In the field of steel pipes, standards in different regions directly affect the design, production and application of products. The European EN 10210 standard and China's GB/T series standards (such as GB/T 8162, GB/T 8163, GB/T 6728, etc.) are the two most common systems. EN 10210 was developed by the European Committee for Standardization and mainly regulates hot-rolled seamless and welded steel tubes for structural use. It emphasizes high strength, toughness and low-temperature performance and is widely used in international engineering and high-end construction projects.
The Chinese standard covers a wider range, including not only structural steel pipes, but also fluid transportation and cold-formed steel. It is suitable for the diverse domestic industrial needs and has obvious advantages in cost and adaptability. The differences between them are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Standard system and scope of application:
EN 10210: This standard, developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), applies to EU countries. EN 10210-1:2006 specifies the technical delivery conditions for hot-formed structural hollow sections made of non-alloy and fine-grained steels. It is compatible with both structural load-bearing and fluid-transport scenarios, and is suitable for the complex functional requirements of the construction and machinery fields.
Chinese Standard: Developed by the Standardization Administration of China, GB/T 8162 applies to seamless steel pipes for mechanical structures and general engineering structures; GB/T 8163 applies to seamless steel pipes for conveying fluids, mainly used in medium and low pressure systems such as water supply, oil, and steam transportation.
Manufacturing method:
EN 10210 standard: Structural pipes can be produced by both seamless and welded methods, and the special requirements for welded steel pipes are listed separately in the standard.
Chinese standards: National standards have been formulated for seamless steel pipes and welded steel pipes respectively. For example, GB/T 8162 is the standard for seamless steel pipes for structures, and GB/T 9711 is the standard for pipeline steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, which includes seamless steel pipes and welded steel pipes.
Dimensional tolerance:
EN 10210 standard: The allowable deviation of the outer diameter is ±1.0% (minimum ±0.50mm), the ovality requirement D/S≤100 is 2%, and the straightness is ≤0.2% L (L is the length of the steel pipe).
China's GB/T 8162 standard states that for hot-rolled (expanded) tubes with an outer diameter less than 50mm, the tolerance is ±0.50mm for standard grades and ±0.40mm for high grades. For tubes ≥50mm, the tolerance is ±1.0% for standard grades and ±0.75% for high grades. The tolerance for cold-drawn (rolled) tube outer diameter varies depending on the size range and generally differs from the EN 10210 standard.
Material and chemical composition:
EN 10210 standard: The material is mainly non-alloy and fine-grained steel, such as S235JRH, S355J0H, etc. It has strict requirements on chemical composition and focuses on low-temperature toughness and weldability.
Chinese standards: Commonly used materials include Q235, 20#, Q345, etc. The GB/T 8162-2018 standard is decoupled from GB/T 1591 and specifies the requirements for each brand, quality grade, composition, and carbon equivalent.
Mechanical properties:
EN 10210 standard: Steel pipes of different materials have corresponding mechanical property requirements. For example, S355JOH (non-alloy steel) stipulates that the yield strength Re ≥ 355MPa (S < 16mm) and the elongation after fracture A ≥ 22% (S ≤ 40mm).
China's GB/T 8162 standard, taking 20 steel as an example, stipulates a yield strength of Rel ≥ 245 MPa (S ≤ 16 mm) and an elongation after fracture of A > 20%. Q345A specifies a yield strength of Rel ≥ 325 MPa (S ≤ 16 mm), a tensile strength of Rm ≥ 490 MPa, and an elongation after fracture of A ≥ 21%.
Heat treatment requirements：
The EN10210 standard generally requires that steel pipes be normalized or tempered to improve the microstructure of the steel pipes and enhance their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.
Chinese standards for heat treatment of steel pipe vary depending on the steel grade, application, and performance requirements. The treatment processes and parameters differ from those in EN10210. For certain special-purpose steel pipes, Chinese standards may require more complex heat treatment processes to meet specific performance requirements.
Conclusion
The EN10210 standard and the Chinese standard differ in chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional accuracy, appearance, and heat treatment requirements. These differences are due to a variety of factors, including regional resource availability, manufacturing process capabilities, engineering design concepts, and specific operating environments. A full understanding of these differences is crucial for companies involved in the production, sale, and use of steel pipes, as well as for those working in related industries.
In international trade and cross-border project collaboration, only by accurately understanding the differences between the two standards can we ensure product compliance, avoid quality issues and trade disputes arising from inconsistent understanding of the standards, and ensure the smooth progress of projects and the economic benefits of enterprises.
Read more: BS EN 10210 for Hot Finished Structural Hollow Sections
