Steel Plate Grades Guide: Structural, Pressure Vessel and Wear Plates
A guide to steel plate grades used in Saudi Arabia: S275/S355, ASTM A36/A572, A516 pressure vessel plate, P265GH/P355GH, abrasion-resistant plate and testing options.
Saudi Steel Work Editorial Team · · 3 min read
Short answer: Steel plates fall into three main families: structural grades (S275, S355, ASTM A36, A572) for general fabrication and structures; pressure vessel grades (ASTM A516 Gr.60/70, EN 10028 P265GH/P355GH) for tanks, boilers and vessels; and abrasion-resistant grades for wear parts. Selection depends on strength, toughness, weldability and the design code.
Plate grade selection affects strength, weldability, toughness and cost. Here are the families you'll meet most often on Saudi projects.
Structural plates
| Grade | Standard | Min. yield | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| S275JR | EN 10025-2 | 275 MPa* | General fabrication |
| S355JR/J2 | EN 10025-2 | 355 MPa* | Structures, girders |
| A36 | ASTM | 250 MPa | Base plates, brackets |
| A572 Gr.50 | ASTM | 345 MPa | Heavy structures |
*For thinnest thickness range; yield decreases with thickness.
See S275 vs S355 and A36 vs A572.
Pressure vessel plates
| Grade | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A516 Gr.60 / Gr.70 | ASTM | Carbon steel for moderate and lower temperature service; widely used for tanks and vessels |
| P265GH / P355GH | EN 10028-2 | Elevated temperature properties |
| A537 | ASTM | Heat-treated, higher strength |
Pressure plates are often supplied normalised and may require impact testing to the design code.
Wear plates
Abrasion-resistant plates (often referred to by Brinell hardness, e.g. 400 or 500 HBW) are used for chutes, hoppers, buckets and liners. They are harder to cut and weld; follow manufacturer guidance.
Testing options
- Charpy impact tests at specified temperatures (Charpy guide)
- Ultrasonic testing for laminations (e.g. EN 10160 classes, ASTM A435/A578)
- Through-thickness (Z) properties for joints loaded across the plate thickness
- Normalising or other heat treatment
Choosing a grade
- Identify the design code (structural, API 650, ASME VIII, etc.)
- Select the grade permitted by the code
- Add toughness and testing requirements
- Confirm availability and thickness range
Weight
Plate weight = length (m) × width (m) × thickness (mm) × 7.85 kg. See how to calculate steel plate weight.
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