AWS F1.6:2017

An American National Standard

Guide for Estimating Welding Emissions for EPA and Ventilation Permit Reporting

AWS F1.6:2017

An American National Standard

Approved by American National Standards Institute

August 18, 2017

Guide for Estimating Welding Emissions for EPA

and Ventilation Permit Reporting

2nd Edition

Supersedes AWS F1.6:2003

Prepared by the AWS Project Committee on Fumes and Gases

Under the Direction of the AWS Committee on Safety and Health

Approved by the AWS Board of Directors

Abstract

This document assists companies in estimating emissions from welding processes for EPA reporting purposes by choosing the simplest applicable method and following its steps. Example calculations are included.

ISBN: 978-0-87171-924-9

© 2017 by American Welding Society

All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

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Statement on the Use of American Welding Society Standards

All standards (codes, specifications, recommended practices, methods, classifications, and guides) of the American Welding Society (AWS) are voluntary consensus standards that have been developed in accordance with the rules of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). When AWS American National Standards are either incorporated in, or made part of, documents that are included in federal or state laws and regulations, or the regulations of other governmental bodies, their provisions carry the full legal authority of the statute. In such cases, any changes in those AWS standards must be approved by the governmental body having statutory jurisdiction before they can become a part of those laws and regulations. In all cases, these standards carry the full legal authority of the contract or other document that invokes the AWS standards. Where this contractual relationship exists, changes in or deviations from requirements of an AWS standard must be by agreement between the contracting parties.

AWS American National Standards are developed through a consensus standards development process that brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve consensus. While AWS administers the process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its standards.

AWS disclaims liability for any injury to persons or to property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or reliance on this standard. AWS also makes no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.

In issuing and making this standard available, AWS is neither undertaking to render professional or other services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is AWS undertaking to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using these documents should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. It is assumed that the use of this standard and its provisions is entrusted to appropriately qualified and competent personnel.

This standard may be superseded by new editions. This standard may also be corrected through publication of amendments or errata, or supplemented by publication of addenda. Information on the latest editions of AWS standards including amendments, errata, and addenda is posted on the AWS web page (www.aws.org). Users should ensure that they have the latest edition, amendments, errata, and addenda.

Publication of this standard does not authorize infringement of any patent or trade name. Users of this standard accept any and all liabilities for infringement of any patent or trade name items. AWS disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent or product trade name resulting from the use of this standard.

AWS does not monitor, police, or enforce compliance with this standard, nor does it have the power to do so.

Official interpretations of any of the technical requirements of this standard may only be obtained by sending a request, in writing, to the appropriate technical committee. Such requests should be addressed to the American Welding Society, Attention: Managing Director, Standards Development, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166 (see Annex B). With regard to technical inquiries made concerning AWS standards, oral opinions on AWS standards may be rendered. These opinions are offered solely as a convenience to users of this standard, and they do not constitute professional advice. Such opinions represent only the personal opinions of the particular individuals giving them. These individuals do not speak on behalf of AWS, nor do these oral opinions constitute official or unofficial opinions or interpretations of AWS. In addition, oral opinions are informal and should not be used as a substitute for an official interpretation.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the AWS Committee on Safety and Health. It must be reviewed every five years, and if not revised, it must be either reaffirmed or withdrawn. Comments (recommendations, additions, or dele- tions) and any pertinent data that may be of use in improving this standard are required and should be addressed to AWS Headquarters. Such comments will receive careful consideration by the AWS Committee on Safety and Health and the author of the comments will be informed of the Committee’s response to the comments. Guests are invited to attend all meetings of the AWS Committee on Safety and Health to express their comments verbally. Procedures for appeal of an adverse decision concerning all such comments are provided in the Rules of Operation of the Technical Activities Committee. A copy of these Rules can be obtained from the American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

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Personnel

AWS Safety and Health Committee

D. E. Clark, Chair Consultant

D. Werba, Vice Chair Miller Electric Manufacturing Company

1. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society

   S. R. Fiore Hobart Brothers Company

   S. L. Foxworth ESAB Welding and Cutting Products

   M. Haaksma Orange County Ironworks, LLC

   K. A. Lyttle Consultant

   A. F. Manz A. F. Manz Associates

   1. M. Merlo-Joseph Apeks Supercritical

      J. Petkovsek The Lincoln Electric Company

      1. M Santasiero NJCTTC

      2. Solomon Extruflex North America

         
         

         Advisors to the Safety and Health Committee

      3. M. Donovan Sheet Metal Workers Local #265

         S. E. Ferree Consultant

         D. A. Fink The Lincoln Electric Company

         1. G. Harvey Hobart Brothers Company

            1. Hudson Hobart Brothers Company

1. D. Jennings Expert Services

   T. Lyon Consultant

   D. H. Sliney Consultant

   1. J. Tucker Consultant

      
      

      AWS Subcommittee on Fumes and Gases

2. A. Lyttle, Chair Consultant

1. R. Fiore, Vice Chair Hobart Brothers Company

1. P. Hedrick, Secretary American Welding Society

   D. N. Dunbar The Lincoln Electric Company

   D. A. Fink The Lincoln Electric Company

   1. L. Foxworth ESAB Welding and Cutting Products

      1. Hilbert Miller Electric Manufacturing Company

1. Hutchins Ohio BWC/Safety and Hygiene

   M. Merlo RevWires LLC

2. M. Merlo-Joseph Apeks Supercritical

J. J. Palach Pal-Tech Consulting Services

J. Petkovsek The Lincoln Electric Company

T. P. Rosiek Nederman USA, Incorporated

Advisors to the Subcommittee on Fumes and Gases

M. Amata Hobart Brothers Company

H. R. Castner Edison Welding Institute

D. E. Clark Consultant

W. H. Drake S. W. Missouri State University

T. J. Eckardt Select-Arc Incorporated

S. E. Ferree Consultant

Foreword

This foreword is not part of this standard but is included for informational purposes only.

This document originated with the AWS Safety and Health Subcommittee for Fumes and Gases, with assistance from manufacturers and users of welding equipment and consumables. It is intended as a guide that will assist companies in estimating emissions from welding processes for EPA reporting purposes. This is the second edition of this specifica- tion. Editorial changes were made to the Scope (Clause 1). A significant change in this edition is the addition of plasma arc cutting fume characterization and fume generation rate data. Substantive changes in text are indicated by a vertical margin line.

Comments and suggestions for the improvement of this standard are welcome. They should be sent to the Secretary, Safety and Health Committee, American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 St, # 130, Miami, FL 33166.

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Table of Contents

Page No.

Personnel v

Foreword vii

List of Tables x

1. Scope and General Provisions 1

   1. Scope 1

   2. Safety 1

2. Referenced Documents 1

3. Estimating Emissions 1

   1. Considerations in Estimating Emissions 1

   2. Emissions Calculations 2

   3. Methods for Estimating Emission Factors 2

   4. Emissions from Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) 4

      Annex A (Informative)—Typical Emission Factors for Total Fume and Elemental Fume Content 7

      Annex B (Informative)—Requesting an Official Interpretation on an AWS Standard 9

      
      

      List of Tables

      
      

      Table Page No.

      1. Process-Based Emission Factors Estimates 3

      2. Plasma Arc Cutting Emission Factors 5

Guide for Estimating Welding Emissions for EPA and Ventilation Permit Reporting

1. Scope and General Provisions

   1. Scope. This guide outlines four methods of estimating airborne emissions from the arc welding process. This docu- ment does not cover disposal of collected wastes from the welding process, including collected welding fume. Emissions from sources other than the welding consumable (such as zinc oxide from galvanized material) cannot be estimated based upon process or consumable data alone and should be addressed by onsite testing (see 3.3.4). These estimates do not consider gaseous emissions that may be present in welding such as ozone, carbon dioxide, argon, oxides of nitrogen, or other gases.

      This standard makes sole use of U.S. Customary Units. Approximate mathematical equivalents in the International Sys- tem of Units (SI) are provided for comparison in parentheses or in appropriate columns in tables and figures.

   2. Safety. Safety and health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard and therefore are not addressed herein.

      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.

         
         

2. Referenced Documents

   1. ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes

   2. The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act, EPA-456/K-07-001, April 2007.

   
   

3. Estimating Emissions

   1. Considerations in Estimating Emissions. Welding fume particulates are essentially submicron in size and are con- sidered to be in the PM-10 classification (particles less than or equal to 10 µm aerodynamic diameter size range, as defined in The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act, EPA-456/K-07-001, April 2007). Frequently, calculated total emissions from welding operations are below applicable reporting threshold values and therefore estimating the amount