Welding standardization in China started in the 1960s. The first welding standard, GB 324 Welding symbol, was published in 1964. Among seven welding standards were published three years later. Those standards include：

1.   GB 980 Electrode classification and designation method.

2.   GB 981 Electrodes for and low carbon steel and low alloy high strength steel.

3.   GB 982 Electrode for molybdenum and chrome molybdenum alloy steel.

4.   GB 983 Electrodes for stainless steel.

5.   GB 984 Surfacing electrodes.

6.   GB 985 Basic groove farm and size of manual arc welding.

7.   GB 986 Basic groove form and size submerged arc welding.

In 1976, the five electrode standards were revised and another standard for electrode inspecting packing and marking was prepared. In the beginning of 1980s, with revision of the three basic standards including the welding symbol and welding groove standards, some new standards with regard to weld destructive test method were issued, these standards include ：

1.   GB 2649 Methods of sampling for mechanical properties tests of welded joint.

2.   GB 2650    Welded joint impact test method.

3.   GB 2651    Welded joint tensile test method.

4.   GB 2652 Weld metal tensile test method.

5.   GB 2653    Welded joint and surfacing metal bending     test methods.

6.   GB 2654    Welded joint and surfacing metal hardness    test methods.

7. GB 2655     Welded joint cold aging sensitivity test method.

8. GB 2656     Welded joint fatigue test method.

Welding standardization in China started in most basic area and then extended to welding consumable, groove and destructive test. From 1960s to early of 1980s, standardization demand in Chinese welding industry was very limited, the standard numbers were less and scope was only limited in basic, product and test methods.

Since the mid of 1980s, the standardization in welding field had a significant development, the most important sign was that the standard system construction promoted standard number growing, quality and level of standard increasing. With popularity of ISO 9000 all over the world, welding quality insurance became a hot focus in 1990s. The standard demands for each key link to welding quality were increased, and conformity assessment system was also promoted in China. Under this background, a project for welding standard system construction formally started.

The welding standard system construction in China began in the end of 1980s, the original system was built with reference to the standard structure of some advanced countries, and also combined with Chinese actual situation. The system was adjusted in accordance with the unified requirements of national administration after several years J operation. With the accelerated pace of China’s integration into the global economy in 2000s, demand for equating to international standard increased rapidly.

The welding standard system as part of the “national standards system project” was revised in 2004. In 2013, the administration launched the “construction program for mechanical industry technical standards system”, the welding standards system as one of the components had also been modified and adjusted.

According to GB/T 4754 National industrial classification, welding belongs to the “metalworking machinery manufacturing" category in which the system classification code is 202-23-02. Meanwhile, the welding materials, brazing and soldering materials, gas welding and cutting equipment belong to other categories. At present, this system structure refers to the classification methods applied in international or regional standardization organization and industrial developed countries with consideration of Chinese market demands. The welding standard system consists of four classifications (including basic standard, management standard, product standard and method standard) and each of them contains four sub-classifications, as shown in Figure 29-1.

The current welding standard system includes 168 standards (including 109 national standards and 59 industry standards).

The welding basic standards include terminology, definitions, symbols, codes, groove shapes and sizes, quality classification guideline for welding imperfections. Those standards generally corresponding to the ISO standards prepared by ISO/TC44/SC7 and SC10.

The welding management standards mainly involve common welding quality assurance requirements welding personal qualification, welding procedure qualification and welding specification which generally corresponding to the ISO standards prepared by ISO/TC44/SC10 and SC11.

The welding production standards include materials and equipment, the welding consumable standards correspond to the ISO standards of ISO/TC44/SC3: the brazing and soldering material standards correspond to the IS0 standards of ISO/TC44/SC12 and SC13; the standards for cutting equipment, tools and auxiliary equipment parts, correspond to ISO standards of ISO/TC44/SC8

The welding process standards cover destructive tests non-destructive tests, other test and welding process, etc. The destructive tests and non-destructive tests standards correspond to the ISO standards of IS0/rc44/SC5, other test and process standards mainly correspond to the ISO standards of ISO/TC44/SC10.

By the end of 2016, the numbers of welding standards arranged by SAC/TC55 are amounted to 168. Among those standards, 97 standards adopted ISO standards, 37 standards adopted the foreign advanced standards, 31 standards did not adopt foreign standards, adoption situation are shown in Figure: 29-2.

Through standard system construction, tracking transformation and adopting of ISO standards, the standard formulation and revision, standard application and implementation, the welding standardization work got rapid development during the period of 12th five-year. The remarkable achievements achieved good social benefits and welding standardization in China became full of vitally. The obvious effects are embodied in the following several aspects：

1. welding standard system has been further perfected. The standard system focusing on the requirements of “system management, key breakthrough, overall ascension”, played a supporting role in promoting economic development transfer, industrial structure adjustment, improving the quality and avoiding risk.

2. standard level has significantly increased. During the period of 12th five-year, some of the standard projects started on a quite higher point, the standardization field had extend to new areas, the technical contents were more close lo market demand, and the standard level was improved significantly

3. participating the international standardization brings new breakthrough. Under the guidance of the 12th Five- Year Plan Outline Draft), our international standardization work is steadily pushed forward. We get new achievements on participating in international activities, ISO standards drafting. Especially at the same time, we launched some new national standard programmers in new welding technology fields which provided a great support to manufacturing industry Transformation and upgrading.

Generally, the welding standard system fulfilled the real needs and played an important role in economic development.