prEN 18354

prEN 18354 is a CEN draft European Standard for welding consumables. It specifies how to prepare weld metal test pieces for determining the hardness of surfacing on steel produced by fusion welding, so applicants and test laboratories can prepare comparable specimens for hardness testing.

What does prEN 18354 specify?

prEN 18354 specifies the preparation of test pieces used to measure the hardness of surfacing on steel made by fusion welding. It focuses on how the specimen is built, welded, machined and reported, so the hardness result can be linked to a controlled test piece.

The document is organized into clauses 1 to 9:

• scope
• normative references
• terms and definitions
• designation of the test piece
• test piece preparation and materials
• preparation of the test piece
• machining of the test piece
• determination of hardness
• test report

Clause 4 divides the document into two designated test piece types.

What are the key requirements of prEN 18354?

prEN 18354 sets out a controlled preparation route for the test piece, from base plate selection through to the test report. The practical aim is to make the hardness result traceable to the welding consumable and the welding conditions used.

• Base material and surface condition - Clause 5 requires a base plate of steel grade S235JR in accordance with EN 10025-2, with the dimensions used for the selected test piece type. The surface must be cleaned before welding. In practice, the specimen has to start from a known steel and a clean welding surface.

• Single consumable lot and declared drying - Clause 6.1 requires one nominal diameter or dimension from the same batch or lot. If pre-drying is recommended, it is done according to the applicant’s specifications. This helps keep the test tied to one defined consumable condition.

• Welding parameters and position - Clause 6.1 requires welding with the parameters specified by the applicant, in the PA position in accordance with EN ISO 6947. The preheating temperature, Tp, and interpass temperature, Ti, must be measured in accordance with EN ISO 13916 and stated in the report. In practice, these are the temperatures the lab must control and document.

• Rules for covered electrodes - Clause 6.1 gives extra instructions for covered electrodes, including the current type to use, the current range for each layer, and the maximum residual electrode length. That means the test piece is made under a defined electrical and consumption condition, not by general practice alone.

• Layer build-up and sequence - Clause 6.2 requires three layers in total, with overlapping beads, offset layers and a change of welding direction after each layer. It also allows stringer bead or weave bead technique, provided this is recorded. This matters because bead placement affects the hardness of the surfacing.

• Slag removal, heat treatment and machining - Clause 6.1 requires slag removal after each run for slag-forming consumables and any post weld heat treatment before machining. Clause 7 then requires a flat bottom surface and a ground top layer large enough for testing. In practice, the hardness test needs a stable, accessible surface.

• Hardness testing and reporting - Clause 8 requires testing in accordance with the applicable test standard, with indentations spread evenly and kept away from cracks or fissures. Clause 9 gives the report content, including consumable identification, test piece type, welding process, temperatures, sequence, test method and hardness values. That is what makes the specimen and result auditable.

What terms does prEN 18354 define?

prEN 18354 defines one formal term and uses several technical abbreviations that are central to the procedure.

• applicant - The organization that produces and packages welding consumables, or supplies them under its own brand name.
• test piece type A1 - One of the designated specimen types for preparing surfacing hardness test pieces; it identifies a specific geometry and process group.
• test piece type A2 - The other designated specimen type, used for a different set of processes and consumable forms.
• PA - The flat welding position used for preparing the test piece.
• Tp - The preheating temperature measured before or during welding.
• Ti - The interpass temperature measured between weld layers.
• AC - Alternating current, used for some covered electrodes when they are suitable for both AC and DC.
• DC - Direct current, used when the covered electrode is only suitable for DC operation.

Who uses prEN 18354?

prEN 18354 is used by welding consumable applicants, test laboratories, and technical staff who prepare and assess surfacing hardness specimens. It is also relevant to quality managers and certification or verification teams that need a repeatable specimen preparation method for product testing.

In practice, it supports work on welding consumable development, batch comparison, and routine test reporting for surfacing on steel.

Which standards are used with prEN 18354?

prEN 18354 refers directly to these standards:

• EN 10025-2 - supplies the base steel grade S235JR used for the test piece.
• EN ISO 6947 - defines the welding position PA used for specimen preparation.
• EN ISO 13916 - gives the method for measuring Tp and Ti.
• ISO 4063:2023 - provides the process reference numbers used in Table 1.

Its bibliography also points to related standards for consumable testing, fluxes, gas mixtures, weld metal pad preparation, and hardness methods, including EN 14532-1, EN ISO 6506-1, EN ISO 6507-1, EN ISO 6508-1, EN ISO 6847, EN ISO 14175 and EN ISO 15792-1.

What does the prEN 18354 document contain?

The document contains a designation system for two test piece types, a preparation method for the base plate and weld build-up, machining instructions, and a hardness-testing step. Table 1 identifies the test piece symbols, dimensions and the welding process groups they apply to.

Figures 1 and 2 show the layer arrangement and the measurement point for Tp and Ti. Clause 9 gives a reporting checklist covering the consumable, parent material, welding parameters, temperatures, hardness method, individual readings and mean hardness value.