AASHTO Journal - AASHTO Revises Bridge Welding Code Guidebook

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently issued 2024 interim revisions to its “AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2020 Bridge Welding Code, 8th Edition.”

[Above image by AASHTO]

Originally published in 2020, AASHTO’s Bridge Welding Code guidebook includes welding requirements for bridges made from carbon and low-alloy constructional steels and is designed for use with AASHTO or American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association or AREMA requirements.

AASHTO said the latest revisions to its Bridge Welding Code guide include:

Updated AASHTO/AWS D1.5 Code provisions, commentary, tables, and figures for the phased-array ultrasonic testing or PAUT provisions;
An improved alignment of terminology with that of various AASHTO specifications that filter or direct a user to Bridge Welding Code guide; and
The removal of inconsistent wording throughout guide.

AASHTO said while these 2024 interim revisions have received initial approval from the American Welding Society or AWS D1 Committee and the AASHTO Committee on Bridge and Structures, they will not officially revise the Bridge Welding Code until they are incorporated into the next published edition.

However, owners have the option to employ the new revisions in current projects by specifying their use in the project specifications. AASHTO pointed out that it is necessary to have these 2024 interim revisions, as well as the 2023 interim revisions, to have all current specification information.

To obtain a copy of the 2024 interim revisions to AASHTO’s Bridge Welding Code, visit the AASHTO Online Store and search for Item Code BWC-8-I2