What the categories mean, roughly
| Category | Environment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | Very low | Dry indoor spaces |
| C2 | Low | Unheated interiors, low-humidity areas |
| C3 | Medium | Urban/industrial atmosphere, moderate humidity, typical outdoor city exposure |
| C4 | High | Coastal areas, chemical processing zones |
| C5 | Very high | Coastal industrial zones, offshore |
How this connects to grade selection
As a general rule of thumb (not a strict engineering rule), 304 grade is commonly used up to C2/C3 conditions, and 316 is favoured from C3 through C5 where chloride exposure is a real factor — this lines up with our 304 vs 316 guide.
Why this matters for Jaipur specifically
Jaipur's inland, dry climate sits at the lower end of this scale (roughly C2-C3) for most installations — which is exactly why 304 performs well here for the majority of projects, without needing to default to premium 316 across the board.