mineral / Metallic / Ferrous Sheet

Stainless Steel Sheet (304/316/316L) (0.7mm, 0.9mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 3.0mm)

Premium austenitic stainless steel sheet available in grades 304 (general purpose), 316 (marine grade), and 316L (low carbon for welding), offering exceptional corrosion resistance, formability, and long-term durability for architectural and structural applications

Atlas code
MIN-MET-FSH-004
mineralmetallicstainless-steelausteniticcorrosion-resistantmarine-gradenon-combustible
Stainless Steel Sheet (304/316/316L) (0.7mm, 0.9mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 3.0mm)
At-a-glance signals

Premium austenitic stainless steel sheet available in grades 304 (general purpose), 316 (marine grade), and 316L (low carbon for welding), offering exceptional corrosion resistance, formability, and long-term durability for architectural and structural applications

Overview
Executive summary

High-performance austenitic stainless steel sheet material available in three grades to suit various environmental conditions. Grade 304 (18% chromium, 8% nickel) provides excellent general corrosion resistance for most architectural applications. Grade 316 adds 2-3% molybdenum for superior resistance in marine and chloride environments. Grade 316L offers the same properties as 316 but with reduced carbon content (<0.03%) for improved weldability. All grades feature excellent formability, non-magnetic properties in annealed condition, and are fully compliant with AS/NZS standards for structural applications.

Best when…
  • Exceptional corrosion resistance (particularly 316/316L in marine environments)
  • 100% recyclable with high scrap value
  • Non-combustible (Group 1 fire rating)
  • Hygienic surface with antimicrobial properties
  • Low maintenance requirements
  • Excellent formability and weldability
  • 50-100 year service life expectancy
  • Wide range of surface finishes available
  • Temperature resistant from cryogenic to 870°C
  • Non-magnetic in annealed condition
  • Self-healing passive oxide layer
  • BAL-FZ compliant for bushfire zones
Top advantages
  1. 01 Exceptional corrosion resistance (particularly 316/316L in marine environments)
  2. 02 100% recyclable with high scrap value
  3. 03 Non-combustible (Group 1 fire rating)
  4. 04 Hygienic surface with antimicrobial properties
  5. 05 Low maintenance requirements
Top limitations
  1. 01 High initial material cost ($45-120/m² for 304, $60-150/m² for 316)
  2. 02 Susceptible to tea staining in coastal environments without proper maintenance
  3. 03 Requires specialist fabrication equipment and skills
  4. 04 Can suffer from stress corrosion cracking above 60°C in chloride environments
  5. 05 Work hardening during fabrication
Technical
Physical ·9
Density
8000 kg/m³
Specific gravity
8
Porosity
0 %
Water absorption
0 %
Hardness
217
UV resistance
Excellent // No degradation
Chemical resistance
Excellent // pH 1-14 for 316L
pH tolerance
1-14
Surface roughness
0.8 µm
Mechanical ·7
Tensile strength
515 MPa
Compressive strength
515 MPa
Flexural strength
205 MPa
Shear strength
360 MPa
Poisson's ratio
0.29
Impact resistance
Excellent // Maintains toughness to cryogenic temps
Creep resistance
Good up to 550°C // Temperature limit for sustained loading
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
Embodied carbon
29.6
Carbon footprint
3.7
Embodied energy
90 MJ/kg
Water footprint
75 L/kg
Recycled content
60 %
Renewable content
0 %
Circular score
95
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·5
Combustibility class
Non-combustible // Group 1
Fire resistance level
Non-combustible // AS 1530.1 compliant
Flame spread index
0
Smoke dev. index
0
Heat release rate
0
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
Material cost (range)
$45-150/m² // Varies by grade and thickness
Material cost (per unit)
$8-15/kg // Current market prices
Lead time
1-4 weeks // Standard items ex-stock
Lifecycle cost
$150-300/m² // 50-year analysis
Annual maintenance
$2-5/m² // Minimal - washing only
Market availability
Good // Major cities, limited regional
Service life & durability ·3
Expected lifespan
50-100 years // With minimal maintenance
Maintenance interval
6-12 months // Washing in marine environments
Warranty period
10-25 years // Manufacturer dependent
Layer D

Where it's used

Architectural cladding and facades
Marine and coastal construction
Food processing equipment
Hospital and laboratory fixtures
Chemical plant infrastructure
Kitchen splashbacks and benchtops
Lift and escalator cladding
Balustrades and handrails
Roofing and rainwater goods (316 grade)
Water treatment facilities
Transport infrastructure
Bushfire-prone area construction (BAL-FZ compliant)
MIN-MET-FSH-004 · Materials Atlas · CLAD Atlas data is reference-only. Verify against manufacturer specifications and current standards before specifying.