AS/NZS 3678:2011

Increasing options for specifiers AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

What are the options and how can they assist in design?

Options

Increased range of impact

Benefits

• Designs for low temperature applications (L20 and L40) can be done using
Changes to the
testing options:
• increases the range of service
temperatures that can be specified
Australian Standards. This simplifies technical specifications and preparations
of drawings.
• Steels with higher toughness levels for more critical applications can be specified.
As/Nzs 3678 Standard
• increases the minimum impact This provides greater confidence that the material will achieve the performance
energy that can be specified required in service.

Increased range of through-thickness • Allows specifiers to utilise a higher level (Z35) of through-thickness testing than
testing options was available with the previous version of the Standard, for applications requiring BlueScope Steel provides
welded joints with high restraint.
• Allows some level of through-thickness testing over a wider range of plate
engineers and constructors
thicknesses by exploiting the ‘Z15’ option that has been added to the Standard. with an assured steel
The ability to specify ‘fine-grained’ steels • Useful for when fabrication requires hot forming or the component is to be
product option in structural
normalised. A fine-grained structure assists the material retain strength and applications that meets or
toughness after hot forming or normalising.
exceeds the requirements of
More explicit warning regarding the • Ensures that fabricators do not reduce the strength and/or toughness AS3678 (AS3678 Structural
potential hazards of reheating grades of the steel during fabrication. Where the application and/or fabrication Steel – hot rolled plates,
in this Standard above 620°C process requires heating above 620°C, the purchaser should discuss
this with the steel manufacturer. floor plates and slabs). This
Australian Standard has
recently been reviewed and
Reducing risk and improving confidence there are some significant
The changes introduced in AS/NZS 3678:2011 improve the changes. This guide provides
confidence of specifiers and purchasers that the material specified advice of these changes
meets the requirements of the application.
and how you can confidently
The increased range of options now included in AS/NZS 3678:2011
provides the specifier and purchaser with the tools to specify the specify and purchase
correct material for an application. BlueScope Steel that is the
The correct specification lowers the risk of a material failing
in service. With the improved compliance requirements in
correct, compliant steel for
AS/NZS 3678:2011 both the specifier and purchaser can your application. More Y
be confident in the plate supplied to AS/NZS 3678:2011.

Where can I find more information?

A more detailed list of the changes to the AS/NZS 3678 Standard is available at: What are the changes?

BlueScope Steel XLERPLATE® website or contact BlueScope Steel Direct on The AS/NZS 3678 Standard Increases the ability of specifiers and purchasers
1 to obtain product that is compliant to the Standard.
xlerplate.com.au/as3678 1800 800 789 covering hot rolled plate
products changed in 2011 P
 rovides specifiers better guidance and a
2 wider range of grades from which to select the
to deliver two major benefits grades best suited to the fabrication process
to users of the Standard: and the application.

XLERPLATE® and BlueScope are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited.

© 2012 BlueScope Steel Limited ABN 16 000 011 058. All rights reserved.
 Two ways to check compliance
Ensuring product to AS/NZS 3678:2011
compliance
BlueScope Steel is Australia’s only
manufacturer of flat steel and has a long
1 1
Check the stencil on the plate has the following minimum information:
history of supplying quality products that A Grade and Standard
meet or exceed Australian Standards at its B Heat number
IS0:9001 accredited manufacturing facilities. C Brand
D Traceable plate or identification number
E Name of manufacturer
Why is improved compliance important?
Improved compliance to the standard gives the specifier and purchaser confidence that the material
obtained will perform as intended in the design and use phases of the project. Improved compliance
is brought about in AS/NZS 3678:2011 in a number of ways:
2 Check the test certificate has the following minimum information:
Improving compliance Why? BlueScope’s practice

Ensuring testing is • For test results to be meaningful • Product testing to international Certificates to be written in English
done at laboratories it is important that the laboratory standards via NATA accredited Reference to a third party accrediting body
that are accredited to understands the relevant standards on laboratories.
international standards how to prepare test specimens and • NATA accredited test certificates
recognised by ILAC, such as NATA
perform the tests. Where this is not are provided and kept on file; the last Steelmaker’s, manufacturer’s, supplier’s
done the plate tested may not meet 20 years are available online.
and the testing authority’s name
the requirements of the Standard.
Test certificate number and test number
Mandating a wider • Requiring test certificates to be written • Test certificates in English.
range of requirements in English ensures the test certificate • Guide on ‘How to read a test Date
on test certificates can be checked for compliance certificate’ to assist specifiers to
and that there is no confusion in understand critical attributes. Product, testing specification and grade,
interpreting the results. • BlueScope Steel’s production sites e.g. AS/NZS 3678-350L15
• Requiring the producing mill to be clearly marked on all test certificates.
listed on the test certificate allows you • BlueScope Steel documents a full Product delivery condition,
to assess the origin of the material. suite of critical properties that impact e.g. ‘As rolled’
• Reporting all elements in the Standard, post processing activities such as
allow customers to assess product welding and galvanising.  Dimensions
attributes such as weldability and • Local technical expertise available to  Product Steelmaking process,
suitability for galvanising. assist application – a phone call away.
e.g. basic oxygen, slab cast
Strengthening product • Appendix B of the AS/NZS 3678 • Steel products comply with all aspects  Unique product identifiers for the
conformity testing has been changed to ‘Normative’ of the Standard – a BlueScope Steel
status from ‘Informative’ status product is always guaranteed to
tested units and other product covered
meaning that the manufacturer must comply with the standard to which by the test certificate
comply with one of the sampling and it is manufactured.
Heat number
testing methodologies described in • BlueScope Steel’s plate mill is
Appendix B. In the previous version committed to pursuing third party Chemical Analysis type,
of AS/NZS 3678, the methodologies product conformity compliance e.g. either ladle or cast analysis (‘L’) Additional tests agreed between the
described for sampling and testing through ACRS.
or product (‘P’) analysis purchaser and the manufacturer
were for guidance only versus now
being mandated for compliance. Chemical composition of all elements Statement acknowledging the chemistry
• The previous Standard AS/NZS listed in Tables 2 or 3 of the standard and tested mechanical properties comply
3678:1996, allowed manufacturers
with the Standard
to demonstrate compliance to T
 he relevant mechanical testing
the Standard by the use of either results (including test piece position Signatory from the manufacturer,
a product certification scheme or
and orientation, batch or item basis supplier and certification authority
a supplier’s quality system. This
provision has been removed from of testing and results) attesting to items above.
the new Standard.