The EN ISO 17660-1 standard provides the essential technical framework for the welding of load-bearing reinforcing steel in concrete structures. This international standard ensures that welded joints intended to transmit specified loads—whether in workshops or on-site—meet rigorous safety and quality requirements to maintain the structural integrity of buildings and infrastructure. Scope and Applications
EN ISO 17660-1 is primarily applicable to load-bearing welded joints made from weldable reinforcing steel and stainless reinforcing steel.
Structural Focus: It applies strictly to static loaded structures; fatigue-loaded structures require additional strength reduction considerations.
Joint Coverage: It covers connections between reinforcing bars, as well as joints between bars and other steel components like insert anchors and connection devices.
Exclusions: The standard specifically excludes factory-produced welding fabric (mesh) and lattice girders made with multiple spot or projection machines. Non-load-bearing joints (tack welds) are covered under ISO 17660-2. Key Technical Requirements
The standard establishes strict protocols for every stage of the welding process to ensure the final joint matches the strength and ductility of the parent material.
Welding Personnel and Coordination: Because rebar welding requires specialized skills, the standard specifies that both welders and welding coordinators must possess a verified level of technical knowledge, often referencing ISO 14731 and ISO 9606-1.
Process and Joint Design: Permitted welding processes include manual metal arc (111), MAG welding (135), and resistance spot welding (21). The standard provides detailed geometry and preparation requirements for several joint types: Butt joints: Designed for full load-bearing capacity. Lap and Strap joints: Used for overlapping bars. Cross joints: Evaluated based on a "shear factor" ( Sfcap S sub f ) specified in design drawings.
Quality Management: Compliance is demonstrated through a documented Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) and a Welding Procedure Qualification Record (WPQR). Production logs and mechanical testing of specimens are mandatory to verify ongoing quality. Importance in Engineering
In modern construction, welding is often preferred over traditional tie wire for creating heavy-duty reinforcement cages that must maintain their shape during transport and concrete pouring. By standardizing these practices through EN ISO 17660-1, engineers can reliably use welded splices to optimize load distribution and enable complex structural designs that might be impossible with mechanical laps alone. ISO/DIS 17660-1 - Load-bearing welded joints
EN ISO 17660-1 is the primary international standard governing the welding of load-bearing reinforcing steel in concrete structures, covering both shop and site applications. It defines requirements for design, personnel qualification, and testing, specifically for statically loaded structures. For more details, visit ISO - International Organization for Standardization en iso 176601 pdf
ISO 17660-1:2006(en), Welding — Welding of reinforcing steel
EN ISO 17660-1 , which covers the welding of reinforcing steel for load-bearing joints , a "good report" typically refers to either a Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) Procedure Qualification Record (PQR) that meets the standard's specific criteria. iTeh Standards Key Components of a Compliant Report
A comprehensive report (WPS) under EN ISO 17660-1 must document specific variables to ensure structural performance: iTeh Standards
SIST EN ISO 17660-1:2007 - Welding Load-Bearing Reinforcing Steel
The EN ISO 17660-1 standard provides the essential framework for welding weldable and stainless reinforcing steel in load-bearing joints. Whether you are a structural engineer, a welding coordinator, or a fabricator, understanding this document is critical for ensuring the structural integrity of reinforced concrete assemblies. What is EN ISO 17660-1?
Officially titled "Welding — Welding of reinforcing steel — Part 1: Load-bearing welded joints," this international standard specifies the requirements for welding reinforcing steel bars intended to transmit design loads. It covers both workshop and on-site welding and is strictly applicable to statically loaded structures. Key Scope and Applications
The standard is comprehensive, addressing several critical areas of rebar fabrication:
Joint Types: It covers various configurations including butt joints, lap joints, strap joints, and cross joints.
Materials: Applicable to both weldable carbon steel and stainless steel reinforcement.
Prefabricated Assemblies: It includes joints between reinforcing bars and other steel components like insert anchors or connection devices. The EN ISO 17660-1 standard provides the essential
Exclusions: It does not cover non-load-bearing joints (which fall under ISO 17660-2 ) or the factory production of welding fabric using multiple spot-welding machines. Technical Requirements for Compliance
To meet the EN ISO 17660-1 criteria, manufacturers and contractors must adhere to specific quality protocols:
Welding Personnel: Welders and welding coordinators must demonstrate a specific level of skill and technical knowledge.
Welding Procedure Specification (WPS): Every joint must be welded according to a qualified WPS that details the process, materials, and parameters used.
Examination and Testing: The standard mandates rigorous testing of test specimens to ensure the joints can handle the intended load capacity.
Production Logs: Maintain detailed logs to provide a verifiable record of all production welding activities. Where to Find the EN ISO 17660-1 PDF
While "free" PDFs of official standards are rarely available through legal channels due to copyright, you can obtain the official document and its previews from these reputable sources:
ISO Official Store: The primary source for the international ISO 17660-1:2006 document.
BSI Knowledge: For the British adoption, BS EN ISO 17660-1:2006.
iTeh Standards: Offers previews and full versions of the standard. Craters at the end of the weld bead
ANSI Webstore: Provides a PDF preview showing the table of contents and scope. ISO/DIS 17660-1 - Load-bearing welded joints
To be precise: EN ISO 17660-1:2006 is the European adoption of the international standard Welding — Welding of reinforcing steel — Part 1: Load-bearing welded joints.
Here is useful, actionable information – not the PDF itself (which is copyrighted), but how to legally obtain it and what the standard contains.
This section covers the practical rules for the welder on site or in the shop.
Steel fabricator Marta inherited a small welding shop where projects kept failing inspection because inspectors and clients used different words for the same things. Frustrated, she tracked down EN ISO 17660-1 — the standard that defines terms for arc welding of steels used in structural work.
She read how the standard clarifies terms like “weldability,” “preheating,” “interpass temperature,” “groove weld,” and “heat-affected zone.” Marta used those definitions to rewrite her job sheets, weld procedure specifications (WPS), and client contracts so everyone spoke the same language. On the next bridge component batch, the NDT report matched the WPS exactly, rework dropped, and quotes became more accurate because estimators used the same definitions for tolerances and weld classes.
Her shop began training new hires with a one-page glossary derived from the standard. That glossary helped trainees quickly understand inspection reports and reduced errors when recording interpass temperatures and weld sizes. Clients appreciated the consistency and awarded larger contracts. Marta credited the clearer communication from adopting EN ISO 17660-1 terminology for turning her business around.
If you want, I can:
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One bar is welded to another crossing bar at an angle.
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