1.1 This European Standard specifies rules for designating steels by means of symbolic letters and numbers to express application and principal characteristics, e.g. mechanical, physical, chemical, so as to provide an abbreviated identification of steels. NOTE In the English language the designations covered by this European Standard are known as “steel names”; in the French language as “designation symbolique”; in the German language as “Kurznamen”. 1.2 This European Standard applies to steels specified in European Standards (EN), Technical Specifications (TS), Technical Reports (TR) and CEN member's national standards. 1.3 These rules may be applied to non-standardized steels.1.4 A system of numerical designation of steels known as steel numbers is specified in EN 10027-2.