 U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration |
MEMORANDUM |
| Subject: | INFORMATION: Buy America - Non-domestic flux for welding of bridges and other structures | Date: | January 31, 2003 |
| From: | /s/ Dwight A. Horne Director, Office of Program Administration |
Reply To: | HIPA-30 |
| To: | Peter J. Nicklas Project Development Engineer Welding Consumable ITW Hobart Brothers |
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Thank you for your January 3 letter to the Federal Highway Administration that inquired about the applicability of the Buy America requirements to non-domestic flux used in welding. We have reviewed the various welding process commonly used in Federal-aid highway construction projects; Gas Welding. Arc Welding. Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas-Tungsten Arc Welding, Gas-Metal Arc, Submerged Are, and Resistance and hermite Welding.
In all the instances, the metallic or non-metallic flux is applied to the surface to be joined, acting on application of heat to prevent oxide formation and to facilitate the flow of solder. Some metallic fluxes are made of alloy materials and are basically used for the same purpose, Therefore, the use of metallic/non-metallic flux in welding process is not covered by the Buy America requirements of23 CFR 635.410.
Please note that the welding rod, which is typically an iron/steel product is covered, and the welding process is a manufacturing process that must take place domestically.