 The trend of accelerating the speed at which welds are performed in the steel erection industry comes at a risk to the integrity of the connection . Without proper fusion to the base materials provided by sufficient arc time on the weld , a project inspector cannot ensure the effective diameter of the puddle weld therefore he or she cannot guarantee the published load capacities unless they witness the actual installation . This method of puddle welding is common in the United States and Canada for attaching steel sheets to bar joist and structural steel members . Regional agencies are responsible for ensuring the proper installation of puddle welding on steel construction sites . Currently there is no standard or weld procedure which can ensure the published holding capacity of any unwitnessed connection , but this is under review by the American Welding Society . 
