do you know if D1.1 allows me to say "if the CE is similar, strength is similar, then I can categorize the steel as similar and covered under the qualification testing of that similar steel"?
I'm not seeing anything in D1.1 that offers that latitude, other than that offered to the Engineer. Check out C-1.4 on page 416 of D1.1: 2010.
If an unlisted material, with a foreign, non-transferrable designation, was proven to the Engineer as having the same make-up, treatments and properties as an American listed material, he/she could accept it, but it has to be documented. In the case of non-critical weldments, like pallets, this shouldn't be too difficult. Cranes are a different story. Trustworthiness of some mills (especially those in China, Russia, Africa, etc.) to repeatedly produce and accurately identify materials also throws road blocks into the process.
One of the great things about the materials listed in B2.1 is the cross reference of ASTM specs to a UNS Number.
UNS (Unified Numbering System) is used expressly for the purpose you need. If your foriegn, unlisted material has the same UNS# as a listed material, you're good to go.
Tim