EN 10219 S355JRH Structural Steel Pipe: Grade Selection & Comparison

Need a structural steel pipe with 355 MPa yield strength + room temperature impact toughness + good weldability? EN 10219 S355JRH - Europe's most versatile cold-formed hollow section.

EN 10219 S355JRH is a cold-formed welded hollow section grade under the European standard EN 10219. It offers higher strength than S235JRH while maintaining good weldability, making it suitable for load-bearing applications.

This page is a grade selection and comparison guide for EN 10219 S355JRH. It covers S355JRH vs S355J2H vs S355J0H vs S355K2H, impact grade selection, and international equivalents, with brief size ranges for CHS, SHS, and RHS as supplementary information. ▶ For detailed S355J2H product data (sizes, chemistry, properties, weight chart), see: [S355J2H Square Hollow Section Specification].

What is EN 10219?

EN 10219 is the European Union's technical specification for cold-formed welded hollow profiles of non-alloy and fine-grained structural steel (including round tubes CHS, square tubes SHS, and rectangular tubes RHS).

The standard strictly stipulates:
● Manufacturing process
● Dimensional tolerance (see EN 10219-2 for details)
● Mechanical properties
● Chemical composition
● Surface quality

These requirements ensure high consistency and reliability of the product and are particularly suitable for projects with high structural safety requirements.

△ Related standards: This standard is also used in conjunction with EN 10210 (hot finished hollow profiles) and EN 1090 (CE certification implementation standard). 

Material Grade Analysis: The Meaning of S355JRH

S355JRH is a steel grade. The meaning of each letter and number is as follows:

Symbol	Meaning
S	Structural Steel
355	Represents the minimum yield strength of this steel as 355 MPa (applicable to wall thickness ≤ 16 mm).
JR	Indicates that the steel has an impact energy ≥ 27 J when subjected to impact testing at room temperature (+20°C). This demonstrates its good toughness and ability to resist impact loads.
H	Represents hollow section steel.

Key Advantages:
S355JRH offers 355 MPa yield strength, ≥27 J impact energy at +20°C, and excellent weldability with carbon content ≤0.22%. Its cold-formed accuracy meets EN 10219-2 tolerances, ensuring high on-site assembly efficiency. A yield strength of 355 MPa ensures that the material can withstand medium to high loads and is one of the most widely used structural steel grades in European and international engineering.

S355JR vs S355JRH: What's the Difference?

S355JR is a general structural steel grade defined in EN 10025-2 for plates, sections, and bars. S355JRH is the hollow section version of S355JR, standardized in EN 10219 for cold-formed welded tubular products. While their chemical composition and mechanical properties are nearly identical, S355JRH includes additional requirements for hollow section dimensional accuracy and weld seam quality.

Core Grade Comparison: S355JRH vs S355J2H vs S355J0H vs S355K2H

In EN 10219 standard, for the same strength grade (e.g., S355), different grades can be selected according to impact toughness requirements:
△ Procurement Tips: If the project is exported to Nordic countries, Canada, or Russia, please select S355J2H or S355K2H to ensure low-temperature toughness.

Strength Grade Comparison: S235 vs S275 vs S355

The main performance differences between S355JRH and S275JOH, S235JRH are as follows:
Selection Recommendations:
● S235JRH: Lightweight structures, non-load-bearing components, price-sensitive projects
● S275JOH: General load-bearing structures, 0°C environment
● S355JRH: High load-bearing requirements, normal temperature environment, bridges/high-rise buildings

International Standard Material Equivalence Comparison:

S355JRH is equivalent to the following international standards:

EU (EN): EN 10219 S355JRH
USA (ASTM): ASTM A500 Grade C (closest equivalent; yield strength 317 MPa min, not identical)
Germany (DIN): DIN EN 10219 S355JRH
China (GB/T): GB/T 6728 / GB/T 1591 Q355B / Q355C
UK (BS): BS EN 10219 S355JRH

Japan (JIS): JIS G3466 STK490 / STKR400

Alternative Materials to S355JRH

If S355JRH is not available, consider:

● S355J2H: Same strength but guaranteed impact toughness at -20°C.
● ASTM A500 Gr.C: Similar yield strength (317 MPa min) for North American projects. Note: A500 Gr.C has lower yield strength than S355JRH and different testing requirements.
● Q355B (GB/T 1591): Chinese equivalent for domestic projects.

Delivery Condition Comparison: Ordinary vs Normalized vs Thermomechanically Rolled

EN 10219 also includes higher performance grades:
Normalized Steel (N) vs. Ordinary Steel (JR/J0/J2) Core Differences:
● N series requires mandatory impact testing (minimum -20°C / 40J);
● Finer grains, superior overall mechanical properties;
● Suitable for projects with higher safety and toughness requirements.

Common Specification Range: 

S355JRH steel pipes can be manufactured in circular (CHS), square (SHS), and rectangular (RHS) cross-sections.

a. Round Tube (CHS)

Parameters	Range	Common Specifications Examples
Outer Diameter	φ21.3mm - 2500mm+	φ219, φ273, φ323.9, φ355.6, φ406.4, φ508mm
Wall Thickness	2mm - 50mm	2.0, 2.6, 3.2, 4.0, 5.0, 6.3, 8.0, 10.0, 12.5, 16.0, 20.0

b. Square Tube (SHS) and Rectangular Tube (RHS)

Type	Side Length/Size Range	Wall Thickness Range
Square Tube	20×20mm - 400×400mm	1.5mm - 40mm
Rectangular Tube	50×30mm - 500×300mm	1.5mm - 40mm

▶ For detailed S355J2H square and rectangular hollow section sizes and weight chart, see our: [EN 10219 S355J2H Square Hollow Section Sizes].

△ Need specific specifications? 

Contact us for customized sizes and the latest quotes: info@hu-steel.com

Applications:

S355JRH, due to its higher strength, is widely used in engineering scenarios with higher requirements for load-bearing capacity and safety.

1. Building Structures: Such as bridges, supporting frames for high-rise buildings, steel structural frames, and large-span truss structures.
2. Machinery Manufacturing: Used for manufacturing heavy equipment for engineering machinery, load-bearing structural components, and crane booms.
3. Energy and Chemical Industries: Used for pipelines, pressure vessels (requires EN 1090 certification), wind turbine towers, and solar photovoltaic supports.
4. Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering: Used for ship hull structures, offshore platform components, steel pile structures, dock supports, and foundation engineering.
5. Infrastructure: Temporary supports and heavy structural frames.

Why is S355JRH widely used in these fields?

● Excellent flexural strength: Its yield strength of 355 MPa allows it to withstand higher loads;
● Good weldability: Facilitates on-site construction and joint connections;

● Reliable overall performance: A balance of strength, toughness, and workability.

Purchasing and Application Recommendations (Must Read):

1. Clarify impact temperature requirements

If your project is located in a cold region or involves winter construction, be sure to confirm whether -20°C impact toughness is required and choose S355J2H instead of S355JRH accordingly.

2. Verify material certificates

Request the supplier to provide an EN 10204 Type 3.1 material certificate during procurement, verify the chemical composition and mechanical property data, and ensure that the material meets the standard requirements.

3. On-site inspection points

Randomly sample upon arrival, measure the wall thickness and side length with calipers, and check whether they are within the standard tolerance range. For important structures, a third party can be commissioned to conduct a re-inspection.

4. Corrosion protection

As a carbon steel, S355JRH is not inherently corrosion-resistant. For use outdoors or in humid environments, hot-dip galvanizing or coating protection is required.

FAQs:

Q1: My project is in a cold region. Should I choose S355JRH or S355J2H?

A: For cold regions or winter construction, choose S355J2H (guaranteed impact energy ≥27J at -20°C). S355JRH is only guaranteed at +20°C and is more suitable for normal temperature environments.

Q2: What is the price of S355JRH structural steel? How do you provide a quote?

A: The price depends on specifications, wall thickness, quantity, surface treatment (black skin/galvanized/painted), and delivery terms (FOB/CIF/CFR). Please provide the above information, and we will provide a quote within 2 hours. Due to fluctuations in raw material prices, the quote is valid for 7 days.

Q3: Does S355JRH structural steel pipe require anti-corrosion treatment? Can you do it?

A: S355JRH is carbon steel and is not inherently corrosion-resistant. When used outdoors or in humid environments, anti-corrosion treatment is necessary. We can provide:

● Hot-dip galvanizing (most common, salt spray test 500-1000 hours)
● Painting (color and film thickness according to customer requirements)

● Epoxy powder coating (suitable for special environments)

Q4: Can you provide an EN 10204 3.1 material certificate?

A: Yes. We provide an EN 10204 3.1 type certificate for each batch of S355JRH structural pipe, including traceable data such as furnace number, chemical composition, and mechanical properties. We can also cooperate with third-party testing (such as SGS, BV) if needed.

Q5: Are S355JRH and Q355B interchangeable?

A: Their chemical composition and strength grades are basically the same, but the impact toughness test temperatures differ. For export projects to the EU, it is recommended to purchase according to EN standards; for domestic projects, Q355B can be used as a substitute, but it is necessary to confirm that the customer accepts.

Q6: Which is stronger, S355JRH or ASTM A500 Gr.C?

A: Their strengths are similar (355MPa vs 345MPa). The choice depends on the target market—S355JRH is used for EU projects, and A500 Gr.C is used for North American projects.

Q7: Will the strength decrease when the wall thickness exceeds 16mm?

A: Yes. When the wall thickness of S355JRH is >16mm, the minimum yield strength drops to 345 MPa. This is a standard requirement and does not affect compliance.

Related Resources

●  S235JRH and S355J2H Structural Steel 

●  Circular Hollow Sections (CHS)

●  ASTM A500 Structural Tubing

●  EN 10219 S460MH Piling Pipe: Selection & Application

●  EN 10219 vs EN 10210: Comprehensive Comparison