BV Grade A Shipbuilding Steel Plate

Technical Reviewer: Jack | SHH STEEL Material Solutions Department · Updated: 2026-10-27

BV Grade A, commercially written BV A on mill certificates and plate markings, is the ordinary-strength (normal-strength) hull structural steel under Bureau Veritas Rules for the Classification of Steel Ships — Materials (NR216) that implement IACS UR W11 for normal and higher strength hull steels. Minimum yield is 235 N/mm², tensile 400–520 N/mm² and 22 % minimum elongation (A5). Up to 50 mm thickness Charpy is generally not required; above 50 mm the impact route follows the UR W11 / NR216 supply table. Commercial enquiries use BV Grade A, BV A shipbuilding steel plate or BV A marine plate.

Equivalent grades: BV Grade A ≈ ASTM A131 Grade A ≈ ABS A ≈ DNV NV A ≈ LR Grade A ≈ CCS Grade A ≈ NK KA ≈ KR RA ≈ RINA Grade A ≈ GB 712 Grade A (all class-approved, stamped by the issuing society).

Because BV A needs no Charpy up to 50 mm in the usual supply routes, it is the economical choice for general hull plating on BV-classed newbuildings and repairs. Where the drawing calls for BV Grade B, D or E, Grade A cannot be substituted downward. BV Grade A / BV Grade A / BV Grade A raise toughness without raising yield.

Plates that pass mill tests under Bureau Veritas survey are die-stamped or stencilled BV Grade A or BV A (plus Z or U where through-thickness or ultrasonic requirements apply) and are supplied with a mill certificate the BV Surveyor endorses. SHH STEEL supplies BV A plate from Chinese mills that hold Bureau Veritas works approval for the grade, from stock in common sizes or from a mill rolling cycle, with BV survey arranged at the mill.

Size range. BV A is rolled on wide plate mills in China from about 5 mm to 100 mm and more, widths 1500–3500 mm and lengths up to about 18 m depending on mill; 6–25 mm plate in 1800–2500 mm width is the bulk of the market. Plates under about 6 mm are often cut from BV-approved hot-rolled coil, which needs separate approval of the coil process. Ask for confirmation for plates over 100 mm or wider than 3200 mm.

Product (check) analysis column: BV NR216 specify heat (ladle) limits; no numeric product-analysis tolerance is tabulated in the rule text reviewed, so product (check) limits are agreed on the order or taken from the approved mill specification and certificate.

Source: IACS UR W11 Table 1 (ladle samples) for normal-strength Grade A — the chemistry Bureau Veritas applies to BV A hull plate under NR216 Materials rules. Heat (ladle) analysis is determined by the mill on each heat and must meet Table 1. Product (check) analysis on the finished plate is not given numeric tolerances in UR W11 itself; when a purchaser or Surveyor requires product analysis on the certificate, ask at enquiry and record the agreed tolerances — do not invent numbers.

Grade A uses the C-linked manganese rule (Mn ≥ 2.5 × C) and allows the widest Si cap (0.50 %). It is the only ordinary-strength grade that may be supplied without fine-grain practice in the thinner bands. In practice Chinese mills supply aluminium-killed BV A; treat typical ladle figures as indicative only and check the actual mill certificate.

On the 200 mm gauge full-thickness flat specimen (25 mm width), minimum elongation depends on thickness:

All four normal-strength grades share these tensile values. For each batch, one tensile test is taken from one piece (extra tests when finished weight exceeds 50 t, and for every 10 mm variation in thickness from the same cast), unless otherwise agreed by BV.

generally not required ≤50 mm; >50 mm at +20 °C unless fine-grain N (TM at Society discretion). Deoxidation: any except rimmed ≤50 mm; killed >50 mm. Average energies at +20 °C (full-size specimens, long / trans) per IACS UR W11 Table 6:

One individual value may fall below the average if it is at least 70 % of it. Generally only longitudinal specimens are prepared unless the purchaser or BV asks for transverse. The test frequency and permitted delivery condition (AR, CR, N or TM) follow the UR W11 / NR216 supply-condition table for Grade A, so write the condition into the PO. Beyond 100 mm thickness is special consideration with BV (see UNCERTAIN).

Bureau Veritas applies the thickness tolerances of IACS UR W13 (Thickness tolerances of steel plates and wide flats) unless the purchase order states otherwise. In practice class-approved hull plate is ordered to the class minus-tolerance band commonly associated with UR W13 (often 0.3 mm minus — confirm the exact class and plus tolerance on the PO; see UNCERTAIN). Plus tolerance, flatness, width and length follow the agreed national or international standard (for example ASTM A6 or EN 10029) unless specified otherwise.

Surface quality follows a recognised standard such as EN 10163 parts 1–2 (or equivalent accepted by BV). Surface defects may be ground within UR W11 limits; grinding areas are checked so remaining thickness stays within the allowed minus tolerance. If you plan to shot-blast and prime at the yard, state any surface class on receipt in the order.

Quantities are approximate and change daily (indicative — confirm before booking); all stock plates carry BV A marking and Bureau Veritas–endorsed mill certificates when sold as BV class plate. Sizes outside the table (for example 3000 mm width, 60–100 mm thickness, or fixed lengths for a cutting plan) are produced in the next mill rolling cycle, typically 3–6 weeks including BV survey. Send your size list and we will reply with what is in stock and what must be rolled.

Packing. Plates are bundled by size with steel strapping, marked with heat number, grade and BV stamp, and shipped in containers (up to about 11.8 m) or break bulk for longer plates.

These are comparisons, not substitutions. A BV-classed hull needs plate made by a mill approved by Bureau Veritas for this grade and certified under BV survey. Dual or multi-class certification (for example BV + ABS, BV + DNV, or BV + LR) can be arranged at the mill when the heat is surveyed by both societies.

All four normal-strength grades share the same 235 N/mm² yield and 400–520 N/mm² tensile range; they differ in deoxidation and toughness. Compared with BV Grade B, Grade A needs no CVN up to 50 mm; Grade B adds 0 °C where the supply table requires it. Grade D (−20 °C) and Grade E (−40 °C) go further for colder service. The hull steel grade for each strake is set by the classification rules according to structural member category and thickness, so check the approved drawing first. Sheer strakes, bilge strakes, deck stringers and ice-belt plating usually call for B, D, E or higher-strength plates under BV Steel Plates.

Compared with land structural steels, BV A is close in strength to ASTM A36, ASTM A283 Grade C and S275JR class steels but differs in class thickness tolerance practice, the C + Mn/6 ≤ 0.40 cap, and above all the BV survey and BV A stamp. For a BV-classed vessel only BV-certified plate is accepted.

When BV BV A is the right choice: typical uses are general hull plating and members where the material class does not require an impact test up to 50 mm — side shell, bottom shell, deck plating and secondary members on BV-classed newbuildings and repairs. The Charpy temperature (+20 °C) is fixed by the letter A, and the strength by the normal-strength level (ReH 235 N/mm²). Pick the strength from the scantling calculation and the letter from the material class and design temperature on the approved drawing. Swapping to a different letter or strength needs class approval of the drawing change, not just a new purchase order.

Typical uses: general side and bottom shell, strength deck plating where no CVN is required, pontoons and barges, inland and coastal vessels, and ship-repair replacement steel on BV-classed tonnage. Offshore and port structures also use ordinary-strength grades for secondary steel; see offshore platform steel plates for primary structure grades.

Cutting: oxy-fuel, plasma and laser cutting all work without preheat in normal thicknesses. Welding: with C + Mn/6 at or below 0.40 %, BV A is welded with ordinary-strength consumables approved for the grade and +20 °C toughness level required by the shipyard’s BV-approved WPS; preheat is generally unnecessary below about 25–30 mm except in cold or humid conditions — follow your approved welding procedure, not a generic number from a catalogue. Forming: plates intended for cold flanging should be ordered with the flanging quality agreed on the PO.

Processing notes for BV A: cold forming and flanging of normal-strength plate are routine. Keep the cut edges of plate thicker than 50 mm free of notches, because thick plate of this grade is controlled more tightly for deoxidation (any except rimmed ≤50 mm; killed >50 mm).

Every plate is tested and marked at the mill under Bureau Veritas survey; the mill certificate lists heat number, ladle chemistry (elements required by UR W11 Table 1, plus intentionally added elements), tensile results, impact results at +20 °C where required, condition of supply and plate numbers, and is endorsed by the attending Surveyor. On request we add EN 10204 3.2 certificates with third-party witness by TÜV, SGS, LR or another agency, ultrasonic testing (U mark) or through-thickness testing (Z mark), and multi-class certification with other major class societies (ABS, DNV, LR, CCS, NK, KR, RINA).

On receipt, check: BV Grade A / BV A stamp and heat number on each plate match the certificate; the certificate shows BV endorsement, not just a mill stamp; thickness at several points meets the ordered UR W13 / PO tolerance; impact results agree with the table below for the delivered thickness.

Charpy acceptance for BV A by thickness (from IACS UR W11 Table 6; actual results as per standard and mill certificate):

On receipt, check that the test temperature is +20 °C and that the energy matches the band for the delivered thickness. Also check that the plate number on the stamp matches the certificate line, and that the BV Surveyor endorsement is present. If UT was ordered (e.g. EN 10160 or ASTM A578 level), check the UT report as well. If the PO asked for 3.2, the inspector’s report must name the witnessed tests and plate numbers.

• Ordering “BV A” or “Grade A” without requiring Bureau Veritas certification (BV Grade A / BV A stamp + Surveyor-endorsed certificate)
• Accepting GB 712 or ASTM A131 certificates alone for a BV-classed hull
• Ignoring C + Mn/6 ≤ 0.40 on the ladle analysis
• Substituting BV Grade A where the drawing requires Grade B, D or E
• Coil-cut plate without BV coil-process approval
• Confusing Grade A with higher-strength BV AH32

Each of these is avoided by writing the requirement into the purchase order and checking it on the certificate before the plates are cut.

State the grade and rule (BV Grade A / BV A, Bureau Veritas NR216 Materials – rolled steel for hull), whether multi-class certification is needed, thickness, width, length and quantity per size, condition of supply, any Z or U requirement, surface or primer requirements, certificate type (mill certificate with BV endorsement, EN 10204 3.2 with third-party witness), packing and destination port. Send the list to SHH STEEL for price, available stock and lead time.

Sample PO line: “Steel plate to Bureau Veritas Rules for Steel Ships (NR216 Materials), Grade A (BV A), delivery condition [AR/CR/N/TM], 20 × 2500 × 12000 mm, 30 pcs, marked BV Grade A / BV A, certificate endorsed by BV Surveyor, EN 10204 3.2 [if required], UT [if required], CIF [port].” Each bracketed item changes price, lead time and which mills can supply, so fix them at enquiry stage.

BV Grade A / BV A is ordinary-strength hull steel under Bureau Veritas NR216 Materials rules and IACS UR W11: 235 N/mm² minimum yield, 400–520 N/mm² tensile, Charpy at +20 °C where required, and class survey with the BV A stamp. What the rules leave open has to be fixed in the order: BV (or multi-class) certification, the supply condition and impact testing, whether product analysis is required on the certificate, the thickness-tolerance class, and the certificate type (3.1 vs 3.2).

SHH STEEL supplies BV A plate rolled by Chinese mills that hold Bureau Veritas works approval for the grade, so every plate carries the BV A stamp and a Surveyor-endorsed certificate traceable to its heat. Common thicknesses are available from stock; other sizes are scheduled into the mill rolling cycle with BV survey arranged at the mill. On request we add EN 10204 3.2 certificates with third-party witness (TÜV, SGS, LR or another agency) and joint certification with ABS, DNV, LR, CCS, NK, KR or RINA.

We accept T/T or L/C payment, with inspection before the balance is paid. Small quantities in several sizes, or BV A mixed with other BV Grade A/B/D/E or higher-strength grades such as BV AH36, can be combined in one container. A dedicated coordinator sends production and shipping updates with photos, and our own workshop cuts to size, bevels, drills and machines plates before shipment so they arrive ready for fabrication.

Request a quotation: send SHH STEEL the grade (BV A / BV Grade A), thickness, width, length, quantity per size and destination port, plus any multi-class, Z/U or 3.2 certificate requirement. We reply with price, available stock and lead time.