Description / Abstract: Note: Nothing in this standard supersedes applicable laws and regulations.

Note: In the event of conflict between the English and domestic language, the English language shall take precedence.

Purpose. This standard provides the acceptance criteria and repair procedures for arc welds and arc brazes in automotive products for which GM is responsible for establishing or approving product design. This standard does not apply to arc spot welds or arc plug welds.

Applicability. This standard applies to steels approved by GM for the following types of arc welding or arc brazing processes:

Arc Welding:

• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)

• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)

• Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

• Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)

Arc Brazing:

• Gas Metal Arc Brazing (GMAB)

• Gas Tungsten Arc Brazing (GTAB)

• Plasma Arc Brazing (PAB)

• Flux Cored Arc Brazing (FCAB)

The criteria established in this standard become mandatory when referenced on a weld design document.

Deviations from any criteria provided in this standard must be identified on a weld design document.

Usage. In this standard, the terms "braze and brazing" are used interchangeably with "weld and welding" when used for the evaluation of an arc braze.

Welded structures are considered satisfactory when they carry the intended service loads for a required period. Service loads on weldments in a vehicle are varied in both type and magnitude and cannot be addressed by this standard. Therefore, while weld quality criteria of this standard are consistent with service loading requirements, they have been established specifically for use in process and product monitoring. Any attempted application of this document to other uses, such as post-crash braze/weld quality assessment, may lead to an erroneous result or conclusion. Discrepant braze/welds by retaining a portion of their engineering properties may still contribute to the integrity of the assembly.

Clarification. For clarification of this standard or editorial comments, email the GM Weld Council at weld.council@gm.com.

Proposed changes to this standard must be presented to the GMNA Weld Council. To suggest a change to this standard, reference the "Procedure for Weld Standard Changes" on the Weld Council's web page.