ASTM A516 Grade 70 / SA-516 / P355GH / IS 2002 / SGV480 pressure vessel plate

ASTM A516 Grade 70 (ASME SA-516 Grade 70) is a carbon-manganese steel plate for welded pressure vessels and boilers in moderate and lower-temperature service, with 70–90 ksi (485–620 MPa) tensile strength and a 38 ksi (260 MPa) minimum yield. EN 10028-2 P355GH, IS 2002 Grade 3 and JIS SGV480 are its nearest equivalents, but none is identical.

Names by standard

What it is called in each region

Region	System	Designation	Standard	Match
USA	ASTM	A516 Grade 70 (A516M Grade 485)Carbon-steel plate for moderate and lower-temperature pressure vessels. A516 also has Grades 55, 60 and 65.	ASTM A516/A516M	Same material
	ASME BPVC Section II-A	SA-516 Grade 70The ASME code adoption of the same specification. Plate is supplied to ASTM/ASME A20/SA-20 general requirements.	ASME SA-516/SA-516M	Same material
UK	BS EN 10028-2	P355GHThe UK uses the European standard. P355GH is the usual counterpart of A516 Grade 70 on strength, but it is a boiler grade with mandatory impact testing.	BS EN 10028-2	Closest equivalent
	BS 1501-1 (legacy)	224-490BWithdrawn. Widely listed as the old British name for A516 Grade 70; superseded by BS EN 10028.	BS 1501-1	Closest equivalent
EU	EN 10027-1 name	P355GH	EN 10028-2	Closest equivalent
	EN 10027-2 number	1.0473Material number of P355GH.	EN 10028-2	Closest equivalent
	EN 10027-1 name	P265GHLower strength (265 MPa yield, 410–530 MPa tensile). Some charts pair it with A516 Grade 60 rather than Grade 70.	EN 10028-2	Closest equivalent
	DIN 17155 (legacy)	19Mn6 / H IISuperseded German boiler-plate names: 19Mn6 for the P355GH class and H II for the P265GH class.	DIN 17155	Closest equivalent
India	IS 2002	Grade 3High-tensile boiler plate, 460–580 MPa tensile and 290 MPa minimum yield up to 16 mm, so slightly lower than A516 Grade 70. Grade 2 (410–530 MPa) is closer to Grade 60.	IS 2002:2009	Closest equivalent
	IS 2002 (legacy)	Grade 2BA designation from earlier editions that stockists still list against A516 Grade 70. The 2009 edition names grades 1, 2 and 3, so confirm the current grade on any order.	IS 2002	Closest equivalent
Japan	JIS G 3118	SGV480Carbon-steel plate for pressure vessels at intermediate and moderate temperatures. Tensile 480–590 MPa and yield 265 MPa minimum, close to A516 Grade 70.	JIS G 3118	Closest equivalent

On equivalence

P355GH is the common European pairing, but A516 Grade 70 has a lower minimum yield (260 MPa against 355 MPa) and a wider tensile band (485–620 MPa against 510–650 MPa). The choice affects design stress, so check allowable stresses in the governing code.
Some references pair A516 Grade 70 with P265GH rather than P355GH, based on yield. P355GH has higher yield and similar tensile; neither is identical.
IS 2002 Grade 3 is the nearest Indian grade by tensile strength but is lower (460–580 MPa against 485–620 MPa) and has a higher yield (290 MPa against 260 MPa). Grade 2 is closer to A516 Grade 60. "Grade 2B" is an older name that stockists still use against A516 Grade 70 and does not appear in the 2009 edition.
SGV480 and A516 Grade 70 are similar in strength; confirm the elongation and thickness bands in JIS G 3118 for your plate.
Roymech shows P355GH sulphur at ≤0.015 %, an earlier edition; Arvedi's ≤0.010 % is used above.
BS 1501-1 224-490B is a withdrawn British name; no source in our set states its replacement beyond EN 10028-2, so treat it as a closest match to P355GH only.
The A516 composition above is from a 1990 edition copy; Si limits and the carbon table may differ in the current edition. Mill data (SSAB) shows carbon ≤0.25 %, Mn 0.85–1.20 %, P ≤0.020 %, S ≤0.010 %, Si ≤0.40 %, which is tighter than the specification.
Current editions of ASTM A516 limit phosphorus and sulphur to 0.025 % each; older editions, including the 1990 text, printed 0.035 %.

Chemical composition

Composition limits, mass %

Element	A516 Grade 70, heat analysisUSA · ASTM A516/A516M (1990 text; P and S per current editions)	P355GH (1.0473)EU · EN 10028-2	P265GH (1.0425)EU · EN 10028-2	Grade 3India · IS 2002:2009	Grade 2India · IS 2002:2009	SGV480Japan · JIS G 3118
C	≤0.27 (to 12.5 mm); ≤0.28 (12.5–50 mm); ≤0.30 (50–100 mm); ≤0.31 (100–200 mm)	0.10–0.22	≤0.20	≤0.22 (+0.02 over 25–65 mm; +0.04 over 65 mm)	≤0.20 (+0.02 over 25–65 mm; +0.04 over 65 mm)	≤0.27
Si	0.15–0.40	≤0.60	≤0.40	0.15–0.35	0.15–0.35	—
Mn	0.85–1.20	1.10–1.70	0.80–1.40	0.50–1.20	0.50–1.20	0.85–1.20
P	≤0.025	≤0.025	≤0.025	≤0.035	≤0.035	—
S	≤0.025	≤0.010	≤0.010	≤0.040	≤0.040	—
Cr	—	≤0.30	≤0.30	—	—	—
Ni	—	≤0.30	≤0.30	—	—	—
Mo	—	≤0.08	≤0.08	—	—	—
V	—	≤0.02	≤0.02	—	—	—
Cu	—	≤0.30	≤0.30	≤0.10	≤0.10	—
N	—	≤0.012	≤0.012	≤0.012	≤0.012	—
Al	—	≥0.020	≥0.020	≤0.020	≤0.020	—
Ti	—	≤0.03	≤0.03	—	—	—
Nb	—	≤0.02	≤0.02	—	—	—
CE	—	—	—	≤0.44 if alloying elements are added for strength	—	≤0.39

Mechanical properties

Strength and hardness

Condition	Tensile strength	Yield strength	Elongation	Hardness
As rolled to 40 mm, normalized above 40 mm (ASTM A516 Grade 70)Specified; elongation 17 % in 200 mm (8 in), 21 % in 50 mm (2 in), adjusted for thickness by A20; tested transverse; Charpy only if ordered (supplement S5 in A516)ASTM A516/A516M as reproduced by SSAB and a 1990 edition copy	485–620 MPa70–90 ksi	≥260 MPa≥38 ksi	21 %	—
Normalized (P355GH)Specified, up to 16 mm; elongation 20 %; Charpy 40 J at +20 °C, 34 J at 0 °C, 27 J at −20 °CEN 10028-2 as published by Arvedi and Roymech	510–650 MPa74–94 ksi	≥355 MPa≥51.5 ksi	20 %	—
Normalized (P355GH)Specified, over 16 to 40 mmEN 10028-2 as published by Roymech	510–650 MPa74–94 ksi	≥345 MPa≥50 ksi	—	—
Normalized (P355GH)Specified, over 40 to 60 mmEN 10028-2 as published by Roymech	510–650 MPa74–94 ksi	≥335 MPa≥48.6 ksi	—	—
Normalized (P355GH)Specified, over 60 to 100 mmEN 10028-2 as published by Roymech	490–630 MPa71–91 ksi	≥315 MPa≥45.7 ksi	—	—
Normalized (P265GH)Specified, up to 16 mm; elongation 22 %EN 10028-2 as published by Arvedi and Roymech	410–530 MPa59–77 ksi	≥265 MPa≥38.4 ksi	22 %	—
Normalized or controlled rolled (IS 2002 Grade 3)Specified, up to 16 mm; tensile 460–580 MPa up to 60 mm; elongation 21 % up to 60 mmIS 2002:2009, Table 3 (public copy)	460–580 MPa66.7–84.1 ksi	≥290 MPa≥42.1 ksi	21 %	—
Normalized or controlled rolled (IS 2002 Grade 3)Specified, over 60 to 100 mm; elongation 20 %IS 2002:2009, Table 3 (public copy)	450–570 MPa65.3–82.7 ksi	≥255 MPa≥37 ksi	20 %	—
As rolled or normalized (JIS SGV480)Specified; as rolled or normalized up to 38 mm, normalized above 38 mm; thickness bands and elongation by thickness are in the standardJIS G 3118 as summarised by Total Materia	480–590 MPa69.6–85.6 ksi	≥265 MPa≥38.4 ksi	—	—

In practice

Behaviour, heat treatment and uses

Characteristics

Carbon-manganese steel. Mills often hold tighter limits than the specification; SSAB, for example, lists carbon ≤0.25 %, phosphorus ≤0.020 % and sulphur ≤0.010 %.
Weldable by common processes. The carbon equivalent is about 0.43–0.45; preheat is used on thick sections, and SSAB offers a maximum carbon equivalent as an option.
Good notch toughness for moderate and lower temperatures is the reason this grade is chosen. The base specification has no mandatory Charpy test; impact testing is a supplementary requirement, and plate over 40 mm is normalized.
P355GH is a boiler and pressure-vessel grade with a mandatory Charpy test in the standard; A516 Grade 70 leaves impact testing to the order.
Hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) tested plate is available in A516 grades for sour service.
Not corrosion resistant; vessels are lined, clad or protected as service requires.

Heat treatment

Plate up to 40 mm is normally supplied as rolled and can be ordered normalized or stress relieved; plate over 40 mm is normalized. Plate ordered with notch-toughness tests up to 40 mm is also normalized unless the purchaser says otherwise.
Normalizing refines grain and improves toughness; it is required for thick plate and is the delivery condition of EN 10028-2 P355GH.
Post-weld heat treatment (stress relief) is applied to pressure vessels where the code or thickness requires it.
Impact testing is specified through ASTM A20 and supplementary requirements; tensile testing is transverse to rolling.

Typical uses

Pressure vessels, reactors and heat exchangers
Boiler drums and steam receivers
Storage spheres and process tanks
Pressure-containing nozzles, shells and heads
Fabricated equipment needing weldable plate with good notch toughness

Structural and plate steels

Similar grades compared

Grade	C %	Mn %	Cr %	Ni %	Tensile, first listed condition
A516 Gr 70 / P355GH	≤0.27 (to 12.5 mm); ≤0.28 (12.5–50 mm); ≤0.30 (50–100 mm); ≤0.31 (100–200 mm)	0.85–1.20	≤0.30	≤0.30	485–620 MPa
A36 / S275JR / E250	≤0.25	0.80–1.20	—	—	400–550 MPa
S235JR	≤0.24	≤0.90	—	—	360–510 MPa
S355J2	≤0.23	≤1.35	—	—	470–630 MPa
A572 Grade 50	≤0.23	≤1.35	—	—	≥450 MPa
A992	≤0.23	0.50–1.60	≤0.35	≤0.45	≥450 MPa
S420 / E410	≤0.26	≤1.35	≤0.30	≤0.80	520–680 MPa
S460 / A572 Gr 65	≤0.23	≤1.65	≤0.30	≤0.80	540–720 MPa
A588 / S355J2W	≤0.19	0.80–1.25	0.40–0.65	≤0.40	≥485 MPa
A514 / S690QL	0.12–0.21	0.70–1.00	0.40–0.65	0.70–1.00	760–895 MPa

Composition from the US standard where one exists, otherwise the first standard listed on each grade's page. Strength conditions differ between grades; open a grade for its full table.

Questions answered

Common questions

What is the equivalent of ASTM A516 Grade 70 in EN?

EN 10028-2 P355GH (1.0473) is the usual pairing. It has a 355 MPa minimum yield against 260 MPa for A516 Grade 70, a 510–650 MPa tensile range against 485–620 MPa, and a mandatory impact test. P265GH is sometimes quoted but is weaker.

What is the Indian equivalent of A516 Grade 70?

IS 2002 Grade 3 is the closest, with 460–580 MPa tensile and 290 MPa minimum yield. Stockists also list an older "Grade 2B" name. The 2009 edition names grades 1, 2 and 3, so confirm the grade on the order.

Does A516 Grade 70 need to be normalized?

Plate over 40 mm (1½ in) must be normalized. Thinner plate is supplied as rolled unless normalizing is ordered. When notch-toughness tests are required on thinner plate it is normalized unless the purchaser says otherwise.

What is the difference between A516 Grade 70 and SA-516 Grade 70?

They are the same grade. SA-516 is the ASME boiler and pressure vessel code adoption of ASTM A516. Use SA-516 on code-stamped vessels.

Is A516 Grade 70 the same as A515 Grade 70?

No. A515 is for intermediate and higher-temperature service and is not required to be fine-grain; A516 is for moderate and lower temperatures and has better notch toughness. Both have 70–90 ksi tensile.

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References

Sources

SSAB: ASTM A516 Grade 70 pressure vessel plate — Composition, mechanical properties, delivery condition, A20 and S20 notes.
ASTM A516/A516M-90 text (copy) — Grade 70 carbon table by thickness, normalizing rules, tensile table.
Arvedi: steels for pressure vessels as per EN 10028-2 — P355GH and P265GH composition, yield, tensile and impact.
Roymech: steel data, EN 10028 — P355GH and P265GH yield and tensile by thickness to 250 mm.
IS 2002 (2009): Steel plates for pressure vessels for intermediate and high temperature service (public copy) — Grades 1, 2 and 3 composition and mechanical properties.
Total Materia: JIS SGV480 — SGV480 composition, tensile, yield and delivery condition.
Convergence Steel: IS 2002 equivalent grades — IS 2002 Grade 1 and 2 against A516 and EN 10028-2.

Values summarize published limits and typical data. The governing standard and the current edition control; check them before specifying.