The Board decided this important voluntary welding safety and health standards document should receive the widest distribution possible and has directed that Z49.1-2005 be made available for free download from the AWS Website http://www.aws.org/technical/facts.

Print copies will continue to be available for purchase from Global Engineering Documents (www.global.ihs.com, telephone: 800 854-7179).

During World War II, the huge demand for war materials production placed on the United States brought a tremendous expansion in the use of welding. In mid-1943 it was recognized that some type of code or standard was needed relating to safe practices for performing welding. Under the auspices of the American Standards Association, the standard was drafted and published in 1944. It was entitled American War Standard Z49.1, Safety in Electric and Gas Welding, and Cutting Operations.

Following the war, the standard was first revised in 1950. Subsequent revisions occurred in 1958, 1967, 1973, 1983, 1988, 1994, and 1999. During the period of these revisions, the American Standards Association has become the American National Standards Institute and War Standard ASA Z49.1-1944 became ANSI Z49.1-2005.

The American Welding Society is the largest organization in the world dedicated to advancing the science, technology, and application of welding and allied processes, including joining, brazing, soldering, cutting, and thermal spraying. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, USA, AWS serves almost 50,000 members throughout the world. For more information on AWS programs and publications, visit the Society's Web site, www.aws.org

Don't miss North America's largest welding, metal forming and fabricating event: FABTECH International & The AWS Welding Show-Chicago, IL-Nov.13-16, 2005 www.aws.org/expowww.aws.org/expo