Which AWS codes are commonly referenced for TIG welds on steel and aluminum, respectively?

• A. AWS D1.3 for steel; AWS D1.5 for aluminum
• B. AWS D1.1 for steel; AWS D1.2 for aluminum
• C. AWS D1.1 for aluminum; AWS D1.2 for steel
• D. AWS D2.1 for both

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that GTAW work is governed by AWS structural welding codes that are specific to the material being welded. When you’re doing TIG welds, you reference the AWS D1.x code that corresponds to the base material—steel or aluminum—because each material group has its own code with its own requirements for welding procedure, qualification, filler metal, and acceptance.

Choosing the option that links TIG welds on steel to AWS D1.3 and TIG welds on aluminum to AWS D1.5 aligns with the test’s standard pairing of material to its corresponding D1.x code. This reflects the practice of selecting the appropriate code for the material you’re welding, which ensures you follow the correct procedures and acceptance criteria for that material.

In practice, you’d consult the specific D1.x code for the material you’re welding, and use it to guide your welding procedures, qualification tests, and welding parameters to stay within code-approved limits. Other options would mix or duplicate codes in ways that don’t match how these codes are organized by material, which is why the chosen pairing is considered correct for this question.