EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1
(Amendment)Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels - Part 3: Case-hardening steels - Amendment 1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 07-Feb-2028
- Current Stage
- 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
- Start Date
- 20-Aug-2026
- Completion Date
- 20-Aug-2026
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 is CEN’s draft Amendment 1 to EN ISO 683-3:2022 for case-hardening steels. It updates the rules for heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels by adding the rapid cooled and tempered (+RCT) condition and revising the related definition, machinability text and hardness verification provisions.
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 is used by steel producers, heat-treatment suppliers, purchasers and quality teams that specify or check delivery condition and hardness for case-hardening steels.
What does EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 specify?
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 specifies amendment text for Part 3 of ISO 683 on case-hardening steels. The amendment updates clause 3, 6.3.2, 7.2, Table 1, Table 7, 9.2.1 and Table 9 of the base document.
The practical focus is the new +RCT delivery condition and the way it fits into ordering, machinability and hardness verification. For readers, that means the amendment is mainly about how to specify, supply and inspect steels in the rapid cooled and tempered condition.
What are the key requirements of EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1?
Delivery condition and designation
Clause 3 adds the term rapid cooled and tempered (+RCT) and defines it as a heat treatment using rapid cooling followed by tempering to produce a ferritic matrix with homogeneously distributed high tempered martensitic/bainitic phase. In practice, this gives a named delivery condition that can be used in orders and inspection records.
Table 1 adds +RCT to the list of usual heat-treatment conditions at delivery. This matters because the table links each condition to the product forms and requirement tables that apply, so buyers and suppliers can match the ordered condition to the right acceptance route.
Clause 6.3.2 is updated to refer to row numbers 3 to 9. This extends the part of the document that deals with particular heat-treatment conditions, so +RCT is included in the same family of delivery-condition options.
Machinability
Clause 7.2 replaces the machinability statement so that all steels are machinable in the conditions untreated, soft-annealed, treated to hardness range, treated to ferrite/pearlite structure, normalized and rapid cooled and tempered. In practice, +RCT is treated as one of the standard machinable delivery conditions.
Hardness requirements and verification
Table 7 is extended so that hardness requirements also cover products delivered in +RCT. The table sets Brinell hardness requirements by steel name and delivery condition, and some +RCT entries apply only to a stated product diameter range.
Clause 9.2.1 is updated so that hardness in the +FP, +N and +RCT conditions is measured in accordance with ISO 6506-1. For quality control, that means Brinell testing remains the verification method for these delivery conditions.
Table 9 is also updated to include +RCT among the conditions used for verifying hardness requirements. This matters because the test conditions must match the ordered delivery state before the material is accepted.
What terms does EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 define?
- rapid cooled and tempered (+RCT) - a heat treatment with rapid cooling followed by tempering that produces the microstructure stated in clause 3.
- treated to improve shearability (+S) - a delivery condition used when the material is prepared to machine or shear more easily.
- soft-annealed (+A) - a delivery condition used to reduce hardness and improve workability.
- treated to hardness range (+TH) - a delivery condition where hardness is brought into a specified range.
- treated to ferrite-pearlite structure (+FP) - a delivery condition aiming at a ferrite-pearlite structure.
- normalized (+N) - a delivery condition obtained by normalizing treatment.
- untreated (+U) - material supplied without a special heat-treatment condition named in the table.
Who uses EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1?
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 is used by steelmakers, heat-treatment shops, stockholders, machine shops and purchasing teams that work with case-hardening steels. It is also used by quality control and laboratory staff who verify hardness and record the delivery condition against the ordered specification.
What changed in EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 from the previous edition?
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 amends EN ISO 683-3:2022 by adding the +RCT condition and updating the related text. The stated changes are:
- a new definition for +RCT in clause 3
- an updated reference in 6.3.2 for particular heat-treatment conditions
- a revised machinability statement in 7.2
- a new +RCT row in Table 1
- updated hardness requirements in Table 7
- +RCT added to hardness verification in 9.2.1 and Table 9
Which standards are used with EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1?
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 refers to ISO 6506-1 for Brinell hardness measurement. It also notes that the annealed condition to achieve spheroidization of the carbides (+AC) is covered in ISO 4954.
What does the EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 document contain?
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 contains amendment text rather than a full rewritten standard. Its content is centered on one new definition, revised delivery-condition tables, updated hardness requirements by steel name and condition, and revised test conditions for hardness verification.
The tables give the practical ordering and inspection framework for the new +RCT condition. They show which product forms and steel grades are covered, how the condition is designated, and where Brinell hardness values apply.
For users, the document is mainly a specification and checking tool. It helps align ordering, heat treatment, machinability expectations and hardness verification for case-hardening steels.
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- Effective Date
- 15-Apr-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels - Part 3: Case-hardening steels - Amendment 1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)". This standard covers: Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels - Part 3: Case-hardening steels - Amendment 1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)
Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels - Part 3: Case-hardening steels - Amendment 1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 77.140.10 - Heat-treatable steels; 77.140.20 - Stainless steels. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 683-3:2022. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Toplotno obdelana, legirana in avtomatna jekla - 3. del: Cementacijska jekla -
Dopolnilo A1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)
Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels - Part 3: Case-hardening steels
- Amendment 1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)
Für eine Wärmebehandlung bestimmte Stähle, legierte Stähle und Automatenstähle -
Teil 3: Einsatzstähle - Änderung 1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)
Aciers pour traitement thermique, aciers alliés et aciers pour décolletage - Partie 3:
Aciers pour cémentation - Amendement 1 (ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 683-3:2022/prA1
ICS:
77.140.10 Jekla za toplotno obdelavo Heat-treatable steels
77.140.20 Visokokakovostna jekla Stainless steels
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
Amendment
ISO 683-3:2022/
DAM 1
ISO/TC 17/SC 4
Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels
Secretariat: DIN
and free-cutting steels —
Voting begins on:
Part 3:
2026-08-20
Case-hardening steels
Voting terminates on:
2026-11-12
AMENDMENT 1
Aciers pour traitement thermique, aciers alliés et aciers pour
décolletage —
Partie 3: Aciers pour cémentation
AMENDEMENT 1
ICS: 77.140.20; 77.140.10
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
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This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
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Reference number
ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026(en)
DRAFT
ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026(en)
Amendment
ISO 683-3:2022/
DAM 1
ISO/TC 17/SC 4
Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels
Secretariat: DIN
and free-cutting steels —
Voting begins on:
Part 3:
Case-hardening steels
Voting terminates on:
AMENDMENT 1
Aciers pour traitement thermique, aciers alliés et aciers pour
décolletage —
Partie 3: Aciers pour cémentation
AMENDEMENT 1
ICS: 77.140.20; 77.140.10
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2026
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Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026(en)
ii
ISO 683-3:2022/DAM 1:2026(en)
Heat-treatable steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels —
Part 3:
Case-hardening steels
AMENDMENT 1
Addition of heat treatment +RCT
Addition to cause 3 2 “Terms and definitions”
Change definition 3.2 to 3.3 and 3.3 to 3.4 and add a new definition 3.2 with following wording:
3.2
rapid cooled and tempered (+RCT)
heat treatment first by rapid cooling and followed by tempering to produce a ferritic matrix with
homogeneously distributed high tempered martensitic/bainitic phase
Change to 6.3.2 “Particular heat-treatment conditions”
Replace “row numbers 3 to 8” by “row numbers 3 to 9”
Change to 7.2 “Machinability”
Replace first sentence by “All steels are machinable in the conditions “soft-annealed”, “treated to hardness
range”, “treated to ferrite/pearlite structure”, “normalized” and “rapid cooled and tempere
...