Standards

Technical resource · SMAW / MMA covered electrodes

Welding Electrode Standards Cross-Reference: AWS, GB/T, EN ISO, JIS & DIN

A purchase order that says "E308L stainless electrode" and one that says "GB/T 983 E308L-16" do not necessarily ask for the same paperwork. Across five SMAW electrode families, the classification systems differ in what they measure, how they encode coating and polarity, and which edition governs acceptance. This chart maps the six systems buyers commonly meet, shows where a direct comparison is reasonable, and states plainly where it is not.

1. How to read this chart

Comparable is not equivalent. Two classifications may describe a similar deposit while differing in chemistry limits, test methods and acceptance criteria. GB/T 983 and AWS A5.4 are closely aligned but are not the same document; the standard named on the purchase order governs inspection.
Write the full designation. The suffix carries coating type, current and welding position. E308L-16 and E308L-15 are different products.
Editions and certificates decide. Composition limits and mechanical test requirements change between editions. Ask for the standard plus its edition, the certificate type and batch traceability in the enquiry rather than after production.

A mapping published in manufacturer datasheets but not defined as an official standard-to-standard conversion is marked †. Where no counterpart exists in a system, the cell reads — with a note.

2. Framework: which standard governs which family

Six systems, five product families. Classification basis in the final column explains why the tables below cannot all be read the same way.

Electrode family	AWS / ASME	China GB/T	ISO / EN	Japan JIS	Legacy DIN / national	Classification basis
Stainless & heat-resisting steel	AWS A5.4 / A5.4M; ASME SFA-5.4	GB/T 983	EN ISO 3581 (System A and B); supersedes EN 1600	JIS Z 3221	DIN EN ISO 3581; older catalogues cite DIN 1736 numbers	Deposited-metal chemistry + usability suffix
Cast iron	AWS A5.15; ASME SFA-5.15	GB/T 10044	EN ISO 1071	JIS Z 3252	DIN 8573 / DIN EN ISO 1071	Core-wire alloy family
Hardfacing / surfacing	AWS A5.13 / A5.13M; SFA-5.13 (bare rods: A5.21)	GB/T 984	EN 14700	JIS Z 3251	DIN 8555 (still quoted on European drawings)	Alloy family or hardness/process coding — not convertible
Nickel & nickel alloys	AWS A5.11; ASME SFA-5.11	GB/T 13814	EN ISO 14172	JIS Z 3224	DIN 1736 (legacy)	Deposited-metal chemistry; ISO uses 4-digit alloy codes
Aluminium & aluminium alloys	AWS A5.3; ASME SFA-5.3	GB/T 3669	EN ISO 18273 § (wire/rod scope)	JIS Z 3232 § (Al filler rods and wires)	DIN 1732 / DIN 7871 (legacy)	Core-wire alloy designation

§ Scope note for aluminium. EN ISO 18273 and JIS Z 3232 address aluminium wire electrodes, wires and rods. Manufacturers frequently quote E Al 4043 (AlSi 5) on a covered-electrode datasheet to describe the core-wire alloy, but that is a composition reference rather than a formal covered-electrode classification in those systems. Name AWS A5.3 / GB/T 3669 as the governing classification for a covered aluminium electrode and treat the ISO/JIS/DIN entries as alloy identification. This is a frequent cause of a rejected certificate at incoming inspection.

On superseded standards. EN 1600, DIN 8555, DIN 8573, DIN 1736, DIN 1732 and DIN 7871 still appear on older drawings, maintenance manuals and distributor lists. They are included because buyers search by those numbers; current European supply is generally documented against the EN ISO successor shown in the same row.

3. Stainless and heat-resisting steel electrodes

AWS A5.4 · GB/T 983 · EN ISO 3581-A / -B · JIS Z 3221 · Chinese trade grades

AWS A5.4	GB/T 983	EN ISO 3581-A	EN ISO 3581-B	JIS Z 3221 ‡	China trade grade	Typical duty
E308-16	E308-16	E 19 9 R 1 2 ‡‡	ES 308-16	ES308-16	A102	304-type austenitic stainless
E308L-16	E308L-16	E 19 9 L R 1 2 ‡‡	ES 308L-16	ES308L-16	A002	304L, low-carbon corrosion service
E308-15	E308-15	E 19 9 B 4 2	ES 308-15	ES308-15	A107	Basic coating, DCEP
E309-16	E309-16	E 22 12 R 1 2	ES 309-16	ES309-16	A302	Dissimilar joints, clad transition
E309L-16	E309L-16	E 23 12 L R 1 2	ES 309L-16	ES309L-16	A062	Low-carbon dissimilar / buffer layers
E309LMo-16	E309MoL-16	E 23 12 2 L R 1 2	ES 309LMo-16	ES309LMo-16	A042	Mo-bearing transition and clad work
E316-16	E316-16	E 19 12 2 R 1 2	ES 316-16	ES316-16	A202	316-type Mo-bearing stainless
E316L-16	E316L-16	E 19 12 3 L R 1 2	ES 316L-16	ES316L-16	A022	316L, urea / chemical equipment
E347-16	E347-16	E 19 9 Nb R 1 2	ES 347-16	ES347-16	A132	Nb-stabilised 321 / 347
E310-16	E310-16	E 25 20 R 1 2	ES 310-16	ES310-16	A402	25Cr-20Ni heat-resisting grades
E410-16	E410-16	E 13 R 1 2	ES 410-16	ES410-16	G202 / G217	13Cr martensitic, also surfacing
E410NiMo-16	E410NiMo-16	E 13 4 R 1 2	ES 410NiMo-16	ES410NiMo-16	G232	13Cr-4Ni repair and overlay
E2209-16	E2209-16	E 22 9 3 N L R 1 2	ES 2209-16	ES2209-16	—	Standard duplex UNS S31803 / S32205
E2594-16	E2594-16	E 25 9 4 N L R 1 2	—	—	—	Super duplex UNS S32750

‡ JIS prefix. Manufacturer datasheets show both ES308-16 (aligned with ISO 3581-B) and D308-16 on older JIS Z 3221 listings. Confirm the prefix used on the certificate you will receive.

‡‡ ISO 3581-A trailing digits. The last two digits encode deposition efficiency/current and welding position, not coating usability. R 1 2 and R 3 2 both appear in published datasheets for comparable products; the difference is the efficiency band. Do not read R 3 2 as a translation of AWS -16, and do not substitute one for the other on a purchase order.

Suffix decoder. -15 basic coating, DCEP only; -16 rutile/titania, AC or DCEP; -17 rutile variant with a different bead profile; -26 high-recovery iron-powder coating for flat and horizontal work. The suffix is part of the classification, not a supplier option.

4. Cast iron electrodes

GB/T 10044 models paired with Z-series trade grades, AWS A5.15, EN ISO 1071 and JIS Z 3252

GB/T 10044	China grade	AWS A5.15	EN ISO 1071	JIS Z 3252	Core / covering	Where it is specified
EZNi-1	Z308	ENi-CI	E C Ni-CI 1	DFCNi	Pure nickel core, graphite-type covering	Machinable cold repair, thin sections, machined faces
EZNiFe-1	Z408 / Z438	ENiFe-CI	E C NiFe-CI 1	DFCNiFe	Nickel-iron core, graphite-type covering	Higher-strength grey iron, ductile iron, thicker sections
EZNiCu-1	Z508	ENiCu-B †	E C NiCu-B 1 †	—	Nickel-copper core, graphite-type covering	Low-stress grey iron repair, machinable finish
EZC	Z208 / Z248	ESt / ECI †	E Z 1 †	DFCFe †	Steel or cast-iron core, strongly graphitising covering	General grey iron defects, usually with preheat
EZCQ	Z238 / Z258 / Z268	—	—	—	Nodularising graphitic covering	Ductile iron castings, controlled preheat and slow cooling
EZV	Z116 / Z117	—	—	—	High-vanadium steel deposit, low-hydrogen covering	Higher-strength grey and ductile iron repair
EZFe-2	Z100 / Z122Fe	—	—	—	Steel core, oxidising / rutile covering	Non-machined, non-critical defect filling

† The non-nickel families do not map one-to-one onto AWS A5.15 or EN ISO 1071; published equivalents vary by manufacturer and by whether the core is steel or cast iron. Confirm against the specific datasheet.

Z308 is a trade grade, while EZNi-1 is the GB/T model. Writing both on the enquiry removes ambiguity. See our ENi-CI (Z308 / EZNi-1) product page for deposit data, current ranges and cold-repair procedure notes.

5. Hardfacing / surfacing electrodes — the family with no official conversion

AWS A5.13 · GB/T 984 · EN 14700 · DIN 8555 · JIS Z 3251. Every † cell is a manufacturer-stated approximate pairing.

Alloy family	AWS A5.13	GB/T 984 (example)	China grade	EN 14700 †	DIN 8555 †	JIS Z 3251 †	Typical wear mode
Austenitic manganese steel	EFeMn-A / -B / -C	EDMn-A-16, EDMn-B-16	D256, D266	E Z Fe9	E 7-UM-250-KP	DF3B series	Impact + work hardening: crusher jaws, rails, bucket teeth
Cr-Mo / Cr-Mo-V build-up	EFe-1 … EFe-7, EFeCr-A1A †	EDPCrMo-A1-03 … A4-03, EDPCrMoV-A1-15	D112, D132, D172, D212, D227	E Fe4 †	E 4-UM-60-ST †	DF3B-600-BR †	Shafts, gears, rolls, forging dies
High-chromium cast iron / carbides	EFeCr-A1 … A8, EFeCr-E1 … E4	EDZCr-A-03 … D-15	D608, D618, D628, D638	E Z Fe14 / E Fe16	E 10-UM-65-GRZ	DF CrA series †	Severe abrasion: mill liners, fan blades, chutes
Cobalt-based (Stellite type)	ECoCr-A / -B / -C / -E	EDCoCr-A-03 … D-03	D802, D812, D822, D842	E Z Co2	E 20-UM-40-CSTZ	DCoCr-A †	Hot wear, valve seats, hot-working tools
Tungsten carbide	EWCX-12/30 … EWCX-40/120	EDW-A-15, EDW-B-15	D707, D717, D727	—	—	—	Extreme abrasive wear; tube-type electrodes
Nickel-based overlay	ENiCr-C, ENiCrMo-5A, ENiCrFeCo	—	—	E Z Ni †	E 23-250 CKT †	—	Corrosion + heat, furnace and valve parts
Copper-based overlay	ECuAl-A2 … ECuAl-E, ECuSi, ECuSn-A/C	—	—	E Z Cu †	—	—	Bearing surfaces, cavitation, anti-friction layers
High-speed / hot-work tool steel	EFe5-B †	EDRCrMoWV-A1-03, EDRCrW-15	D322, D337, D397	E Fe4 †	E 4-UM-60-ST †	DF5A / DF5B †	Cutting edges, hot forging dies

† Every EN 14700, DIN 8555 and JIS Z 3251 cell is a manufacturer-stated approximate pairing, not a standard conversion. AWS A5.13 classifies by alloy family, GB/T 984 by ED + principal alloy + serial + covering code, DIN 8555 by a code embedding alloy group, hardness and service behaviour, and EN 14700 by Fe/Co/Ni group numbers. One AWS classification can correspond to several DIN designations, and the reverse also occurs. For hardfacing orders, specify deposit hardness (HRC/HV), number of layers, acceptable dilution, crack-checking method and machining requirement as separate technical lines.

GB/T 984 covers covered electrodes. Open-arc and gas-shielded surfacing wires are commonly sold under manufacturer YD… / HS… designations that borrow the same alloy names, so state the product form on the order.

6. Nickel and nickel-alloy electrodes

AWS A5.11 · GB/T 13814 · EN ISO 14172 · JIS Z 3224

AWS A5.11	GB/T 13814	EN ISO 14172	JIS Z 3224	Typical base alloy / duty
ENi-1	ENi2061	E Ni 2061	DNi-1	Pure nickel Ni 200 / 201, clad and dissimilar work
ENiCu-7	ENi4060 / ENi4061 ‡	E Ni 4060 ‡	DNiCu-7	Monel 400-type, seawater and chemical service
ENiCrFe-1	ENi6062	E Ni 6062	DNiCrFe-1	Inconel 600 / 601, Ni-Cr-Fe overlay
ENiCrFe-2	ENi6133	E Ni 6133	DNiCrFe-2	Inconel 600, Incoloy 800, dissimilar joints
ENiCrFe-3	ENi6182	E Ni 6182	DNiCrFe-3	Inconel 182-type; dissimilar, 9% Ni steel, pressure work
ENiCrFe-7	ENi6152	E Ni 6152	—	Inconel 690, corrosion overlay on carbon steel
ENiCrMo-3	ENi6625	E Ni 6625	DNiCrMo-3	Inconel 625-type, low temperature and corrosion
ENiCrMo-4	ENi6276	E Ni 6276	DNiCrMo-4	Hastelloy C-276-type, severe corrosion
ENiCrMo-6	ENi6620	E Ni 6620	DNiCrMo-6	9% Ni steel, LNG service
ENiCrMo-2	ENi6002	E Ni 6002	—	Ni-Cr-Mo high-temperature grades

‡ The NiCu designation appears as ENi4060 and ENi4061 across GB/T and ISO-aligned datasheets. Quote the exact code printed on the certificate you need.

Some nickel classifications also appear in AWS A5.13 for overlay work, so state whether the electrode is for joining or surfacing (the acceptance tests differ). ASME projects commonly ask for the SFA-5.11 reference together with the applicable F-Number / A-Number under Section IX, because changing either can require a new PQR.

7. Aluminium and aluminium-alloy electrodes

AWS A5.3 · GB/T 3669 · EN ISO 18273 (alloy reference) · legacy DIN 1732 · L-series trade grades

AWS A5.3	GB/T 3669	EN ISO 18273 §	Legacy DIN 1732 / no.	China grade	Alloy system	Handling point
E1100	E1100	E Al 1080 A (Al 99.8)	EL-Al99.5 / 3.0286	L109	Commercially pure Al	Colour match, conductivity, lower joint strength
E3003	E3003	E Al 3103 (AlMn1)	EL-AlMn / 3.0516	L309	Al-Mn	Al-Mn sheet and pure Al
E4043	E4043	E Al 4043 (AlSi 5)	EL-AlSi5 / 3.2245	L209	Al-Si 5%	General purpose, cast Al-Si alloys, fluid pool
E4047	E4047	E Al 4047 (AlSi 12)	EL-AlSi12 / 3.2585	—	Al-Si 12%	High-Si castings; check A-grade impurity limits where specified
E5183	—	E Al 5183 (AlMg4.5Mn)	—	L409	Al-Mg-Mn	Higher-strength Al-Mg structures
E5356	—	E Al 5356 (AlMg5)	—	—	Al-Mg 5%	5xxx series where Mg-bearing deposit is required

§ See the scope note in Section 2. Where an E Al 4043 and E Al 4043A variant is offered, the A denotes tighter impurity control; confirm which one the drawing calls for.

Aluminium covered electrodes are hygroscopic and are normally supplied in sealed tins, run on DCEP with a short arc, and require complete removal of corrosive slag residue after welding. For thick sections, preheat is a procedure decision. These packaging and handling clauses belong in the enquiry alongside the classification — they influence acceptance more often than the model number does.

8. How buyers actually specify standards on a purchase order

A workable consumable line item usually carries six fields. Leaving one out is a common source of re-quotation.

Field	Example of a complete entry	What goes wrong if omitted
Classification standard + edition	AWS A5.4/A5.4M:2012 (R2022) or EN ISO 3581 with edition	Chemistry limits differ by edition
Full designation with suffix	E308L-16, not E308L	A -15 or -26 product may arrive with different polarity and position
Parallel / reference designations	E 19 9 L R 1 2 (ISO 3581-A) / ES308L-16 (JIS Z 3221)	Owner, customs and third-party inspection each work from a different document
Certificate type	EN 10204 Type 3.1 or a CMTR to ASME SFA-5.4	"MTC" alone can be satisfied by a 2.1 declaration with no test results
Approvals where the duty requires them	Classification-society type approval, PED / EN 13479 documentation, project qualified manufacturer list	Marine and pressure work can be rejected at incoming inspection
Traceability fields	Heat / lot number on certificate, carton label and packing list; production date	The document cannot be tied to the delivered batch

Certificate types in brief

EN 10204 type	What it contains	Who validates it
2.1	Declaration of compliance, no test results	Manufacturer
2.2	Declaration plus non-specific test results	Manufacturer
3.1	Specific results for the delivered batch	Authorised representative independent of production
3.2	Specific results plus independent countersignature	Manufacturer's representative and purchaser's representative / designated inspector

A 3.2 is not simply a higher grade to request by default — it adds witnessing, cost and lead time, and is normally specified only when a code, classification society or project specification calls for it. Older drawings referring to 3.1A/B/C need re-reading against the 2004 revision. In ASME work, the CMTR is the equivalent practical document; state which standard the report is issued to and which test results it must contain.

Approval scope matters. Classification-society type approvals are renewed periodically and list the covered brand, diameter range and welding positions. Check that the certificate is current and that the specific designation and position appear on it. Regional market schemes and CE/CPR documentation are likewise tied to a manufacturing site and product range; where private labelling is involved, confirm whose name the document is issued under.

9. Six mismatches that cause re-quotation

Dropping the suffix. E316L is not E316L-16; coating, polarity and position change.
Treating ISO 3581-A trailing digits as an AWS suffix. R 1 2 / R 3 2 encode efficiency and position, not -16 usability.
Assuming "equivalent" means "identical". Closely aligned systems can still differ in nickel limits or minimum tensile strength; name the system that governs acceptance.
Translating a hardfacing designation and stopping there. Hardness, layers, dilution and crack inspection must be written separately.
Quoting a trade grade instead of a model. Z308 and A102 are trade grades; pair them with EZNi-1 / E308-16.
Leaving certificate type undefined. "MTC required" leaves the document level to the supplier. State 2.1 / 2.2 / 3.1 / 3.2 or the CMTR basis explicitly.

10. What we can quote against

We supply covered electrodes in the five families above in commonly requested diameters (2.5 / 3.2 / 4.0 / 5.0 mm as standard reference sizes), with electrode length, carton net weight, moisture-barrier or vacuum packing, neutral or buyer artwork, private-label printing, outer carton and pallet scheme, label language and batch coding set against the order. Non-standard diameters and lengths are reviewed against tooling and quantity.

Send us the designation as it appears on your drawing or purchase order — a photo of the electrode carton label is enough to start. We will reply with the matched classification across the systems you need, a datasheet for the offered batch, a packing proposal, sample quantities for a procedure trial where appropriate, and a quotation with lead time. If your project requires a particular certificate type, inspection witness or approval scope, put it in the first message so it can be built into the offer.

11. Frequently asked questions

Is GB/T 983 E308L-16 the same as AWS A5.4 E308L-16?

They describe a closely aligned product and are commonly cross-referenced, but they are separate documents with their own test and acceptance requirements. Name the one that governs your order and list the other as a reference designation.

Why do some datasheets show E 19 9 L R 1 2 and others R 3 2?

Both appear in published material for comparable electrodes. The trailing digits in ISO 3581 System A describe deposition efficiency/current and welding position; they are not a rendering of the AWS -16 suffix. Confirm the exact designation on the certificate.

Can I convert an AWS A5.13 hardfacing classification into a DIN 8555 or EN 14700 code?

Not by a standard formula. The systems classify on different axes. Manufacturer datasheets give approximate pairings, and the order still needs separate hardness, layer-count and dilution requirements.

Which standard governs a covered aluminium electrode: AWS A5.3 or EN ISO 18273?

AWS A5.3 / GB/T 3669 classify the covered electrode. EN ISO 18273 and JIS Z 3232 address wires and rods; their alloy designations are often quoted on covered-electrode datasheets to identify the core wire, so treat them as composition references.

What does the E prefix in E C Ni-CI 1 mean?

It is the EN ISO 1071 covered-electrode designation for cast iron service, with C identifying the cast-iron group. It should not be confused with the E Ni 6182 style used in EN ISO 14172 for nickel-alloy electrodes.

Do I need a 3.2 certificate?

Only where a code, classification society, PED category or project specification calls for it. Many industrial orders are placed against 3.1; specifying 3.2 without a requirement adds witnessing cost and lead time.

Can you match a designation from an old drawing?

Yes — send the text exactly as printed, including any DIN or legacy JIS code and the edition year if shown. We will map it to the classification we can supply and note where the match is approximate before quoting.

This chart is a sourcing and screening aid. It does not declare equivalence between standards, and it does not replace the classification, edition, WPS/PQR and batch certificate specified in your purchase documents. Standard editions and manufacturer designations change; confirm current requirements before placing an order.