INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 13920

Second edition
2023-06

Welding — General tolerances for

welded constructions — Dimensions
for lengths and angles, shape and
position
Soudage — Tolérances générales relatives aux constructions soudées
— Dimensions des longueurs et angles, formes et positions

Reference number
ISO 13920:2023(E)

© ISO 2023
ISO 13920:2023(E)

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 ISO 13920:2023(E)

Contents Page

Foreword......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... iv
1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
4 General tolerances.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
4.1 Tolerances for linear dimensions............................................................................................................................................ 2
4.2 Tolerances for angular dimensions....................................................................................................................................... 2
4.3 Straightness, flatness and parallelism tolerances................................................................................................... 4
5 Indications on drawings............................................................................................................................................................................... 5
6 Testing............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
6.1 General............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
6.2 Straightness............................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
6.3 Flatness.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
6.4 Parallelism.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
7 Non-conformities.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Bibliography................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

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ISO 13920:2023(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use
of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed
patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had/had not received
notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are
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such patent rights.
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expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC  44, Welding and allied processes,
Subcommittee SC  10, Quality management in the field of welding, in collaboration with the European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 121, Welding and allied processes,
in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 13920:1996), of which it constitutes a
minor revision. The main changes are as follows:
— references have been updated;
— presentation has been updated to the latest ISO styles.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards
body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html. Official
interpretations of ISO/TC 44 documents, where they exist, are available from this page:
https://committee.iso.org/sites/tc44/home/interpretation.html.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13920:2023(E)

Welding — General tolerances for welded constructions —

Dimensions for lengths and angles, shape and position

1 Scope
This document specifies general tolerances for linear and angular dimensions and for shape and
position of welded structures in four tolerance classes, based on customary workshop accuracy. The
main criterion for selection of a particular tolerance class is based on the functional requirements
which are to be met.
The applicable tolerances are always those which are stated in the drawing. Instead of specifying
individual tolerances the tolerance classes according to this document can be used.
General tolerances for linear and angular dimensions and for shape and position as specified in this
document apply for weldments, welding assemblies, welded structures, etc.
Special provisions can be necessary for complex structures.
The specifications given in this document are based on the independency principle of ISO  8015,
according to which the dimensional and geometrical tolerances apply independently of each other.
Manufacturing documentation in which linear and angular dimensions or indications for shape and
position are presented without individually indicated tolerances shall be deemed incomplete if there is
no, or inadequate, reference to general tolerances. This does not apply to temporary dimensions.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO  463, Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) — Dimensional measuring equipment — Design and
metrological characteristics of mechanical dial gauges
ISO  1101, Geometrical product specifications (GPS) — Geometrical tolerancing — Tolerances of form,
orientation, location and run-out
ISO  13385-1, Geometrical product specifications (GPS) — Dimensional measuring equipment — Part 1:
Design and metrological characteristics of callipers
ISO  13385-2, Geometrical product specifications (GPS) — Dimensional measuring equipment — Part 2:
Design and metrological characteristics of calliper depth gauges

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 1101 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://​w ww​.iso​.org/​obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://​w ww​.electropedia​.org/​

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4 General tolerances

4.1 Tolerances for linear dimensions

See Table 1.

Table 1 — Tolerances for linear dimensions

Range of nominal sizes
l
mm
2 30 120 400 1 000 2 000 4 000 8 000 12 000 16 000
Tolerance l>
<l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤
class 20 000
30 120 400 1 000 2 000 4 000 8 000 12 000 16 000 20 000
Tolerances
t
mm
A ±1 ±1 ±2 ±3 ±4 ±5 ±6 ±7 ±8 ±9
B ±2 ±2 ±3 ±4 ±6 ±8 ±10 ±12 ±14 ±16
±1
C ±3 ±4 ±6 ±8 ±11 ±14 ±18 ±21 ±24 ±27
D ±4 ±7 ±9 ±12 ±16 ±21 ±27 ±32 ±36 ±40

4.2 Tolerances for angular dimensions

The length of the shorter angle leg shall be used, in accordance with Table  2, to determine which
tolerances apply. The length of the leg can also be assumed to extend to a specified reference point. In
this case, the reference point concerned shall be indicated on the drawing.
See Table 2 for the relevant tolerances.
Figure 1 shows examples of how the shorter angle leg, l, is represented.

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Table 2 — Tolerances for angular dimensions

Range of nominal sizes
l
mm
(length of shorter leg)
Tolerance class
l ≤ 400 400 < l ≤1 000 l > 1 000
Tolerances
Δα
(degrees and minutes)
A ±20' ±15' ±10'
B ±45' ±30' ±20'
C ±1° ±45' ±30'
D ±1° 30' ±1° 15' ±1°
  Calculated and rounded tolerances, t, in mm/ma
A ±6 ±4,5 ±3
B ±13 ±9 ±6
C ±18 ±13 ±9
D ±26 ±22 ±18
a The value indicated in mm/m corresponds to the tangent value of the general tolerance. It is to be multiplied by the
length, in m, of the shorter leg.

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ISO 13920:2023(E)

a) b) c)

d) e)
Key
1 reference point

Figure 1 — Examples showing how the shorter angle leg, l, is represented

4.3 Straightness, flatness and parallelism tolerances

The straightness, flatness and parallelism tolerances specified in Table 3 apply for
— the overall dimensions of a weldment,
— a welding assembly, or
— a welded structure, and
— for sections for which the dimensions are indicated.
Other tolerances of form and position, e.g. coaxiality and symmetry tolerances, have not been specified.
If such tolerances are required for reasons of function, they shall be indicated on the drawings as
specified in ISO 1101.

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 ISO 13920:2023(E)

Table 3 — Straightness, flatness and parallelism tolerances

Range of nominal sizes
l
mm
(relates to longer side of the surface)
Tolerance 30 120 400 1 000 2 000 4 000 8 000 12 000 16 000
l>
class <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤ <l≤
20 000
120 400 1 000 2 000 4 000 8 000 12 000 16 000 20 000
Tolerances
t
mm
E 0,5 1 1,5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
F 1 1,5 3 4,5 6 8 10 12 14 16
G 1,5 3 5,5 9 11 16 20 22 25 25
H 2,5 5 9 14 18 26 32 36 40 40

5 Indications on drawings
The designation of the selected tolerance class as specified in Table 1 and Table 2 (e.g. ISO 13920-B) or
its combination with a tolerance class as specified in Table 3 (e.g. ISO 13920-BE), shall be entered in the
appropriate area on the drawing.

6 Testing

6.1 General
Testing and measuring devices used shall be suitable and accurate for their intended purpose:
— graduated steel straightedges;
— tape measures;
— straightedges;
— squares;
— vernier callipers (in accordance with ISO 13385-1 or ISO 13385-2);
— dial gauges (in accordance with ISO 463).
Other testing and measuring devices may be used by agreement.
The results of measurement can be influenced if they are obtained under unusual temperature or
atmospheric conditions, e.g. large constructions in strong sunlight.
The actual size of an angle shall be determined by applying suitable measuring devices tangentially
to the weldment, but away from the zone immediately influenced by the weld. The deviation shall be
derived from the difference between the nominal size and the actual size. The angular deviation may be
measured in degrees and minutes, or in millimetres.

6.2 Straightness
The edge of the weldment and the straightedge shall be aligned in such a way that the greatest distance
between the straightedge and the actual surface is at its minimum. The distance between the edge and
the straightedge shall be measured (e.g. see Figure 2).

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Key
1 straightedge
2 edge of weldment

NOTE hmax – hmin ≤ t

Figure 2 — Straightness test

6.3 Flatness
The actual surface of the weldment and the measuring plane shall be aligned to each other in such a
way that the greatest distance between the measuring plane and the actual surface is at its minimum.
This may be achieved, for example, with the aid of optical devices, tubular water levels, span wires,
floor plates, surface plates, and machine beds.
The distances between the actual surface and the measuring plane shall be measured (example see
Figure 3).

Key
1 measuring plane
2 actual surface

NOTE hmax – hmin ≤ t

Figure 3 — Flatness test

6.4 Parallelism
The reference surface shall be aligned parallel to the reference plane.
A measuring plane shall be established parallel to the reference plane and apart from the weldment,
using the measuring devices referred to in 6.3. The distances between the actual surface and the
measuring plane shall be measured (e.g. see Figure 4).

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Key
1 measuring plane 3 reference surface
2 actual surface 4 reference plane

NOTE hmax – hmin ≤ t

Figure 4 — Parallelism test

7 Non-conformities
A decision on the acceptance of components not complying with this document may be made on the
basis of the suitability for their intended purpose.

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Bibliography

[1] ISO  8015, Geometrical product specifications (GPS) — Fundamentals — Concepts, principles and
rules

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ISO 13920:2023(E)

ICS 17.040.10; 25.160.10
Price based on 8 pages

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