Council urges review of IF products

The Asean Iron & Steel Council (AISC) is calling for a critical review of induction furnace (IF) technology in the production of reinforcing steel bars across Southeast Asia, citing potential risks to structural safety.

A technical paper released by the council's Steel Product Committee examines various steelmaking processes, including blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace (BF/BOF), electric arc furnace (EAF), and induction furnace (IF) technologies. Research conducted by academics from Chulalongkorn University and Universiti Sains Malaysia indicates that steel produced via the IF route generally shows higher levels of non-metallic inclusions when measured by the K4 cleanliness index.

These microscopic inclusions, the report warns, "may reduce ductility, fatigue resistance and overall structural performance." While IF-produced steel can still meet existing chemical composition requirements under current national standards, the council argues that these standards, many of which were developed decades ago before IF technology became widespread for reinforcing bars, may not adequately assess steel quality. Current standards often focus on tensile strength, yield strength, and chemical composition, without routinely requiring cleanliness testing that can differentiate steel from various production methods.

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may reduce ductility, fatigue resistance and overall structural performance

The AISC points to regulatory actions in other countries as a precedent. China prohibited the use of IF for reinforcing bar production in 2017, and India, Malaysia, and other nations have intensified their oversight of IF-produced steel. Thailand now requires reinforcing bars to be marked according to their production route for better traceability.

Referencing the collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok after a 2025 earthquake, the council emphasized the "urgent need to reassess construction material standards and ensure that steel used in critical infrastructure meets the highest levels of quality and reliability." The technical paper, however, does not definitively conclude that IF-produced steel is inherently unsafe, but rather advocates for updated standards and closer scrutiny.

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underscores the urgent need to reassess construction material standards and ensure that steel used in critical infrastructure meets the highest levels of quality and reliability.