InfraLensInfraLens
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRRulesAbout Join Channel
Join
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRDesign RulesBIMAbout Join WhatsApp Channel
InfraLensInfraLens
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRRulesAbout Join Channel
Join
IS CodesIRCToolsSORHandbookQA/QCPMCFormatsCPHEEOMapsProjectsDCRDesign RulesBIMAbout Join WhatsApp Channel

IS 1450 : 1996Steel Fish Plates for Indian Railways

PDFGoogleCompareBIS Portal
Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
UIC 864-7 · AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering, Chapter 4, Part 2 · EN 13674-1
CurrentSpecializedSpecificationTransportation · Railway Engineering
PDFGoogleCompareBIS Portal
Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
OverviewValues6InternationalTablesFAQ3Related

IS 1450:1996 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for steel fish plates for indian railways. This standard specifies the requirements for steel fish plates used in Indian railway tracks, including chemical composition, mechanical properties, and mandatory testing procedures like tensile and bend tests to ensure joint integrity.

Specifies requirements for steel fish plates used for joining rails in railway tracks.

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Transportation — Railway Engineering
Type
Specification
International equivalents
UIC 864-7:2009 · International Union of Railways (UIC), InternationalAREMA Manual for Railway Engineering, Chapter 4, Part 2 · American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), USAEN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017 · European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
Typically used with
IS 228IS 1599IS 1608
Also on InfraLens for IS 1450
6Key values2Tables3FAQs
Practical Notes
! While IS 1450 provides baseline specifications, mainline Indian Railways projects typically mandate IRS (Indian Railway Standard) T-1 specifications. IS 1450 is often referenced for industrial, private sidings, or light rail networks.
! Bolt holes in fish plates must be drilled and not punched, as punching can induce micro-cracks that severely reduce the fatigue life of the joint under dynamic train loads.
! Ensure standard branding/marking includes the manufacturer's initial, year of manufacture, and weight of the rail for traceability.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 5Chemical CompositionCl. 6Mechanical PropertiesCl. 7Bend Test RequirementsCl. 10Tolerances on DimensionsCl. 13Marking
Pulled from IS 1450:1996. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
steelcarbon steel

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
UIC 864-7:2009International Union of Railways (UIC), International
HighCurrent
Technical specification for the supply of fish-plates for Vignole rails 49 kg/m and above
Directly equivalent, covering material, manufacturing, and testing requirements for steel fish plates.
AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering, Chapter 4, Part 2American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), USA
HighCurrent
Rail, Part 2: Specifications for Steel Rails and Joint Bars
Covers material specifications, design, and testing for 'joint bars', the American term for fish plates.
EN 13674-1:2011+A1:2017European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Europe
MediumCurrent
Railway applications - Track - Rail - Part 1: Vignole railway rails 46 kg/m and above
Specifies rails and references material standards (e.g., EN 10025) often used for fish plates, but is not a dedicated fish plate supply spec.
BS 47-1:1991British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
MediumWithdrawn
Specification for railway rails. Part 1: Specification for flat bottom railway rails
Included specifications for fish plates matching British rail profiles before harmonization with European Norms.
Key Differences
≠IS 1450 specifies a unique 'falling weight test' on the finished fish plate, where it must withstand a blow from a 1-tonne tup. Most international standards, like UIC 864-7, specify a Charpy V-notch impact test on a machined sample instead.
≠The steel grade designation in IS 1450 (e.g., Grade '880') is specific to the Indian standard. International standards use different nomenclature (e.g., UIC '900A', AREMA chemical composition based, EN steel grades like 'S355').
≠IS 1450 is a comprehensive standard covering material chemistry, mechanical properties, dimensions, and testing in one document. The European (EN) system is more modular, often requiring reference to separate standards for material properties (e.g., EN 10025) and testing methods.
≠Dimensional tolerances and hole configurations in IS 1450 are specifically tailored to Indian Railways rail profiles (e.g., 52 kg/m, 60 kg/m UIC), which may not directly match AREMA or other specific national profiles.
Key Similarities
≈All standards serve the same fundamental purpose: to specify requirements for a steel bar that joins rails, ensuring track continuity, alignment, and load transfer.
≈All standards mandate a combination of core mechanical tests to ensure product quality, including tensile tests (for strength and ductility), hardness tests, and some form of impact or bend test for toughness.
≈The required material properties are broadly similar, specifying a medium-to-high carbon steel with high tensile strength (typically 700-1000 MPa range) and sufficient elongation to prevent brittle failure.
≈Requirements for manufacturing processes are common, such as specifying hot-rolling, controlled cooling (where applicable), and ensuring the final product is free from cracks, laps, and other injurious surface defects.
≈All standards require clear marking and stamping on each fish plate for traceability, typically including the manufacturer's identification, steel grade/heat number, and year of manufacture.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Tensile Strength (UTS)700 - 850 MPa (for Grade '880')Min 900 MPa (for Grade 900A)UIC 864-7
Elongation (min %)12% (for Grade '880')10% (for Grade 900A)UIC 864-7
Hardness (Brinell)201 - 248 HBW (for Grade '880')250 - 320 HBW (for Grade 900A)UIC 864-7
Carbon Content (max %)0.55% (for Grade '880')0.45 - 0.60% (for Grade 900A)UIC 864-7
Manganese Content (%)Max 1.20% (for Grade '880')0.60 - 1.20% (for Grade 900A)UIC 864-7
Sulphur Content (max %)0.050%0.035%UIC 864-7
Impact Test MethodFalling weight test on finished plateCharpy V-notch test on machined sampleUIC 864-7
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values6

Quick Reference Values
Carbon Content0.38 to 0.47 percent
Manganese Content0.50 to 0.80 percent
Maximum Sulphur0.050 percent
Maximum Phosphorus0.050 percent
Minimum Tensile Strength580 MPa
Minimum Elongation (Gauge Length 5.65√A)20 percent

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
Table 1 - Chemical Composition
Table 2 - Mechanical Properties
Key Clauses
Clause 5 - Chemical Composition
Clause 6 - Mechanical Properties
Clause 7 - Bend Test Requirements
Clause 10 - Tolerances on Dimensions
Clause 13 - Marking

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 228:2018Methods for Chemical Analysis of Steels
→
IS 1599:2019Metallic Materials - Bend and Re-Bend Test fo...
→
IS 1608:2005Mechanical Testing of Metals - Tensile Testin...
→

Frequently Asked Questions3

What is the acceptable method for chemical analysis of the steel?+
Chemical analysis must be conducted in accordance with the relevant parts of IS 228.
What is the requirement for the bend test?+
The test piece must withstand being bent cold through 120 degrees around a mandrel of specified diameter without showing any signs of fracture on the outside of the bent portion.
Can fish plates be manufactured with punched bolt holes?+
No, to avoid stress concentrations and fatigue failures, the standard requires bolt holes to be drilled.

QA/QC Inspection Templates

📋
QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.
Browse all 300 templates →