Polish (PN/H) Standards for Steel Materials

---

Introduction to Polish Steel Standards

The Polish (PN) standards system represents a comprehensive framework for steel material specifications that serves as the foundation for quality assurance in various industrial applications. These standards provide detailed requirements for carbon and alloy steels, ensuring consistent performance across different sectors including construction, manufacturing, and specialized industrial processes.

Review of PH/N Standards for steel consists of 3 volumes. It contains formally approved PH/N standard classifications, guides, practices, specifications, test methods and terminology and related material such as proposals.

Covers:

• Group of standards for structural and constructional steels
• Group of standards for tool steels
• Group of standards for stainless and heat resisting steels

Comprehensive Coverage of Steel Categories

Structural and Constructional Steel Standards

The Polish PN steel standards encompass a broad range of structural and constructional steels designed to meet diverse engineering requirements. These specifications cover plates and forgings specifically engineered for boilers and pressure vessels, where reliability and performance under extreme conditions are paramount. The standards also address high-strength low-alloy steels that provide superior mechanical properties while maintaining cost-effectiveness in construction applications.

Heat-treatable steels, sheets, and strips fall under these comprehensive specifications, ensuring that materials meet stringent quality requirements for various manufacturing processes. The standards specify detailed chemical composition requirements and mechanical properties, including yield point, tensile strength, and notch toughness measurements that are critical for structural integrity.

Table 1. Group of PN standards for structural and constructional steels

Standard Number	Description
PN/H 74231	Drill tubes (small gauges)
PN/H 74235	Drill tubes
PN/H 74244	Welded tubes
PN/H 83152	Unalloyed cast steel for construction
PN/H 83156	Alloyed cast steel
PN/H 83157	High temperature cast steel
PN/H 83160	Wear-resistant cast steel
PN/H 84016	Semi killed low alloy high strength steels
PN/H 84017	Steels resistant to weathering
PN/H 84018	High strength low alloy steels
PN/H 84019	Quality carbon steels for general use
PN/H 84020	Unalloyed steels for general use
PN/H 84023	Steels for special purposes
PN/H 84023/02	Low carbon soft magnetic steels
PN/H 84023/03	Low carbon steels for sheet and strip
PN/H 84023/04	Low carbon steels
PN/H 84023/05	Low alloy and alloyed high-quality steels
PN/H 84023/06	Concrete steels
PN/H 84023/07	Steels for tubes
PN/H 84023/08	Chainsteels
PN/H 84023/09	Steel for gas cylinders
PN/H 84024	High-temperature steels
PN/H 84026	Free-cutting
PN/H 84027	Railway steel
PN/H 84027/01	Wheel discs
PN/H 84027/02	Forged pieces
PN/H 84027/03	Axle-trees
PN/H 84027/04	Forged pieces
PN/H 84027/06	Railway tyres
PN/H 84027/07	Rails for normal width
PN/H 84027/08	Rolled section for railway equipment
PN/H 84028	Unalloyed wire rod for drawing
PN/H 84030/02	Alloyed case hardening steels
PN/H 84030/03	Nitriding steels
PN/H 84030/04	Heat-treatable steels
PN/H 84032	Spring steels
PN/H 84035	For highly stressed machine-parts
PN/H 84041	Roller bearing steels
PN/H 91042	Crude wheel tyres
PN/H 91044	Unmachined wheel tyres
PN/H 91046	Axle-trees for vehicles to be pulled
PN/H 92147	Shipbuilding plates
PN/H 92149	Steels resistant to weathering
PN/H 92602	Unalloyed wire rod for spring wire
PN/H 93027	Rolled bars and wire rod for mine-chains
PN/H 93028	Bars and wire rods for mine-chains
PN/H 93421	Railway rails (normal widths)
PN/H 93440	Steel for tramway rails
PN/H 94010	Forging steel for aviation
PN/H 69420	Filler rod
PN/H 69420	Filler rod

Specialized Steel Pipe Standards

The PN standards include detailed specifications for various types of steel pipes, particularly those designed for high-temperature service applications. These standards are essential for industries requiring reliable performance under extreme thermal conditions, such as power generation and chemical processing facilities.

Special applications such as fire protection systems require specific steel pipe characteristics, and the Polish PN steel standards provide comprehensive guidelines for these critical safety applications. The specifications ensure that materials maintain their structural integrity and performance characteristics even under emergency conditions.

Steel Casting and High-Temperature Applications

Steel casting specifications within the PN standards framework define standard properties specifically for pressure applications. These requirements are crucial for components that must withstand significant mechanical stress while maintaining dimensional stability and performance reliability.

High-temperature cast steel specifications address the unique challenges associated with elevated operating temperatures, ensuring that materials retain their mechanical properties and structural integrity under thermal stress. These standards are particularly important for industrial applications in power generation, petrochemical processing, and other high-temperature environments.

Tool Steel Specifications

The group of standards for tool steels addresses the specialized requirements of manufacturing and machining applications. These specifications ensure that tool steels possess the necessary hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional stability required for precision manufacturing processes. The standards cover various grades of tool steels, each designed for specific applications and performance requirements.

Table 2. Group of PN standards for tool steels

Standard Number	Description
PN/H 83161	Tool steel for castings
PN/H 85020	Carbon tool steels
PN/H 85021	Alloyed hot work tool steels
PN/H 85022	Carbon tool steels
PN/H 85023	Cold work tool steels

Stainless and Heat-Resistant Steel Standards

Stainless and heat-resistant steel standards represent a critical component of the PN specifications, addressing materials that must perform reliably in corrosive environments and elevated temperatures. These standards specify chemical composition requirements that ensure adequate corrosion resistance while maintaining mechanical properties necessary for structural applications.

The heat-resistant steel specifications are particularly important for applications in high-temperature environments where oxidation resistance and thermal stability are essential performance characteristics. These standards ensure that materials maintain their properties over extended periods of exposure to elevated temperatures.

Table 3. Group of standards for stainless and heat resisting steels

Standard Number	Description
PN/H 83158	Corrosion-resisting cast steel
PN/H 83159	Heat-resisting cast steel
PN/H 84038	For hard magnetic bars
PN/H 86020	Stainless steels
PN/H 86022	Heat-resisting steels
PN/H 87045	Nickel alloys
PN/H 87047	Soft magnetic Ni-Fe and Co-Fe alloys
PN/H 92133	Soft magnetic steel, hot rolled sheet and strip
PN/H 92336	Strip of steel- and nickel alloys with high electric resistor
PN/H 92610	Steels and nickel alloys with high electric resistor

Standard Documentation and Classification System

The review of PN standards for steel consists of three comprehensive volumes that contain formally approved PN standard classifications, guides, practices, specifications, test methods, and terminology. This systematic approach ensures consistency and reliability across all steel material specifications.

Related materials, including proposals for new standards and revisions to existing specifications, are also included in this comprehensive documentation system. This approach ensures that the standards remain current with technological advances and industry requirements.

Technical Data and Specifications

For each standard within the PN system, comprehensive technical data is provided, including standard numbers, grade classifications, and detailed chemical composition requirements. Mechanical properties such as yield point, tensile strength, and notch toughness are specified with precise tolerances to ensure consistent material performance.

When applicable, additional information is provided regarding steel type classifications, manufacturing methods, plate thickness requirements, and heat treatment specifications. This comprehensive approach ensures that users have access to all necessary information for proper material selection and application.

The manufacturing method specifications are particularly important as they directly impact the final properties of the steel materials. Heat treatment requirements are detailed to ensure that materials achieve their specified mechanical properties and performance characteristics.

Quality Assurance and Testing Requirements

The PN standards incorporate comprehensive testing requirements that ensure materials meet specified performance criteria. These testing protocols cover mechanical property verification, chemical composition analysis, and specialized tests for specific applications such as high-temperature service or corrosive environments.

Notch toughness testing is particularly emphasized in these standards, as this property is critical for applications where impact resistance and fracture toughness are important safety considerations. The standards specify testing temperatures and acceptance criteria that ensure materials will perform reliably under service conditions.

Applications and Industry Implementation

The Polish PN steel standards find application across numerous industries, from construction and infrastructure development to specialized manufacturing and processing applications. The comprehensive nature of these standards ensures that materials are suitable for their intended applications while maintaining consistent quality and performance characteristics.

Boiler and pressure vessel applications represent a significant area where these standards are applied, as the safety and reliability requirements in these applications demand strict adherence to material specifications. The standards ensure that materials can withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses associated with these critical applications.

Conclusion

The Polish (PN) standards for steel materials represent a comprehensive and systematic approach to material specification and quality assurance. These standards cover the full spectrum of steel materials, from basic structural steels to specialized high-temperature and corrosion-resistant alloys. The three-volume documentation system ensures that users have access to complete information necessary for proper material selection, application, and quality verification.

The systematic organization of these standards into distinct categories for structural steels, tool steels, and stainless and heat-resistant steels facilitates efficient navigation and application of the appropriate specifications. This comprehensive approach ensures that Polish steel standards continue to serve as a reliable foundation for quality assurance in steel material applications across diverse industrial sectors.