Common Steel Delivery Conditions & Symbols
Common Steel Delivery Conditions & Symbols (GB/T 17505-2016)
Steel and Steel Products – Ordering and Delivery Specifications
When ordering steel products, buyers should select the steel grade, shape, and dimensions based on further processing and end‑use requirements. If necessary, consultation with the manufacturer is recommended.
The contract shall include all content required to define product characteristics, plus the following delivery details:
- Delivery weight, length, quantity, and area
- Product shape (e.g., drawing number)
- Nominal dimensions
- Tolerances for items 1 and 3
- Steel grade
- Delivery condition (heat treatment, surface treatment, etc.)
- Special requirements for surface quality and internal quality
- Type of inspection documentation or quality certificates, and type of inspection and testing (only if not specified in product standards)
- Application of the GB/T 19001 quality management system, if required
- Packaging, marking, storage, and transportation
- Any optional requirements specified in product standards or additional clauses beyond standard provisions
Additional Provisions
a) Application of one or more national or industry standards
b) When no standard exists, characteristic values and clauses specified in the contract
c) If standards cited in the contract are not dated, the valid version at the time of contract signing shall apply. If there is an objection to the current standard version, the applicable version shall be agreed between the supplier and purchaser.
GB Steel Delivery Condition Symbols
Symbols and descriptions for steel delivery conditions in Chinese standards are listed below. Note that symbols may vary slightly between standards and materials, for reference only.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| AR / WAR | As-rolled |
| NR / +N | Normalizing rolling |
| N | Normalized |
| M | Thermomechanical processed |
| QT | Quenched and tempered |
| T | Tempered |
| CR | Controlled rolling |
| NT | Normalized and tempered |
| TMCP | Thermomechanical controlled processing |
| C | Cold rolled |
Example Explanations
- 42CrMo+QT: Alloy steel delivered in quenched and tempered condition
- Q345D+N: Q345D grade steel delivered in normalized condition
Applicable GB Standards
- GB/T 1591-2018 High-strength low-alloy structural steels
- GB/T 19879-2023 Steel plates for building structures
- GB/T 5213-2019 Cold rolled low carbon steel sheets and strips
- GB/T 34560.1‑2017 Structural steels — Part 1: General delivery technical conditions for hot rolled products
- GB/T 34560.2‑2017 Structural steels — Part 2: Delivery technical conditions for general structural steels
- GB/T 34560.3‑2018 Structural steels — Part 3: Delivery technical conditions for fine-grain structural steels
- GB/T 34560.4‑2017 Structural steels — Part 4: Delivery technical conditions for quenched and tempered high yield strength structural steels
- GB/T 34560.5‑2017 Structural steels — Part 5: Delivery technical conditions for atmospheric corrosion resistant structural steels
- GB/T 34560.6‑2017 Structural steels — Part 6: Delivery technical conditions for seismic building structural steels
- GB/T 4237-2015 Hot rolled stainless steel plates, sheets and strips
- GB/T 247-2008 General provisions of packaging, marking and quality certification for steel plates and strips
- GB/T 15574-2016 Classification of steel products
ISO / EN Steel Delivery Condition Symbols
European and international standards use their own set of symbols for heat treatment and delivery conditions. These are widely used in global engineering and supply chains.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| +A | Soft annealed |
| +AR | As rolled (without heat treatment) |
| +AT | Solution annealed |
| +AC | Annealed to achieve spheroidized carbides |
| +C | Cold drawn / cold work hardened |
| +NT | Normalized and tempered |
| +N | Normalized |
| +QT | Quenched and tempered |
| +P | Precipitation hardened |
| +WW | Warm worked |
| +S | Treated for cold shearing |
Reference Standards
- EN 10269-2013 Steels and nickel alloys for fasteners with specified elevated and/or low temperature properties
- ISO 683 Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels
JIS Steel Delivery Condition Symbols
Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) use simplified symbols for steel delivery conditions, commonly applied in stainless steel, structural steel, and heat-resistant steel.
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| A | Annealing |
| Q | Quenched and tempered |
| S | Solution treatment |
| R | As-hot-worked |
| N | Normalized |
| T | Tempered |
| TMC | Thermomechanical control |
Reference Standards
- JIS G 4303-2021 Stainless steel bars
- JIS G 3106-2020 Rolled steels for welded structure
- JIS G 4311-2019 Heat resisting steel bars and wires
ASTM Steel Delivery Condition Symbols
ASTM standards do not mandate a unified set of official abbreviations for delivery conditions. However, the industry widely uses common non‑official symbols such as QT, N, AR, S, and others.
Whether these abbreviations are used depends on company standards, drawing specifications, and purchasing requirements.
