AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE

(ABN)/ACN (94) 000 973 839

STEEL CONSTRUCTION
JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE
VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2 JUNE 1999

The Evolution of Australian

Material Standards for -
Structural Steel
Pressure Vessel Steel Plate

Steel Stocked in Australia

A Summary for Designers of Heavy Steelwork

Reproduction of V33N2 June 1999 Printing

ISBN 0049-2205
Print Post Approved
pp 255003/01614
 AISC Steel Construction Journal

June 1999, Vol 33 No 2

EDITORIAL
As with any aspect of procurement, a suitable Australia – A Summary for Designers of Heavy
description of the product or item being obtained Steelwork”, the paper is written as a brief note on
is crucial to ensuring that you get what you want Australian structural materials and components
and it performs to the requirements that you may which are readily available for Australian
need of it. Material Standards and specifications fabrication. The paper’s author, Dr Russell
provide this means of “suitable” description Keays, has had a long and substantial track
within the construction industry and are record with steel construction and has been
considered to be important references for the involved in various high-- profile projects around
procurement process. Currently, typical material Australia.
Standards for steel construction include AS/NZS
3678 (Hot-- rolled plates, floorplates and slabs), Lastly, readers should note that a list of papers
AS/NZS 3679.1 (Hot-- rolled bars and sections) considered in more recent journal issues is
and AS/NZS 3679.2 (Welded I sections). provided after the third paper.

Entitled “The Evolution of Material Standards

for Structural Steel”, the first paper in this issue
of Steel Construction documents the changes
that have occurred for Australian material
Standards for structural steel. With a general
emphasis on plate product - sections and bars are
also considered - the paper describes the changes
that have occurred to structural steel material
Standards since the early 1920’s and provides the
reasons behind these changes. Part of the reason
for these changes was also due to the ongoing
development of BHP’s impressive Port Kembla
steelworks in terms of products and capability. A
brief mention of the steelwork’s development is
also considered in the paper.

The first paper’s author, Mr Sharad Kotwal, has

long been associated with BHP and Standards
Australia and is in a good position to write about
the changes to structural steel material
Standards. Mr Kotwal’s role at BHP also saw
substantial involvement with steel plates for
pressure vessels which is the subject of the
second paper. Entitled “The Evolution of
Australian Material Standards for Pressure
Vessel Steel Plate”, the second paper is published
as complementary text to the first paper. Mr
Kotwal retires from BHP in mid-- 1999 and AISC
wishes him well for the future.

On the subject of material Standards, a third

paper is presented in this issue which provides
some guidance to overseas designers on local
steel products. Entitled “Steel Stocked in

STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999 2

 THE EVOLUTION OF AUSTRALIAN MATERIAL
STANDARDS FOR STRUCTURAL STEEL

S Kotwal1

1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is to document the history of changes that have taken place in Australian
Standards for Structural Steel with specific reference to plate product. All the significant changes
have been listed and, wherever possible, reasons for such changes are given. As most of these
changes are as a result of the development of steelmaking facilities in Australia, major
developments/plant commissioning in this area are also listed.

For the benefit of readers and steel users the following attachments are also included:

Attachment 1: Summary

With an emphasis on plate product, this attachment lists in chronological order:

(A) Australian Standards for Structural Steel, and

(B) Development of the Port Kembla Steelworks

Attachment 2: Evolution of Australian Standards for Structural Steel

This attachment shows the relationship and evolution of Australian Structural Steel Standards in
two time periods - (A) 1928 to 1986 and (B) <1989 to 1997.

The table has been split in this manner as 1989/1990 saw a major revision (ie change in direction)
and two other Standards (AS1446 and AS 1594) were also involved in this rework along with all
the other Structural Steel Standards.

Attachment 3: Australian Structural Steel Plate – Grade Equivalence of Obsolete Grades

This table shows the Structural Steel grades that replaced old grades or grades that were added or
deleted in the new Standard and their equivalence.

Attachment 4: Australian Weather Resistant Structural Steel Plate – Grade Equivalence of

Obsolete Grades

This table shows the Weather-- resistant Structural steel grades that replaced old grades or grades
that were added or deleted in the new Standard and their equivalence.

Attachment 5: Structural Steel Plate - International Standards Comparison

This attachment gives a table of the grades from four (ISO, EN, ASTM & JIS) international
Standards which are equivalent to current Australia/New Zealand Structural steel plate grades.

2. MATERIAL STANDARDS PROGRESSION

The first Australian Standard Specification for Structural Steel was published in 1920 by the
Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry.

1 Standards Metallurgist, BHP Flat Products, Port Kembla, NSW, Australia.

3 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

In 1922, the newly-- founded Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association
(ACESA) was invited to consider the revision of the above specification and its publication under
the name of the Association.

The result was the publication of a new National Standard A.S. No. A.1-- 1928.

Š A.S. No. A.1-- 1928: Structural Steel and Australian Standard Rolled Steel Sections for Struc-
tural purposes

This is the first known Australian Standard for Structural Steel which covered plates and structural
sections. The Standard had two parts, Part 1 was for material specification and Part 2 gave
Dimensions and Properties of Australian Standard Rolled Steel Sections.

Part 1 had two steel-- making options. Option A allowed the steel to be made by the Open Hearth
Process, in which case Phosphorus and Sulphur content must not be more than 0.06%. Option B, in
addition to the Open Hearth process, allowed steel to be made by the Bessemer Process. Because
of this, Option B had a Phosphorus limit of 0.08% and a Sulphur limit of 0.06%. This steel was not
allowed to be used in Bridges or for plates ¼” thickness and over or Rivet Bars.

The Standard had only one grade (A1) with a specified tensile Strength range of 28-- 33 tons per
square inch and the yield point was only to be recorded on test reports.

Š A.S. No. A.1-- 1931: Structural Steel and Australian Standard Rolled Steel Sections for Struc-
tural purposes

This was the revision of A.S. No. A.1-- 1928 Standard but was printed as an amendment notice to
save the cost of reprinting. By this time, the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards
Association (ACESA) was superseded by the Standards Association of Australia (SAA) and this
was the first product Standard published by SAA.

The major change in this revision was the addition of tolerances to Cross Sectional dimensions of
Beams and Channels.

Also in 1931, No. 1 Open Hearth, Bloom Mill and 36” Mill were commissioned at Australian Iron
and Steel Proprietary Limited’s Port Kembla plant.

Š A.S. No. A.33-- 1937: Plates for General Engineering purposes

This Standard was published in 1937 to cover plates for General Engineering purposes. In doing
so, it also replaced the plates portion of A.S. No. A.1-- 1931.

The grades (classes) in this Standard were designated “D”, “E” and “F” so as not to clash with
Boiler grades “A”, “B” and “C” from A.S. No.B. 58-- 1937 (Carbon Steel Plates for Boilers, Unfired
Pressure Vessels and their Appurtenances) which was also being prepared at the same time.

The only Chemical composition limits on these grades were maximum Phosphorus and Sulphur of
0.06%. Three grades (classes) had the Yield and Tensile strength properties as noted in Table 1.
Table 1: A.S. No. A.33-- 1937
Class Thickness Yield Strength (min.) Ultimate Tensile Strength
(inch) Tons/Sq. inch (MPa) Tons/Sq. inch (MPa)
D All 50% actual UTS 28-- 33 (432-- 510)
E All 50% actual UTS 25-- 30 (386-- 463)
F All 50% actual UTS 21-- 26 (324-- 401)

4 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Š A.S. No. A.33-- 1955: Carbon Steel Plates for General Structural Engineering Purposes

In 1955, this Australian Standard was revised to replace A.S. No. A.33-- 1937.

The major change in this revision was that the actual minimum Yield strength requirement was
specified for all Classes. The revised Yield and Tensile properties are noted in Table 2.

In 1954 the first Flat products were produced in Australia and in 1955 the Slab Mill and Hot Strip
Mill were commissioned at the Port Kembla steelworks.
Table 2: A.S. No. A.33-- 1955
Class Thickness(inch) Yield Strength (min.) Tensile Strength
Tons/Sq. inch (MPa) Tons/Sq. inch (MPa)
D ≤3/4 15.25 (236) 28-- 33 (432-- 510)
>3/4 14.75 (228) 28-- 33 (432-- 510)
E All 12.5 (193) 25-- 30 (386-- 463)
F All 10.5 (162) 21-- 26 (324-- 401)

Š A.S. No. A.1-- 1956: Structural Steel (Excluding Plates) and Australian Standard Rolled Steel
Sections for Structural Purposes

The 1931 edition of this Standard was revised in 1940 and amended in 1955. The 1956 edition
included the 1940 revision and the 1955 amendment.

The only Chemical composition limits in this Standard were maximum Phosphorus and Sulphur of
0.06% for Open Hearth process and maximum Phosphorus of 0.08% and Sulphur of 0.06% for
Acid Bessemer Process. The Standard had only one grade (A1) with the Yield and Tensile strength
properties shown in Table 3.

The No. 2 Open Hearth was commissioned at Port Kembla plant in 1956 and in 1963 the Wide
(140”) Plate Mill was commissioned.
Table 3: A.S. No. A.1-- 1956
Thickness(inch) Yield Strength (min.) Tensile Strength
Tons/Sq. inch (MPa) Tons/Sq. inch (MPa)
≤3/4 15.25 (236) 28-- 33 (432-- 510)
>3/4 14.75 (228) 28-- 33 (432-- 510)

Š AS A1-- 1965: Dimensions of Hot-- rolled Steel Shapes and Sections for Structural Purposes

This Standard was prepared as a revision of Part 2 of A.S. A.1-- 1956. Part 1 of A.S. A.1-- 1956 was
superseded by AS A147-- 1965 (see below) and AS A149-- 1965 (see below).

Š AS A147-- 1965: General requirements for supply of Hot-- rolled Steel Plates, Sections, Pilings
and Bars for Structural Purposes

This Standard was prepared as a part-- revision of Part 1 of A.S. A.1-- 1956. It was based on ASTM
A6 (General requirements for Delivery of Rolled Steel Plates, Shapes, Sheet Piling and Bars for
Structural Use) with appropriate amendments to suit Australian conditions.

Š AS A149-- 1965: Mild Steel for General Structural purposes

5 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

This Standard was prepared as a part-- revision of Part 1 of A.S. A.1-- 1956. The scope was widened
to include both ordinary plates formerly covered by A.S. A.33 and hot-- formed hollow sections. In
addition to Phosphorus and Sulphur, limits were set on Carbon and Carbon equivalent (C + Mn/6).
The Standard made reference to AS A147 for general delivery requirements.

The Standard included only one grade (A149 - replacing grade D from A.S. A.33-- 1955) of 27-- 34
Tonf/in2 tensile strength and Chemical composition and Tensile properties specified in Table 4.
Table 4: AS A149-- 1965
Chemical Composition: Carbon ≤0.25%,
(Ladle analysis) C + Mn/6 ≤0.42%, and
Phosphorus and Sulphur ≤ 0.05%
Yield and Tensile Properties:
Thickness(inch) Yield Strength Tensile Strength
(min ) Tons/Sq.
(min.) Tons/Sq Tons/Sq.
Tons/Sq inch (MPa)
inch (MPa)
Plates, ---- ≤1/4 Bend Test Only Bend Test Only
Sections >1/4 ≤3/4 16.00 (247) 27-- 34 (417-- 525)
& Flat bars >3/4 ≤1 1/2 15.00 (232) 27-- 34 (417-- 525)
>1 1/2 ---- 14.75 (228) 27-- 34 (417-- 525)
Bars (other ---- ≤1/4 Bend Test Only Bend Test Only
than flat >1/4 ≤3/4 16.00 (247) 27-- 34 (417-- 525)
bars) >3/4 ≤1 1/2 15.00 (232) 27-- 34 (417-- 525)

Š AS A135-- 1965: Notch Ductile Steel for General Structural purposes

This Standard was prepared in recognition of the demand for steels with a better “resistance to
brittle fracture” than conventional AS A149 steels. The Standard was based on British Standard BS
2762. The preface of the Standard recognised that there was no general agreement on the correct
tests to measure notch ductility, however, the Charpy V-- notch impact test, especially at
sub-- atmospheric temperatures, provides some guidance in this respect. It also cautioned that the
properties of steels may be affected by cold-- forming, welding and stress-- relieving.

This Standard only covered Plates and Bars up to a maximum thickness of 2 inches. The Standard
covered two steel classes (Class A and Class B) which were based on Tensile Strength and 4 levels
of notch ductility. Impact test temperatures for four levels of notch ductile (ND) grades were
0_C,-- 15_C, - 30_C, and - 50_C. The ND IV (-- 50_C) grade also allowed Impact testing at higher
temperatures (up to - 10_C) but with a higher acceptable absorbed Impact energy requirement. The
minimum Absorbed Impact Energy requirement was 20ft lbf (27 joules) average of 3 tests and 15ft
lbf (20 joules) for an individual test. These are the same requirements as used in today’s Standards.
Grades of Notch toughness levels ND III and ND IV were to be made from a fully killed steel - as
indicated by the 0.10% minimum Silicon requirement on these grades.

The Chemical composition and Tensile properties specified are noted in Table 5.

In September 1970, by Amendment No. 2, the upper limit on Tensile Strength was removed leaving
only the minimum Tensile Strength requirement. The logic behind this change being that as long as
minimum elongation requirements were met, material with higher tensile strength would be suitable
for most of the general structural applications.

6 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Table 5: A 135-- 1965
GRADES ND I, ND II ND III, ND IV
Chemical Composition (Ladle analysis)
Carbon 0.20 % max 0.17 % max
Manganese 1.50 % max 1.50 % max
Silicon - 0.10/0.35 %max
Phosphorus and Sulphur 0.05 % max 0.05 % max
Yield and Tensile Properties:
Class Thickness(inch) Yield Strength (min.) Tensile Strength
Tons/Sq. inch (MPa) Tons/Sq. inch (MPa)
A ---- ≤3/4 15.00 (232) 25.5-- 31.5 (394-- 486)
>3/4 ---- 14.25 (220) 25.5-- 31.5 (394-- 486)
B ---- ≤3/4 16.00 (247) 27.5-- 33.5 (425-- 517)
>3/4 ---- 15.25 (236) 27.5-- 33.5 (425-- 517)
Š AS A157-- 1966: Low and Intermediate Strength Carbon Steel Plates of Structural Quality

This Standard was prepared as a part revision of A.S. A.33-- 1955 Standard replacing the Class E
(Grade 24) and Class F (Grade 20) steels. The grade designation in this Standard was based on
minimum tensile strength requirement in tons per square inch.

The Chemical composition and Tensile properties specified are noted in Table 6.
Table 6: AS A157-- 1966
Grade 20 Grade 24
Chemical Composition: Carbon ≤0.15% ≤0.20%
(Ladle analysis) C + Mn/6 ≤0.36% ≤0.40%
Phosphorus and Sulphur≤0.05% ≤0.05%
Yield and Tensile Properties:
Grade Thickness(inch) Yield Strength (min.) Tensile Strength
Tons/Sq. inch (MPa) Tons/Sq. inch (MPa)
20 ---- ≤1/4 Bend Test Only Bend Test Only
>1/4 ---- 11.50 (178) 20-- 26 (309-- 402)
24 ---- ≤1/4 Bend Test Only Bend Test Only
>1/4 ---- 13.50 (208) 24-- 30 (371-- 463)
Š AS A151-- 1966: Structural Steel of High Yield Stress (Welding Quality)

This Standard was prepared following recognition of the demand for an Australian Standard for
structural steels whose yield point is higher than that of AS A135 and A149 steels. The Standard
was based on the corresponding British Standard BS 968. The Standard covered one grade based
on Tensile Strength and four levels (A to D) of notch ductility. Impact test temperatures for 4 levels
of notch ductile grades were +20_C, 0_C, - 15_C, and - 30_C. Grade D had a minimum Absorbed
Impact Energy requirement of 30 ft lbf (41 joules) for average of 3 tests and 22 ft lbf (30 joules) for
a single test.

For all other grades (A to C), the minimum Absorbed Impact Energy requirement was 20ft lbf (27
joules) for average of 3 tests and 15ft lbf (20 joules) for an individual test. A lower Phosphorous
and Sulphur limit of 0.040% (maximum) was specified on this grade and a maximum limit for
Grain refining elements (e.g. Aluminium, Titanium, Niobium and Vanadium) was included in the
Chemical composition table.

Grade D was specified as a fully-- killed fine grained steel and plates ≥1/2” thickness for Grades C
and D were to be supplied in normalized condition.

The Chemical composition and Tensile properties specified are noted in Table 7.

7 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

In September 1970, by Amendment 3, the upper limit on Tensile Strength was removed leaving
only the minimum Tensile Strength requirement.
Table 7: AS A151-- 1966
% Maximum
Chemical Composition: Carbon 0.20
(Ladle analysis) Manganese 1.50
Silicon 0.50
Phosphorus and Sulphur 0.04
Chromium 0.50
Manganese + Chromium 1.60
Grain refining elements 0.15
Yield and Tensile Properties:
Thickness(inch) Yield Strength (min.) Tensile Strength
Tons/Sq. inch (MPa) Tons/Sq. inch (MPa)
<3/8 23.00 (355) 31-- 39 (478-- 603)
≥3/4 <5/8 23.00 (355) 31-- 39 (478-- 603)
>5/8 ≤1 1/4 22.50 (348) 31-- 39 (478-- 603)
>1 1/4 ≤2 22.00 (339) 31-- 39 (478-- 603)
>2 BY AGREEMENT
Š AS A147-- 1971: General requirements for supply of Hot-- rolled Steel Plates, Sections, Pilings
and Bars for Structural Purposes

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS A147-- 1965 concurrently with the preparation of
two new Structural Steel Standards: AS A186-- 1971 (see below) and AS A187-- 1971 (see below).

Š AS A186-- 1971: Structural Steels - Ordinary Weldable Grades

This Standard was prepared as an omnibus specification for ordinary weldable structural steels and
superseded Australian Standards A135, A149 and A151. Additionally, in this revision, the range of
structural steels available was increased to cover thin plate of higher yield strength (70 kip/in2 ). In
preparing this Standard, account was taken of the ISO/R630, BS4360, DIN 17100, AFNOR 35-- 501
and ASTM A36 standards.

For the first time, the grade designation used in the Australian Standard was based on the minimum
yield stress in MPa (rounded to 50 MPa) and a letter suffix L was introduced followed by 0 or 15
depending on the temperature at which the Charpy V notch impact tests were to be carried out (i.e.
at 0_C or - 15_C as appropriate). For plate, five grades based on yield stress were specified with
three levels of impact test requirements. For sections and bars, two grades of yield stress were
specified with two levels of impact test requirements. Tensile properties were specified in kip/in2
units rather than tonf/ in2 . Phosphorous and Sulphur levels on all grades were lowered to 0.040%
maximum.

The bend tests were omitted from the mechanical test requirements and included as an appendix
giving recommended minimum bending radii for fabrication. Hollow sections were not included in
this standard as they were covered in AS A177-- 1969.

The Chemical composition and Tensile properties specified are noted in Table 8.

8 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Table 8: AS A186-- 1971
Chemical Composition (Ladle analysis): % Maximums
Grade C Mn Si P S G R elements C + Mn/6
250 0.25 ---- 0.40 0.040 0.040 ---- 0.42
250L0, L15 0.20 1.50 0.40 0.040 0.040 ---- 0.42
300 0.25 ---- 0.40 0.040 0.040 0.15 0.42
300L0, L15 0.20 1.50 0.50 0.040 0.040 0.15 0.42
350, 350L0, L15 0.22 1.50 0.50 0.040 0.040 0.15 0.45
400, 400L0, L15 0.23 1.50 0.50 0.040 0.040 0.15 0.47
500, 500L0, L15 0.23 1.60 0.50 0.040 0.040 0.15 0.49
Yield and Tensile Properties: kip/in2
Plate Minimum Yield Stress, for thickness of, inch Tensile Strength
Grades ≤0.375 >0.375 ≤0.5 >0.5 ≤0.75 >0.75 ≤1.5 >1.5 ≤2.0 >2.0 ≤6.0 Min
250 40.0 38.0 36.0 33.6 33.0 33.0 60.0
250L0, L15 40.0 38.0 36.0 36.0 34.5 34.5 60.0
300, L0, L15 45.0 43.0 41.0 41.0 41.0 41.0 65.0
350, L0, L15 53.0 53.0 50.0 50.0 50.0 48.0 70.0
400, L0, L15 60.0 60.0 ----- ----- ----- ----- 75.0
500, L0, L15 70.0 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 80.0
Sections and Flat bars Minimum Yield Stress, for thickness of, inch Tensile Strength
Grades ≤0.50 >0.50 ≤1.50 >1.50 ≤2.50
250, 250L0 38.0 36.0 34.0 60.0
350, 350L0 52.0 50.0 49.0 70.0
Round and Square bars Minimum Yield Stress, for thickness of, inch Tensile Strength
Grades ≤2.0 >2.0 ≤4.0 >4.0
250 36.0 34.0 33.0 60.0
250L0 36.0   60.0
350 50.0 48.0 46.0 70.0
350L0 50.0   70.0
Š AS A187-- 1971: Structural Steels - Weather-- Resistant Weldable Grades

This Standard was prepared to cover low-- alloy weather-- resistant structural steel of high yield
strength. At the time of preparing this Standard these steels were supplied by AIS/BHP as
AUS-- TEN 50, 60 and 70 steels. In preparing this Standard, account was taken of the ASTM A242
and A588 Standards, Canadian Standard C40.11 and a draft addendum to BS4360.

Being similar to AS A186 Standard, the grade designation used in this Standard was based on the
minimum yield stress in MPa (rounded to 50 MPa) and a letter suffix L was introduced followed by
0 or 15 depending on the temperature at which the Charpy V notch impact tests were to be carried
out (i.e. at 0_C or - 15_C as appropriate). A prefix of WR was used to indicate weather-- resistant
steel and a suffix number 1 or 2 was used to differentiate Carbon and Phosphorus levels. The
Standard covered plate in three levels of yield strength, whereas sections and bars were covered
only by a 350 MPa yield strength grade.

The Chemical composition and Tensile properties specified are noted in Table 9.

The Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) was commissioned at Port Kembla in 1972.

9 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Table 9: AS A187-- 1971
Chemical Composition (Ladle analysis): % Maximum or range
Grade C Mn Si P S Cr Cu Ni
WR 350/1
WR 400/1 0.12 1.00 0.20/0.70 0.06/0.15 0.040 0.40/1.00 0.15/0.45 0.50
WR 500/1

WR 350/2
WR 400/2 0.19 1.35 0.20/0.60 0.040 0.040 0.25/0.70 0.20/0.45 0.50
WR 500/2
Yield and Tensile Properties:

Plate Grades Minimum Yield Stress Minimum Tensile Strength

(kip/in2 ) (kip/in2 )

WR350* 50.0 70.0

WR400* 60.0 75.0
WR500* 70.0 80.0

Sections and Bars:

WR350* 50.0 70.0

* and Derivatives.

Š AS 1204-- 1972: Structural Steels - Ordinary Weldable Grades; and

AS 1205-- 1972: Structural Steels - Weather-- Resistant Weldable Grades

In 1972, AS 1204 and AS 1205 Standards were prepared as a metric version of the AS A186-- 1971
and AS A187-- 1971 Standards respectively. Thickness units used were millimetres and the stress
units used were expressed in Megapascals (MPa).

Š AS 1405-- 1973: Carbon Steel Plates of Structural Quality

This Standard was prepared as a metric version of AS A157-- 1966. In line with AS 1204 and AS
1205 Standards, grade designation was changed to be based on minimum yield stress in
Megapascals (MPa) (from minimum tensile strength in tons per square inch in AS A157). This
meant the new grade designations were 180 and 210.

The new yield and tensile property requirements are noted in Table 10.
Table 10: AS 1405-- 1973
Grade Thickness(mm) Minimum Yield Strength Tensile Strength
MPa MPa
180 <6 Bend Test Only Bend Test Only
≥6 180 310-- 400
210 <6 Bend Test Only Bend Test Only
≥6 210 370-- 460

Š AS 1131-- 1973: Dimensions of Hot-- rolled Structural Steel Sections

This Standard was prepared as a metric version of AS A1-- 1965. Some of the sections from AS
A1-- 1965 were eliminated in this revision as a result of comprehensive investigations carried out by
the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and BHP. Both of

10 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

these studies showed that a number of sections could be eliminated without significantly decreasing
the design efficiency.

Š AS 1365-- 1973: Tolerances for Hot-- rolled and Cold-- rolled Unalloyed Low Carbon Steels

This Standard was prepared to cover metric tolerances for steel plate, sheet and strip. It was
intended to serve as a basis for hot-- rolled or cold-- rolled unalloyed low carbon steel supplied as coil
or cut lengths, particularly for steels with a maximum carbon content of 0.25 percent. The specified
tolerances gave a smoother rationalized tolerance system than the former system.

Š AS 1227-- 1974: General requirements for the supply of Hot-- rolled Steel Plates, Sections, Pil-
ings and Bars for Structural Purposes

This Standard was prepared as a metric version of AS A147-- 1971 Standard, concurrently with the
preparation of metric standards for structural steels.

In 1977, No. 1 Open Hearth at Port Kembla works ceased operation and in 1978 the No. 1
Slabcaster was commissioned.

Š AS 1131-- 1979: Dimensions of Hot-- rolled Structural Steel Sections

This was a revision of AS 1131-- 1973. A number of sections, especially tapered-- flange beams,
which were no longer in production were deleted and new universal column sections were added.

Š AS 1204-- 1980: Structural Steels - Ordinary Weldable Grades

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS 1204-- 1972 and AS 1405-- 1973. The number of
grades of steel covered by this Standard were reduced to include only those grades which were
readily available i.e. grades 300, 400 and 500 were deleted. At the same time, the product range
was extended to cover strip and floorplate. For the first time in Australian Standards, a distinction
was made between grain refining elements and micro-- alloying elements. Grades 180 and 210 from
AS 1405-- 1973 were replaced by a new grade 200 which had the Chemical and Tensile properties as
noted in Table 11.
Table 11: AS 1204-- 1980
Chemical Composition (Ladle analysis): % Maximums
Grade C P S C + Mn/6
200 0.15 0.030 0.030 0.25

Yield and Tensile Properties:

Minimum Yield Strength (MPa) Minimum Tensile Strength (MPa)
200 300

Š AS 1205-- 1980: Structural Steels - Weather-- Resistant Weldable Grades

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS 1205-- 1972. The number of grades of steel covered
by this Standard were reduced to include only those grades which were readily available i.e. grades
WR400 and WR500 and their derivatives were deleted.

Š AS 1227-- 1980: General Requirements for the Supply of Hot-- Rolled Steel Plates, Sections Pil-
ing and Bars for Structural Purposes

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS 1227-- 1974 and was intended to be used in
conjunction with the Structural Steel Standards AS 1204 and AS 1205 as well as AS 1446 (Plates
for General Engineering Purposes) and AS 1548 (Steel Plates for Boilers and Unfired Pressure

11 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Vessels). The major changes in this revision were tighter tolerances on flatness of plate and
out-- of-- square of I-- sections. This Standard now made provision for the supply of floorplate, strip
and products supplied in coil form but zeds, tees and bulb angles were no longer included.

In 1982, No. 2 Open Hearth ceased operation. This meant all steel-- making at Port Kembla now
was by Basic Oxygen Steel-- making (BOS) process.

Š AS 2624-- 1983: Steel plate and strip for the construction of Welded steel tanks for oil storage

This standard was prepared to cover oil storage tanks requirements to suit Australian conditions, on
request from Australian Institute of Petroleum Ltd. (AIP). The reason for a separate Standard for
this purpose was that AS 1204-- 1980 did not comply with the API 650 requirements of (i) Carbon
and Carbon Equivalent limits, (ii) some grade/thickness combinations being fully-- killed,
normalised, and (iii) API 650 impact testing frequency. In addition, the intention of this Standard
was to rationalise the Australian tank fabricators’ and users’ requirements into one Standard and to
keep the costs of the material as low as possible and make the material readily available.

For various reasons, this Standard was rarely used and was eventually withdrawn in 1996 when
100% of Australian plates were produced from the Slab-- caster (fully-- killed steel) and some of the
above requirements were incorporated in AS 3678-- 1990.

In 1986, the No. 2 Slab-- caster was commissioned at the Port Kembla plant. This now meant that
100% of steel plate production in Australia was now via the slab-- caster route. Consequently, the
typical Carbon levels on Structural steels came down from 0.21% to 0.15% and all steel made by
this process was made to a fully-- killed fine grain steel-- making practice. This resulted in
significant improvement in weldability, formability, notch toughness characteristic and quality of
steel.

Š AS 1365-- 1986: Tolerances for Flat-- rolled Steel Products

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS 1365-- 1973 and the scope of the Standard was
extended to cover slabs, plates and floorplates. The intention was that this Standard would cover all
wide flat-- rolled steel products. Thickness and flatness tolerances specified here were for unalloyed
carbon steels with a carbon content of less than or equal to 0.25%. A standard multiplication factor
of 1.5 was used for low alloy steels and unalloyed steels with carbon greater than 0.25%. This
Standard, for the first time, recognized the steepness ratio as an alternative means of expressing
flatness and this was included only as a guide in Appendix A.

In July 1987, AS 1204, 1205 and 1227 Standards were amended. By this amendment, all Flat
Products (ie Plate, Floor-- plate & Strip) tolerance tables from AS 1227 were deleted and AS 1204
and AS 1205 referred to AS 1365 for these tolerances.

During 1989/1990, a major revision of Australian Structural Steel standards took place. A change
in philosophy meant that Australian Structural Steel Standards now were process oriented rather
than end use and subject oriented. The reason for this philosophy change was that control of
properties and tolerances were very much dependent upon process (or Mill) characteristics and it
made sense that product coming from the same Mill be combined together. This philosophy was
also in line with the AS 1365-- 1986 revision in which tolerances were specified on a process (Mill)
basis.

As a result, six existing Standards were consolidated into three new Standards. AS 3678 Standard
was based on a Plate (reversing) mill product. AS 3679 covered Hot-- rolled bars and sections and
AS 1594 covered Hot Strip (continuous) Mill flat products. The six existing Standards which were
consolidated in these new Standards were AS 1204, AS 1205, AS 1227, AS 1446, AS 1131 and AS
1594.

12 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Š AS 3678-- 1990: Hot-- rolled structural steel plates, floorplates and slabs

This Standard brought together the Plate Mill product requirements from parts of AS 1204, AS
1205, AS 1227 and AS 1446 Standards. In doing so, the opportunity was taken to drastically
rationalise AS 1446 grades (supplied to Chemical composition only) used in Australia. A new
grade XK1016 was added as a replacement for the Ingot route grade K1022.

The other major changes were:

Two grades 300 and 400 (maximum thickness = 50 mm) were re-- introduced.
The maximum thickness on WR350/1 was increased to 50mm allowing for the elimination of
WR350/2 grades.
One set of limits were specified for both, ladle and product analysis and limits on Carbon,
Phopshorous and Sulphur were significantly reduced. Limits were set on IIW (weldability)
Carbon equivalent rather than (C+ Mn/6).
A further distinction between grain refining and micro-- alloying elements was made by
specifying limits on Niobium, Vanadium and Titanium.
The minimum Tensile strength requirement on 350 and WR 350 grades was reduced to 450 MPa
(from 480MPa) to allow for the supply of better weldable Thermo-- Mechanical Control Rolled
steels.
The impact tested derivatives were rationalized into one L15 grade. (L0 in case of WR350/1).
Due to the uniformity of the slab-- cast product, testing frequency was reduced from a minimum
of up to 4 tests per heat to up to 2 tests per heat.
For thick plate (>32 mm) quarter-- thickness position testing was introduced so as to obtain
consistent results and to eliminate controversy about the testing position through the thickness.
Provision was made for a base through thickness tested grade with minimum reduction of area
of 20%.
In line with Standards Australia policy, a new appendix B “Determination of compliance”
requirements was added and Sampling, Testing frequency and re-- tests requirements were
moved to this Appendix.
As 100% of the steel produced in Australia to this Standard was made from the slab-- caster route
and to a fully-- killed fine-- grain steel-- making practice, the recommendations in the Appendix
specifying Cold-- bending and Hot-- forming performance of plate during fabrication were
significantly improved.
The term ‘Trimmed edge’ replaced the terms ‘Sheared edge’ & ‘Gas-- cut edge’ and the term
‘Untrimmed edge’ replaced the terms ‘Mill edge’ & ‘Universal edge’.
Š AS 3679-- 1990: Hot-- rolled structural steel bars and sections

This Standard brought together AS 1131 and the Bars and Sections part of AS 1204, AS 1205 and
AS 1227. In line with Standards Australia policy, “Determination of compliance” requirements
(including those on Sampling, Testing frequency and re-- tests) were moved to Appendix B.

When AS 3679.2 was published in 1991 (see below), this Standard became AS 3679.1 by
Amendment No. 1.

Š AS 3679.2-- 1991: Structural steel Part 2: Welded sections

This Standard was prepared as an extension of AS 3679 Part 1 to cover the range of welded
sections produced at BHP’s Welded Products plant at Unanderra. The Standard was based on parts
of AS 1554.1 and AS 3679.1 Standards. The plate feed for these sections was obtained from AS
3678 Standard.

Š AS/NZS 3678-- 1996: Hot-- rolled structural steel plates, floorplates and slabs

13 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

This Standard was prepared as a joint Australia / New Zealand Standard to supersede AS
3678-- 1990. The major changes of this revision were:
In line with the Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement, this was now a joint
Australia-- New Zealand Standard.
A new grade 450 was added to a maximum thickness of 50 mm.
A Freedom from defects clause was revised to align with the two International Standards, ISO
7788: 1985 and EN 10163: 1991.
The suffix number 1 on WR350 grades was eliminated as the Standard now covered only one
variation of carbon and phosphorus level.
The chemical composition grades were further rationalized by eliminating grades XK1026,
K10B55 and K1073.
Š AS/NZS 3679.1:1996 - Structural steel Part 1: Hot-- rolled bars and sections

This Standard was prepared as a joint Australia / New Zealand Standard to supersede AS
3679.1-- 1990. The major changes of this revision were:
Weather-- resistant (WR) grades were deleted as there was no demand for these grades in this
product.
Universal Bearing Piles and 690 & 760 Universal Beams were deleted.
Geometrical properties of sections were deleted as they were not considered to be part of this
Standard – ie such data was considered as proprietary information rather than being part of a
Standard.
Š AS/NZS 3679.2:1996 - Structural steel Part 2: Welded I sections

This Standard was prepared as a joint Australia / New Zealand Standard to supersede AS
3679.2-- 1991. The major changes of this revision were:
Weather-- resistant (WR) grades were deleted as there was no demand for these grades in this
product.
Geometrical properties of sections were deleted as they were not considered part of this
Standard. Since plate feed for these sections is obtained from AS/NZS 3678, the material
specification part from this Standard was deleted. The materials portion of this Standard now
refers to AS/NZS 3678.

14 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 1: SUMMARY
(A) Australian Standards for Structural Steel
A.S. No. A.1-- 1928 (1931)
Structural Steel and Australian Standard Rolled Steel Sections for Structural purposes.
A.S. No. A.33-- 1937Carbon Steel Plates
A.S. No. A.33-- 1955Carbon Steel Plates for General Structural Engineering Purposes
A.S. No. A.1-- 1956 Structural Steel (Excluding Plates) and Rolled Steel Sections for Structural Purposes
AS A.1-- 1965 Dimensions of Hot-- rolled Steel shapes and Sections for Structural Purposes
AS A147-- 1965 General requirements for supply of Hot-- rolled Steel Plates, Sections, Pilings and Bars
for Structural Purposes
AS A149-- 1965 Mild Steel for General Structural purposes
AS A135-- 1965 Notch Ductile Steel for General Structural purposes
AS A151-- 1966 Structural Steel of High Yield Stress (Welding Quality)
AS A157-- 1966 Low and Intermediate Strength Carbon Steel Plates of Structural Quality
AS A186-- 1971 Structural Steels - Ordinary Weldable Grades
AS A187-- 1971 Structural Steels - Weather-- Resistant Weldable Grades
AS 1204-- 1972 Structural Steels - Ordinary Weldable Grades
AS 1205-- 1972 Structural Steels - Weather-- Resistant Weldable Grades
AS 1405-- 1973 Carbon Steel Plates of Structural Quality
AS 1131-- 1973 Dimensions of Hot-- rolled Structural Steel Sections
AS 1365-- 1973 Tolerances for Hot-- rolled and Cold-- rolled Unalloyed Low Carbon Steels
AS 1227-- 1974 General requirements for supply of Hot-- rolled Steel Plates, Sections, Pilings and Bars
for Structural Purposes
AS 1204-- 1980 Structural Steels - Ordinary Weldable Grades
AS 1205-- 1980 Structural Steels - Weather-- Resistant Weldable Grades
AS 1131-- 1979 Dimensions of Hot-- rolled Structural Steel Sections
AS 1227-- 1980 General Requirements for the Supply of Hot-- Rolled Steel plates, Sections Piling and
Bars for Structural Purposes
AS 2624-- 1983 Steel plate and strip for the construction of Welded steel tanks for oil storage
AS 1365-- 1986 Tolerances for Flat-- rolled Steel Products
AS 3678-- 1990 Hot-- rolled structural steel plates, floorplates and slabs
AS 3679-- 1990 Structural steel Part 1: Hot-- rolled bars and sections
AS 3679.2-- 1991 Structural steel Part 2: Welded sections
AS/NZS 3678:1996Hot-- rolled structural steel plates, floorplates and slabs
AS/NZS 3679.1:1996 Structural steel Part 1: Hot-- rolled bars and sections
AS/NZS 3679.2:1996 Structural steel Part 2: Welded I sections
(B) Development of the Port Kembla Steelworks
1931 No. 1 Open Hearth, Bloom Mill and 36” Mill commissioned - First Steel made.
1954 First Flat products produced
1955 Slab Mill and Hot Strip Mill commissioned
1956 No. 2 Open Hearth commissioned
1963 Wide Plate Mill commissioned
1972 BOS commissioned
1977 No. 1 Open Hearth ceased operation
1978 No. 1 Slab-- caster commissioned
1982 No. 2 Open Hearth ceased operation
1986 No. 2 Slab caster commissioned

15 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 2: EVOLUTION OF AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS FOR
STRUCTURAL STEEL
(Standards in Bold indicate when the original Standard was introduced)
(A) 1928 to 1986
1928/31 1937 1955 1956 1965 1966 1971 1972 1973 1974 1979 1980 1986
AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS AS

A1(plt)
A33 A33 A157 1405 1204
A1(Other) A1:Pt. 1 A147 A147 1227 1227
A149 

A135 A186 1204 1204

A151 
A187 1205 1205
A1:Pt. 2 A1 1131 1131
1365 1365
(B) <1989 to 1997
<1989 1989 1990 1991 1992 1996 1997
AS AS AS AS AS AS/NZS AS/NZS

3679.2 3679.2

1131  3679 3679.1 3679.1


1227  
 
1204   
  
1205    3678 3678
 
1446  
1594 1594 1594 1594
1365 1365

16 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 3: AUSTRALIAN STRUCTURAL STEEL PLATE
- Grade Equivalence of Obsolete Grades
A1 A33 A33 A149 A135 A151 A157 A186 1204 1405 1204 3678 3678
1928 1937 1955 1965 1965 1966 1966 1971 1972 1973 1980 1990 1996
/1931
F F 20 180 200 200 200
E E 24 210 250 250 250
A1 D D A149 250 250 250 250 250
NDIA 250L0 250L0 250L0 250L15 250L15
NDIIA 250L15 250L15 250L15 250L15 250L15
NDIIIA
NDIVA
NDIB 250L0 250L0 250L0 250L15 250L15
NDIIB 250L15 250L15 250L15 250L15 250L15
NDIIIB
NDIVB
300 300 300 300
300L0 300L0 300L15 300L15
300L15 300L15 300L15 300L15
A 350 350 350 350 350
B 350L0 350L0 350L0 350L15 350L15
C 350L15 350L15 350L15 350L15 350L15
D
400 400 400 400
400L0 400L0 400L15 400L15
400L15 400L15 400L15 400L15
450
450L15
500 500
500L0 500L0
500L15 500L15

17 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 4: AUSTRALIAN WEATHER-- RESISTANT STRUCTURAL
STEEL PLATE
- Grade Equivalence of Obsolete Grades
BHP GRADES A187-- 1971 1205-- 1972 1205-- 1980 3678-- 1990 3678-- 1996

AUS-- TEN 50/1 WR350/1 WR350/1 WR350/1 WR350/1 WR350

AUS-- TEN 50/1L0 WR350/1L0 WR350/1L0 WR350/1L0 WR350/1L0WR350L0

AUS-- TEN 50/2 WR350/2 WR350/2 WR350/2

AUS-- TEN 50/2L0 WR350/2L0 WR350/2L0 WR350/2L0
AUS-- TEN 50/2L15 WR350/2L15 WR350/2L15 WR350/2L15

AUS-- TEN 60/1 WR400/1 WR400/1

AUS-- TEN 60/1L0 WR400/1L0 WR400/1L0

AUS-- TEN 60/2 WR400/2 WR400/2

AUS-- TEN 60/2L0 WR400/2L0 WR400/2L0
AUS-- TEN 60/2L15 WR400/2L15 WR400/2L15

AUS-- TEN 70/1 WR500/1 WR500/1

AUS-- TEN 70/1L0 WR500/1L0 WR500/1L0

AUS-- TEN 70/2 WR500/2 WR500/2

AUS-- TEN 70/2L0 WR500/2L0 WR500/2L0
AUS-- TEN 70/2L15 WR500/2L15 WR500/2L15

18 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 5: STRUCTURAL STEEL PLATE - INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
COMPARISON
Tensile Australian International European American Japanese
Strength AS/NZS ISO 630 EN 10025-- ASTM JIS-- G
(MPa) 3678

290 S185
300 200 E185-- 0
310 A283-- A
330 3101-- SS330
340 E235A, B S235JRG2 A283-- B
E235C, D S235J0
S235J2G3, G4
380 A283-- C
400 A36 3101-- SS400
A573-- 400 3101-- SM400A
3101-- SM400B,C
410 250 E275A, B S275JR A283-- D
A572-- 290
250L15 E275C, D S275J0
S275J2G3, G4
430 300
300L15
450 350 A572-- 345
A573-- 450
350L15
WR350 A242 3125-- SPA-- H
WR350L0 A242
480 400 A573-- 485
400L15
490 S355JR 3101-- SS490
3106-- SM490A
3106-- SM490YA
E355C, D S355J0 3106-- SM490B, C
S355J2G3, G4 3106-- SM490YB
520 450 A572-- 415
450L15 3106-- SM520B, C
540 3101-- SS540
550 A572-- 450

19 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 THE EVOLUTION OF AUSTRALIAN MATERIAL STANDARDS FOR PRESSURE VES-
SEL STEEL PLATE
by

S Kotwal1

1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this paper is to document the history of changes that have taken place in the Australian
Standard for Pressure Vessel Steel Plate. Only the significant changes have been listed and, wherever
possible, reasons for such changes are given. As most of these changes are as a result of the development
of the steel industry in Australia, major developments/plant commissioning in the steel industry are also
listed.

The evolutionary process reveals the Standard expanded until the 1968 revision such that, from the
1968 Edition, as many as 264 combinations of steel types, grades and delivery conditions could be
supplied. This was obviously too much for the tonnage supplied to the Australian industry to gain any
economy of scale and, from the 1974 revision onwards, the emphasis was on rationalisation. As a result,
two steel types (3 and 4) and some strength levels from other steel types were deleted from the revision.
Additionally, due to the commissioning of the Slab-- caster at the Port Kembla steelworks, further
rationalisation and other major changes to the Standard were made in the 1981 and 1988 revisions. The
major change in the 1981 revision was the elimination of Coarse-- Grained steels (types 1, 2 and 6) and
the introduction of suffixes R, N and A to indicate plate delivery and test piece heat-- treatment
condition. The major change in the 1988 revision was the introduction of an interchangeable 7-- 460R
grade whereby plates from this grade could be used for both - hot-- forming as well as cold-- forming
applications.

For the benefit of the readers and steel users the following attachments are included:
Attachment 1: Summary
This includes:

(A) Australian Standards for Pressure Vessel steel plate, and

(B) Developments of Australian Steel industry.

Attachment 2: Australian Pressure Vessel Steel Plate – Grade Equivalence of Obsolete Grades
This attachment lists the Pressure Vessel steel grades that replaced old grades or grades that were added
or deleted in the new Standard and their equivalence.
Attachment 3: Australian Boiler & Pressure Vessel Plate - Equivalent International Grades
This attachment gives a table of the grades from four (ISO, EN, ASTM & JIS) international Standards
which are equivalent to current Australian Pressure vessel steel plate grades.

2. MATERIAL STANDARDS PROGRESSION

Š A.S. No. B.58-- 1937: Carbon Steel Plates for Boilers, Unfired Pressure Vessels and their Ap-
purtenances

This is the first Australian Standard for Carbon Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels prepared
by the Standards Association of Australia (SAA). It was prepared to assist the stabilization of the
quality and dimensions of various types of plate rolled in Australia. The Standard included 3 classes,
1 Standards Metallurgist, BHP Flat Products, Port Kembla, NSW, Australia.

1 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Class A for Shell plates, Class B for Flanging plates and Class C for Pressing plates some properties of
which are noted in Table 1.

The only chemical analysis limits specified were Phosphorus and Sulphur contents not to exceed 0.05%
each.
Table 1: A.S. No.B.58-- 1937
Yield Strength Ultimate Tensile Strength Minimum Elongation
Tons per sq. in Tons per sq. in. (MPa) Percent

Class A 50% of UTS 28-- 32 (432-- 493) 20

Class B 50% of UTS 26-- 30 (400-- 462) 23
Class C 50% of UTS 24-- 28 (370-- 432) 23

Š A.S. No. B.58-- 1958: Carbon Steel Plates for Boilers, Unfired Pressure Vessels and their Ap-
purtenances

This was the revision of A.S. No. B.58-- 1937 and was initiated so that the range of tensile strengths
could be increased up to a maximum of 36 tons per sq. in. to meet the needs of industry, which wanted to
use higher tensile plates to reduce the weight of boilers and pressure vessels. New grades H, G and J
were added in this revision. These plates were not to be used at temperatures exceeding 900_F (482_C).

The chemical analysis limits specified were the same as in the previous edition, i.e. Phosphorus and
Sulphur not to exceed 0.05%. However, the following provisos were added:
When plates were intended for use above 700_F (371_C), Silicon shall be 0.10% minimum and
must be ordered to one of the (high strength) classes H, G or A.
If the steel plates covered by this specification were to be welded, Carbon on heat or cast
analysis shall not exceed 0.30%. Further, if the carbon exceeds 0.26% and thickness exceeds
1.5”, special precautions in welding may need to be taken.
The Standard now included 6 classes (grades) of steel as noted in Table 2.

Typical uses for these plates were:

Class H and G Boiler & Unfired Pressure vessel shells, buttstraps and gussets.
Class A and B Boiler & Unfired Pressure vessel shells and ends, where the plates may be flanged or
dished fire worked or fire welded and furnaces exposed to flame.
Class C Plates Deep pressing, cross-- boxes, mud-- drums, manhole doors, combustion chambers and
furnaces exposed to flame.
Class J Plates Fireboxes of locomotive boilers.
Table 2: A.S. No.58-- 1958
Yield Strength Ultimate Tensile Strength Minimum Elongation
Tons per sq. in (MPa) Tons per sq. in. (MPa) Percent

Class H 50% of UTS 32-- 36 (493-- 555) 20

Class G 50% of UTS 30-- 34 (462-- 524) 20
Class A 50% of UTS 28-- 32 (432-- 493) 20
Class B 50% of UTS 26-- 30 (400-- 462) 23
Class C 50% of UTS 24-- 28 (370-- 432) 23
Class J 13 (201) 24-- 28 (370-- 432) 25

Š AS B250-- 1968: Steel Plates for Boilers and Unfired Pressure Vessels

2 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

This Standard was a revision of A.S. B.58-- 1958 and was based on BS1501:1964. Accordingly, AS
B250 covered plate product and AS B251-- 1970 covered Sections and Bars (AS B251 was replaced by
AS 1750 in 1975 which was eventually withdrawn in September 1988 due to lack of demand in this
product range). In line with the ISO TC11 agreement, in this revision, elevated temperature proof stress
properties were specified where appropriate, and provision was made to supply these steels either with
the elevated temperature proof stress properties by (i) certified on a statistical basis, or (ii) on the basis
of actual representative hot tensile tests on samples taken from the plates. Creep rupture properties for
some of the materials covered in this Standard were given in Appendix A, and Appendix B provided
information on the influence of fabrication and heat treatment on mechanical properties. The British
numbering system was not used principally because BS 1501 material was normally supplied in the
normalized condition whereas AS B250 material was normally supplied in the as-- rolled condition.

This Standard had eight sections. Section 0 listed the general requirements for sections 1 to 7 which
covered seven different steel types. The grade designation was made up of the Standard Number (AS B
250), Type of Steel (1 to 7), Grade of steel (tensile strength minimum in tonf/in2 ), a letter indicating
whether an elevated temperature properties were required (H), the letter L together with temperature A
(ambient) or X (at or below 0_C) indicating whether a low temperature impact test is required - eg AS
B250:1-- 28, AS B250:7-- 28L20, AS B250:7-- 32H.

The steel types and grades covered in sections 1 to 7 are noted in Table 3.
Table 3: AS B250-- 1968
Steel type Grades

Section 1 Carbon steel (semi-- killed) 26, 28

Section 2 Carbon steel (silicon-- killed) 26, 28
Section 3 Carbon-- Manganese steel (semi-- killed) 26, 28
Section 4 Carbon-- Manganese steel (semi-- killed niobium-- treated) 28, 32
Section 5 Carbon-- Manganese steel (fully-- killed niobium-- treated) 32, 32R, 36R
Section 6 Carbon-- Manganese steel (silicon-- killed) 28, 32
Section 7 Carbon-- Manganese steel (silicon-- killed aluminium-- treated) 28, 32

Š AS 1548-- 1974: Steel Plates for Boilers and Unfired Pressure Vessels

This Standard was prepared as a revision and a metric version of AS B250-- 1968. In this revision an
opportunity was taken to rationalize the various grades of steel. Semi-- killed steels of types 3 and 4 and
some grades from other types of steels were deleted mainly due to lack of demand by industry. The
grade of steel represented the minimum tensile strength in MPa (N/mm2 ).

The steel types and grades covered in this revised Standard are noted in Table 4.
Table 4: AS 1548-- 1974
Steel type Grades

Section 1 Carbon steel (semi-- killed) 400, 430

Section 2 Carbon steel (silicon-- killed) 430
Section 5 Carbon-- Manganese steel (fully-- killed niobium-- treated) 490, 490R
Section 6 Carbon-- Manganese steel (silicon-- killed) 490
Section 7 Carbon-- Manganese steel (silicon-- killed aluminium-- treated) 430

Š AS 1548-- 1981: Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS 1548-- 1974. In preparation of this edition, consideration
was given to BHP’s No. 1 Slabcaster which was commissioned in 1978 and all the steels produced

3 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

through this process were made to a fully-- killed fine-- grained steel-- making practice. Since this method
produced a better quality steel and was seen as a preferred method of pressure vessel plate production,
the coarse-- grained steel types 1, 2 and 6 were deleted from the Standard. This rationalisation was
achieved through negotiations with the Boiler and Pressure vessel Manufacturer’s Association of
Australia (BPVMAA). Because of the deletion of grade 6-- 490 and 5-- 490R, a new grade 8-- 490 was
added to the Standard. The 8-- 490 grade was really the same as AS B250-- 7-- 32 grade (this grade was
deleted in the previous revision), except that it was thought that to achieve 490 MPa tensile strength it
would be necessary to add small quantities of Copper and Nickel to the type 7 steel. As a result the
committee decided to call this steel, a type 8 steel and introduced the grade 8-- 490.

The deletion of steel types 1, 2 and 6 meant that the only grades and steel types left in the Standard were
5-- 490, 7-- 430 and 8-- 490. This opportunity was taken to simplify the format of the Standard which
meant that a section number (1, 2, 3 etc. ) was no longer associated with the steel type.

The other changes that were introduced in this revision were:

The deletion of a bend test requirement. As all steels now were produced from the slab-- caster,
to a fully-- killed fine-- grain steel-- making practice this test was of deemed to be of less relevance
as the test always passed.
The reduction in the tensile and impact testing frequency (from an additional test per as
produced plate above a mass of 2.5 tonnes to above a mass of 5 tonnes) because of the greater
product consistency of the slab-- caster product.
The mandatory stress-- relieving of all test pieces was introduced. This was supposed to reduce
the steel-- making variations and help in heat building and sequence casting.
The addition of suffix R, N or A to the grade designation indicating the condition of the
supplied plate and that of the test piece as noted in Table 5.
The A designation plates are also used where the vessel is to be hot-- formed after fabrication, thus
avoiding the additional costs of normalized plate.

In addition, the Standard also made provision for the supply of plates in the normalized (N) condition
for R and A designations, as normalizing was seen as producing better properties than as-- rolled plate in
all respects. Hence, if a customer has N designation plate in stock, there was no technical reason why
they could not use that plate in place of R or A designation plate.
Table 5: AS 1548-- 1981
Suffix Plate condition Test piece condition Typical uses

R As Rolled Stress-- Relieved Cold forming (vessel shells)

N Normalized Stress-- Relieved Low temp. applications
A As Rolled Normalized + Stress-- Relieved Hot forming (dished ends)

Š AS 1548-- 1988: Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS 1548-- 1981. As a result of discussion with the Boiler
and Pressure Vessel Manufacturers Association of Australia (BPVMAA) and Standards Australia
ME/1 Committee members a number of major changes were made in this revision. These included:
One set of limits were specified for both cast and product Chemical Analysis.
Steel type 8 was deleted and two new grades 460 and 490 were added to the steel type 7. The
new grade 7-- 460 was based on ISO 2604 part IV grade P15 and BS 1501: Part 1 Grade
224-- 460. BHP Steel had developed this grade as a weldable carbon-- manganese steel with the
possibility of rationalizing the whole Boiler and Pressure Vessel market into this grade. As the
weldability of this grade was expected to be the same as the 7-- 430 grade, it would enable 430
grade users to “down-- gauge” their vessel thickness and bring benefits to 490 grade users in

4 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 terms of reduction in material preheating and fabrication costs which, to some extent, would
outweigh the estimated 6% reduction in strength.
- As a result of extensive data analysis and discussion between BHP and Committee ME/1
members, an appendix was added to the Standard which gave procedures for establishing the
“interchangeability” of grade designations R and A for type 7 (Carbon-- manganese) steels. This
meant that, provided the plate manufacturer by presentation of data establishes that their R
designation plate (stress-- relieved tests) can also meet the properties in the A condition
(normalized and Stress-- relieved tests), they can then supply these plates as interchangeable. The
rolling procedure used for this interchangeability is also known as “Normalize-- rolled” and is
now also covered by clause 8.2.2 of EN 10028 Part 2, the European Standard for steel for
pressure purposes. BHP was acknowledged as a supplier of Interchangeable 7-- 460R grade
plate under this appendix.
In addition to R, N and A, a designation T was introduced for Thermo-- mechanically Controlled
Rolled (TMCR) Plate. The intention was that some of the impact tested plate (L20 and below)
which could only be supplied in the normalized condition in the past, may be supplied in the
TMCR condition thus eliminating the cost of normalizing a plate to achieve these properties.
Provision was made for grades 7-- 430R and 7-- 460R to be impact tested at 0_C. Impact tests at
0_C were excluded from N (Normalized) and A (Normalized and Stress-- relieved ) designated
grades, as it was considered that in these heat treatment conditions, fully-- killed fine-- grain steels
from the slab-- caster will always meet a minimum of L20 requirement. Hence, L0 specification
was superfluous for this type of steel. Impact tests at - 50_C were included for 7-- 460 and 7-- 490
grades for N and A designations. Impact tests in the transverse direction were not included in
this Standard but provision was made for such tests , subject to agreement between the
purchaser and the manufacturer. The Standard now allowed impact tests for less than 7mm thick
plate by agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer. The subsurface impact test
position for plates >32mm thick was amended to specify tests in the quarter thickness position.
This was in line with BS 1501: Part 1-- 1980 and would help in achieving consistent results and
avoid controversy of different parties testing from different through-- thickness positions as could
happen when specified only as 3 mm below surface.
For patterns (as-- produced plates) greater than 5 tonnes, produced from the slab-- caster, the
testing frequency for tensile and impact tests was reduced from two tests (front and back end) to
one test (either end). This was possible because of the uniformity of Slab-- caster product.
At the request of BPVMAA, a NIL thickness under-- tolerance was specified. This brought the
thickness under-- tolerance of AS 1548 in line with BS 1501 and was expected to assist in the
acceptance of Australian pressure vessel plate and pressure vessels in New Zealand.
Š AS 1548-- 1995: Steel Plates for Pressure Equipment

This Standard was prepared as a revision of AS 1548-- 1988. In this revision, the concept of
interchangeability was extended to 7-- 490 grade.

The ME/1 Committee recognized that it was difficult to achieve good impact properties (especially at
and below - 40_C) in normalized Carbon-- Manganese steels without small amounts of Niobium
addition and therefore a Niobium addition of up to 0.025% was permitted to type 7 steels (at
temperatures - 20_C and below). However, this addition was not permitted to R, RH and A, AH grades
of this steel type, thus not affecting its interchangeability. The impact energy values on RL0 grades were
increased to bring them in line with those of the pressure equipment code AS 1210. Additional revisions
included:
The verification option for elevated temperature properties and the former Appendix C, which
gave charts for verification of elevated temperature proof tests were deleted. This approach
aligns with that of ISO 9328-- 2-- 1991 and EN 10028-- 2-- 1992, both of which do not allow a
verification option.
A provision was made to supply through thickness tested grades, with three levels of reduction
of area requirements.

5 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 A new clause A6 was added so that distributors and users can carry out additional testing (e.g.
elevated temperature test or impact test) on base grade plate in stock (e.g. 7-- 460R), without the
stress relieving treatment, if the vessels are not to be stress-- relieved.
Appendix D, Creep Rupture Properties, was updated and aligned with ISO 9328-- 2-- 1991 and
EN 10028-- 2-- 1992. In doing so, additional creep values for 10,000 hours and 250,000 hours
were added. These two Standards do not give creep values for Type 5 (Niobium bearing) steels.
The creep values for 5-- 490 grade were based on either historical data or calculated as 95% of
7-- 430/460 grades. As a result, these values are lower than those for 7-- 430/460 grades in some
cases.

6 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 1: SUMMARY
(A) Australian Standards for Pressure Vessel Steel Plate
A. S. No. B.58-- 1937 Carbon Steel Plates for Boilers, Unfired Pressure Vessels and their Appurtenances
A. S. No. B.58-- 1958 Carbon Steel Plates for Boilers, Unfired Pressure Vessels and their Appurtenances
AS B250-- 1968 Steel Plates for Boilers and Unfired Pressure Vessels
AS 1548-- 1974 Steel Plates for Boilers and Unfired Pressure Vessels
AS 1548-- 1981 Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels
AS 1548-- 1988 Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels
AS 1548-- 1995 Steel Plates for Pressure Equipment
(B) Development of Port Kembla Steelworks
1931 No. 1 Open Hearth, Bloom Mill and 36” Mill commissioned - First Steel made.
1954 First Flat products produced
1955 Slab Mill and Hot Strip Mill commissioned
1956 No. 2 Open Hearth commissioned
1963 Wide Plate Mill commissioned
1972 BOS commissioned
1977 No. 1 Open Hearth ceased operation
1978 No. 1 Slab-- caster commissioned
1982 No. 2 Open Hearth ceased operation
1986 No. 2 Slab caster commissioned

7 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 2: AUSTRALIAN PRESSURE VESSEL STEEL PLATE
- Grade Equivalence of Obsolete Grades

Minimum Tensile B58 B58 B250 1548 1548 1548 1548

Strength (MPa) 1937 1958 1968 1974 1981 1988 1995

370 C, J C, J ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

400 B B 1-- 26 1-- 400 - - - - ---- ----
2-- 26 ---- ---- ---- ----
3-- 26 ---- ---- ---- ----
430 A A 1-- 28 1-- 430 - - - - ---- ----
2-- 28 2-- 430 - - - - ---- ----
3-- 28 ---- ---- ---- ----
4-- 28 ---- ---- ---- ----
6-- 28 ---- ---- ---- ----
7-- 28 7-- 430 7-- 430 7-- 430 7-- 430
460 G G ---- ---- ---- 7-- 460 7-- 460
490 H H 4-- 32 ---- ---- ---- ----
5-- 32 5-- 490 5-- 490 5-- 490 5-- 490
5-- 32R 5-- 490R - - - - ---- ----
6-- 32 6-- 490 - - - - ---- ----
7-- 32 - - - - 8-- 490 7-- 490 7-- 490
550 --- --- 5-- 36R ---- ---- ---- ----

8 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 ATTACHMENT 3: AUSTRAIAN BOILER & PRESSURE VESSEL PLATE - Equivalent
International Grades
Tensile Australian International European American Japanese
Strength AS 1548 ISO 9328.2 EN 10028 ASTM JIS - G
(MPa)

310 A285-- A
340 A285-- B
360 P235 .2-- P235GH
380 A285-- C
A516-- 380
400 P265 .2-- P265GH A662-- A 3103-- SB410
.3-- P275N 3115-- SPV235
3118-- SGV410
3126-- SLA235
430 7-- 430 A515-- 415 3126-- SLA325
A516-- 415
460 7-- 460 P290 .2-- P295GH A662-- B 3103-- SB450
A515-- 450 3118-- SGV450
A516-- 450
490 7-- 490 P315 A662-- C 3103-- SB480
A515-- 485 3115-- SPV315
A516-- 485 3118-- SGV480
A537-- CL1
5-- 490 .3-- P355N A737-- B 3126-- SLA360
520 P355 .2-- P355GH A299 3115-- SPV355

9 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

 STEEL STOCKED IN AUSTRALIA
- A SUMMARY FOR DESIGNERS OF HEAVY STEEWLORK
by

R H Keays1

1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this note is to provide a brief summary that can be given to overseas designers at the start
of a project for Australian fabrication.

The sizes and grades of steel outlined here are readily available ex-- stock from steel merchants
throughout Australia. Other sizes and grades are available or could be imported, but (a) delivery times
may be months, (b) a minimum purchase quantity may be demanded, and (c) cost is likely to be higher.

2. PLATE
The common variety of structural plate is Grade 250 (yield 250MPa). This is roughly equivalent to ISO
Fe-- 360. Also available in reasonable quantities is Grade 350, which is roughly equivalent to Fe-- 510.

Thicknesses stocked in Grade 250 are 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120,
140 and 150. Grade 350 is stocked in the same standard thicknesses from 5 to 50. Plates 28, 36, 45, and
55 thick in Grade 250 and 350, and 60, 70 and 80 thick in Grade 350 are available to order. Note that
common European thicknesses 14, 15, 18, 22, 30, and 75mm are not produced or stocked.

Heavy plate to XK1016 chemistry (no guarantee of mechanical properties, but roughly equal to Grade
250) is stocked in thicknesses 160, 180, 200, 225, 250.

There is a range of quenched and tempered plates (called “Bisalloy”) available. The standard structural
variety has 690MPa yield and 790MPa ultimate.

Floor plate (with a checker-- board surface pattern) is available in 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12mm thickness in Grade
250 only.

3. HOT-- ROLLED SECTIONS

These are produced in a BHP Proprietary material called “300PLUS”, which has a nominal yield of
300MPa. The range is limited, but supplemented on the heavy side by 3-- plate girders and on the light
side by cold-- rolled angles and channels.

Universal Beams are produced in standard depths and several weights from 150UB14.0 to 610UB125
(610 deep and 125kg/m), and Universal Columns from 310UC158 down to 100UC14.8. Standard
lengths from 9m to 18m in 1.5m increments are stocked.

Parallel flange channels are available in depths 75, 100, 125, 150, 180, 200, 230, 250, 300, 380. Equal
Angles from 25x25x3 to 200x200x26 and Unequal Angles from 65x50x5 to 150x100x12 are stocked.
Taper flange beams are available at 100 and 125 deep only.

If there is extensive use of rolled sections, obtain a copy of the BHP “Hot Rolled and Structural Steel
Products” catalogue.

1 Keays Engineering, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

1 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

4. THREE-- PLATE GIRDERS
Fabricators can make 3-- plate girders to suit particular applications, but there is a range of sizes made for
stock by BHP. These are generally cheaper than special fabrications.

The sections are denoted WB and WC (for Welded Beam and Welded Column) and are stocked in sizes
from 700WB115 to 900WB282 and 350WC197 to 400WC361. Larger sizes up to 1200WB455 and
500WC440 are produced with a 6 week lead time.

Girders are fabricated from plate with 300MPa nominal yield. Plate with 400MPa yield is also available
to special order.

Further information and full dimensions are in the BHP catalogue. If the welded sections are to interface
directly to other sections, obtain details of the tolerances on section dimensions, web alignment, and
straightness (from AS3679.2), as these are higher than one might expect.

5. FLAT BARS
Flat bars are available in an extensive range of width/thickness combinations, with Grade 300PLUS
regularly stocked. Detail draftsmen will select from that range for connection cleats to minimise
fabrication effort.

Wherever possible, designers should assume connection plates and flats are Grade 250, not Grade
300PLUS, as fabricators are liable to substitute plate where flat bar is not readily available. If Grade 300
or 350 material is essential, individual parts should be annotated.

6. ROUND BARS
Round bars for pins, shafts etc. are stocked in sizes up to 360 diameter in a variety of alloys. Common
grades are CS1020, K1045, 4140, 4340, En25, En26, En36.

Weldable round and square bars up to 60 diameter are readily available in Grade 300PLUS. Take care
not to specify Grade 350 for welded round bar unless this is absolutely essential, as it is not readily
available, and K1045 may be supplied in an attempt to achieve the strength properties.

7. RECTANGULAR HOLLOW SECTIONS

These are supplied as Grade C350. Yield of 350MPa is achieved by cold-- forming a steel with an
ultimate strength of 430MPa. A wide range of hard metric sizes are available. Square hollow sections
are available in depths 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 65, 75, 89, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250. Rectangular hollow
sections are 250x150, 200x100, 150x100, 150x50, 125x75, 100x50, 75x50, 75x25, 65x35, 50x25,
50x20. Wall thicknesses are 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 (but not all for all sizes). Stock lengths are 8m up to 89x89,
and 12m above that.

A limited range of Imperial 12” to 20” RHS and SHS sections to ASTM A500 Grade C (345MPa yield)
are imported from the USA, and held in stock at merchants. Some 250x16 square hollow section is
imported from the UK.

8. PIPE (CIRCULAR HOLLOW SECTIONS)

Generally, pipe should be specified on drawings by “Outside diameter x Wall thickness CHS”, with
dimensions in mm. Structural pipe is cold-- formed and welded, with a yield strength of 350MPa, and
ultimate of 430MPa, in the along-- pipe direction.

2 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999

Outside diameters are the common Imperial diameters used in pressure piping (60.3, 76.1, 88.9, 114.3,
139, 168, 219, 273, 324, 356, 406, 457mm). A reasonable range of wall thicknesses up to API XS in
diameters up to 457mm is widely stocked.

There are specialist suppliers who hold limited quantities of heavier wall pipe (generally XXS and
Schedules 60, 80, 120) in diameters up to 813mm. From 600 OD and over, pipe can be fabricated for the
job from standard plate.

9. ROOF PURLINS AND CLADDING

Roof purlins are normally cold-- rolled sheet metal sections, and are normally sized from tables
produced by the manufacturers. It is suggested that overseas designers delegate responsibility for purlin
and cladding design to a local consultant familiar with Australian loading codes and available purlin
and cladding sections.

10. SECTIONS FOR LIGHT-- WEIGHT STRUCTURES

There are a number of thin-- wall and cold-- rolled sections available on the Australian market for
application to light-- weight structures. These have yield strengths in the range 350 to 550MPa. Some are
prepainted or galvanized to give medium-- term corrosion protection without further treatment.

Platforms and walkways are usually floor plate (see earlier), or welded mesh grating. With the latter, the
common size is 25x3 load bars at 40mm centres, with cross bars at 100 centres. This is suitable for spans
up to 1000mm with 10kPa loading.

Access stairs and ladders and maintenance platforms must comply with Australian Standard AS.1657
“Fixed Platforms, Walkways, Stairways, and Ladders”. Designers should specify arrangements, but
can leave component design to the fabricator’s shop detail draftsmen.

11. BOLTS
Nuts, bolts, and washers are readily available in Grade 4.6 and 8.8. It is also possible to find Grade 10.9
and 12.9 bolts, but not in large quantities. The Grade naming follows European conventions - Grade 8.8
is 800MPa ultimate, with yield at 80% of that. For structural bolts use M16, M20, M24, M30, M36
Grade 8.8 to AS.1252, which is similar to ASTM A325, with an actual ultimate of 830MPa.

12. WELDING
Fillet welds are measured by leg length, not throat thickness. For ordinary structural welding specify
E48xx electrodes (ultimate tensile of weld metal is 480MPa), and nominate welds as “Structural
Purpose” (SP). Lightly-- loaded welds can be nominated as “General Purpose” (GP), which has a
relaxed inspection standard, and a design strength of 75% of the normal SP welds.

13. LATEST INFORMATION

This list has been prepared to provide initial guidance to designers without experience of Australian
steel stock and fabrication practices. Naturally, the steel industry is dynamic, and changes will occur
from time to time. Depart from these guidelines if there are significant economies in special sections.
Seek advice from the Australian Institute of Steel Construction or a local steel merchant before freezing
the design.

3 STEEL CONSTRUCTION VOLUME 33 NUMBER 2, JUNE 1999