Overview - ISO 16162:2012 (Cold‑rolled steel sheet, dimensional & shape tolerances)
ISO 16162:2012 specifies dimensional and shape tolerances for all cold‑rolled steel sheet products (note: cold‑rolled steel strip is excluded). Prepared by ISO/TC 17/SC 12, this fourth edition sets standardized requirements for thickness, width, length, camber, out‑of‑square and flatness for coils and cut lengths. The standard is organized into Tables 1–8 and includes measurement notes and special conditions (welded coils, resquared material, strength adjustments).
Key topics and technical requirements
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Thickness tolerances (Table 1)
- Tolerances given by specified thickness ranges and coil/sheet width.
- Measured at any point ≥25 mm from a side edge.
- For sheets with welds, tolerances are doubled over a 15 m length near the weld.
- For specified strength R ≥ 360 MPa, thickness tolerances increase by 10 %.
- For non‑nominal ordered thicknesses, total tolerance is twice the tabled value (distribution by agreement).
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Width tolerances (Table 2)
- Typical +3 mm (≤1 200 mm), +5 mm (>1 200 ≤1 500 mm), +6 mm (>1 500 mm) with 0 mm negative tolerance for coils and cut lengths (not resquared).
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Length tolerances (Table 3)
- Cut lengths: e.g., +10/0 mm for ≤2 000 mm, percentage allowance for mid ranges, and +40/0 mm for >8 000 mm. Resquared material may require tighter agreement.
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Camber and out‑of‑square (Tables 4–6)
- Camber: coils - 20 mm in any 5 000 mm length; cut lengths - 0.4 % × length.
- Out‑of‑square: general = 0.7 % × width; resquared material has specified millimetre limits by size.
- Measurement methods illustrated (straight edge on concave side; diagonal comparison).
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Flatness tolerances (Tables 7–8)
- Standard and restricted flatness tables vary by specified thickness, width and material strength (<220, 220–340, >340 MPa).
- Flatness is defined as maximum deviation from a flat horizontal surface with the sheet under its own weight.
Practical applications and users
Who uses ISO 16162:
- Steel mills and cold‑rolling producers (specifying and certifying product tolerances)
- Quality control and inspection teams (acceptance criteria and measurement methods)
- OEMs and fabricators in automotive, appliance, construction and metalworking (material procurement specs)
- Purchasing and contract managers (defining tolerances in supply agreements)
- Design and production engineers (ensuring manufacturability and fit)
Practical uses:
- Defining purchase specifications for cold‑rolled sheets and coils
- Acceptance testing and inspection procedures at incoming goods or prior to forming/stamping
- Contract negotiation where resquared, flattened or higher‑strength product tolerances are required
Related keywords
ISO 16162, cold‑rolled steel sheet, dimensional tolerances, shape tolerances, thickness tolerances, width tolerance, camber, out‑of‑square, flatness tolerance, coils, cut lengths, resquared material.
