AWS D16.1M/D16.1:2018

This standard establishes safety requirements with respect to the design, manufacture, maintenance, and operation of arc welding robot systems and ancillary equipment. It also helps to identify and minimize hazards involved in maintaining, operating, integrating, and setting up of arc welding robot systems.
Scope : The requirements of this standard apply to industrial robot systems that are used to perform the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) with solid or metal cored wires, and flux cored arc welding (FCAW) processes. The purpose of this standard is to establish minimum safety requirements with respect to the design, manufacture, maintenance, and operation of arc welding robot systems and ancillary equipment. It is also designed to help identify and minimize hazards involved in maintaining, operating, and setting up of arc welding robot systems. This standard includes principles that may be applied to robotic systems with other arc welding processes. 1.1.1 Applications 1.1.1.1 New or Remanufactured Installations. The requirements of this standard pertaining to design and manufacture shall apply to all new or remanufactured arc welding robot systems, fixtures, and ancillary equipment manufactured for installation or installed after the compliance date subsequent to the ANSI approval date of this standard. Compliance to the standard shall be 12 months after the ANSI approval date. 1.1.1.2 Existing or Rebuilt Installations. Existing installations or the repair or rebuilding thereof shall be compliant with the standards in effect at the time of their original installation. Modifications to fixtures, end-of-arm devices, or ancillary equipment shall be reviewed for the creation of new hazards. Such new hazards shall be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable clauses of this standard. 1.1.1.3 All Installations. The requirements of Clauses 7 and 8 of this standard pertaining to the use and maintenance of arc welding robot systems shall apply to all users subsequent to the specification of this standard. 1.1.2 Exclusions. This standard applies to arc welding robot systems and is not intended to apply to the following machines: (1) Non arc welding robots (2) Automated guided vehicle systems (3) Undersea and space robotics (4) Automatic conveyor and shuttle systems (5) Teleoperators (6) Mobile robots (7) Resistance welding robots This list is not intended to be all-inclusive. 1.1.3 Responsibilities. The responsibility for the application of this standard is defined by this standard. 1.1.3.1 Manufacturer or Remanufacturer. It shall be the responsibility of the arc welding robot machine manufacturer or remanufacturer to design and construct the arc welding robot system in accordance with Clause 4 of this standard. 1.1.3.2 Rebuilder or Modifier. It shall be the responsibility of any person rebuilding or modifying arc welding robot systems to do so in accordance with portions of Clause 4 of this standard applicable to components being rebuilt or modified. 1.1.3.3 System Integrator. The system integrator shall ensure that the system complies with Clause 6 of this standard. The System Integrator has the responsibility to ensure that any modifications made to the arc welding robot systems shall conform to Clause 4. The user shall be the system integrator unless another party contractually accepts responsibility as the system integrator. Figure 1â??Example of a Typical Robotic Arc Welding Cell 1.1.3.4 User. Users should make training available for operators, programmers, and maintenance technicians to help them attain and maintain certifications, such as the Certified Robotic Arc Welding Technician/Operator Program. 1.2 Units of Measure. This standard makes use of both International System of Units (SI) and U.S. Customary Units. The latter are shown within brackets ([ ]) or in appropriate columns in tables and figures. The measurements may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently. 1.3 Safety. Safety issues and concerns are addressed in this standard, although health issues and concerns are beyond the scope of this standard. Safety and health information is available from the following sources: American Welding Society: (1) ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes (2) AWS Safety and Health Fact Sheets (3) Other safety and health information on the AWS website Material or Equipment Manufacturers: (1) Safety Data Sheets supplied by materials manufacturers (2) Operating Manuals supplied by equipment manufacturers Applicable Regulatory Agencies Work performed in accordance with this standard may involve the use of materials that have been deemed hazardous, and may involve operations or equipment that may cause injury or death. This standard does not purport to address all safety and health risks that may be encountered. The user of this standard should establish an appropriate safety program to address such risks as well as to meet applicable regulatory requirements. ANSI Z49.1 should be considered when developing the safety program.