Stainless steel grade is the specification line most often quietly downgraded between quotation and delivery, because the difference is invisible on the day the equipment arrives and obvious eighteen months later.
The three grades you will be quoted
| Grade | Composition (nominal) | Corrosion resistance | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SS 304 | 18% Cr, 8% Ni | Good | General kitchen — the correct default |
| SS 316 | 16% Cr, 10% Ni, 2% Mo | Excellent | Salt, acid, coastal, pharma, lab |
| SS 202 | 17% Cr, 4% Ni, high Mn | Limited | Dry-side, decorative, budget items |
Where each grade belongs
SS 304 — the working default
Work tables, sinks, racking, counters, hoods, trolleys. Handles the wet, warm, detergent-heavy environment of a kitchen and takes a good finish. Unless there is a specific reason to go up or down, this is the grade.
SS 316 — where chemistry is aggressive
Coastal sites, brine and pickling, high-acid preparation, chlorinated cleaning regimes, pharmaceutical and laboratory work. The molybdenum content resists chloride pitting that will eventually mark 304.
SS 202 — narrow, legitimate uses
Dry-store racking, decorative panels, display counter carcasses that never get wet. It is a real material with real uses. It is not a substitute for 304 anywhere water sits.
How to verify what you received
A magnet is a rough indicator only — 304 is essentially non-magnetic in annealed sheet, while 202 often shows slight magnetism, but cold working changes this and the test is not conclusive.
The reliable routes are a material test certificate from the supplier, or a portable XRF or spot chemical test on the delivered item. For any significant order, ask for the mill test certificate up front.
Sheet thickness matters as much as grade
A 304-grade top at 0.7 mm will dish and drum under a chopping board. A 1.2 mm top will not. Grade and gauge are separate specification lines and both belong in the quotation.
- Work-top surfaces: 1.2 mm minimum
- Undershelves: 0.9 mm acceptable
- Sink bowls: 1.2 mm
- Hood bodies: 0.9 mm – 1.2 mm
- Cladding panels: 0.6 mm – 0.8 mm
