oSIST prEN 18354:2026

oSIST prEN 18354:2026 is the Slovenian version of the draft European Standard prEN 18354, prepared by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). It specifies how to prepare weld metal test pieces for determining the hardness of surfacing on steel produced by fusion welding. The document is aimed at welding consumable applicants and at the laboratories and quality teams that prepare, weld and test the specimens.

What does oSIST prEN 18354:2026 specify?

oSIST prEN 18354:2026 specifies the preparation of test pieces for hardness testing of surfacing on steel made by fusion welding. Clause 8 sends the user to the applicable hardness test standard for the actual indentation method, so this document focuses on the specimen and its preparation.

The document is organized into clauses 1 to 9 and a bibliography. Clause 4 distinguishes two test piece types, and the later clauses cover materials, welding preparation, machining, hardness determination and the test report.

What are the key requirements of oSIST prEN 18354:2026?

Test piece design and materials

Clause 4 defines the test piece by type and by the welding process and consumable form to which it applies. In practice, this tells the user which specimen layout matches the consumable being evaluated.

Clause 5 requires a base plate of steel grade S235JR in accordance with EN 10025-2, with the dimensions given for the selected test piece type. Any deviation in dimensions or material has to be stated in the report, which matters when a laboratory has to explain a non-standard setup.

Clause 5 also requires the test surface to be clean before welding. The surface has to be free from rust, scale, grease and other contamination so that the deposit represents the consumable, not poor surface preparation.

Welding and build-up procedure

Clause 6.1 requires the use of only one nominal diameter or one dimension from the same batch or lot for making the test piece. If pre-drying is recommended, it has to follow the applicant’s instructions, and the welding parameters have to be those specified by the applicant for the consumable.

For covered electrodes, Clause 6.1 sets additional controls on current selection, polarity and electrode consumption. In practice, this means the operator has to follow the consumable’s intended operating mode and document it clearly.

Clause 6.1 also requires welding in the PA position in accordance with EN ISO 6947, with welding speed chosen to match common practice for the consumable. Preheating temperature and interpass temperature have to be measured in accordance with EN ISO 13916 and reported. For slag-forming consumables, the slag has to be removed after each run, and any post weld heat treatment has to be completed before machining.

Layer arrangement, machining and hardness test

Clause 6.2 allows stringer bead or weave bead technique, provided the weld sequence is reported. It also requires controlled overlap between beads, alternating welding direction between layers, and the layer arrangement shown in the figures. For the reader, this means the test piece must be built in a consistent way so that hardness results are comparable.

Clause 7 requires the bottom face to be machined flat and the top layer to be ground to create a sufficiently large test surface. This matters because hardness indentations need a stable, even surface to give usable readings.

Clause 8 requires the test piece to be tested to the applicable hardness standard, with indentations spread as evenly as possible and kept away from cracks or fissures. Clause 9 then requires the report to capture the consumable identity, parent material, test piece type, welding procedure, temperature data, hardness method, individual values, mean hardness and any deviations.

What terms does oSIST prEN 18354:2026 define?

• Applicant - a producer or packager of welding consumables, or a supplier that sells consumables under its own brand name.
• Surfacing - the weld deposit whose hardness is being assessed on the steel test piece.
• PA position - the welding position required for the test pieces in Clause 6, used to standardize the build-up.
• Preheating temperature (T_p) - the temperature measured before or during the start of welding and recorded in the report.
• Interpass temperature (T_i) - the temperature measured between passes and recorded in the report.
• Batch or lot - the defined production group from which the consumable used for the test piece is taken.

Who uses oSIST prEN 18354:2026?

oSIST prEN 18354:2026 is used by manufacturers and suppliers of welding consumables, especially applicants who need a standardized test piece for hardness evaluation. It is also used by welding laboratories, inspection teams and quality managers who prepare specimens, record welding conditions and compare hardness results.

It is relevant in welding consumable development, product qualification, incoming quality control and reporting for customers or certification work. The report requirements make it useful where traceability of consumable identity, welding parameters and test results matters.

Which standards are used with oSIST prEN 18354:2026?

• EN 10025-2 - supplies the specified base plate material, S235JR.
• EN ISO 6947 - defines the welding position designation used for the PA position.
• EN ISO 13916 - gives the method for measuring preheating and interpass temperatures.
• ISO 4063:2023 - provides the welding process reference numbers used in Table 1.
• EN ISO 6506-1, EN ISO 6507-1, EN ISO 6508-1 - the hardness test methods named in the bibliography for Brinell, Vickers and Rockwell testing.
• EN 14532-1, EN ISO 6847, EN ISO 14174, EN ISO 14175, EN ISO 15792-1 - related consumable test and preparation standards listed for context and companion use.

What does the oSIST prEN 18354:2026 document contain?

The document contains a designation scheme for test pieces, material and surface-preparation rules, welding instructions, machining requirements, hardness-testing guidance and a test-report checklist. Table 1 links the two test piece types to their consumable and process families. Figures 1 and 2 show the layered build-up and the measuring point for preheating and interpass temperatures. Clause 9 gives the reporting items needed to document the specimen, the welding conditions and the hardness results.