American Welding Society
AWS D1.1
AWS D1.1 is the structural welding code for steel: it governs how welds are qualified, made and judged. It ties every weld back to a qualified procedure and a qualified welder, and it sets the visual acceptance criteria a weld has to meet. In the field the role is observation and documentation of what is visible; the qualified welding inspector runs the formal inspection and any nondestructive testing.
Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
What it covers
- Welder and welding procedure qualification records
- Weld size, length and profile against the joint called for
- Visual acceptance criteria for the completed weld
- Weld defects: undercut, porosity, cracks, incomplete fusion, overlap
- Base-metal preparation, fit-up and joint cleanliness before welding
What the evidence looks like
- Visual observation of the finished weld: profile, size and continuity photographed along the joint, with obvious undercut or porosity flagged.
- Welder and procedure paperwork confirmed on hand before welding is accepted, referred to the qualified inspector for the formal check.
- Nondestructive testing left to the qualified inspector; the field record notes where NDT was called for, not a pass it cannot give.
- Fit-up and cleanliness photographed before the arc strikes, since a bad root shows up as a rejected weld later.
- Deficient welds photographed as found and again after the qualified inspector signs off the repair.
Checklists that verify work against AWS D1.1
7 free checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Structural welding· Special inspectionStructural welding special inspection checklistProcedure and welder quals, fit-up, in-process and completed welds, NDT witness.8 items14 photosStructural steel Rough-in· Structural steelStructural steel rough-in inspection checklistAnchorage, plumb and connections checked as the frame goes up, before decking and fireproofing bury them6 items11 photosStructural steel Final· Structural steelStructural steel final inspection checklistThe completed frame verified — every connection finished, welds sound, deck attached — before fireproofing goes on5 items8 photosStructural steel Punch· Structural steelStructural steel punch checklistCloseout walk for touch-up coating, missed bolts and welds, and damage from following trades3 items5 photosOrnamental metals and railings Rough-in· Ornamental metals and railingsOrnamental metals and railings rough-in inspection checklistEmbeds, base plates, blocking and anchorage verified against the load before finishes close the connection4 items7 photosOrnamental metals and railings Final· Ornamental metals and railingsOrnamental metals and railings final inspection checklistInstalled rails checked plumb, aligned and load-anchored, with infill and handrail geometry verified6 items11 photos
Common questions
- What is AWS D1.1?
- Structural steel welding: welder and procedure qualification, weld size, profile and visual acceptance. It is published by the American Welding Society. AWS D1.1 is the structural welding code for steel: it governs how welds are qualified, made and judged. It ties every weld back to a qualified procedure and a qualified welder, and it sets the visual acceptance criteria a weld has to meet. In the field the role is observation and documentation of what is visible; the qualified welding inspector runs the formal inspection and any nondestructive testing.
- What does AWS D1.1 cover?
- Welder and welding procedure qualification records; Weld size, length and profile against the joint called for; Visual acceptance criteria for the completed weld; Weld defects: undercut, porosity, cracks, incomplete fusion, overlap; Base-metal preparation, fit-up and joint cleanliness before welding.
- What does a field inspection against AWS D1.1 look at?
- Visual observation of the finished weld: profile, size and continuity photographed along the joint, with obvious undercut or porosity flagged. Welder and procedure paperwork confirmed on hand before welding is accepted, referred to the qualified inspector for the formal check. Nondestructive testing left to the qualified inspector; the field record notes where NDT was called for, not a pass it cannot give. Fit-up and cleanliness photographed before the arc strikes, since a bad root shows up as a rejected weld later. Deficient welds photographed as found and again after the qualified inspector signs off the repair.
- Which edition of AWS D1.1 applies to my project?
- Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Which checklists verify work against AWS D1.1?
- 7 free checklists in the RTI library reference this family. Each is listed on this page with the photo evidence every item needs before it can be submitted.
A standard is only met if the evidence exists
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.