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Structural steel materials by standard: US, Europe, China and Japan

The structural steel grades World Steel works with, listed by standard: ASTM, EN, GB/T and JIS plates, sections and hollow sections for steel bridges.

World Steel fabricates with structural steel to the material standard named in the project specification. The grades below are those most often used for steel bridges and pedestrian bridges. Availability of a grade, size and thickness is confirmed with the mill or stockist for each order, and every heat is traceable to its mill certificate.

United States (ASTM)

StandardProductTypical grades
ASTM A709/A709M (AASHTO M 270)Structural steel for bridges: plates and shapesGrade 36, 50, 50S, 50W, HPS 50W, HPS 70W
ASTM A36/A36MCarbon structural steelA36
ASTM A572/A572MHigh-strength low-alloy columbium-vanadium steelGrade 50, 55
ASTM A992/A992MStructural shapesA992
ASTM A588/A588MWeathering steelGrades as listed in the standard
ASTM A500/A500M, ASTM A1085/A1085MCold-formed hollow structural sectionsA500 Grade B, C; A1085

Europe (EN)

StandardProductTypical grades
EN 10025-2Non-alloy structural steelsS235JR/J0/J2, S275JR/J0/J2, S355JR/J0/J2/K2
EN 10025-3Normalized fine grain steelsS355N/NL, S460N/NL
EN 10025-4Thermomechanical rolled fine grain steelsS355M/ML, S460M/ML
EN 10025-5Improved atmospheric corrosion resistanceS355J0W, S355J2W, S355K2W
EN 10025-6High yield strength, quenched and temperedS460Q/QL, S690Q/QL
EN 10210-1, EN 10219-1Hot-finished and cold-formed hollow sectionsS355J2H (and other grades of the standards)
EN 10164Through-thickness (Z) propertiesZ15, Z25, Z35

China (GB/T)

StandardProductTypical grades
GB/T 714Structural steel for bridgesQ345q, Q370q, Q420q (quality grades C to F); weathering grades Q345qNH and higher
GB/T 1591High-strength low-alloy structural steelsQ355B/C/D, Q390, Q420
GB/T 700Carbon structural steelsQ235B/C/D
GB/T 4171Atmospheric corrosion resisting structural steelFor example Q355NH
GB/T 5313Through-thickness (Z) propertiesZ15, Z25, Z35

Japan (JIS)

StandardProductTypical grades
JIS G 3106Rolled steels for welded structureSM400A/B/C, SM490A/B/C, SM490YA/YB, SM520B/C, SM570
JIS G 3101Rolled steels for general structureSS400
JIS G 3114Atmospheric corrosion resisting steels for welded structureSMA400AW/BW/CW, SMA490AW/BW/CW, SMA570W
JIS G 3140Higher yield strength steel plates for bridgesSBHS400, SBHS500, SBHS700 (and W types)
JIS G 3136Rolled steels for building structureSN400B/C, SN490B/C
JIS G 3444, JIS G 3466Carbon steel tubes and square/rectangular tubes for general structureSTK400, STK490; STKR400, STKR490

Certificates and traceability

  • Mill certificates show the chemical composition and mechanical properties of each heat (for example EN 10204 type 3.1, or type 3.2 when specified).
  • Heat numbers are transferred to cut pieces so that every main member can be traced to its certificate.
  • Grades from different standards are not automatically equivalent; a substitution is made only with the written approval of the engineer of record.

Final member sizes, details and specifications are determined by the engineer of record for each project. This page describes general practice and does not replace project-specific engineering.

This content is general technical information. It does not replace project-specific structural design, which must be carried out or approved by a qualified engineer under the applicable codes and the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.

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