ISO 15011-4:2017

Overview

ISO 15011-4:2017 - "Health and safety in welding and allied processes - Laboratory method for sampling fume and gases - Part 4: Fume data sheets" specifies how to determine welding fume emission rate and chemical composition in order to prepare standardized fume data sheets. The standard applies to filler materials used for arc welding (manual, partly mechanized or fully automatic) depositing unalloyed steel, alloyed steel and non‑ferrous alloys. Processes covered include manual metal arc welding, gas‑shielded metal arc welding (solid, metal‑cored and flux‑cored wires) and self‑shielded flux‑cored wire welding.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Determination of fume emission rate (FER): Laboratory procedures for generating welding fume using ISO 15011‑1 methods and reporting FER under defined test conditions.
• Chemical composition analysis: Collection and laboratory analysis of fume to identify principal and key components (metals, oxides and gases) relevant to occupational hygiene.
• Standardized test conditions: Generic and process‑specific parameters (current, voltage, gas type/flow, wire diameter, welding speed, torch type, test piece material and geometry) to ensure comparable results.
• Reporting and documentation: Recommended format for fume data sheets, requirements for recording detailed welding conditions, machine setup, calibration traceability to national standards and uncertainty estimation in accordance with the ISO GUM.
• Data management: Guidance on validation, retesting, transitional arrangements and data sharing practices.
• Annexes for implementation: Includes a normative fume data sheet template (Annex A) and informative annexes with performance examples, uses of welding fume data and sample data sheets.

Practical applications

• Producing consistent, comparable fume data sheets that support workplace exposure assessment, risk assessment and selection of control measures (ventilation, local extraction, respiratory protection).
• Enabling manufacturers of welding consumables to characterize emissions of their products for customers and regulators.
• Supporting occupational hygienists and safety managers in evaluating probable exposure scenarios and selecting appropriate controls.
• Informing laboratory testing protocols for interlaboratory comparisons and product classification.

Who should use ISO 15011-4:2017

• Welding consumable manufacturers and R&D labs
• Accredited testing laboratories performing fume sampling and analysis
• Occupational hygienists, industrial safety professionals and health & safety regulators
• Standards developers and certification bodies involved in welding safety

Related standards

• ISO 15011-1 (Determination of fume emission rate and sample collection)
• ISO/TR 25901-2 and ISO/TR 25901-3 (Welding safety and process vocabulary)
• EN 1540, EN/TR 14599

Keywords: ISO 15011-4:2017, welding fume, fume data sheet, emission rate, chemical composition, welding consumables, occupational hygiene, laboratory method, fume sampling.