The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), has prevented the sale and distribution of 600 pieces of substandard equal-leg steel angle bars worth Php 0.74 million.  

The said substandard steel products were found non-conforming to the elongation requirement of Philippine National Standard (PNS) 657:2008 (Hot-Rolled Steel Sections – Equal-Leg Angles – Specifications) as confirmed by third-party testing. Elongation refers to the permanent extension in the gauge length of a steel bar which is measured after rupture.  

DTI-BPS witnessed the destruction of the substandard equal-leg steel angle bars at the manufacturer’s warehouse on 20 January 2023. The substandard products were cut using an oxy-acetylene torch prior to transfer to the manufacturer’s smelting facility. 

Equal-leg steel angle bar is among the 111 products and systems currently covered under the BPS’ Mandatory Product Certification Schemes (www.bps.dti.gov.ph/product-certification/list-of-productsunder-mandatory-certification). The regulated products are classified into three (3) major product groups, namely, 1/ Electrical and Electronic Products, 2/ Mechanical/Building & Construction Materials, and 3/ Chemical & Other Consumer Products and Systems.  

The DTI-BPS implements two (2) Mandatory Product Certification Schemes: the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark Licensing Scheme and the ICC Certification Scheme. Products covered by the mandatory certification, whether locally manufactured or imported, are not allowed to be distributed in the Philippine market without the necessary PS or ICC marks.  

For more updates and information on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures (STRACAP), please visit the BPS website at www.bps.dti.gov.ph. Emails and messages may also be sent to bps@dti.gov.ph or through the official BPS Facebook page (facebook.com/PHstandards)*

Date of release: 20 February 2023