S355J2H

1.0576

Non-alloy structural steel for hollow sections · EN 10210-1:2006 — hot finished structural hollow sections, technical delivery conditions · EN 10219-1:2006 — cold formed welded structural hollow sections, technical delivery conditions · EN 10210-2:2019 — dimensions, tolerances and sectional properties for hot finished sections · EN 10219-2:2019 — dimensions, tolerances and sectional properties for cold formed welded sections

S355J2H is the principal European 355 MPa strength-class non-alloy steel for structural hollow sections, with specified Charpy V-notch toughness of 27 J at −20 °C. The same grade name and material number occur in both EN 10210-1 hot finished and EN 10219-1 cold formed welded products, but the manufacturing route, dimensional standard, thickness range, geometry, residual-stress pattern and structural design treatment are not interchangeable details. A complete specification must therefore state the product standard as well as S355J2H.

S = structural steel; 355 = minimum yield strength for the lowest thickness range; J2 = 27 J at −20 °C; H = hollow sectionDesignation meaning · The 355 MPa value does not apply universally to every wall thickness.
EN 10210-1 hot finished or EN 10219-1 cold formed weldedProduct-standard choice · The grade alone does not identify the manufacturing route.
Minimum average Charpy V-notch energy 27 J at −20 °CSpecified toughness · Impact testing is not required where wall thickness is below 6 mm; reduced-size specimen rules apply where necessary.
EN 10204 type 3.1 as the standard document for J2 qualityInspection document · Type 3.2 can be specified by the applicable product-standard option.
EN 10219: 0.45 for t ≤ 40 mm; EN 10210: 0.45 to 0.53 depending on thicknessMaximum cast-analysis CEV · Actual heat analysis and section thickness should be used when establishing welding precautions.
Hot finished and cold formed S355J2H sections are not automatically design-interchangeableSubstitution warning · Section properties, corner geometry, residual stresses and Eurocode buckling-curve selection can differ.

Overview

Designation system: EN 10027 steel name and steel number
Product forms: Circular hollow sections (CHS), Square hollow sections (SHS), Rectangular hollow sections (RHS), Elliptical hollow sections where covered by the applicable dimensional standard and product certification
Condition: Hot finished to EN 10210-1, Cold formed and welded without subsequent heat treatment to EN 10219-1
Density: 7850 kg/m³ (Reference density used by the hollow-section standards for nominal mass calculations; not a separately tested acceptance property.)

What the designation defines—and what it does not

Interpretation of S355J2H

Element	Meaning	Engineering significance
S	Structural steel	A steel designated principally by mechanical properties and structural use.
355	Minimum yield-strength class	355 MPa applies to the lowest specified wall-thickness range; the required minimum decreases with increasing thickness.
J2	Impact-quality designation	Minimum average Charpy V-notch energy of 27 J at −20 °C, subject to the product standard's specimen and thickness rules.
H	Hollow section	Distinguishes the hollow-section grade from similarly named plate, sheet or open-section grades.

S355J2H and steel number 1.0576 identify a steel quality, not a complete purchasable section. They do not state whether the section is hot finished or cold formed, whether it is seamless or welded where EN 10210 applies, its cross-sectional dimensions, wall thickness, length, dimensional tolerances, weld-seam position, surface condition or coating. Those details must come from the product standard and purchase specification.

Two governing product routes

EN 10210 and EN 10219 are materially different specifications

Characteristic	EN 10210-1	EN 10219-1
Product type	Hot finished structural hollow section	Cold formed welded structural hollow section
Permitted section manufacture	Seamless or welded; cold-formed sections subsequently heat treated to obtain an equivalent condition may also qualify	Electric welded or submerged-arc welded
Delivery condition for S355J2H	Hot finished	Cold formed without subsequent heat treatment; the seam may be as-welded or heat treated
S355J2H property-table thickness range	Up to 120 mm	Up to 40 mm
Dimensions and tolerances	EN 10210-2:2019	EN 10219-2:2019
Characteristic practical differences	Hot finishing modifies the formed microstructure and residual-stress pattern; square and rectangular sections generally have different corner geometry	Cold forming remains evident in the finished section, particularly in the corner regions and residual-stress distribution
Structural design consequence	Use section properties and design rules applicable to hot finished sections	Use section properties and design rules applicable to cold formed sections

A purchase order or drawing that states only “S355J2H” is incomplete whenever the distinction between EN 10210 and EN 10219 affects design, fabrication, availability or certification.

Composition and weldability controls

Maximum cast-analysis limits for S355J2H

C	Si	Mn	P	S	Deoxidation
0.22%	0.55%	1.60%	0.030%	0.030%	FF — fully killed, with sufficient nitrogen-binding elements

These are specification maxima, not a typical heat analysis. EN 10210-1 applies the listed carbon maximum through 120 mm; EN 10219-1 covers the grade through 40 mm.

Carbon equivalent used by EN 10210-1 and EN 10219-1

CEV = C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15

Element contents are percentages by mass from the cast analysis.

Maximum CEV based on cast analysis

Product standard	Nominal or specified wall thickness t	Maximum CEV
EN 10219-1	t ≤ 40 mm	0.45
EN 10210-1	t ≤ 16 mm	0.45
EN 10210-1	16 < t ≤ 40 mm	0.47
EN 10210-1	40 < t ≤ 65 mm	0.50
EN 10210-1	65 < t ≤ 120 mm	0.53

The standards classify these steels as weldable, with welding practice established in accordance with EN 1011-1 and EN 1011-2 or the applicable fabrication specification. “Weldable” does not mean that one unrestricted procedure suits every section. Wall thickness, actual CEV, restraint, heat input, consumable hydrogen level, joint geometry and temperature determine the need for preheat and other controls. The principal metallurgical risk identified by the standards is hydrogen-assisted cold cracking in the weld region as thickness, strength and CEV increase.

Mechanical requirements

EN 10210-1 minimum yield strength, ReH

Specified wall thickness t (mm) (MPa)	t ≤ 16	16 < t ≤ 40	40 < t ≤ 63	63 < t ≤ 80	80 < t ≤ 100	100 < t ≤ 120
EN 10210-1 minimum yield strength, ReH	355	345	335	325	315	295

If a yield phenomenon is absent, the standard permits determination by proof strength in accordance with its test rules.

EN 10210-1 tensile strength, Rm

Specified wall thickness t (mm) (MPa)	t ≤ 3	3 < t ≤ 100	100 < t ≤ 120
EN 10210-1 tensile strength, Rm	510–680	470–630	450–600

EN 10210-1 minimum elongation after fracture

Specified wall thickness t (mm) (%)	t ≤ 40	40 < t ≤ 63	63 < t ≤ 100	100 < t ≤ 120
EN 10210-1 minimum elongation after fracture	22 longitudinal / 20 transverse	21 longitudinal / 19 transverse	20 longitudinal / 18 transverse	18 longitudinal / 16 transverse

For wall thickness below 3 mm, gauge length and required elongation are subject to the standard's thin-product provisions and agreement at ordering.

EN 10219-1 mechanical requirements

Property	t < 3 mm	3 ≤ t ≤ 16 mm	16 < t ≤ 40 mm
Minimum yield strength ReH	355 MPa	355 MPa	345 MPa
Tensile strength Rm	510–680 MPa	470–630 MPa	470–630 MPa
Minimum elongation A	Thin-product test provisions apply	20%	20%

For circular sections with D/T < 15 and square or rectangular sections with (B+H)/(2T) < 12.5, the EN 10219 minimum elongation is reduced by two percentage points.

J2 impact requirement under both product standards

Test	Requirement	Important applicability
Charpy V-notch	Minimum average 27 J at −20 °C	A set normally consists of three specimens; one result may be below 27 J but not below 70% of 27 J.
Reduced-size specimens	Required energy is reduced in proportion to specimen width	Specimen width may be reduced where the wall cannot provide a standard 10 mm specimen, but must not be less than 5 mm.
Thin walls	Impact testing not required for specified thickness below 6 mm	The J2 designation remains part of the grade, but no impact result should be expected on the certificate where the standard exempts testing.

Impact samples are normally taken away from the weld and, for square or rectangular sections, away from the corners. EN 10210 permits optional corner-region testing when explicitly ordered.

Fabrication and service implications

For EN 10219 products, cold forming concentrates plastic strain in the corners of square and rectangular sections. Welding, thermal cutting or detailing close to those corners must satisfy the applicable structural design and execution rules; flat-face test results should not be assumed to characterize a heavily cold-worked corner. EN 10210 includes optional tensile and impact testing of corner regions when project requirements justify it.

Stress-relief annealing above 580 °C, or for longer than one hour, may deteriorate the specified mechanical properties. Unqualified post-weld heat treatment, flame straightening or other extended thermal cycles should therefore not be applied solely on the basis that S355J2H is a conventional carbon-manganese structural steel.

S355J2H is not inherently corrosion-resistant or a weathering grade. Painting, metallic coating or another corrosion-protection system must be selected for the exposure. If hot-dip galvanizing is intended, suitability should be specified at enquiry and order using the relevant product-standard option; the section chemistry, fabrication details, venting and draining provisions, and galvanizing specification still require separate control.

The J2 test temperature is not by itself a universal minimum service temperature. Brittle-fracture selection also depends on stress level, thickness, detail category, loading rate, consequence of failure and the governing design code.

Inspection and certification

S355J2H is a J2 quality and is supplied with specific inspection under both EN 10210-1 and EN 10219-1. The standard inspection document is an EN 10204 type 3.1 certificate; type 3.2 may be ordered through the applicable option. The certificate should be traceable to the delivered bundle or individual section and should report the cast analysis, tensile results and applicable impact results, including test temperature and specimen orientation.

Items to reconcile between material certificate, marking and order

Check	Why it matters
Product standard and edition	Confirms hot finished EN 10210 or cold formed welded EN 10219 product route.
Grade and steel number	Should identify S355J2H and 1.0576 without conflicting designations.
Section dimensions and wall thickness	Determines the applicable yield, tensile and CEV requirements and the correct dimensional tolerances.
Heat or cast identity	Links chemical analysis and CEV to the delivered material.
Mechanical test unit and results	Confirms tensile compliance and, where required, J2 impact performance.
Impact specimen size, orientation and temperature	Prevents a reduced specimen or different test orientation from being misread as a standard full-size result.
Welded or seamless route	EN 10210 permits both; EN 10219 is a welded-product standard.
Declared options	Examples include galvanizing suitability, product analysis, additional reported elements, prohibition of body weld repair or type 3.2 certification.

Specifying and substituting S355J2H

Minimum information for a technically complete order

Order element	Typical content
Product standard	EN 10210-1 or EN 10219-1, including the required national adoption or project edition
Grade	S355J2H / 1.0576
Section form and size	CHS outside diameter × wall; SHS outside size × wall; RHS height × width × wall
Dimensional standard	EN 10210-2:2019 or EN 10219-2:2019 as appropriate
Quantity and length	Mass or total length, plus exact, approximate or random length requirements
Inspection document	EN 10204 type 3.1, or type 3.2 where independently validated inspection is required
Project options	Galvanizing suitability, product analysis, additional cast-analysis elements, weld-repair restrictions or special corner tests
Regulatory documentation	Required declaration, marking and traceability documentation for the market and intended structural use

A proposed substitution must be checked as a product substitution, not merely as a steel-name comparison. Confirm the manufacturing standard, section dimensions and corner radii, actual sectional properties, wall-thickness tolerances, yield strength at thickness, toughness, weld route, certification, residual-stress-sensitive design rules and project execution requirements. In particular, replacing an EN 10210 section with an EN 10219 section of nominally identical outside dimensions and grade may change both the calculated member resistance and the assumptions used by the structural design.

Sources

DIN EN 10210-1:2006-07 — Hot finished structural hollow sections of non-alloy and fine grain steels, Part 1DIN Media
DIN EN 10219-1:2006-07 — Cold formed welded structural hollow sections of non-alloy and fine grain steels, Part 1DIN Media
BS EN 10210-2:2019 — Hot finished steel structural hollow sections: tolerances, dimensions and sectional propertiesBritish Standards Institution
BS EN 10219-2:2019 — Cold formed welded steel structural hollow sections: tolerances, dimensions and sectional propertiesBritish Standards Institution
EN 10027-1:2005 — Designation systems for steels, Part 1: Steel namesCEN listing via iTeh Standards
S355J2H — EN 10210-1 material informationMannesmann
Steel construction products — Structural hollow sectionsSteelConstruction.info / Steel Construction Institute

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Discussing: S355J2H / 1.0576

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S355J0H / 1.0547	Related lower-toughness-temperature hollow-section grade	Same nominal strength class, but 27 J is specified at 0 °C rather than −20 °C. It is not a replacement where J2 toughness is required.
S355K2H / 1.0512	Related higher-impact-energy hollow-section grade	Specifies 40 J at −20 °C. Availability and the complete product specification must still be confirmed.
S355NH / 1.0539	Related normalized fine-grain hollow-section grade	A different metallurgical grade family with 40 J at −20 °C and separate composition, grain-size and delivery-condition requirements.
S355J2 / 1.0577	Related non-hollow structural steel designation	Used for products governed by standards such as EN 10025-2. It has a different steel number and must not be treated as an alternative designation for S355J2H.
ASTM structural tubing grades	No direct universal equivalent	ASTM grades may differ in chemistry, toughness, dimensional tolerances, manufacturing route, test orientation and certification. Substitution requires an explicit requirement-by-requirement comparison.