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IS 9417:1989 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for recommendations for welding cold worked bars for reinforced concrete construction. This standard provides recommendations for the welding of cold-worked steel bars used in reinforced concrete construction. It covers material requirements, permissible welding processes, joint configurations, welder qualification, and testing procedures to ensure the integrity and strength of welded reinforcement.
Recommendations for welding cold worked bars for reinforced concrete construction
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Welding high-strength bars can significantly reduce ductility in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). Adherence to specified procedures, including pre-heating if necessary, is critical.
! The Carbon Equivalent (CE) of the rebar is the most important parameter for weldability. Ensure the bar manufacturer's test certificate confirms CE is within the limit (≤ 0.42%).
! Gas welding is strictly prohibited for welding reinforcement bars under this code.
reinforced concretesteelcold worked steel barswelding consumables
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
AWS D1.4/D1.4M:2022American Welding Society (AWS), USA
HighCurrent
Structural Welding Code — Reinforcing Steel
Provides comprehensive requirements for welding reinforcing steel, serving as the primary US standard for this application.
EN ISO 17660-1:2006International Organization for Standardization (ISO) / European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
HighCurrent
Welding — Welding of reinforcing steel — Part 1: Load-bearing welded joints
Specifies requirements for materials, design, execution, and testing of load-bearing welded joints in reinforcing steel.
AS/NZS 1554.3:2014Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand, Australia/New Zealand
HighCurrent
Structural steel welding - Part 3: Welding of reinforcing steel
Sets out requirements for the welding of reinforcing bars used in concrete structures, including both carbon and stainless steels.
BS 8548:2006British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
MediumWithdrawn
Guidance on the design, manufacture and use of welded joints in reinforcing bars
Provided UK-specific guidance for welding rebar before the adoption of harmonized European standards.
Key Differences
≠IS 9417 is a recommendation from 1989 and is less prescriptive, whereas modern codes like AWS D1.4 are mandatory codes with detailed, pre-qualified joint details and rigorous NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) requirements.
≠International standards like AWS D1.4 and EN ISO 17660 use more advanced Carbon Equivalent (CE) formulas and have very specific preheat tables based on CE, bar diameter, and ambient conditions. IS 9417 provides more general guidance on preheating.
≠Modern standards explicitly address high-strength and quench-and-tempered bars (like TMT), providing specific controls for heat input. IS 9417 was written primarily for older Cold Twisted Deformed (CTD) bars and its recommendations may not be fully adequate for modern high-performance rebar.
≠EN ISO 17660 is split into two parts for 'load-bearing' and 'non-load-bearing' joints, with different requirements for each. IS 9417 does not make such a clear, structured distinction in its recommendations.
Key Similarities
≈All standards recognize that welding alters the metallurgical properties of cold-worked steel and aim to provide a framework to ensure joint safety and performance.
≈The requirement for using qualified welding procedures and certified welders is a fundamental principle in IS 9417 and all its international counterparts.
≈All standards permit similar welding processes, primarily Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), and Flash Butt Welding, with a strong preference for low-hydrogen consumables for arc welding.
≈The basic mechanical testing requirements for qualifying a weld are similar, involving tensile tests to ensure strength and bend tests to ensure ductility of the welded joint.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Weld Joint Tensile Strength
Should not be less than the specified minimum tensile strength of the parent bar.
Must achieve at least 100% of the specified minimum tensile strength of the reinforcing bar.
EN ISO 17660-1
Carbon Equivalent (CE) Limit
Recommends CE ≤ 0.42% for welding without preheat.
CE ≤ 0.45% is weldable with preheat controls; >0.53% requires special qualification. Provides mandatory preheat tables based on CE.
AWS D1.4/D1.4M
Bend Test Mandrel Diameter (for qualification)
5d for bars up to 20mm; 7d for bars > 20mm (d=bar diameter).
Varies by grade and bar size; e.g., 6d to 8d for Grade 60 [420 MPa] bars.
AWS D1.4/D1.4M
Welding Consumable Type
Recommends low hydrogen electrodes conforming to IS 814.
Requires low-hydrogen consumables with specific diffusible hydrogen ratings (e.g., H4, H8) conforming to AWS A5.1/A5.5.
AWS D1.4/D1.4M
Lap Joint Weld Length (Example)
For a single lap joint, two fillet welds are specified, each of length at least 5 times the nominal bar diameter.
For an indirect butt joint, requires a flare-bevel groove weld on each side with a minimum effective length of 4 times the bar diameter.
AS/NZS 1554.3
Minimum Preheat Temperature (General)
General recommendation of 100°C, may increase to 150°C for large diameters or high carbon content.
Mandatory minimum preheat based on CE and bar size. E.g., for a #18 bar (57mm) with CE of 0.48%, preheat must be 300°F (150°C).
AWS D1.4/D1.4M
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Maximum Carbon Equivalent (CE)0.42 %
Tensile strength of butt weld joint100% of specified characteristic strength of the bar
Minimum length of weld in lap joints5 times the diameter of the smaller bar
Bend test angle for butt weld test piece90 degrees
Strength of a single lap jointShould be able to transmit the characteristic strength of the smaller diameter bar
Key Formulas
CE = C + Mn/6 + (Cr+Mo+V)/5 + (Ni+Cu)/15 — Carbon Equivalent
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Chemical Composition of Parent Metal
Table 2 - Mechanical Properties of Parent Metal
Table 4 - Bend Test for Butt Welds
Table 5 - Bend Test for Lap Welds
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Parent Metal
Clause 4 - Welding Processes
Clause 6 - Types of Welded Joints
Clause 8 - Qualification Tests for Welders
Clause 9 - Workmanship, Inspection and Testing of Welded Joints
What is the maximum allowed Carbon Equivalent (CE) for welding rebar?+
The carbon equivalent (CE) of the parent metal shall not exceed 0.42 percent (Clause 3.2).
What is the required strength for a welded butt joint?+
The welded butt joint must attain a strength of 100 percent of the specified characteristic strength of the parent bar (Clause 6.1.2).
Which welding processes are permitted by this code?+
Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and flash butt welding are the primary processes recommended. Other processes may be used if proven to produce satisfactory joints (Clause 4).
Is it mandatory to test the welders?+
Yes, welders must be qualified through qualification tests as specified in Clause 8 for the type of joint, material, and welding position they will be working on.