1.1   This European Standard applies to oil hardened and tempered spring steel wire made from unalloyed or alloyed steels. They are primarily subject to torsional stresses such as in coil springs for compression and extension and in special cases also for applications where the spring wire is subject to bending stresses such as lever springs.

As a rule unalloyed steels are used for applications at room temperature whereas alloyed steels are generally used at a temperature above room temperature. Alloyed steels may also be chosen for above average tensile strengths.