weld heat‑treated conditions; it sets out two classification systems (yield+47 J and tensile+27 J) and rules for testing electrode/flux combinations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers of welding consumables, welding engineers, test laboratories, QA/inspection teams, procurement/specification authors and conformity assessment bodies for welding products and procedures.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 26304:2025 is the current (4th) edition published in 2025; it replaces earlier editions (the 2008 edition and intervening versions). National/EN adoptions published under BS EN ISO 26304:2025 reflect the current ISO text at the time of adoption.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the family of ISO standards on welding consumables and submerged‑arc welding classification (see related standards such as ISO 24598, ISO 14171 and ISO 14174 for other steel classes, flux classification and wire/flux combinations).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: welding consumables; submerged arc welding; electrodes; electrode‑flux combinations; classification; high‑strength steels; yield strength; tensile strength; impact energy; post‑weld heat treatment.