BS 1501

BS 1501 is the British Standard specification for carbon and carbon manganese steel plates for pressure purposes.

The standard (which outlines standards for certain grades which are suitable for pressure vessel and boiler fabrication) has now been withdrawn and superseded by the Euro Norm standard EN 10028.

Masteel UK Limited recognise that the steel industry still uses BS1501 for cross reference purposes which why is why our website provides technical information for BS150 specification and associative grades.

Below are a list of BS 1501 grades which are known to be suitable for use in industrial boilers, pressure vessels and heat exchangers.

BS 1501 – Comparable Pressure Vessel / Boiler Grades

  • BS1501-161-360A/B
  • BS1501-161-430A/B
  • BS1501-223-490A/B
  • BS1501-224-460A/B
  • BS1501-224-490A/B
  • BS1501-225-490A/B

The above grades should be used as reference material only. For information on current specifications relating to pressure vessel and boiler quality steel, please refer to the ASTM, ASME and EN specifications.

BS1501 – 161-360A/B

BS-161-360A/B (often referred to as Grade 360A/B) is a British Standard specified steel which is ideal for use in fabricated steel pressure vessels and boilers.

The BS specification has now been superseded by the Euro Norm specification EN 10028, however, many companies in the industry still refer to this standard, so we have included details of the grade for cross reference purposes.

There are two types BS1501-161-360 available which are …

  • Type A :
    Denotes specified min. room temperature tensile properties
  • Type B :
    As per Type A but with elevated temperature properties

Table 1: Chemical Composition of BS1501 – 161-360A/B
C (max) 0.17
Si (min) 0.10
Si (max) 0.35
Mn (min) 0.40
Mn (max) 1.20
P (max) 0.030
S (max) 0.030
*Cr (max) 0.25
*Cu (max) 0.30
*Mo (max) 0.10
*Ni (max) 0.30

(* Element accumulative total 0.70% max.)

Table 2: Mechanical Properties of BS1501 – 161-360A/B

Nominal Plate Thickness Tensile Strength Yield Strength Elongation
Over (mm) Up to and inc. (mm) min. N/mm² max. N/mm² min. N/mm² min. (%)
3 16 360 480 205 26
16 40 195 26
40 63 185 25
63 100 175 24
100 150 170 24

(Please note: the technical information above is for guidance only – for exact specifications please check with our Sales Team)

BS1501 – 161-430A/B

BS-161-430A/B is a British Standard specified steel which has now been superseded by the Euro Norm specification EN 10028.

As reference is still being made to this material by prospective clients, we have included details of BS -161-430A/B on this reference for information purposes. The steel is used in the fabrication of welded pressure vessels and boilers.

There are two types of BS1501-161-430 available which are …

  • Type A :
    Denotes specified min. room temperature tensile properties
  • Type B :
    As per Type A but with elevated temperature properties

Table 1: Chemical Composition of BS1501 – 161-430A/B
C (max) 0.25
Si (min) 0.10
Si (max) 0.35
Mn (min) 0.60
Mn (max) 1.40
P (max) 0.030
S (max) 0.030
*Cr (max) 0.25
*Cu (max) 0.30
*Mo (max) 0.10
*Ni (max) 0.30

(* Element accumulative total 0.70% max.)

Table 2: Mechanical Properties of BS1501 – 161-430A/B

Nominal Plate Thickness Tensile Strength Yield Strength Elongation
Over (mm) Up to and inc. (mm) min. N/mm² max. N/mm² min. N/mm² min. (%)
3 16 430 550 250 23
16 40 240 23
40 63 230 22
63 100 220 21
100 150 210 21

(Please note: the technical information above is for guidance only – for exact specifications please check with our Sales Team)

BS1501 – 223-490A/B

BS1501-223-490A/B is steel grade ideally suited for use in the fabrication of weldable pressure vessels & boilers. The standard which is provided by the British Standards Institute has now been replaced with the European standard EN1002.

Although BS-223-490A/B is no longer a currently active spec for pressure vessel steel it is still widely referred to in the industry and for this reason we have included details on our website for cross referencing purposes.

There are two types of BS1501-223-490 available which are …

  • Type A :
    Denotes specified min. room temperature tensile properties
  • Type B :
    As per Type A but with elevated temperature properties

Table 1: Chemical Composition of BS1501 – 223-490A/B
*C (max) 0.20
Si (min) 0.10
Si (max) 0.50
Mn (min) 0.90
Mn (max) 1.60
P (max) 0.030
S (max) 0.030
Cr (max) 0.25
Nb (min) 0.010
Nb (max) 0.060
Cu (max) 0.30
Mo (max) 0.10
Ni (max) 0.75

(* Maximum carbon content should be 0.22% when samples are subjected to simulated post weld heat treatment)

Table 2: Mechanical Properties of BS1501 – 223-490A/B

Nominal Plate Thickness Tensile Strength Yield Strength Elongation
Over (mm) Up to and inc. (mm) min. N/mm² max. N/mm² min. N/mm² min. (%)
3 16 490 610 355 21
16 40 345 21
40 63 340 20
63 100 * 20
100 150 * 20

(* Yield strength values for plates over 63mm shall be same values specified for plate thicknesses between 40mm and 63mm reduced by 1% for each 5mm increase over 63mm)

(Please note: the technical information above is for guidance only – for exact specifications please check with our Sales Team)

BS1501 – 224-460A/B

For use in weldable industrial boilers and pressure vessels, BS-224-460A/B is the British Standard specification which is comparable with ASTM A516 Grade 65.

This British Standard has now been been superseded by the European specification EN10028 but we still receive enquiries for this specific grade which is why we have included technical information on this website.

Please note that this information should only be used for cross referencing purposes when comparing to current specifications.

There are two types of BS1501-224-460 available which are …

  • Type A :
    Denotes specified min. room temperature tensile properties
  • Type B :
    As per Type A but with elevated temperature properties

Table 1: Chemical Composition of BS1501 – 224-460A/B
*C (max) 0.22
Si (min) 0.10
Si (max) 0.40
Mn (min) 0.90
Mn (max) 1.60
P (max) 0.030
S (max) 0.030
*Al (metallic) (min) 0.015
Cr (max) 0.25
Cu (max) 0.30
Mo (max) 0.10
Ni (max) 0.75

(* Aluminium level meets this requirement as long as value is not less than 0.18%)

Table 2: Mechanical Properties of BS1501 – 224-460A/B

Nominal Plate Thickness Tensile Strength Yield Strength Elongation
Over (mm) Up to and inc. (mm) min. N/mm² max. N/mm² min. N/mm² min. (%)
3 16 460 580 325 21
16 40 315 21
40 63 305 20
63 100 * 19
100 150 * 19

(* Yield strength values for plates over 63mm shall be same values specified for plate thicknesses between 40mm and 63mm reduced by 1% for each 5mm increase over 63mm)

(Please note: the technical information above is for guidance only – for exact specifications please check with our Sales Team)

BS1501 – 224-490A/B

BS-224-490A/B is a British Standard specified steel used primarily in the fabrication of weldable steel pressure vessels and boilers.

This particular grade which has now been superseded by the Euro Norm standard EN 10028, has improved tensile strength when compared to BS-224-460. As the specification is no longer current, the information included here should be used for reference purposes only.

There are two types of BS1501-224-490 which are …

  • Type A :
    Denotes specified min. room temperature tensile properties
  • Type B :
    As per Type A but with elevated temperature properties

Table 1: Chemical Composition of BS1501 – 224-490A/B
*C (max) 0.22
Si (min) 0.10
Si (max) 0.40
Mn (min) 0.90
Mn (max) 1.60
P (max) 0.030
S (max) 0.030
*Al (metallic) (min) 0.015
Cr (max) 0.25
Cu (max) 0.30
Mo (max) 0.10
Ni (max) 0.75

(* Aluminium level meets this requirement as long as value is not less than 0.18%)

Table 2: Mechanical Properties of BS1501 – 224-490A/B

Nominal Plate Thickness Tensile Strength Yield Strength Elongation
Over (mm) Up to and inc. (mm) min. N/mm² max. N/mm² min. N/mm² min. (%)
3 16 490 610 325 21
16 40 315 21
40 63 305 20
63 100 * 19
100 150 * 19

(* Yield strength values for plates over 63mm shall be same values specified for plate thicknesses between 40mm and 63mm reduced by 1% for each 5mm increase over 63mm)

(Please note: the technical information above is for guidance only – for exact specifications please check with our Sales Team)

BS1501 – 225-490A/B

ASTM A516 Grade 60 is a boiler and pressure vessel quality steel which is ideal for moderate and lower temperature service.

The material is used extensively by industrial boiler and pressure vessel fabricators who provide manufacturing support to the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. The steel has good weldability and excellent notch toughness.

At Masteel UK Limited, we keep a healthy stock of ASTM A516 Grade 60 carbon steel plates. These plates come with mill certification in compliance with EN10204 3.1 or EN10204 3.2. and are hard stamped and fully traceable. Alternatively we can ship to you directly from the mill.

Please refer to the data tables below. Should your require a pressure grade steel with greater tensile and yield strength, please refer to ASTM A516 Grade 65 and/or ASTM A516 Grade 70.

Table 1: Chemical Composition of BS1501 – 225-490A/B

Nominal Plate Thickness Tensile Strength Yield Strength Elongation
Over (mm) Up to and inc. (mm) min. N/mm² max. N/mm² min. N/mm² min. (%)
3 16 490 610 355 21
16 40 345 21
40 63 340 20
63 100 * 19
100 150 * 19

(* Aluminium level meets this requirement as long as value is not less than 0.18%)

Table 2: Mechanical Properties of BS1501 – 225-490A/B
*C (max) 0.20
Si (min) 0.10
Si (max) 0.50
Mn (min) 0.90
Mn (max) 1.60
P (max) 0.030
S (max) 0.030
*Al (metallic) (min) 0.015
Ni (min) 0.010
Ni (max) 0.060
Cr (max) 0.25
Cu (max) 0.30
Mo (max) 0.10
Ni (max) 0.75

(* Yield strength values for plates over 63mm shall be same values specified for plate thicknesses between 40mm and 63mm reduced by 1% for each 5mm increase over 63mm)

(Please note: the technical information above is for guidance only – for exact specifications please check with our Sales Team)