Stainless Steel Enclosures and Industrial Applications
Finishes for Stainless Steel
 Metals are finished not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to improve their corrosion resistant
 properties. The ASTM A480 standard provides a framework for different metal finishes based on
 certain criteria. Sheet steel finishes are designated by a system of numbers ranging from a No.
 1 finish to a No. 8 finish. Additional global standards that apply to metal finishes include BS EN
 10088-2 and ISO 1302.
                                                   Surface Finish Specifications
                 ASTM                                              Roughness Roughness BS EN
                 A480           ASTM A480 Description               Ra (in)  Ra (m)  10088-2 ISO 1302
                    -                          -                        -               -         1U         -
                    -                          -                        -               -         1C         -
                  No. 1 Hot-rolled, annealed, and de-scaled.       157 to 276      4.0 to 7.0    1E, 1D   N8, N9
                    -                          -                        -               -         2H         -
Mill Finish
                    -                          -                        -               -         2C         -
                    -                          -                     16 to 39      0.4 to 1.0     2E      N5, N6
                 No. 2D Cold-rolled, dull finish.                    16 to 39      0.4 to 1.0     2D      N5, N6
                 No. 2B Cold-rolled, bright finish.                 3.9 to 20      0.1 to 0.5     2B      N3 to N5
                        A bright cold-rolled finish retained by
                        final annealing in a controlled
                 No. BA atmosphere furnace.                         2.0 to 3.9     0.05 to 0.1    2R      N2, N3
                    -                          -                        -               -         2Q         -
                    -                          -                     79 to 98      2.0 to 2.5    1G, 2G     N7
                        Intermediate polished finish, one or
                  No. 3 both sides.                                  28 to 47      0.7 to 1.2    1J, 2J   N6, N7
                        General purpose polished finish, one
                  No. 4 or both sides.                               12 to 25      0.3 to 0.6    1J, 2J   N4, N5
Special Finish
                        Dull satin finish, Tampico brushed,
                  No. 6 one or both sides.                           10 to 20    0.25 to 0.50    1K, 2K     N5
                  No. 7 Light luster finish.                        2.4 to 7.9   0.06 to 0.20      -      N3, N4
                  No. 8 Mirror finish.                              0.8 to 3.9   0.02 to 0.10    1P, 2P   N1 to N3
                    -                          -                        -               -         2F         -
                    -                          -                        -               -        1M, 2M      -
                    -                          -                        -               -         2W         -
                    -                          -                        -               -         2L         -
                    -                          -                        -               -        1S, 2S      -