BS Steel


BS steel stockholders and suppliers, delivering to the whole of the U.K. British Standard (BS) steel specifications, grades and designations are produced by the BSI (British Standards Institute) Group. In 1901 the Engineering Standards Committee was set up and its brief at that time was to standardise the number and types of steel manufactured in the UK. The Engineering Standards Committee later became known as BSI Group and under a Royal Charter sets up standards for numerous goods and services.

We welcome export enquiries for BS steel grades. Contact our sales office and consult our shipping policy for further details.

BS steel standards cover a multitude of specifications. The most common BS steel standards are listed below, but if you do not find the grade you require please contact our experienced sales team who may be able to assist you.

Click here to contact our experienced sales team who will assist you with your BS steel grade enquiry.

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British Standard tool steel specifications were introduced in 1924 in the guise of 224 ‘Steel for Die Blocks for Drop Forging’ by the British Standards Institution. 224 was revised in 1938 but at that time only covered 5 specifications. In the early 1900s many tool steel grades were being developed and introduced by the large number of special steel producers based mainly in Sheffield but also in other parts of the U.K. These independent producers of tool steel gave the grades tool steel brand names which were commonly unique to each manufacturer.

In the late 1960s the British Standards Institute was instructed by the Iron & Steel Industry Standards Committee to prepare and introduce national standards for the most commonly produced and used tool steel specifications, aided with the co-operation of many UK tool steel manufacturers. The BSI adopted the tool steel numbering system introduced by the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI) but preceded each specification with the letter ‘B’. Thus O1 tool steel became known and produced in the UK as BO1. A comprehensive range of tool steels were first published in 1971 under the British Standard BS4659.

In 2000 a new series of tool steel specifications were introduced as BS EN ISO 4957.

Below we list our range of British Standard tool steel and high speed steel grades.


British Standard stainless steel specifications were first introduced in 1941 in the War Emergency British Standard Schedule BS970. At this time only 3 stainless steel specifications were published; EN56, EN57 and EN58. Later editions of BS970 from 1955 onwards introduced more stainless steel grades to the standard.

In 1995 a new series of stainless steel specifications were introduced as BS EN 10088, with subsequent revisions as BS EN 10088-2 and BS EN 10088-3.

Below we list our range of British Standard stainless steel grades.

BS970 BS EN 10088-2 & 3
304S11 X8CrNiS18-9
321S31 X8CrNiS18-9
310S31 X2CrNi 19-11
316S11 X5CrNi 18-10
303S31 X5CrNi18-10
410S21 X2CrNiMo17-13-2
416S21 X5CrNiMo 17-12-2
420S37 X6CrNiMoTi 17-12-2
420S45 X6CrNiTi 18-10
431S29 X12Cr13
X12CrS13
X20Cr13
X30Cr13
X42Cr13
X17CrNi16-2

Alloy steel specifications were first published as British Standards in June 1924. The grades introduced were the British Standard Schedule of Wrought Steels for Automobiles to BS 5005. Later, under the guidance of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Special & Alloy Steels Committee, a more comprehensive range of grades were introduced and published as TAC numbers which later became known (as the more commonly referenced) EN steel range of alloy grades. Revised in the 1970s the BS970 alloy steel specifications  adopted a six character structure – three numerical digits followed by a letter and two further digits.

In 1991 a new series of alloy steel specifications were introduced as BS EN 10083.

Below we list our range of British Standard alloy steel grades.

BS970 BS EN 10088-2 & 3
708M40 34CrNiMo6, 1.6582
709M40 36NiCrMo16, 1.6773
605M36 42CrMo4, 1.7225
722M24
905M39 BS EN10025 S690QL
817M40
826M40
835M30

British Standard carbon steel specifications were introduced in June 1924 as BS5005 grades. In1941 the War Emergency British Standard Schedule BS970 was published including a range of carbon steel grades. In later years, after the introduction of Euronorm carbon steel grades, a range of BS EN designations and specifications were published.

Below we list our range of British Standard carbon steel grades.

BS 970 BS EN 10083
BS EN 10025
BS EN 10028
BS EN 10083
BS EN 10088
BS EN 10277
BS 4360
BS 1501
080M40 S275
080M46 S275JR
080M50 S355
080A42 S355J2+N
070M55 43A
070M20  50B
080M15 50B
080A15

British Standard spring steel specifications have differing designations dependent on the form of supply – bar plate or sheet.

Below we list our range of British Standard spring steel grades.

BS 970 BS1449
BS5770
BS EN 10132
080M50 CS70
251A58 CS80
735A50 CS95
CS100

British Standard cast iron specifications were first designated as BS1452 for grey iron specifications and BS2789 for spheroidal graphite specifications. In later years BS EN 1563 was introduced.

Below we list our range of British Standard carbon steel grades.

BS1452 BS2789 BS EN 1563
Grade 250 420-12 GJS 420-12
Grade 260 400-15 GJS 400-15
Grade 17 500-7 GJS 500-7
Grade 220 600-3 GJS 600-3
700-2 GJS 700-2

BS1474
BS1470
BS EN 485
BS EN 573
BS2874
BS EN 12167
BS EN 12163
BS EN 12164

All our British Standard BS steel specifications and grades are available with a cast and analysis certificate, BS EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate or a certificate of conformity. Please request when placing any orders.


All our British Standard BS steel grades are supplied in accordance with our ISO 9001:2015 registration.