GL GRADE FH32 and GL-F32 steel plate supplier

Gangsteel supplies GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32) shipbuilding steel plate against the Germanischer Lloyd Section 1 B hull-structural grade identified below, the contract edition and the issued certificate.

Numerical requirements on this page are taken from a complete official-publication chapter transcription of Germanischer Lloyd, Rules for Classification and Construction, II Materials and Welding, 1 Metallic Materials, 2 Steel and Iron Materials, Edition 2009, in force 1 April 2009, Section 1 B “Normal and Higher Strength Hull Structural Steels,” Tables 1.3, 1.6 and 1.8, together with the general provisions of Section 1 A. An official binary PDF of that 2009 GL AG edition was not obtained for this page, and the figures were not visually confirmed against original page images. That 2009 GL chapter is a historic official predecessor. After the DNV–GL merger, the GL II-1-2 book was succeeded by DNV-RU-SHIP Part 2 Chapter 2. The current listed official ship-rules edition is DNV-RU-SHIP, July 2026, entering into force on 1 January 2027; those later tables have not been independently verified here. The figures below are 2009 GL rule requirements for plate, not a claim that material offered today complies with a later edition, and not measured results for a particular heat. The contract edition, the certificate and the attending surveyor govern any actual supply.

Grade Designation

The official designation in the 2009 GL rules is GL-F32. Table 1.3, note 1 allows the letter H to be added to the steel-grade designation, for example GL–AH 32, giving the commercial form GL Grade FH32. Commercial forms include GL Grade FH32 and GL-F32, GL-FH32. It is one of the three higher-strength levels (315, 355 and 390 N/mm²), each with four toughness grades.

Key Advantages of GL-F32 Steel Plate

GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32) is a weldable higher-strength hull structural steel in 2009 GL Section 1 B, Table 1.8 (minimum yield 315 N/mm²), with a −60 °C Charpy V-notch laboratory test class. It is used for welded ship structural members where this GL grade is specified.

Chemical Composition (Ladle Analysis)

Table 1.3, ladle analysis.

Element / requirement	Value	Notes
Deoxidation	Killed and fine grain treated (Table 1.3).	—
C, max. (%)	0.16	—
Mn (%)	0.90–1.60	Table 1.3. Note 2 (0.70 % minimum at t ≤ 12.5 mm) is marked on the GL-A, GL-D and GL-E column only.
Si, max. (%)	0.50	—
P, max. (%)	0.025	—
S, max. (%)	0.025	—
Al (acid soluble), min. (%)	0.015	Total aluminium may be calculated in place of the acid-soluble part and shall then be not less than 0.020 % (Table 1.3, note 3). The steel is to contain aluminium, niobium, vanadium or other suitable grain-refining elements, singly or in combination. When used singly, the specified minimum of that element applies; when used in combination, those minima are not applicable (note 4).
Nb (%)	0.02–0.05	Range when the element is used singly (note 4). Nb + V + Ti shall not exceed 0.12 % in total (Table 1.3).
V (%)	0.05–0.10	Range when the element is used singly (note 4). Nb + V + Ti shall not exceed 0.12 % in total (Table 1.3).
Ti, max. (%)	0.02	Included in the 0.12 % Nb+V+Ti total.
Cu, max. (%)	0.30	Table 1.3 (both strength columns).
Cr, max. (%)	0.20	—
Ni, max. (%)	0.80	—
Mo, max. (%)	0.08	—
N, max. (%)	0.009 (0.012 where Al is present)	—
Nb + V + Ti, max. (%)	0.12	Table 1.3 brace.

TM-rolled supply may be approved or required to vary from this chemistry (Table 1.3, note 5). Slight variations may be agreed with GL for plates and wide flats over 50 mm (B.4.1). When required, Ceq is calculated from the ladle analysis by the IIW formula in Table 1.3, note 6; Table 1.4 sets TM-rolled maxima by grade and thickness, and the contract table governs. A Pcm value may be agreed with GL in place of Ceq (B.4.3.2).

Mechanical Properties

Tensile specimens: transverse for plates and wide flats ≥ 600 mm wide, otherwise parallel to the rolling direction (A.8.2.2). Yield is ReH or Rp0.2 (B.6.1). Impact specimens are generally longitudinal (B.6.3). Impact temperatures are laboratory conditions, not approved minimum service temperatures. The table is a rule requirement, not a certificate already issued for a particular plate.

Property	Requirement	Notes
Yield strength ReH or Rp0.2, min.	315 N/mm²	Table 1.8.
Tensile strength Rm	440–570 N/mm²	For TM-rolled steels, the tensile strength may be up to 30 N/mm² below the lower limit without giving cause for complaint (Table 1.8, note 2).
Elongation A, Lo = 5.65 √So, min.	22 %	Table 1.8 also specifies elongation for Lo = 200 mm flat specimens by thickness and strength family.
Impact test temperature	−60 °C	Laboratory test condition only, not an approved minimum service temperature.
KV, t ≤ 50 mm, long. / transv., min. average	31 J / 22 J	Table 1.8.
KV, 50 mm < t ≤ 70 mm, long. / transv., min. average	38 J / 26 J	Table 1.8.
KV, 70 mm < t ≤ 150 mm, long. / transv., min. average	46 J / 31 J	Table 1.8.

Average of three Charpy specimens; one individual value may be lower, but not less than 70 % of the average (B.6.4). Impact tests are generally not required below 6 mm (B.6.5). Sub-size: 5/6 of the tabulated energy at 10 × 7.5 mm and 2/3 at 10 × 5.0 mm (B.6.3). Delivery condition: Table 1.6 (GL-F32, GL-F36, GL-F40, any grain-refining practice): t ≤ 150 mm, normalised, TM-rolled, or quenched and tempered. Subject to special approval of GL, sections in GL-F32 and GL-F36 with thickness ≤ 50 mm may be as-rolled or normalising-rolled (Table 1.6, note 3).

Available Dimensions

Section 1 B.1.2 is primarily intended for plates and wide flats up to 150 mm thick and for sections and bars up to 50 mm thick, in all of the normal and higher-strength grades. Greater thicknesses may be allowed or required in particular cases after consideration of the technical circumstances. For shipbuilding flat products the permitted lower deviation from nominal thickness is a uniform −0.3 mm (Class B of Table 1.1, B.8). Width, length and any stock programme are as agreed for the order; no stock size is implied here.

Main Applications

GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32) is used for welded hull and ship structural members specified to this Germanischer Lloyd grade. Fitness for a given location, thickness and service is set by the contract design and the attending society.

Equivalent Grades of GL-F32

Official comparable product pages, where inventoried, are linked below.

Society / standard	Comparable grade	Qualification
ABS	ABS Grade FH32	Comparison at the same strength and toughness class only.
BV	BV Grade FH32	Comparison at the same strength and toughness class only.
CCS	CCS Grade FH32	Comparison at the same strength and toughness class only.
DNV	DNV Grade FH32 (NV F32)	Comparison at the same strength and toughness class only.
KR	KR Grade FH32	Comparison at the same strength and toughness class only.
LR	LR Grade FH32	Comparison at the same strength and toughness class only.

Comparison only: not automatic equivalence or substitution. Linked pages state that society’s own requirements, which are not Germanischer Lloyd requirements. The 2009 GL tables on this page are the only GL numerical source used here.

Related Products

Further official Germanischer Lloyd hull-steel pages from Gangsteel:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32, GL-FH32) steel plate?

GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32, GL-FH32) is a Germanischer Lloyd hull structural steel in Section 1 B of the 2009 GL II-1-2 chapter. The official designation is GL-F32. Table 1.3, note 1 allows the letter H to be added, giving the alias GL-FH32. It is a higher-strength grade (minimum yield 315 N/mm²) in the −60 °C laboratory impact class of Table 1.8.

Does the impact-test temperature define the service limit of GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32, GL-FH32)?

No. The −60 °C Charpy temperature is a laboratory test condition. Approved service temperature and structural use are set by the ship rules, the design and the attending surveyor.

Can another society’s similarly named grade replace GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32, GL-FH32) automatically?

No. The Equivalent Grades table is a comparison at the same strength and toughness class, not automatic equivalence or substitution.

Does GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32, GL-FH32) automatically include through-thickness (Z) properties?

No. Thickness-direction testing applies only when ordered, under Section 1 I of the 2009 chapter. It is not implied by the grade name and is not in these official product titles.

What should an enquiry for GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32, GL-FH32) include?

State GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32, GL-FH32), the governing rules edition, dimensions, quantity, delivery condition, inspection documents, and any transverse impact or through-thickness testing required. Availability is confirmed for the enquiry; none is implied here.

Contact Gangsteel with your GL Grade FH32 (GL-F32) plate specification and project requirements for an order-specific technical and commercial review. Further GL hull-steel pages are listed on the Germanischer Lloyd shipbuilding steel plates hub and at Gangsteel.