ISI Standards for Sheets, Plates and Bars - India

 The generally accepted meanings for  the terms, foil, sheet, strip and plate are as follows: 

Foil is sheet metal of varying widths having thickness not exceeding 1.6 mm. 

Strip is a metal rolled in any thickness between 1.6 mm and 10 mm and its widths vary from 100 mm to 1,550 mm. It is designated with letters ISST followed by the dimensions in mm in order of length, width and thickness. 

Sheet is a term used for metals having thickness lying between 0.4 mm to 4 mm and having a 

width varying from 1,800 mm to 4,000 mm. It is designated by letter ISSH followed by the dimensions in mm in order of length, width and thickness. 

Plates denote all widths of metals where the minimum thickness exceeds 5 mm and maximum upto 63 mm and all widths of metal and length varying from 2,200 mm to 13,500 mm. It is designated by letters ISPL followed by dimension in mm in order of length, width and thickness. 

18:1138-1958 gives sizes of metal strips, sheets, flats, plates, and bars round and square. Here the nominal sizes are given as well as the tolerances in the sizes kept in their manufacture are also specified. 

18:1731-1961 gives dimensions for steel flats, and their tolerances for structural and general engineering purposes while 18:1732-1961 gives dimensions for round and square steel bars for 

structural and general engineering purposes. 

Dimensions for steel plates, sheets and strips for structural and general engineering purposes are given in 18:1730-1961. The following 18 specifications also give the sizes of different structural 

sections made of steels for general purposes of engineering: 

18:808-1957 specification for rolled steel beams, channels and angle sections 

18 : 1173-1957 specification for rolled steel beams, channels and angle sections and for bars 

18:1250-1958 Specification for rolled steel beams, channels and angle sections, and bulb angles 

18:1863-1963 Dimensions for rolled steel bulb plates. 

All these structural steel sections are given combined in ISI standard handbook for structural engineers. 

18:6911-1972 gives dimensions of stainless steel plates, sheets and strips 

18:1079-1973 gives dimensions of hot rolled, carbon steel sheets and strip 

18:6527-1972 gives dimensions of stainless steel wire rods 

18:6528-1972 gives dimensions of stainless steel wire 

18:6529-1972 gives dimensions of stainless blooms, billets and slabs for forgings. 

18:6603-1973 gives dimensions of stainless steel bars and flats 

All sizes given in IS standards are not manufactured by companies. Only those sizes which are in large and continuous demand are made normally by them. So design engineers should refer to manufacturers' catalogues for the available sizes.