weld, is there room to manouver?

[ARH]

I looked through my AISC manual, and AISC Detialing and can't find the clearance required to get a good weld. How much room is required for the welder to see and access a weld?

Currently I have a condition where we want to add to a W8 that supports a roof deck without cutting the deck. My Lead Engineer and I are in debate as to whether we should add at T section to the underside of the beam and have easily accessable overhead weld on either side of the T web, or add a wide flange to the under sisde and have a horizontal weld on either side of the flange of the W8.

I think that a W8 does not allow enough room for someone to handle the rod and see what they are doing. Comments?

 

[metengr]

ARH;
Welding is an acquired skill, and each job depends on the experience level of the welder. I would discuss your specific situation with an experienced welder and/or CWI to determine their comfort level. They may provide some additional ideas to tackle this job.

 

[pipewelder1999]

As said above (Consult with a welder). I don't know how many times I have had to mirror weld something because it was "designed that way". Welding in restricted access locations :

1) Increases the likelyhood of defects
2) Makes inspection difficult
3) Increases the time required to complete the weld
4) Sometimes causes a person to position his/her body in a manner that is VERY uncomfortable. (The repetitive strain injury attorneys would forget about chair height to keyboard measurements)
5) In restricted access welds often times your hands/arms are restricted in a manner that increases the time it takes to remove your hands/arms when molten metal drops on them. (Leather sleeves slow down not stop the head from moltem metal.

If no alternatives exist, it can be done. The skills available in construction trades are pretty extensive. Some more than others but we can get it done.



Gerald Austin
Iuka, Mississippi

http://www.weldinginspectionsvcs.com

 

[stanweld]

It's not so much the size of the W8 but the accessibility to the joint. As both metengr and pipewelder99 so aptly stated, "Consult a welder". Also if the weld will prove difficult to make but not impossible, qualify the welder on a mockup to simulate actual conditions.