IS 800 is the design code. IS 808 gives the dimensions and properties of rolled beams, columns, channels and angles. IS 2062 gives the steel grades. IS 1161 covers structural tubes, IS 4923 covers square and rectangular hollow sections, and IS 1786 covers rebar. Bolts and washers sit in IS 1363, 1364, 3757, 6649, 2016 and 3063.
The standards at a glance
| Standard | What it covers | You use it to |
|---|---|---|
| IS 800:2007 | General construction in steel, code of practice using the limit state method | Design members and connections |
| IS 808:2021 | Dimensions and properties of hot rolled steel beam, column, channel and angle sections | Look up size, mass and section properties |
| IS 2062 | Hot rolled medium and high tensile structural steel, with grades such as E250 | Choose the steel grade and yield strength |
| IS 1161 | Steel tubes for structural purposes, circular | Specify pipe sections |
| IS 4923 | Hollow steel sections for structural use, square and rectangular | Specify hollow section members |
| IS 1786 | High strength deformed steel bars and wires for concrete reinforcement | Specify and weigh rebar |
| IS 1363, IS 1364 | Hexagon head bolts, screws and nuts | Specify ordinary structural bolts |
| IS 3757, IS 6649 | HSFG bolts and washers | Specify friction grip connections |
| IS 2016, IS 3063 | Plain washers and spring washers | Specify washers |
| IS 1367, IS 4218, IS 3935 | Property classes of fasteners, ISO metric threads, shear connectors | Reference data for bolts and composite work |
The order you meet them on a job
- Pick the material. IS 2062 gives you the grade, such as E250 (Fe 410 W), and with it the yield strength you will design with.
- Pick the section. IS 808 lists the rolled beams, columns, channels and angles. Tubes and hollow sections come from IS 1161 and IS 4923.
- Check the member. IS 800 gives the rules for capacity, deflection and interaction. See the beam capacity guide for a worked example.
- Design the connection. Bolts and washers come from their own standards, and IS 800 gives the capacity checks. See the bolt capacity guide.
- Add up quantities and cost. Mass per metre from the tables, and IS 1786 bar sizes for any rebar. See the weight and cost guide.
Sections: IS 808, IS 1161 and IS 4923
IS 808 is the standard that gives every rolled section its dimensions and properties: the families ISMB, ISLB, ISWB, ISHB, ISMC, ISA and the others. The guide to reading a section table explains the designations and the columns. The current edition in the app is IS 808:2021.
IS 1161 covers steel tubes for structural purposes. In practice that means circular pipe sections. IS 4923 covers hollow sections that are square or rectangular. If you are choosing a tube for a post or a truss member, those are the two tables to open.
Design and material: IS 800 and IS 2062
IS 800:2007 is the code of practice for general construction in steel. It sets out the limit state method: partial safety factors, section classes, and the rules for bending, shear, compression, tension, buckling, connections and serviceability. When a table says design capacity, it means a value worked to this code.
IS 2062 is where the grade comes from. The grade name tells you the yield strength, and the yield strength feeds every IS 800 formula. E250 means 250 MPa for material up to 20 mm thick. A thicker plate has a lower yield strength, so the thickness of the section matters, not only the grade.
Fasteners
Fastener standards are spread across many documents. Hexagon bolts, screws and nuts are in IS 1363 and IS 1364. High strength friction grip bolts and their washers are in IS 3757 and IS 6649. Plain washers are in IS 2016 and spring washers in IS 3063. Property classes, metric threads and shear connectors are in IS 1367, IS 4218 and IS 3935. Many site problems are really a hunt through these. Bolt Mode in Steel Table India puts them in one list, with a sketch, dimensions and the IS number for each.
Rebar: IS 1786
IS 1786 covers the high strength deformed bars used in reinforced concrete, the bars sold as TMT or Tor bar. The sizes are the usual 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25 and 32 mm and above. For weight, the quick formula and a chart are in the weight and cost guide.
A warning about editions
Standards are revised, and the numbers change with them. IS 808 was revised in 2021, so a handbook printed under the older edition can list different masses and dimensions for the same designation. IS 800 has its own edition history. Always write the year after the standard on a drawing or a calculation, and take every number in one calculation from the same edition.
All of it in one app
Steel Table India carries IS 808:2021 sections, IS 1161 pipes, IS 4923 hollow tubes, IS 1786 rebar, IS 800 design checks and the fastener standards in Bolt Mode. Search a designation, open it, and read the sketch, mass, cost and capacity on one screen. It stores everything on the phone, so it works on site with no signal.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between IS 800 and IS 808?
IS 800 is the design code for steel construction. IS 808 is a dimensions and properties table for rolled steel sections. You pick a section from IS 808 and check it using IS 800.
What does IS 808:2021 cover?
It gives the dimensions and properties of hot rolled steel beam, column, channel and angle sections, such as ISMB, ISLB, ISWB, ISHB, ISMC and ISA.
Which standard is for hollow steel sections?
IS 4923 covers hollow steel sections for structural use, square and rectangular. IS 1161 covers circular steel tubes for structural purposes.
What does IS 1786 cover?
IS 1786 covers high strength deformed steel bars and wires for concrete reinforcement, which is the rebar used in RCC work.
Where do the steel grades such as E250 come from?
They come from IS 2062, the standard for hot rolled medium and high tensile structural steel. The grade gives the yield strength used in design.
Do I still need the printed standards?
Yes for anything that goes into a design, drawing or order. A reference app is quick to use, but the official BIS publications are the authority.
Keep reading
Every standard, one app
Steel Table India keeps IS 808:2021 sections, pipes, tubes, rebar, IS 800 checks and bolts on your phone. Free on Google Play.
For reference, not for sign-off. This guide summarises the scope of each standard in plain words and is not a substitute for the standards themselves. Check the current edition and any amendments in the official publications of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) before you rely on them for a design, drawing or order. All Indian Standards are published by, and remain the property of, BIS.