What is the P Number in Welding?
Depending on the material characteristics like composition, weldability, brazeability,
design consideration, heat treatment, and mechanical properties, ASME BPVC
assigned P-Numbers to the base metals. The code assigned the same P-number for the
materials with similar material characteristics. These are listed in Table QW/QB-422 of
ASME. While changing the base metal from a qualified WPS to a new base metal,
requalification or a new PQR is not required if the new base metal falls in the same P-
Number.
These base metals are grouped by material and the assigned P-Numbers are constant
for that specific material group. For example, the base metals of Low Carbon Steel or
Carbon Manganese material fall in P-Number 1. The following table (Table-1) provides
the P-number ranges for various metals and alloys.
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Sr. No. Type of Steel, Metal, Alloy P-Number
1. Carbon Steel (C-Mn ) 1
2. Low Alloy Steel (Cr-Mo Steels) 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, 15E
3. Stainless Steels (Cr-Ni steels) 8, 10H
4. Nickel & Ni-base alloys 41 to 49
5. Aluminum & Aluminum alloys 21 to 26
6. Copper & copper alloys 31 to 35
7. Titanium & titanium alloys 51 to 53
8. Zirconium & zirconium alloys 61 and 62
Table 1: ASME P-Number Table
From the ASME Sec IX table, QW/QB-422 can find the P-number of a specific grade of
material, i.e. which material falls under which P-number and what is product form i.e.
plate, forging, sheets, fittings, etc.
P-number is generally mentioned in WPS & PQR for procedure qualification and in
WPQ for performance qualification.
What is the F-Number in Welding?
As the name suggests, F stands for Filler number. Depending on the composition, the
microstructure of the material F-number is assigned to welding consumables i.e. filler
wires, and electrodes to reduce the procedure and performance qualifications. F-
number is generally mentioned in WPS & PQR for procedure qualification and in WPQ
for performance qualification. The ASME Sec IX (QW-432 assigned the F-number on
the basis of type of consumable, usability of consumable, metallurgical compatibility,
heat treatment, and other mechanical properties. The same F no is assigned to carbon
steel as well as stainless steel filler wires. For example. ER70S-6 & ER308 have the
same F no. i.e. F no. 6. The following table (Table-2) provides the F-number ranges for
various consumables as classified in ASME Section.
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Sr. No. Type of Steel consumables F-Number
1. Carbon Steel 1 to 6
2. Low Alloy Steel (Cr-Mo Steels) 1 to 6
3. Stainless Steels (Cr-Ni steels) 5, 6
4. Nickel & Ni-base alloys 41 to 46
5. Aluminum & Aluminium alloys 21 to 26
6. Copper & copper alloys 31 to 37
7. Titanium & titanium alloys 51 to 56
8. Zirconium & zirconium alloys 61
9. Hard-facing weld metal overlays 71 and 72
Table 2: ASME F-Number Chart
From the ASME Sec IX, table QW-432 can find the F-number of specific consumables
classified as per ASME Sec IIC. With the F-number there is a reduction of procedure
and performance qualification as the same F-number of material does not require
requalification.
From the ASME Sec IX, table QW-433 can be referred to for the welder performance
qualification range. A snapshot is given below:
What is the A-Number in Welding?
As from the name, A stands for analysis. A-number is designated by ASME to weld
metal deposition composition analysis to reduce the number of procedure qualifications
in Welding. From the ASME Sec IX table QW-442 can be referred to for different A
number is given to different groups of metals/alloys. A-number is generally mentioned in
WPS & PQR. It is not essential for performance qualification i.e. not mentioned in WPQ.
Note that the A-Number gives the chemical composition of the weld metal in the “as-
welded” state, not of the filler metal product in its raw form.
