AFCO Introduces ASTM A706 Grade 80 — a First for Pakistan
By AFCO Steel
AFCO Steel is now producing ASTM A706 Grade 80 reinforcement bar — making AFCO the first and only producer of A706 Grade 80 in Pakistan.
Why A706, not just "Grade 80"
Pakistan lies in an active seismic zone, where reinforcing steel must provide not only strength but ductility and reliable performance under earthquake-induced cyclic loading.
A706 Grade 80 and A615 Grade 80 both provide a nominal yield strength of 80 ksi (≈550 MPa). The difference is what happens after yield. Only A706 imposes:
- Yield ratio control — built-in seismic performance control
- Overstrength protection — a maximum yield strength of 94 ksi
- Higher elongation minimums — for stable, predictable yielding under repeated loading
- Controlled chemistry — for reliable weldability in splices and prefabricated cages
These are the controls that let reinforcement form plastic hinges and flex through an earthquake rather than fail — which is why, in seismic regions, A706 Grade 80 is explicitly recognised and commonly required for reinforcement expected to undergo inelastic deformation.
Higher strength, fewer bars
At +33% higher yield strength than Grade 60, A706 Grade 80 allows engineers to reduce congestion in heavily reinforced members — fewer bars, better concrete placement, and faster fixing on site.
Available now
A706 Grade 80 is available in sizes #3 through #18, alongside our established Grade 40 and Grade 60 lines. Each batch passes through the same testing regime as the rest of our range: physical properties on a latest-generation computerised Universal Testing Machine, and chemical composition read instantly on Spectromaxx spectrometry — during the melt and after it.
Elongation values published for the grade are ASTM requirements; AFCO Grade 80 significantly exceeds these standards under certified mill test performance.
Talk to our team about specifying A706 Grade 80 for your next project.
