AWS F4.2:2020 pdf download.Safety Guidelines for Proper Selection of Welding Cables
1. General Requirements
1.1 Scope. This safety standard offers guidance in the proper selection and use of welding cables, an important aspect of the safe setup and use of welding equipment. It promotes workplace safety for welders and associated personnel by giving educators, operators, managers, and supervisors information about the testing, selection, and safe use of welding cables. Proper cable selection also improves machine efficiency and reduces energy use. The purpose of this standard is to provide reasonable and adequate means, ways, and methods for the testing, selection, and safe use of welding cables. This standard recommends minimal performance requirements for welding cables in the tests herein described. It is not intended to imply quality of nonelectrical performance or of other factors of design, such as insulation/jacket perfor- mance, service life or cable appearance, except as indicated by the tests called out. Nor should these recommendations be interpreted to mean that the welding cables described herein are capable of affording greater protection than is indi- cated in this standard. 1.2 Units of Measure. This standard makes sole use of U.S. Customary Units. Approximate mathematical equivalents in the International System of Units (SI) are provided for comparison in parentheses or in appropriate columns in tables and figures. 1.3 Safety. Safety issues and concerns are addressed in this standard, although health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard. Safety and health information is available from the following sources: American Welding Society: (1) ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes (2) AWS Safety and Health Fact Sheets (3) Other safety and health information on the AWS website Material or Equipment Manufacturers:(1) Safety Data Sheets supplied by materials manufacturers (2) Operating Manuals supplied by equipment manufacturers Applicable Regulatory Agencies Work performed in accordance with this standard may involve the use of materials that have been deemed hazardous, and may involve operations or equipment that may cause injury or death. This standard does not purport to address all safety and health risks that may be encountered. The user of this standard should establish an appropriate safety program to address such risks as well as to meet applicable regulatory requirements. ANSI Z49.1 should be considered when developing the safety program.
3. Terms and Definitions
AWS A3.0M/A3.0, Standard Welding Terms and Definitions, provides the basis for terms and definitions used herein. However, the following terms and definitions are included below to accommodate usage specific to this document. circular mil (CM). A unit intended for referring to the area of a wire with a circular cross section with a diameter of one mil (one thousandth of an inch (0.001 in)). circular mil-foot. A unit intended for referring to the volume of a wire, one foot in length with a cross-sectional area of one circular mil. mil. A unit of measure equal to one thousandth of an inch (0.001 in). undersized cable. Cable that does not satisfy the material or alloy composition specification or gauge size requirements in construction, resistance or electrical performance requirements including voltage rating and voltage drop according to a specific documented third-party agency or industry standard such as the Wire Gauge System Comparisons listed in Annex A.
4. Impact of Undersized Welding Cables and Improperly Selected Welding Cables
4.1 Safety Concerns (1) Electrical and fire hazards (2) Increased risk of burns to the user (3) Overheating of the welding cable insulation 4.2 Other Concerns (1) Higher resistance, lower current, and lower voltage at the point of the welding arc which can reduce weld quality (2) Poor quality product and costly rework (3) Early failure of welding cables and equipment (4) Increased electrical energy consumption
AWS F4.2:2020 pdf download
