This specification prescribes the requirements for classification of carbon and low-alloy steel rods for oxyfuel gas welding. The classification requirements include the mechanical properties of the weld metal. Additional requirements are included for chemical composition of the rod and for manufacture, sizes, lengths, and packaging. A guide is appended to the specification as a source of information concerning the classification system employed and the intended use of the rods. This specification makes use of both U.S. Customary Units and the International System of Units (SI). Since these are not equivalent, each system must be used independently of the other.

This specification prescribes requirements for the classification of carbon and low-alloy steel flux cored electrodes for flux cored arc welding (FCAW), either with or without shielding gas, and carbon and low-alloy steel metal cored electrodes for gas metal arc welding (GMAW). Carbon and low-alloy flux cored electrodes had previously been classified solely under AWS A5.20/A5.20M, Specification for Carbon Steel Electrodes for Flux Cored Arc Welding, or AWS A5.29/A5.29M, Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes for Flux Cored Arc Welding. Carbon and low-alloy steel metal cored electrodes have previously been classified solely under AWS A5.18/A5.18M, Specification for Carbon Steel Electrodes and Rods for Gas Shielded Arc Welding, or AWS A5.28/A5.28M, Specification for Low-Alloy Steel Electrodes and Rods for Gas Shielded Arc Welding. Iron is the only element of the undiluted weld metal deposited by the electrodes classified under this specification whose content exceeds 10.5%.