Overview
ISO/TR 13392:2014 - Health and safety in welding and allied processes - Arc welding fume components is a Technical Report that provides expert guidance on the chemical and particulate components present in fumes from a range of arc welding processes and consumable types. The report helps professionals identify the principal and key fume components that have occupational hygiene significance and require control to protect welders’ health. It emphasizes that most welding particles are respirable, often contain metal compounds (oxides, core–shell structures), and some components can be biologically active.
Key topics
- Purpose and scope: guidance for hazard appreciation, risk assessment and risk control related to welding fume components.
- Definitions: aligns with terms in ISO/TR 25901 (welding vocabulary).
- Fume composition: identification of typical principal and key components across processes and consumable types (examples include Fe, Mn, Cr, Cr(VI), Ni, Cu, Al, Zn, Co).
- Process coverage: common arc welding processes referenced (e.g., MMA/SMAW, MIG/MAG/GMAW/GTAW, FCAW) and consumable categories (unalloyed/low-alloy steels, high-alloy steels, aluminium, nickel-based, copper-based, hardfacing).
- Risk focus: explanation that a key component is the substance whose exposure limit is exceeded at the lowest overall fume concentration and therefore requires the most stringent control measures.
- Practical data linkage: recommends using manufacturers’ Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and laboratory methods (see ISO 15011 series) for specific consumable/component information.
- Health considerations: highlights respirable fraction and potential biological activity; intended to support occupational hygiene and medical follow-up.
Applications
ISO/TR 13392:2014 is useful to:
- Occupational hygienists and health & safety professionals assessing welding fume hazards and specifying control measures (ventilation, PPE, work procedures).
- Employers and welding supervisors developing risk assessments, training, and exposure controls for welders.
- Medical professionals diagnosing and managing health effects related to welding fume exposure.
- Standards developers and laboratory analysts linking fume composition to sampling and measurement methods.
- Procurement teams and safety officers using SDS and fume data to select consumables and set workplace controls.
Practical benefits include improved hazard awareness, targeted monitoring of Cr(VI), manganese, nickel and other key components, and clearer prioritization of control measures.
Related standards
- ISO/TR 25901 - Welding and related processes - Vocabulary
- ISO 4063 - Nomenclature of welding processes
- ISO 15011-1 - Laboratory method for sampling fume and gases - Part 1
- ISO 15011-4 - Laboratory method - Fume data sheets
ISO/TR 13392:2014 is a concise, expert-backed reference for understanding arc welding fume composition and for guiding effective occupational hygiene and exposure control measures.