scope:

This document provides check lists for the assessment of the environmental aspects of welding fabrication of metallic materials including site and repair work. Informative annexes indicate recommended actions for avoiding and reducing the possible environmental impacts outside the workshop. Protection of the environment is a key political issue in Europe and elsewhere. Protection of the environment is taken in a very broad sense. What is meant is the total life cycle aspects of, e.g. a product on the environment, including expenditure of energy and during all phases from mining of raw materials, fabrication, packaging, distribution, use, scrapping, recycling of materials, etc. However, assessment of all aspects of the welded product or structure during its entire lifetime cycle is beyond the scope of the present document. The document is limited to aspects directly related to welding fabrication. The design of the fabricated structures puts a lower limit on the expenditure of energy during joint preparation and welding, on the consumption of consumables and consequently on emissions of fumes and gases during welding, etc. but the design phase is not covered by the document. Welding fabrication has many environmental aspects. This document provides for a checklist, which may be used for identification of environmental aspects during welding fabrication. Provisions have to be restricted to a general guidance. Limit values are specified in national laws.