THE CHANGING FACE OF AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

THE CHANGING FACE OF AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

Australian Standards are living documents. They reflect progresses in science, technology and systems To maintain their relevancy, all Standards are periodically reviewed, with amendments and revised editions published. The last few months have seen several developments, including an urgent review into Standards related to rubber hoses for welding, cutting and allied processes, and ongoing reviews into Standards related to pressure equipment and steel structures.

Pressure Equipment

As previously reported, the revision of AS/NZS 3788 Pressure equipment—In-service inspection is progressing well. Public review of the draft was completed in June and comments received are currently being reviewed by the drafting committee.

Welding Consumables

Following the suite of ISO consumable standards adoption in October 2022, Committee WD-002 reviewed the aged AS/NZS 1167 suite (Welding and Brazing — Filler metals) and a project is now underway to replace these aged standards via the direct text adoption of the relevant ISO consumable standards. Separate to this review, the Committee has formed a working group to revise AS 2576 Welding consumables for build-up and wear resistance.

Welding Safety

A proposal was submitted and accepted by Standards Australia to revise AS 1674.1 Safety in Welding and allied processes—Part 1 Fire precautions. The standard is used extensively in industry to establish fire preventative measures whilst welding in locations not necessarily designed for hot work. The project kick-off meeting was held by a reconstituted WD-004 in March and the revision is well advanced.

A proposal to revise AS 1674.2 Safety in Welding and allied processes—Part 2 Electrical has also been received and accepted by Standards Australia and the committee responsible EL-019 is currently being reconstituted. The project kick-off is currently anticipated in August.

Bridges

The revision of AS/NZS 5100.6 Bridge design — Part 6: Steels and composite construction via amendment is well advanced. The revision will align the requirements of the standard with the latest revision of AS 4100 Steel structures, AS/NZS 5131 Structural steelwork —Fabrication and erection and the New Zealand steel structures design standard NZS 3404.1, and resolve known conflicts and anomalies.

Public comment on the proposed amendment closed in June, and resolution of public comment is now underway.

Steel Structures

Standards Australia has accepted a proposal for a major revision of AS 4100 Steel structures. Committee BD-001 will manage the project and a kick-off meeting was held in April.

Committee WD-003 has been working to revise and update AS 2812 Welding, brazing and cutting of metals — Glossary of terms. A draft has been submitted for preparation for public comment.

The Committee has also submitted a project to revise the current edition of AS/NZS 2214 Certification of welding supervisors — Structural steel welding. The revision will align this standard with the latest revision of AS 1796 Certification of welders and welding supervisors including the addition of requirements for a welding inspector. In addition, the standard will be renamed and spilt into parts with the incorporation of a new Part 2 to cover bolting supervisors. Project kick-off is anticipated in August. The longer term intention is to add further parts to what will become the AS 2214 series in support of the qualification of key personnel relevant to AS/NZS 5131.

Committee WD-003 has also been made aware of errors in two Tables within AS/NZS ISO 9606-1 Qualification testing of welders — Fusion welding. A mathematical operator in Tables 8 and 14 was reversed and Standards Australia has since corrected the error. The original ISO text was correct and remains unchanged.

ISO Update

ISO TC44/SC10 has completed the revision of ISO 3834 Quality requirements for fusion welding of metallic materials series of standards and Parts 1 to 5 inclusive have been published. Standards Australia has accordingly adopted these latest revisions as direct text adoptions. The revision of Part 6 of ISO 3834 is currently at the DIS ballot stage. Consideration for adoption in Australia will commence after finalisation by ISO.

BRUCE CANNON WINS STANDARDS AUSTRALIA AWARD

Bruce Cannon (Principal Welding Engineer, Weld Australia) was recently honoured with a Meritorious Contribution Award (National) by Standards Australia. The Standards Australia awards recognise the remarkable achievements of members within the Australian standards development community, especially those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, technical expertise and contributed positively to the development and enhancement of standards.

Bruce is active in the revision of five standards across a range of committees, including numerous direct text adoptions of ISO standards to update Australia’s aged welding and related standards. His involvement in standards development has given him the opportunity to represent Australia’s interests at ISO in the revision of ISO 9606, and provide feedback to the drafting committee on the Australian experience with this standard. He was also involved in the alignment of the welder qualification standard AS/NZS 2980, with the core requirements of ISO 9606-1, which led to New Zealand co-joining the standard in 2007.

Bruce’s work has gained in importance within the transport and pressure equipment sectors, in addition to its primary use within the steel structures sector. He is an invaluable member of the Weld Australia team, with technical expertise that is second to none.

L to R: Tracey Gramlick (Chair, Standards Australia); Bruce Cannon; and Adrian O’Connell (CEO, Standards Australia).