This European Standard specifies requirements for classification in order to designate tubular cored electrodes with or without a gas shield for metal arc welding of steels, such as stainless and heat-resisting steels in terms of the chemical composition of the all-weld metal. It is recognized that the operating characteristics of tubular cored electrodes can be modified by the use of pulsed current, but for the purposes of this standard, pulsed current is not used for determining the electrodes classification.