ASTM A516 Gr60 vs EN 10028 P265GH: Equivalence and Key Differences

Is ASTM A516 Gr60 the Same as EN 10028 P265GH?

Short answer: not exactly the same — but close enough that the industry treats P265GH as the European equivalent of ASTM A516 Gr60, and the two grades are routinely dual certified on a single plate.

Long answer: they share the same design purpose (carbon steel plates for welded pressure vessels), their tensile strength ranges overlap almost completely, and a plate can often be certified to both standards at the same time. Yet they are written by two different standards bodies for two different regulatory environments, and there are real differences in yield strength, impact toughness guarantees, residual-element control and design-code usage that can matter on a specific project.

If you are a fabricator, trader or EPC company comparing A516 Gr60 and P265GH for a boiler, storage tank or pressure vessel order — this guide tells you exactly where they match, where they differ, and how to avoid a costly wrong specification.

1. The Two Standards at a Glance

ASTM A516/A516M — Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Carbon Steel, for Moderate- and Lower-Temperature Service — covers four strength grades (55/60/65/70). The grade number is the minimum tensile strength in ksi (60 ksi = 415 MPa). A516 is the most widely used pressure-vessel plate specification in the world and, under ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) applications, is ordered as SA516 with identical requirements. Current edition: ASTM A516/A516M-17 (latest: A516/A516M-25). Plates are limited in practice to about 200 mm (8 in) maximum thickness.

EN 10028-2 — Flat products made of steels for pressure purposes — Part 2: Non-alloy and alloy steels with specified elevated temperature properties — is the European pressure-vessel plate standard (current edition: EN 10028-2:2017). P265GH is one of its workhorse grades (material number 1.0425):

• P = pressure purposes

• 265 = minimum yield strength of 265 MPa (for thickness ≤ 16 mm)

• GH = suitable for G (elevated) High-temperature service

Key takeaway: A516 Gr60 is specified in the ASTM/ASME world (especially the Americas and Asia); P265GH is the standard choice for European projects governed by PED 2014/68/EU and EN 13445.

2. Chemical Composition Comparison

Both grades are low-carbon, weldable carbon steels. The practical differences: P265GH caps phosphorus and sulfur much tighter, and it restricts residual elements (Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Nb, Ti, V) that A516 does not control at all; A516 relies on killed steel + fine-grain practice instead.

Table 1 — Cast analysis comparison (typical controlling values, % by mass)

Always verify against the current edition of the relevant standard — values above are for orientation only.

3. Mechanical Properties Comparison (Room Temperature)

The tensile ranges overlap almost completely (415–530 MPa common window). The headline difference: P265GH guarantees a higher minimum yield (265 MPa vs 240 MPa for A516 Gr60), because the “265” in its name is a yield commitment rather than a tensile number.

Table 2 — Tensile requirements (minimum values unless a range is shown)

Engineering note: At thicknesses above ~60 mm the two grades diverge in both yield and tensile — always check the exact table for your ordered thickness before claiming equivalence.

4. Impact Toughness: Where P265GH is Explicitly Stronger

This is the single most important difference for buyers.

• A516 Gr60 — the base standard contains no mandatory Charpy V-notch requirement. Impact testing applies only when specified by the purchaser or required by the design code (e.g. ASME BPVC or a project’s low-temperature criteria), typically via supplementary requirements (such as A20/A20M S5, or a stated temperature like −46 °C / −20 °C with an agreed energy value). Ordered without a supplementary impact note, an A516 Gr60 plate may not carry a guaranteed KV value.

• P265GH — under EN 10028-2:2017 the normalized condition guarantees Charpy impact energy: 27 J (transverse) at −20 °C, 34 J at 0 °C and 40 J at +20 °C. Lower temperatures (e.g. −30 °C / −40 °C) can be agreed at ordering.

Why this matters: if your design calls for guaranteed low-temperature toughness and you substitute A516 Gr60 for P265GH “because they are equivalent”, you may have to add a supplementary impact test and pay extra — or worse, discover at inspection stage that the delivered plate was not tested for the required temperature.

5. Elevated-Temperature Performance: The Meaning of “GH”

The GH in P265GH exists because EN 10028-2 publishes minimum 0.2 % proof strength at elevated temperatures (Rp0.2t) — design data that boiler and heat-exchanger engineers need when the vessel runs hot.

Table 3 — Minimum Rp0.2 at elevated temperature, P265GH per EN 10028-2:2017 (t ≤ 16 mm)

Full tables cover 50–400 °C and all thickness ranges up to 150 mm.

For A516 Gr60, elevated-temperature capability is handled differently: allowable stresses are tabulated in ASME BPVC Section II, Part D (for SA-516 Gr60), enabling design under Section VIII Div. 1 up to roughly 1000 °F (538 °C), with practical carbon-steel boiler service commonly limited to ~800 °F (427 °C).

Practical guidance: For medium-temperature European designs (heat exchangers, steam drums, economizer components), P265GH gives you code-recognized high-temperature data directly in the material standard. For ASME-registered vessels, use SA516 Gr60 with ASME allowable stresses.

6. So, Are They “Equivalent”? — The Honest Answer

Conclusion: they are approximate equivalents, not interchangeable default substitutes. If your project is designed and inspected under EN 13445 / PED, spec P265GH. If it is an ASME-registered vessel, spec SA516 Gr60. If you must meet both regimes — ask for a dual-certified plate (see below).

7. When to Choose Which — Quick Decision Rules

1. Vessel registered under ASME BPVC (USA, Americas, many Asian projects) → SA516 Gr60, with impact testing as the code requires.
2. European design, CE marking / PED 2014/68/EU, EN 13445 → P265GH.
3. Design temperature > ~300 °C and you need elevated-temperature proof data → prefer P265GH (Rp0.2t is in the standard) or use ASME allowable stresses for SA516.
4. Guaranteed low-temperature toughness (−20 °C and below) is mandatory → P265GH as a default; if using A516 Gr60, add the impact supplementary requirement and confirm the test temperature/energy at quotation stage.
5. Trading stock where buyers quote either grade → source dual-certified A516 Gr60 / P265GH plates so one stock item serves both markets.
6. Equivalent grades NOT to confuse: P265GH is not the equivalent of A516 Gr55 (that is closer to P235GH), nor of Gr70 (that is P355GH territory).

8. Dual Certification: One Plate, Two Standards

Because the chemical and tensile requirements are compatible, mills routinely produce plates that simultaneously satisfy ASTM A516 Gr60 and EN 10028-2 P265GH. This is a common and legitimate practice, provided:

• The mill’s MTC lists both standards with their edition years;

• Every requirement of both standards (including impact and delivery condition) is met — dual certification means the plate must satisfy the stricter of the two for each property;

• Third-party inspection (SGS, TÜV, BV, Lloyd’s, etc.) and any required UT (e.g. per ASTM A578/A578M, EN 10160) are confirmed before production.

Dual-certified plates simplify logistics for traders and fabricators serving both European and American markets from one warehouse.

9. Checklist Before You Order (Avoid Costly Mistakes)

• Confirm the design code your vessel will be registered under (ASME vs EN 13445).

• State the standard edition (e.g. ASTM A516/A516M-17, EN 10028-2:2017).

• Specify delivery condition — normalized (N) is the safe default for both, and is mandatory for A516 > 40 mm and standard for P265GH.

• Specify impact test temperature and energy (e.g. 27 J at −20 °C, longitudinal or transverse) if required — never assume it is included for A516.

• Confirm elevated-temperature data if design temperature exceeds ~300 °C.

• Request MTC per EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 with third-party witness on request).

• Add ultrasonic testing (ASTM A578/A578M or EN 10160) for critical duties.

• If the vessel is dual-sourced across continents, ask for dual certification.

10. GNEE Steel — Your Reliable Source for A516 Gr60 & P265GH Plates

At GNEE Steel, we supply both ASTM A516 Gr60 (SA516 Gr60) and EN 10028-2 P265GH pressure vessel plates, as well as dual-certified plates covering both standards on one MTC.

• Grades: A516 Gr55 / 60 / 65 / 70 (normalized on request), P235GH, P265GH, P295GH, P355GH

• Thickness / width / length: typically 3–200 mm × 1,000–4,000 mm × up to 12,000 mm (exact availability confirmed with each enquiry)

• Delivery condition: hot-rolled, normalized (N), or as per your specification

• Processing: cutting to size, plasma cutting, edge beveling, drilling, shot blasting, painting

• Certification: EN 10204 3.1 MTC standard; 3.2 and third-party inspection (SGS, TÜV, BV, Lloyd’s) available

• Additional testing: Charpy impact at any agreed temperature, UT per ASTM A578/A578M or EN 10160, hardness, bend test, HIC/SSC testing (where specified)

Get your quote in 24 hours. Send us your enquiry with: grade (and whether dual certification is required), thickness × width × length, quantity, delivery condition, destination port, and any special testing. Our engineers will confirm availability, price and lead time — and we will flag any specification risk before you commit.

FAQ

Q1: Is P265GH the same as ASTM A516 Gr60?

A: Not identical, but they are widely treated as equivalents. Tensile ranges overlap (410–550 MPa window), yet P265GH guarantees higher yield (265 vs 240 MPa at ≤16 mm) and includes mandatory −20 °C impact toughness that A516 Gr60 only provides when specified.

Q2: Can I substitute A516 Gr60 with P265GH?

A: Only after checking the governing design code. For ASME-registered vessels use SA516 Gr60; for EN 13445 / PED projects use P265GH. For dual-market supply, order a plate dual-certified to both standards.

Q3: What is the material number of P265GH?

A: 1.0425, per EN 10028-2.

Q4: Does A516 Gr60 require Charpy impact testing?

A: Not automatically. The base ASTM A516/A516M standard has no mandatory Charpy requirement — it applies only if the purchaser specifies it (e.g. via A20/A20M supplementary requirements or the project’s design code). Always confirm at ordering.

Q5: What delivery condition should I order?

A: Normalized (N) is the safe default: mandatory for A516 plates above 40 mm and the standard delivery condition for P265GH. Normalizing refines grain structure and improves toughness and uniformity.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information and marketing purposes only. Chemical compositions, mechanical properties and test requirements are subject to the current editions of the referenced standards — ASTM A516/A516M, ASME SA-516, EN 10028-2:2017 — and may vary by thickness, heat treatment and mill. Values quoted here are typical/minimum values for orientation and must be verified against the applicable standard and your project’s design code before procurement. GNEE Steel accepts no liability for decisions made solely on the basis of this article.