NAICS 331315

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to produce statistics about the U.S. economy. Developed by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, NAICS replaced the SIC system in 1997 to improve comparability across countries. The current vintage used for most federal data products is NAICS 2022. ¹

NAICS 331315 covers establishments primarily engaged in flat rolling or continuous casting aluminum sheet, plate, foil, and welded tube from purchased aluminum, as well as integrated mills that recover aluminum from scrap and then flat roll or continuously cast these products. This code classifies production of plain aluminum foil and other flat-rolled aluminum mill products distinct from primary smelting, extrusion, or other rolling/drawing activities. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 331315 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/331315
• G2X — NAICS 331312: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/331312
• G2X — NAICS 331316: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/331316

What this NAICS covers

• Flat rolling aluminum sheet and plate from purchased aluminum. ²
• Continuous casting aluminum sheet, plate, and foil. ²
• Producing plain aluminum foil (non-laminated). ²
• Flat rolling or continuous casting welded aluminum tube. ²
• Integrated operations that recover aluminum from scrap and then flat roll or continuously cast sheet, plate, foil, and welded tube. ²
• Manufacturing flat-rolled aluminum coils/strip as intermediate mill products. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	331312	Primary Aluminum Production
NAICS	331316	Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing
NAICS	331319	Other Aluminum Rolling and Drawing
PSC	9535	Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Foil, Nonferrous Base Metal

Source: Census NAICS cross-references. ²

Common exclusions and cross-references

• Primary aluminum made from alumina combined with flat rolling or continuous casting is classified under 331312, not 331315. ²
• Aluminum extruded products (e.g., extruded bar, pipe, and tube blooms; drawn tube) fall under 331316. ²
• Rolling/drawing aluminum shapes other than flat-rolled sheet, plate, foil, and welded tube is classified in 331319. ²
• Cutting purchased aluminum foil into smaller lengths or widths is classified in 332999. ²
• Laminating aluminum foil for flexible packaging uses is classified in 322225. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 331315?
  Establishments in this industry flat roll or continuously cast aluminum sheet, plate, foil, and welded tube from purchased aluminum, or operate integrated mills that recover aluminum from scrap and then produce the same flat-rolled products. Plain (non-laminated) aluminum foil is included. ²

• How is 331315 different from 331312 and 331316?
  331312 covers making aluminum from alumina (primary smelting) and may include rolling/casting of the aluminum it makes; 331316 covers extrusion and drawn tube. 331315 covers flat-rolled sheet, plate, foil, and welded tube from purchased or scrap-recovered aluminum. ²

• Which PSC codes commonly align to buys under 331315?
  PSC 9535 is the closest fit for aluminum plate, sheet, strip, and foil as nonferrous base metal mill products. Always confirm PSC selection with the current PSC Manual and the specific item being procured. ³

• What is the SBA small business size standard for 331315?
  SBA assigns employee-based size standards to most manufacturing NAICS codes. The applicable threshold for 331315 is published in SBA’s Table of Size Standards; contracting officers and offerors should reference the current table for the operative value. ⁴

• Does simple slitting or cutting of purchased foil fit under 331315?
  No. Cutting purchased aluminum foil into smaller widths or lengths is classified under 332999, not within 331315. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 331315 Aluminum Sheet, Plate, and Foil Manufacturing: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/331315
• Census NAICS — Introduction and 2022 structure: https://www.census.gov/naics/
• Census NAICS — 331315 official definition and cross-references: https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=331315&year=2022
• PSC Tool — PSC 9535 (Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Foil, Nonferrous Base Metal): https://psctool.us/browse/9535
• SBA — Table of Small Business Size Standards: https://www.sba.gov/document/support/table-size-standards

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) main page. https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 industry page for 331315 (official definition and cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=331315&year=2022
3. PSC Manual — PSC 9535 (Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Foil, Nonferrous Base Metal). https://psctool.us/browse/9535
4. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards. https://www.sba.gov/document/support/table-size-standards