In the construction of steel offshore platforms, cast nodes and lifting points may offer technical and/or economic advantages in manufacture compared with fabricated items. However, they must be comparable to fabricated items in terms of geometrical accuracy, weldability, and mechanical strength and toughness. Aimed at suppliers and purchasers alike, this Specification sets out the requirements for the design, manufacture and testing of carbon-manganese steel castings for use as structural members of offshore platforms, principally for North Sea conditions. Chemical and mechanical properties are specified, together with the requirements for fracture toughness, non destructive testing and weldability testing. The separate responsibilities of purchaser and supplier are also defined in EEMUA 176.