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EN 10025-6 S690QL is a quenched & tempered high-strength low-alloy structural steel — a 690 MPa-yield European grade in the high-strength Q&T family. Its name is a full specification: S is structural steel, 690 is the minimum yield strength in MPa (≤ 50 mm), Q means quenched and tempered (the whole strength comes from the heat treatment, not heavy alloying), L is the low-temperature impact class — a Charpy V-notch test at −40 °C with a minimum of 30 J (longitudinal) — and the material number is 1.8928. It belongs to EN 10025-6, the part of the European structural-steel standard that covers flat products of high yield strength structural steels in the quenched and tempered condition. This is the single most important correction to the old page: S690QL is not a plain “carbon structural steel” — it is a low-alloy, quenched & tempered high-strength grade whose properties depend on the heat treatment.
S690QL is supplied as plate for welded and bolted structures that must be light yet tough in cold service — mobile and crawler cranes, mining and earthmoving equipment, offshore structures, bridges, wind-tower sections, penstocks, hydraulic supports and lifting gear. The “L” matters: it is the −40 °C toughness class, the right choice where the structure sees genuinely cold exposure (for warmer duties step down to S690Q at −20 °C; for Arctic duty step up to S690QL1 at −60 °C). Because it is low-alloy with a carbon equivalent CEV of ≤ 0.65 % up to 50 mm (rising to 0.83 above 100 mm), it welds only under a controlled preheat and heat-input procedure — never treat it like a simple carbon plate.
770-940 MPaTensile Strengthmin-max band by thickness
690 MPa minYield Strength≤ 50 mm; steps down to 630 MPa at 100-150 mm
−40 °CImpact Test Temperature≥ 30 J longitudinal (the ‘L’ grade)
What this page publishes, and what must be confirmed on the mill certificate when you enquire.
Item
Specification
Executive Standard
EN 10025-6 (European standard for hot-rolled products of structural steels — Part 6: technical delivery conditions for flat products of high yield strength structural steels in the quenched and tempered condition).
Steel Grade
S690QL (material number 1.8928)
Steel Category
Low-alloy, high-strength structural steel, quenched & tempered (Q&T) — not a plain carbon structural steel; the strength and toughness come from the Q&T heat treatment, not from heavy alloying.
Product Forms Covered
Steel PlateSheethot-rolled plate and sheet in the Q&T condition on this page
Thickness Range
4 – 150 mm (EN 10025-6 gives mechanical values for S690QL up to 150 mm; plate is typically supplied from ~6 to 150 mm)
Width / Length Range
Plate delivered to project dimension; common mill envelopes run to several metres in width and length — confirm against the rolling schedule.
Production Way
Quenched & tempered (Q+T) production — the defining supply condition of EN 10025-6.
Delivery Condition
Q+T (quenched and tempered) — see section 07
Impact Requirement
−40 °C, ≥ 30 J longitudinal Charpy V-notch — this is what the “L” grade guarantees
MOQ
1 tsmall-batch orders supported
Lead Time by Quantity
Stock items shipped promptly; custom production typically 10 – 40 working days by quantity
Payment Terms
T/TL/C at sight
Processing Services
Cutting to length and width, profiling, bevelling, bending (cold forming limited by the QT structure), drilling, welding under controlled procedure, and surface treatment.
Certification
Mill Test Certificate to EN 10204 3.1, or 3.2 with third-party endorsement; heat analysis and mechanical test report.
Two things worth clearing up about this table. First, S690QL is a low-alloy, quenched & tempered high-strength steel, and that description is the correct one — the old page’s “carbon structural steel” label is wrong for this grade. Second, the strength is delivered by the heat treatment, so the Q&T condition is fixed by the standard, not chosen freely like “as-rolled” or “normalized” on ordinary grades. Confirm the exact thickness and the −40 °C impact on the certificate — and note the “L” guarantees −40 °C impact, so for warmer duty specify S690Q (−20 °C) and for Arctic duty specify S690QL1 (−60 °C).
03How to Read the Grade
Every part of S690QL is a specification, not a marketing name.
Part
Meaning
S
Structural steel — the European convention for structural-steel grades.
690
The specified minimum yield strength in MPa (up to 50 mm). As with all EN 10025 grades, the first number is a yield value, not a tensile one.
Q
Quenched and tempered — the steel is austenitised, quenched and then tempered to develop its high strength and toughness. This is the supply condition fixed by EN 10025-6.
L
Low-temperature impact toughness class: the steel is Charpy V-notch tested at −40 °C with a minimum absorbed energy of 30 J (longitudinal). L = −40 °C; the sibling S690Q is tested at −20 °C, and S690QL1 at −60 °C.
1.8928
The European material number (Werkstoffnummer) for S690QL — use it on drawings and certificates to remove any ambiguity about which grade is meant.
EN 10025-6
Part 6 of the European structural-steel standard — quenched and tempered high yield strength flat products. It is distinct from EN 10025-2 (ordinary structural steels) and EN 10025-3 / -4 (normalized / TMCP fine-grain grades).
The S690 Q&T toughness ladder at the 690 MPa level — the letter/temperature is what changes.
Grade
Standard
Min. yield
Impact test
S690Q
EN 10025-6
690 MPa
-20 °C, ≥ 30 J
S690QL (this page)
EN 10025-6
690 MPa
−40 °C, ≥ 30 J
S690QL1
EN 10025-6
690 MPa
-60 °C, ≥ 30 J
S960QL
EN 10025-6
960 MPa
-40 °C, ≥ 30 J
Pick by the coldest service temperature and the yield you actually need. At 690 MPa, S690QL is the −40 °C option — for the same 690 MPa yield but warmer service, step down to S690Q (−20 °C); for genuinely Arctic service at the same 690 MPa yield, step up to S690QL1 (−60 °C). The yield, tensile and thickness brackets are the same across the S690 rung — only the impact temperature differs.
04Equivalent Grades
S690QL is the 690 MPa yield rung of the European Q&T high-strength family with −40 °C impact. The table maps it to its closest grades — a similar yield figure is not a licence to substitute; check chemistry, heat treatment, toughness, condition and thickness brackets before swapping. Linked grades open their own page.
Standard
Grade
Min. Yield
What to check before substituting
EN 10025-6 (this page)
S690QL
690 MPa
The European Q&T high-strength grade — −40 °C, ≥ 30 J, material 1.8928 (this page)
EN 10025-6
S690Q
690 MPa
The same 690 MPa yield but only −20 °C impact — the warm-climate version. Choose S690Q where the structure never sees deep frost.
EN 10025-6
S690QL1
690 MPa
The −60 °C, Arctic version — named for cross-reference; dedicated page not published here.
ASTM A514 / A517
A514 Gr. (e.g. Grade B/F/P) / A517
~690 MPa
The US quenched & tempered high-strength plate family — the closest US match by yield and heat treatment. Confirm chemistry, impact and thickness limits against the spec.
ASTM A709
Grade 100 / 100W
690 MPa
The US bridge-steel grade at ~690 MPa — used where S690QL is specified on bridge projects.
The Chinese quenched & tempered high-strength grade — Q690C/D give −20 / −40 °C impact, the direct Chinese match for S690Q / S690QL. Open the linked page.
Commercial Q&T / TMCP high-strength plates — functionally equivalent; confirm the exact temper and impact grade before substitution.
AS / NZS
AS/NZS 3678 / 3579 Grade 700
~700 MPa
The Australian / New Zealand high-strength structural plate — named for cross-reference.
Strength proximity is not interchangeability. Chemistry limits, heat treatment, toughness classes, delivery conditions and thickness brackets all differ between these standards, and a substitution must be signed off by the designer against the governing code. Two traps to name: S690QL’s “L” only guarantees −40 °C impact — do not use it where the structure sees Arctic (−60 °C) service (use S690QL1); and the frequently cited US grade A514 / A517 is a different chemistry and thickness envelope, so the swap must be confirmed grade-by-grade. Where a US project needs the closest band, specify ASTM A514 / A517 (or A709 Grade 100 for bridges) and confirm the −40 °C impact as a supplementary requirement.
05Chemical Composition
Ladle (cast) analysis limits in weight percent, per EN 10025-6:2019. S690QL is a low-alloy grade, so the table is richer than an ordinary carbon steel — and the phosphorus / sulphur limits (0.020 / 0.010) are held far tighter than plain carbon grades to guarantee toughness.
Element
Ladle analysis (max %, unless noted)
Carbon, C
≤ 0.20
Silicon, Si
≤ 0.80
Manganese, Mn
≤ 1.70
Phosphorus, P
≤ 0.020
Sulphur, S
≤ 0.010
Chromium, Cr
≤ 1.50
Copper, Cu
≤ 0.50 (when specified)
Nickel, Ni
≤ 2.00
Molybdenum, Mo
≤ 0.70
Niobium, Nb
≤ 0.06
Titanium, Ti
≤ 0.05
Vanadium, V
≤ 0.12
Zirconium, Zr
≤ 0.15
Boron, B
≤ 0.005
Nitrogen, N
≤ 0.015
Aluminium, Al (total)
≥ 0.015
Carbon equivalent — the weldability gate for a Q&T grade (use both CEV and the cold-cracking index Pcm).
Thickness range
CEV max (%)
Pcm max (%)
≤ 50 mm
0.65
0.38
> 50 – 100 mm
0.77
0.40
> 100 – 150 mm
0.83
0.43
Read the certificate against this table, not against a one-line data sheet. S690QL is a low-alloy grade, so the chemistry carries deliberate hardenability additions: carbon is capped at 0.20 %, manganese at 1.70 %, and the low-alloy elements (Ni, Cr, Mo, Nb, Ti, V, B) build hardenability so the plate develops its strength through quenching and tempering. Crucially, phosphorus and sulphur are held to 0.020 / 0.010 % — far tighter than ordinary carbon grades, because at 690 MPa every notch-sensitive inclusion matters. The carbon equivalents are high: CEV ≤ 0.65 / 0.77 / 0.83 and Pcm ≤ 0.38 / 0.40 / 0.43 by thickness, which is exactly why S690QL is welded under a controlled preheat / heat-input procedure rather than like a simple carbon plate.
06Mechanical Properties
Minimum room-temperature values, read against nominal thickness, per EN 10025-6. The thickness ladder is the defining feature of S690QL — the yield steps from 690 MPa (≤ 50 mm) down to 630 MPa (100–150 mm) because the through-thickness cooling rate changes with plate thickness.
Thickness (mm)
Yield ReH min (MPa)
Tensile Rm (MPa)
Elongation A min (%)
≤ 50
690
770 – 940
14
> 50 – 100
650
760 – 930
14
> 100 – 150
630
710 – 900
14
Impact & bend — the properties the −40 °C / 30 J grade is defined by.
Property
Requirement
Charpy V-notch, longitudinal
−40 °C, ≥ 30 J (the S690QL requirement — the “L” grade)
Charpy V-notch, transverse
−40 °C, ≥ 27 J
Elongation A (Lo = 5.65√So, longitudinal)
≥ 14 % for all three thickness bands
Three points on reading the table. First, the yield is given in thickness bands (690 MPa up to 50 mm, stepping down to 630 MPa at 100–150 mm) because thicker plate cools more slowly through the quench and tempers to a slightly lower strength. Second, the tensile band shifts from 770–940 MPa (≤ 50 mm) to 710–900 MPa (100–150 mm). Third, the impact is a guaranteed −40 °C / ≥ 30 J longitudinal — this is the defining property of the “L” suffix (transverse is 27 J). For any genuinely Arctic (−60 °C) duty, switch to S690QL1; for warmer (−20 °C) duty, switch to S690Q.
What the specification sets, and what has to be added by the order.
Item
Status in EN 10025-6
How it is obtained
Delivery condition
Quenched & tempered (Q+T) is the defined supply
The strength and toughness come from the heat treatment; the grade name already carries it — do not ask for “as-rolled” S690QL.
Heat treatment (post-supply)
Q+T as supplied
Avoid post-weld heat treatment / stress relief unless strictly controlled — tempering above ~580 °C would soften the Q&T structure and drop the strength. If PWHT is unavoidable, agree a low-temperature stress-relief window with the mill.
Impact toughness
−40 °C / ≥ 30 J at the “L” grade
Built into the grade; third-party witnessed impact on request.
Ultrasonic testing
Not specified
EN 10160 (or EN 10306 / SEL) at an agreed acceptance level, by agreement — strongly recommended on thick Q&T plate.
Through-thickness (Z) properties
Not specified
Z15 / Z25 / Z35 by agreement where the joint pulls through the plate thickness (heavy welded nodes).
Third-party inspection
Not specified
SGS, BV, TUV or Intertek at the mill before shipment.
Certificate
MTC per the specification
EN 10204 3.1 as standard, 3.2 with third-party endorsement on request.
Keep the condition and the standard in the enquiry. S690QL is delivered quenched & tempered (+QT) and tested per heat; anything beyond that — UT, Z-direction, third-party inspection, surface treatment — has to be written into the order before rolling, not added afterwards. Because the grade name already carries the toughness class (the “L”) and the −40 °C impact, just name the standard (EN 10025-6) and the material number 1.8928. And remember: do not re-temper or stress-relieve arbitrarily — that would undo the Q&T structure and lose the 690 MPa.
08Typical Applications
Where a 690 MPa low-alloy Q&T steel carries the load with a cold-service toughness margin.
Cranes & Lifting Gear
Mobile and crawler crane booms, lattice booms, jibs and lifting frames — S690QL lets the structure be light yet strong, the classic application of a 690 MPa Q&T plate.
Mining & Earthmoving
Excavator arms, dump-truck bodies, dragline and loader structures, and hydraulic supports — high strength with −40 °C toughness for cold-climate mining and heavy equipment.
Offshore & Marine
Offshore platform structures, jack-up legs, deck modules and subsea frames — the −40 °C impact keeps the steel safe in North-Sea and Arctic-margin service.
Bridges & Infrastructure
Long-span and movable bridge girders, orthotropic deck stiffeners and high-load nodes — a high-strength Q&T grade reduces weight and enables longer spans.
Wind Towers
Tubular wind-tower sections and transition pieces — high strength lets the tower wall be thinner and lighter while meeting fatigue and cold-impact demands.
Why specify S690QL rather than S690Q or a 460 MPa grade: it gives roughly 50 % more yield than an S460 (690 vs 460 MPa) at little extra thickness penalty, while staying a Q&T grade with a guaranteed −40 °C impact for cold service — and it avoids the extra cost and thickness of going to S960QL. What it does not give you is Arctic (−60 °C) impact — that is S690QL1; and for genuinely warm duty the cheaper S690Q (−20 °C) will do.
09Processing, Testing & Supply
From mill Q&T plate to a cut, certified, ready-to-fit high-strength item — with the welding discipline a 690 MPa grade demands.
1
Cutting & Profiling
Plate cut to length and width, profiled to drawing and bevelled for weld preparation. Plasma or laser cutting is preferred on Q&T plate; oxy-fuel can soften the heat-affected zone, so the edge condition is controlled.
2
Forming & Welding
Cold forming is limited by the QT structure; bending is done within the radius the thickness and strength allow. Welding uses low-hydrogen consumables under a preheat and controlled heat-input procedure (driven by the high CEV / Pcm) with interpass-temperature control — post-weld heat treatment is avoided unless strictly agreed.
3
Surface Treatment
Shot blasting to remove mill scale, then shop primer or full paint system, followed by export marking and seaworthy packing.
4
Inspection & Certified Delivery
Chemical analysis and tensile testing per heat, −40 °C Charpy, UT and Z-direction testing when specified, then the MTC carrying the grade, the EN 10025-6 standard and any third-party report.
Mill Test Certificate to EN 10204 3.1, or 3.2 with third-party endorsement
MTC stating the grade (S690QL) and material number 1.8928
Heat analysis and mechanical test report (yield, tensile, elongation, −40 °C Charpy)
Ultrasonic testing report to the agreed acceptance level (EN 10160 / EN 10306)
Z-direction (through-thickness) test report where Z15/Z25/Z35 is ordered
Third-party inspection by SGS, BV, Intertek or another nominated agency
Export packing, marking and loading supervision
Quote checklist — you get a faster, comparable price if you send: thickness × width × length, quantity, delivery condition (Q+T), the −40 °C impact requirement, UT acceptance level and any Z-direction requirement, surface treatment, MTC type, destination port and payment terms. MOQ is 1 t. Tell us your welding procedure too — it affects the preheat and the cut-edge treatment we recommend.
10Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What does EN 10025-6 S690QL actually mean?
S690QL is a European quenched & tempered high-strength low-alloy structural steel. S is structural, 690 is the minimum yield in MPa (≤ 50 mm), Q means quenched and tempered, and L is the low-temperature impact class — a Charpy V-notch test at −40 °C with ≥ 30 J (longitudinal). The material number is 1.8928, and the standard is EN 10025-6 (Part 6: Q&T high yield strength flat products), distinct from EN 10025-2 (ordinary structural steels).
Q2Is S690QL a carbon steel or a low-alloy steel?
S690QL is a low-alloy, quenched & tempered high-strength steel, not a plain carbon structural steel. The old page’s “carbon structural steel” label is incorrect for this grade. Its 690 MPa strength and −40 °C toughness come from the Q&T heat treatment plus deliberate low-alloy additions (Ni, Cr, Mo, Nb, Ti, V, B); ordinary carbon steels cannot reach 690 MPa in this way. The tighter part is the chemistry: phosphorus and sulphur are held to 0.020 / 0.010 %.
Q3What is the chemical composition of S690QL?
Ladle-analysis maxima (EN 10025-6): C ≤ 0.20, Si ≤ 0.80, Mn ≤ 1.70, P ≤ 0.020, S ≤ 0.010, Cr ≤ 1.50, Cu ≤ 0.50, Ni ≤ 2.00, Mo ≤ 0.70, Nb ≤ 0.06, Ti ≤ 0.05, V ≤ 0.12, Zr ≤ 0.15, B ≤ 0.005, N ≤ 0.015, Al ≥ 0.015. The carbon equivalents are the weldability gate: CEV ≤ 0.65 / 0.77 / 0.83 and Pcm ≤ 0.38 / 0.40 / 0.43 by thickness.
Q4What are the mechanical properties of S690QL?
Minimum values by thickness: ≤ 50 mm — yield ≥ 690 MPa, tensile 770–940 MPa; > 50–100 mm — yield ≥ 650 MPa, tensile 760–930 MPa; > 100–150 mm — yield ≥ 630 MPa, tensile 710–900 MPa. Elongation is ≥ 14 % in all bands. Impact is −40 °C, ≥ 30 J longitudinal (≥ 27 J transverse) — the defining “L” property.
Q5Can I weld and heat-treat S690QL like ordinary steel?
No. Because CEV reaches 0.65–0.83, S690QL is welded under a controlled preheat and heat-input procedure with low-hydrogen consumables and interpass-temperature control to avoid cold cracking. Do not arbitrarily stress-relieve or re-temper — tempering above ~580 °C would soften the Q&T structure and drop the strength. If PWHT is unavoidable, agree a low-temperature window with the mill. Cutting is best done by plasma or laser to protect the edge.
Q6What is S690QL equivalent to in EN / ASTM / GB / proprietary?
At 690 MPa, the warm-climate version is S690Q (−20 °C) and the Arctic version is S690QL1 (−60 °C). In the US the closest is ASTM A514 / A517 (Q&T high-strength plate) and A709 Grade 100 for bridges. In China, GB/T 16270 Q690C/D (and GB/T 1591 Q690) are the direct match. ISO gives E690, and the proprietary equivalents are Strenx 700 / Domex 700, DILLIMAX 690, NAXTRA 70, Weldox 700, ALFORM 700. All are procurement mappings; confirm chemistry, heat treatment and impact against your governing code.
Q7How thick, how fast, what paperwork?
From 1 t, with stock items shipped promptly and custom production typically 10–40 working days by quantity. Each heat ships with an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate. The figures on this page re-organise and complete the older listing for this grade: the chemistry now carries the full EN 10025-6 ladle set (with the strict P ≤ 0.020 / S ≤ 0.010 and the CEV / Pcm ladders), and the mechanical data is presented as the correct thickness bands (yield 690 / 650 / 630 MPa, tensile 770–940 / 760–930 / 710–900 MPa, elongation ≥ 14 %, and the −40 °C / ≥ 30 J impact the old sheet only stated loosely). We have also corrected the old page’s “carbon structural steel” description — S690QL is a quenched & tempered low-alloy high-strength steel.
Sources and limits: the figures on this page are reference information drawn from EN 10025-6:2019 (S690QL, material number 1.8928) and published steel data sheets. S690QL is a low-alloy, quenched & tempered high-strength structural steel; the chemistry limits (including the strict P ≤ 0.020 % and S ≤ 0.010 %) and the tensile / yield / elongation / −40 °C / 30 J impact floors are the standard requirements, while actual heat values are recorded on the EN 10204 certificate of the lot supplied. We have corrected the old listing’s “carbon structural steel” description — the grade is quenched & tempered low-alloy — and re-organised the data into the standard’s ladle-analysis, carbon-equivalent and mechanical tables, and added the grade-designation, equivalent-grade and delivery-condition chapters. BBN supplies, cuts and processes the plate.
Get Your EN 10025-6 S690QL Quotation Now
Send us your standard (EN 10025-6), material number (1.8928), thickness, width and length, quantity, delivery condition (Q+T), the −40 °C impact requirement and any UT / Z-direction requirement, and your welding procedure. We will reply with what the mill can roll and certify at that thickness, plate or cut-length options, mill price and production lead time — and tell you plainly if an S690Q (−20 °C) would do, or if a higher yield should step up to S690QL1, or a lower yield to S460 / Q460.
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