Q245r Steel Equivalent: what it really matches in the real world

If you’re trying to map Q245r Steel Equivalent grades across regions, you’re not alone. Buyers ask me this pretty much every month—usually when a vessel tender lands on their desk with mixed standards. In fact, Q245R sits in that useful middle ground: a pressure-vessel plate with dependable weldability and toughness for moderate temperatures.

Closest equivalents (practical, not dogmatic)

Here’s the short list many engineers use, with the usual caveat: chemistry and format alignments vary by mill, so verify before you weld.

• ASTM/ASME: A516 Grade 60 (≈ closest in strength/toughness profile)
• EN: P265GH (EN 10028-2) for comparable service conditions
• JIS: SPV315 (approximate; check impact test and P–S limits)

To be honest, the best practice is equivalency by design data: minimum yield (~245 MPa), tensile band, impact test temperature, and PWHT behavior. That’s what fabricators actually care about.

Product snapshot: Q245R Temperature and Corrosion Resistance Carbon Steel Vessel Plate

Item	Spec (typical)
Grade	Q245R (also Q345R on request)
Thickness	6–150 mm (≈)
Width	200–2000 mm
Length	Customization
Tolerance	±1% (real-world use may vary)
Standards	GB, ASTM/ASME, EN, JIS, DIN
Technique	Hot rolled, normalized (N) as ordered
Processing	Bending, welding, decoiling, cutting, punching
Delivery	≈21 days

Process flow, testing, and service life

Materials and methods: killed steel slabs → hot rolling → normalizing → levelling → UT scan → sample cutting → mechanical tests → surface inspection → marking.

Testing standards we see on MTCs: tensile per GB/T 228, Charpy V-notch per GB/T 229 (often at 0°C or -20°C on request), UT per JB/T 4730 or EN 10160, and hydrotest at fabricator level. Typical plate results I’ve seen: ReL 255–285 MPa, Rm 440–570 MPa, CVN 0°C ≥ 34 J (many heats exceed 50 J).

Service life: in properly coated, deoxygenated media, 20–30 years is common for moderate-pressure vessels; corrosive duties need allowance and lining strategy, of course.

Where it’s used

• Refining/chemicals: columns, drums, heat-exchanger shells
• Fertilizer and gas: separators, flash tanks, LPG spheres (depending on design)
• Boilers: drums and low-to-medium pressure components

Many customers say the weldability is forgiving, which tracks with its carbon equivalent and normalization. Surprisingly versatile for retrofits.

Vendor comparison (quick reality check)

Vendor	Lead time	Certs	Customization	Notes
Baidy Steel (Hebei)	≈21 days	ISO 9001, EN 10204 3.1 MTC	Cut-to-length, bevel, UT classes	Origin: ROOM 1616, SHOUJING E-WORLD, XINDU DISTRICT, XINGTAI, CHINA
Integrated Mill A	30–45 days	ISO, PED optional	Limited sizes	Sharper pricing at volume
Trading House B	7–10 days ex-stock	Mill 3.1 docs	Basic cutting	Check heat/lot traceability

Case file: biodiesel retrofit

We specified Q245r Steel Equivalent to A516 Gr 60 for a mid-size biodiesel plant. 20 mm plates, normalized, UT S1-E1. Test coupons returned ReL 272 MPa, Rm 505 MPa, elongation 28%, CVN 0°C 47–62 J. Fabricator reported smooth SAW welding with standard PWHT. No laminar defects on UT—frankly, a textbook outcome.

Compliance and paperwork

• Standards: GB 713 (Q245R), with cross-checks to A516 and EN 10028-2.
• MTC: EN 10204 3.1; impact temps specified per PO.
• Optional: PED/CE marking via notified routes; ASME data mapping per design code.

If you need a Q245r Steel Equivalent matched to code calculations, ask for the mechanical test window, impact temp, and UT class in the PO. It saves days later.

References

1. GB 713—2014: Steel plates for boilers and pressure vessels (Q245R).
2. ASTM A516/A516M: Pressure Vessel Plates, Carbon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service.
3. EN 10028-2: Non-alloy steels for pressure vessels, normalized.
4. ASME BPVC Sections II and VIII: Materials and pressure vessel construction rules.