This standard has been prepared such that:

• it is independent of the type of welded construction to be manufactured;
• it defines quality requirements for welding both in production plants and on site;
• it provides guidance for describing a manufacturers capability to produce welded constructions to meet specified requirements;
• it can also be used as a basis for assessing the manufacturer in respect to his welding capability.

This standard is appropriate when demonstration of a manufacturer's or a sub-contractor's capability to produce welded constructions, fulfilling specified quality requirements, are specified in one or more of the following:

• a contract between involved parties;
• an application standard;
• a regulatory requirement.

The requirements contained within this standard can be adopted in full or can be selectively deleted by the manufacturer if not applicable to the construction concerned. They provide a flexible framework for the control of welding in the following cases:

Case 1

To provide specific requirements for resistance welding in contracts which require the manufacturer or sub-contractor to have a quality system in accordance with EN ISO 9001 or EN ISO 9002.

Case 2

To provide specific requirements for resistance welding in contracts which require the manufacturer or sub-contractor to have a quality system other than EN ISO 9001 or EN ISO 9002.

Case 3

To provide specific requirements for resistance welding as guidance to a manufacturer or sub-contractor developing a quality system.

Case 4

To provide specific requirements for references in application standards which uses resistance welding as part of its requirements or in a contract between relevant parties. It is however more appropriate for EN ISO 14554-2 to be used in such cases.

For general guidelines for selection and use see EN 729-1 with the exception of Annex B and under consideration that for resistance welding only comprehensive and elementary quality requirements are specified. Annex A in this standard applies for resistance welding.