Base metal · AWS D1.1 Tables 5.6 and 5.11

ASTM A572 Grade 50 WPS: confirm the grade, group and temperature path

A572 Grade 50 is listed in Table 5.6 Group II and Table 5.11 Category B. A572 Grades 60 and 65 are listed in Group III and Category C. The grade therefore changes both the filler-matching group and the ordinary preheat table path.

For a verified A572 Grade 50 member: use Group II when checking Table 5.7 filler matching, and Category B for the Table 5.11 path when the applicable process is low-hydrogen SMAW, SAW, GMAW or FCAW. Do not substitute the Grade 60/65 Category C step because the specification number is the same.

The grade distinction changes two checks

Verified A572 grade	Table 5.6 material group	Table 5.11 category for listed qualifying processes	Use
42, 50 or 55	Group II	Category B	Check Group II filler families and the Category B temperature step.
60 or 65	Group III	Category C	Check Group III filler families and the Category C temperature step.

Example using the code's SI column: for a 25 mm A572 Grade 50 joint with GMAW, Category B gives a 10°C minimum Table 5.11 step. For a 25 mm A572 Grade 60 or 65 joint under the same process assumption, Category C gives 65°C. Other applicable requirements can raise the minimum; this example is not a complete project temperature determination.

How Group II affects filler matching

Table 5.7 provides classification families by material group and welding process. For Group II, the curated 2025 Table 5.7 families include, among others, SMAW A5.1 E7015, E7016, E7018 and E7028; GMAW A5.18 ER70S-X (excluding -G), E70C-XC and E70C-XM; and specified SAW and FCAW families. The complete classification, applicable exclusions, process, manufacturer product limits and project requirements still need checking.

A classification family is not a shopping list of interchangeable products. For a mixed-material joint, use the applicable higher-group or lower-group low-hydrogen option and separately check design matching/undermatching provisions. Do not infer all this from the Grade 50 label alone.

Open filler-metal selector Check a base-metal entry

Limits of the grade check

Confirm the grade and product records. A572 Grades not listed in the relevant curated entry cannot be assigned by analogy.
A material group and preheat category are different code-table systems. Group II is not Category B because of matching letters or numbers; each result comes from its own table.
Table 5.6 material listing does not establish Clause 5 prequalification. Check the other material, process, joint, position, thickness and all applicable procedure requirements.
If Clause 5 does not fit, an existing PQR requires review against its actual record and applicable coverage rules. The base-metal grade alone cannot establish PQR support.

Compare preheat inputs Review known prequalified-route gates Compare WPS routes

Edition and source

Grade groups: AWS D1.1/D1.1M:2025 Table 5.6, printed pages 73–76. Preheat categories and steps: Table 5.11, printed pages 81–84. Filler classification families: Table 5.7, printed pages 76–79. This guide reflects the 2025 base edition plus registered base-edition errata dated July 28, 2026; AMD1 is not included. The contract edition governs.

See the edition-basis page and other base-metal guides.

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