View Full Version : SFA numbers
08-21-2007, 03:57 PM
What are SFA numbers and what do they mean?
08-21-2007, 04:07 PM
Google is a wonderful thing.
08-21-2007, 06:32 PM
SFA number does not identify consumables . It is just referencing the standard that consumables are qualified to
The number after the SFA is generally the same as AWS
For example a E7018-1 stick electrode
Everyone would just say E7018 but to be complete you can state to what governing body the electrode conforms to. Example :
American Welding Society ( AWS ) A5.1 as a E7018-1
ASME ( pressure vessels ) SFA-5.1 as a E7018-1
CSA ( Canadian Standards ) W48 etc.......
So really all the SFA # is the A numbers that a particular consumable conforms into. In case you were wondering
5.1 carbon steel
5.4 stainless steels
5.8 alloy steels
5.10 aluminum alloys etc
For example, stainless filler such as ER309 is technically a AWS A5.4 ER309 and a ASME SFA-5.4 ER309
Because few people actually state the A or SFA number when talking about consumables it generaly does not mean anything of value . If you walked into your LWS and asked for a AWS A5.1 or ASME SFA 5.1 E7018 they would think you are on crack. Everyone just says E7018
To further confuse the issue ASME does use other numbers ( F and A numbers ) to group consumables but that doesnt actually have anyting to do with your question
08-21-2007, 07:02 PM
Thank you for all the information