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Steel Standards Reference

Plain-language guides to IS, ASTM, and EN standards for Indian steel buyers and engineers.

Reference Library

Why Standards Matter

Steel standards define the mechanical properties, chemical composition, dimensional tolerances, and testing requirements that every steel product must meet. Understanding which standard applies to your project helps you specify material correctly, verify supplier quality, and avoid costly substitution errors.

Standards covered

Issuing bodies (BIS, ASTM, EN)

Product categories

50+

Terms in the Glossary

Structural Steel

Standards for load-bearing structural members — beams, columns, plates, and sections

IS 2062BIS

IS 2062:2011 — Hot Rolled Medium and High Tensile Structural Steel

IS 2062 is India's primary structural steel standard, specifying hot rolled medium and high tensile steel used in bridges, buildings, industrial structures, and fabricated assemblies. It defines six grades from E250 to E550, covering mild to high tensile performance. Published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), it is the most referenced steel specification in Indian construction and engineering.

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EN 10025-2EN

EN 10025-2:2019 — Hot Rolled Products of Structural Steels — Non-Alloy Structural Steels

EN 10025-2:2019 is the European standard for hot rolled non-alloy structural steel, defining grades S235, S275, S355, and S450. It is the European counterpart of IS 2062 and is the primary structural steel specification for European-origin projects. Indian fabricators supplying to Europe, the Middle East, or international EPC contracts frequently require material certified to EN 10025-2 — either imported or from Indian mills with CE mark capability.

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Sheet & Coil

Standards for flat rolled products — HR and CR sheets, strips, and coils

IS 1079BIS

IS 1079:2017 — Hot Rolled Carbon Steel Sheet and Strip

IS 1079:2017 specifies hot rolled carbon steel sheets and strips for general engineering purposes. It defines four commercial grades — HR1 through HR4 — based on forming characteristics, covering thicknesses from 1.6mm to 10mm in sheet form and strips up to 600mm wide. It is the foundational standard for the hot rolled coil and sheet supply chain in India.

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IS 513BIS

IS 513:2008 — Cold Rolled Low Carbon Steel Sheets and Strips

IS 513:2008 is the Bureau of Indian Standards specification for cold rolled low carbon steel sheets and strips. It defines five grades (CR1 to CR5) based on formability — from commercial quality for general fabrication to ultra deep drawing quality for complex press-formed components. CR steel is characterised by its smooth surface finish, tighter dimensional tolerance, and superior formability compared to HR equivalents.

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IS 10748BIS

IS 10748:2004 — Hot Rolled Steel Strip for Welded Tubes and Pipes

IS 10748:2004 specifies hot rolled steel strip used as the skelp (feedstock) for the manufacture of welded (ERW and HFI) tubes and pipes. It defines three yield-strength-based grades — YSt210, YSt240, and YSt310 — for pipe skelp in thicknesses from 1.6mm to 10mm. It is the foundational material standard for India's substantial ERW pipe manufacturing industry.

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Galvanized Steel

Standards for hot-dip zinc coated sheets and coils for corrosion protection

IS 277BIS

IS 277:2018 — Galvanized Steel Sheets (Plain and Corrugated)

IS 277:2018 is the BIS specification for hot-dip galvanized steel sheets in plain (GP) and corrugated (GC) form. The standard defines zinc coating weight classes, dimensional requirements, and quality conditions for sheets used in roofing, wall cladding, agricultural buildings, and industrial enclosures. It is the most referenced standard for galvanized sheets in the Indian construction market.

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IS 14246BIS

IS 14246:2013 — Hot Dip Zinc Coated Steel Sheets and Coils

IS 14246:2013 specifies continuously hot-dip zinc coated (galvanized) steel sheets and coils for structural, roofing, and general engineering applications. Unlike IS 277 which focuses on formed roofing sheets, IS 14246 covers the coil form supplied to downstream processors — colour coaters, profilers, roll formers, and fabricators — making it the reference standard for galvanized coil trade in India.

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Pressure Vessel

Standards for plates and steel used in pressure vessels, tanks, and heat exchangers

IS 2041BIS

IS 2041:2009 — Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels Used at Moderate and Low Temperatures

IS 2041:2009 specifies steel plates for fabricating pressure vessels, storage tanks, heat exchangers, and process equipment operating at moderate to sub-zero temperatures. It defines four grades — R220, R260, R310, and R350 — that balance strength, ductility, and notch toughness to ensure safe containment of pressurised fluids and gases in chemical, petrochemical, and industrial plant applications.

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ASTM A516ASTM

ASTM A516 / A516M — Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Carbon Steel, for Moderate- and Lower-Temperature Service

ASTM A516 is the American Society for Testing and Materials specification for carbon steel plates used in pressure vessels and storage tanks operating at moderate to low temperatures. Grade 70 is the most widely used worldwide, offering a balance of strength, toughness, and weldability. It is specified extensively in Oil & Gas, chemical, and petrochemical plant construction globally and is commonly required for export-oriented fabrication projects in India.

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Long Products & Sections

Dimensional standards for structural sections — beams, channels, angles, and columns

IS 808BIS

IS 808:2021 — Dimensions for Hot Rolled Steel Beam, Column, Channel and Angle Sections

IS 808:2021 is the BIS dimensional standard for hot rolled steel sections — I-beams (ISMB), columns (ISSC), channels (ISMC), T-sections (ISST), and angles (ISA/ISEA). It specifies the exact dimensions, mass per metre, and section properties (area, moment of inertia, section modulus) for each standard size. IS 808 is the reference document used by structural engineers across India to select sections and by procurement teams to specify and verify supply.

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IS 12778BIS

IS 12778:2004 — Hot Rolled Parallel Flange Steel Sections for Beams, Columns and Bearing Piles

IS 12778:2004 specifies hot rolled parallel flange steel sections — Narrow Parallel Flange Beams (NPB) and Wide Parallel Flange Beams (WPB) — used in modern structural steel construction. Unlike the tapered flange ISMB sections in IS 808, parallel flange sections offer constant flange thickness, better bolting geometry, and higher structural efficiency, resulting in lighter and more economical steel structures.

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Tolerances

Dimensional and rolling tolerance standards applicable across all product forms

IS 1852BIS

IS 1852:1985 — Rolling and Cutting Tolerances for Hot Rolled Steel Products

IS 1852:1985 is the BIS standard governing rolling and cutting tolerances for all hot rolled steel products — plates, sheets, strips, flats, bars, and structural sections. It specifies the permitted deviation from nominal dimensions for thickness, width, length, flatness, camber, and squareness. IS 1852 is the tolerance reference document used alongside IS 2062 and IS 1079 in purchase orders and inspection protocols — any dimension check at goods receipt references IS 1852.

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Steel Glossary

Plain-language definitions of 50+ steel industry terms — from annealing to zinc coating mass.