Why Builders in Pakistan Prefer Grade 60 Steel for Reinforcement

Grade 60 steel has become the standard reinforcement bar for most construction in Pakistan. Walk onto almost any site building a house, plaza or multi-storey block today, and the drawings will call for Grade 60 saria. This article explains what Grade 60 steel is and the practical reasons builders and engineers choose it.

At Kamran Steel, Grade 60 costs only Rs 2 per kg more than Grade 40. See the current Grade 60 steel price.

What Is Grade 60 Steel?

Grade 60 is a deformed reinforcement bar made to ASTM A615 with a minimum yield strength of 60,000 psi (420 MPa) and a minimum tensile strength of 90,000 psi (620 MPa). The ribs on its surface lock the bar into the concrete so the two work together.

5 Reasons Builders Prefer Grade 60 Steel

1. More strength per bar

Grade 60 is about 50% stronger than Grade 40 at yield. As a result, engineers can design columns, beams and slabs with fewer or thinner bars. That means less congestion in the formwork and easier concrete placing.

2. Lower total steel cost

Grade 60 costs slightly more per ton, but a design made for it usually needs less steel overall. At today’s Kamran Steel rates, the difference is only Rs 2,000 per ton (Rs 275,000 for Grade 40 vs Rs 277,000 for Grade 60). Less steel also means less cutting, bending and tying labour.

3. Suitable for earthquake-resistant design

Much of Pakistan is seismically active, and buildings must follow the Building Code of Pakistan (Seismic Provisions). Grade 60 bars combine high strength with enough ductility to bend without snapping, which is why engineers normally specify them for the main frame of buildings in earthquake zones.

4. The standard grade in most designs

Because most structural drawings in Pakistan are now prepared for Grade 60, it is the easiest grade to specify, buy and check. Contractors do not need to keep two grades on site for the main structure.

5. Widely available in all common sizes

Established manufacturers stock Grade 60 bars in the common sizes, from 10 mm to large diameters for heavy columns. This makes it easy to match a full bar schedule from one supplier.

What Grade 60 Steel Does Not Do

It is important to be accurate about the limits. A higher grade does not make a bar rust-proof; corrosion protection comes from the right concrete cover, good concrete and proper storage on site. Also, Grade 60 only saves steel when the engineer designs for it. Swapping bars or reducing quantities without a revised design is unsafe.

Where Grade 60 Steel Is Used

Columns, beams and slabs in houses of all sizes
Commercial plazas and multi-storey buildings
Bridges, flyovers and other infrastructure
Industrial buildings and warehouses

Grade 40 is still used for small, lightly loaded work where the design allows. For a full side-by-side comparison, read Grade 40 vs Grade 60 steel.

How to Check Grade 60 Bars on Delivery

Look for the grade mark rolled onto the bar (under ASTM A615, the number 60, or one continuous longitudinal line).
Ask for the mill test certificate for the batch.
Check the weight: kg per metre should be close to d²/162, where d is the diameter in mm. See how to calculate the weight of steel bars.

Grade 60 Steel from Kamran Steel

Kamran Steel has manufactured deformed bars in Lahore since 1984. We roll Grade 60 bars to ASTM A615 from our own billets, in sizes from 10 mm to 36 mm and standard 12-metre lengths. Our bars have been used in projects such as the Vehari Chowk Metro Flyover, Multan and Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Multan.

Estimate your order with the steel rate calculator or contact our sales team for prices and delivery.