Steel Standards

Steel Standards and Their Impact on Steel Production and Properties

Steel standards refer to general terms used for documents that set forth specific requirements and specifications for the production, performance, quality, and use of steel. These standards are utilized by steel manufacturers, workers, engineers, designers, and other industrial users. They facilitate the selection of steel that meets users’ needs by guaranteeing certain properties and quality of the steel produced by manufacturers.

Steel standards can be categorized as international, national, and industry standards. International Standards establish internationally accepted requirements for steel products and qualities and are adopted by many countries. For instance, the EN (European Norm) standard is prevalent in Europe, while the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standard is commonly used in the United States.

International standards encompass ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards. ISO 9001:2015 is a general standard for quality management systems, while ISO 14001:2015 pertains to environmental management systems.

National standards define a country’s steel industry and applications. For example, Japan widely adopts JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), while China adopts GB (National Standards). Industry standards specify steel properties for specific industrial uses. For instance, API standards are used for pipeline steel in the oil and gas industry.