Range of Structural Steel Grades and Sections
(C250, C350, C450)
Where applicable, these tables cover the full range of Australian produced structural steel hollow
sections, manufactured in accordance with AS 1163, which are generally available and commonly
used in Australia.
The section sizes and their respective grades listed in the Tables include:
• Grade C250 and Grade C350 Circular Hollow Sections (CHS)
• Grade C350 and Grade C450 Rectangular Hollow Sections (RHS)
• Grade C350 and Grade C450 Square Hollow Sections (SHS)
The grade designation (e.g. C250) is based on the nominal minimum yield strength of the steel (in
MPa). The prefix 'C' is used before the value of the nominal yield strength of the steel to indicate
that the section is cold-formed. It should be noted that AS 1163 only considers cold-formed structural
steel hollow sections. The suffix 'L0' denotes impact properties at 0°C as specified in AS
1163.
In these Tables:
• Grade "C250" refers to both C250 and C250L0
• Grade "C350" refers to both C350 and C350L0
• Grade "C450" refers to both C450 and C450L0
2.1.1 Specifications
Hollow sections produced in Australia are manufactured by cold-forming and high-frequency
Electric Resistance Welding (ERW). The ERW process allows cold-formed hollow sections to be
welded at ambient temperatures without subsequent stress relieving.
However, the Tables only apply to those hollow sections manufactured in accordance with
AS 1163.
Specifiers should also note that hollow sections not complying with AS 1163 may be required
to be down-graded in yield stress, tensile strength and other mechanical properties when
designing to AS 4100 and welding to AS/NZS 1554.1.
To ensure the assumptions, product benefits and quality of structural steel hollow sections
assumed in these Tables, designers should specifically nominate AS 1163 complying product in
their specifications and general notes. Such wording may be:
Unless Noted Otherwise (U.N.O.) all CHS/RHS/SHS to be complying with AS 1163.
Further information on appropriate specifications for AS 1163 compliant product may be found in
Steel Construction, Vol. 29, No. 3 [2.1] or by contacting AISC.
