ISO 13918:2017

Overview

ISO 13918:2017 - "Welding - Studs and ceramic ferrules for arc stud welding" defines requirements for studs and ceramic ferrules used in arc stud welding. The standard covers dimensions, materials and mechanical properties, manufacturing, inspection, marking and designation of a wide range of stud types for drawn‑arc, short‑cycle and tip‑ignition stud welding processes. It is the authoritative reference for coordination between studs and ferrules and for specifying product requirements at purchase.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and types: Defines many stud types (e.g., fully‑threaded FD, virtually fully‑threaded MD, partially‑threaded PD, unthreaded UD, shear connectors SD, studs with internal threads ID/IS/IT, flange studs PS, and types for short‑cycle and tip ignition).
• Dimensions and tolerances: Nominal diameters, thread lengths, head shapes, and dimensional tolerances for studs and ferrules.
• Materials & mechanical properties: Material groups, mechanical characteristics and compatibility rules for stud materials (including allowance for studs manufactured by friction‑welding two materials).
• Coating & weldability: Requirements on surface coating and weldability to ensure reliable arc stud welds.
• Durability & manufacture: Requirements for product durability and recommended manufacturing controls.
• Inspection & testing: Chemical analysis, mechanical tests, sample sizes and inspection criteria to demonstrate conformity.
• Marking, traceability & designation: Marking requirements for traceability of studs and ferrules and standardized designation formats.
• Ordering information: Essential purchaser-supplier data to be provided when ordering (including reference to the standard).

Practical applications

ISO 13918 is directly applicable where arc stud welding is used to attach fasteners to metal components. Typical applications include:

• Structural shear connectors in composite construction and bridges
• Attachment of fixtures, insulation pins and grounding studs in shipbuilding and offshore platforms
• Automotive and rail industry assemblies requiring welded fasteners
• Electrical and mechanical equipment where secure, repeatable stud welds are needed
• Fabrication shops and OEMs specifying stud/ferrule systems for production welding

Who should use this standard

• Manufacturers of studs and ceramic ferrules (product specification and quality control)
• Welding engineers and fabricators (process selection and component compatibility)
• Procurement and quality assurance teams (specifying and inspecting purchased fasteners)
• Inspectors and third‑party conformity assessors (testing and marking verification)

Related standards

Normative and related references commonly used with ISO 13918 include: ISO 898‑1, ISO 3506‑1, ISO 4042, ISO 4759‑1, ISO 6947, ISO 15510, ISO/TR 15608, and ISO 16120‑2.

Keywords: ISO 13918, stud welding, arc stud welding, ceramic ferrules, studs, weldability, dimensions, mechanical properties, shear connector, drawn‑arc welding.