Before ordering steel bars, ask for clear photographs of the product markings and bundle tags, then match them with the supplier’s certification documents. A familiar logo is a useful starting point, but the purchase still needs to match the correct manufacturer, plant, product and delivery. The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) publishes a logo directory for deformed steel bars, rerolled steel bars and equal-leg angle steel bars. This guide explains how Philippine homeowners, contractors and purchasing teams can use that directory when comparing quotations and checking deliveries. What is a BPS-approved steel logo? For the steel products covered here, BPS explains that approved identifying logos must be embossed on the steel, while the PS license number or Statement of Confirmation (SOC) number must appear on the tags attached to the bundles. Check both the steel and its tag. The identifying logo on a bar and the certification number on a bundle serve different purposes. BPS steel-logo guidance PS refers to the Philippine Standard certification scheme; ICC means Import Commodity Clearance. The directory includes ICC-labelled sections, while the steel-specific BPS guidance also refers to SOC documentation. Ask the supplier which certification route applies to the offered goods and request the corresponding documents. Read the directory category before judging the logo The directory separates entries with a recorded license or certificate from logos intended for an application. Its section letters work as follows: Directory sections Status shown in the directory Buyer’s next step A / E PS license recorded Verify the current license and its product and plant coverage. B / F Logo intended for a PS application Request evidence of a subsequently issued license; the entry alone does not establish approval. C / G ICC certificate recorded Verify the certificate and whether it covers the offered goods. D / H Logo intended for an ICC application Request evidence of issued clearance applicable to the goods. A–D concern deformed and rerolled bars; E–H concern equal-leg angle bars. Use the official logo directory to read each entry in context. An application-related entry alone is insufficient evidence for accepting a delivery. Start with the correct product and specification BPS lists these three product groups under mandatory certification. Its product pages and marking guide identify the following standards: Product Reference identified by BPS Information to confirm when requesting a quote Deformed steel bars for concrete reinforcement PNS 49:2020 Nominal diameter, specified grade and ductility class, length and quantity. Rerolled steel bars PNS 211:2002 Exact product classification, grade, diameter, length and quantity. Hot-rolled equal-leg angle steel bars PNS 657:2008 Leg dimensions, thickness, grade, length and quantity. References: deformed-bar coverage , equal-leg angle-bar coverage and the BPS marking guide . The angle-bar listing specifically covers hot-rolled equal-leg products. Check the applicable category before applying this guidance to another steel section. Use the project’s approved material specification when requesting quotations; have the responsible engineer review any proposed substitution. A practical check before ordering 1. Request photographs of the offered stock Ask for a close-up of the embossed identifying mark, other product markings and the full bundle tag. A brochure image helps identify a brand, but photographs of the offered stock help connect the quotation to the goods you will receive. 2. Match the mark with the company and plant Open the directory through the BPS official page . Compare the actual mark visually with the entry and check the company, named plant, product group and section heading. For entries displayed as images, use the original image rather than a text transcription. If a company has multiple entries, identify the one relevant to the offered product. Ask for clarification when the quotation names a retailer but the markings identify a different manufacturer or importer. 3. Match the documents with the goods Request the applicable PS license, SOC or ICC-related clearance documents. Compare the holder’s name, plant where relevant, covered product and specifications, document number and validity information. Check how the documents relate to the offered batch or shipment where applicable. The BPS certified-products page provides links to PS licensee and ICC certificate-holder lists. If the records and supplied documents do not resolve a question, contact BPS before accepting the material. BPS publishes [email protected] as a contact for PS verification. BPS verification guidance 4. Put the agreed specification in the order Record the product, manufacturer or importer, required grade, dimensions, length and quantity. Agree on the certification documents to be supplied, delivery charges and the procedure for resolving discrepancies. This makes quotations easier to compare and gives the receiving team a clear reference. Delivery checklist BuildGuidePH recommends recording the following at delivery: Product type and the manufacturer’s identifying mark. Manufacturer or importer and plant details where relevant. Grade, diameter or leg dimensions, thickness where applicable, and length. Bundle quantity and lot or batch information available on the tag. Certification number on the tag and its corresponding document. Photographs linking the markings, tags and delivered bundles. Any differences from the purchase order, including missing tags or mixed specifications. Keep disputed bundles separate and resolve the discrepancy with the supplier and the person responsible for acceptance before use. Visual checks support identification and traceability; project testing and engineering acceptance still follow the project’s requirements. Supplier inquiry template Please quote for [product] to the following specification: [grade], [diameter or leg dimensions and thickness], [length] and [quantity]. Delivery location: [location]. Please identify the manufacturer or importer and plant where relevant, provide photographs of the embossed markings and full bundle tags, and supply the applicable PS license, SOC or ICC-related clearance documents for verification. State the reference standard, VAT treatment, delivery and unloading charges, lead time, and procedure for resolving any delivery mismatch. Frequently asked questions Does a directory entry mean I can accept the steel? Use the entry to identify the mark and its listed status, then verify the documents and the actual goods. A logo under an application section does not establish that certification has been issued. What if I cannot find the mark? Request a clearer photograph and the supplier’s supporting documents. Ask BPS to clarify the mark or certification status if necessary. Absence from a search result alone is insufficient to label a product counterfeit. Can I rely on a saved screenshot of the directory? For purchasing checks, follow the live official directory. A saved extract can become outdated or omit the product group, plant and application category needed to interpret an entry. Can the logo confirm that a bar meets my project’s grade? The identifying mark is one part of the check. Match the specified grade with the product markings and documents, and follow the project’s testing and acceptance requirements. BPS describes grade and manufacturing-process markings in its PNS 49:2020 announcement . Find suppliers and request comparable quotations Use BuildGuidePH to find building-material suppliers and send the same specification and document request to each one. Compare the offered product, supporting information and delivered cost before selecting a supplier. Sources checked on 3 October 2026. Use current BPS records when checking a purchase. The steps and delivery checklist above are BuildGuidePH purchasing recommendations.