Structural Sections to BS4: Part 1: 1993 and BS EN10056: 1999

Product specifications/
tolerances

Web thickness (s)

The dimensions and mass of the following hot-rolled

tolerance given in Table 1(c)

The deviation from nominal on web thickness measured

at the mid-point of dimension (h) shall be within the

structural steel sections currently produced by Corus

universal beams, universal columns, universal bearing

Table 1 (c) Tolerances on web thickness

piles, joists, parallel flange channels, structural tees cut

Web thickness s

Tolerance

from universal beams, structural tees cut from universal

mm

mm

columns, as well as length, depth and mass tolerances

for taper flange joists are specified in BS4: Part 1:
1993.

Rolling tolerances
BS EN 10034: 1993

Less than 7

0.7

7 up to but excluding 10

1.0

10 up to but excluding 20

1.5

20 up to but excluding 40

2.0

40 up to but excluding 60

2.5

60 and over

3.0

This European Standard specifies tolerances on shape

dimensions and mass of structural steel universal

Flange thickness (t)

beams and columns. These requirements do not apply

The deviation from nominal on flange thickness

to taper flange sections.

measured at the quarter flange width point shall be

within the tolerance given in Table 1(d)

Section height (h)

The deviation from nominal on section height measured
at the centre line of web thickness shall be within the
tolerance given in Table 1(a).
Table 1 (a) Tolerance on height and cross-section
Section height h

Tolerance

mm

mm

Up to and including 180

+3.0
-2.0

Greater than 180 up to and including 400

+4.0
-2.0

Greater than 400 up to and including 700

+5.0
-3.0

Greater than 700

5.0

Table 1 (d) Tolerances on flange thickness

Flange thickness t

Tolerance

mm

mm

Less than 6.5

+1.5
-0.5

6.5 up to but excluding 10

+2.0
-1.0

10 up to but excluding 20

+2.5
-1.5

20 up to but excluding 30

+2.5
-2.0

30 up to but excluding 40

2.5

40 up to but excluding 60

3.0

60 and over

4.0

Flange width (b)

The deviation from nominal on flange width shall be
within the tolerance given in Table 1(b).
s
y

Table 1 (b) Tolerance on flange width

Flange width b

Tolerance

mm

mm

Up to and including 110

+4.0
-1.0

Greater than 110 up to and including 210

+4.0
-2.0

Greater than 210 up to and including 325

4.0

Greater than 325

+6.0
-5.0

t*

x
b /4

38 Corus Construction & Industrial

t* is measured at b/4

Structural Sections to BS4: Part 1: 1993 and BS EN10056: 1999

Out-of-squareness (k + k)

Straightness (qxx or qyy)

The out-of-squareness of the section shall not exceed

The straightness shall comply with the requirements

the maximum given in Table 2(a).

given in Table 3.

Table 2 (a) Tolerance on out-of-squareness of

Table 3 Tolerance on straightness of universal

universal beams and columns

beams and columns

Flange width b

Tolerance

Section height h
mm

mm

mm

Up to and including 110

1.5

Greater than 110

2% of b

Tolerance qxx and qyy

on length L
%

(maximum 6.5mm)

Greater than 80 up to
and including 180

0.30 L

Greater than 180 up to

and including 360

0.15 L

Greater than 360

0.1 L

k1

k1

qxx
h

qyy

Web off-centre (e)

The mid-thickness of the web shall not deviate from the

Tolerance on mass

mid-width position on the flange by more than the

The deviation from the nominal mass of a batch or a

distance (e) given in Table 2(b).

piece shall not exceed 4.0%.

Table 2 (b) Tolerance on web off-centre of universal

The mass deviation is the difference between the actual

beams and columns

mass of the batch or piece and the calculated mass.

The calculated mass shall be determined using a

Flange
thickness t

Flange width b

mm

mm

mm

t < 40

Up to and including 110

2.5

Greater than 110 up to

and including 325

3.5

Greater than 325

5.0

a) 50mm

Greater than 110 up to

and including 325

5.0

or

Greater than 325

8.0

t >/ 40

Web off-centre
where e = b1 - b2
2

density of 7850kg/m3.
Tolerance on length
The sections shall be cut to ordered lengths to
tolerances of:

b) -0, +100mm where minimum lengths are required.

L represents the longest useable length of the section
assuming that the ends of the section have been cut

b1

b2

square.

ax

Lm

Corus Construction & Industrial 39

Structural Sections to BS4: Part 1: 1993 and BS EN10056: 1999

Deviation

Rolling tolerances
BS EN 10056-2: 1993

Out-of-square (k)

This European Standard specifies tolerances on shape

given in Table 1(c). For unequal leg

dimensions and mass of hot-rolled structural steel

angles, the longer leg length (a)

equal and unequal leg angles.

shall be used to determine the

Deviation

Out-of-squareness of the section

shall not exceed the maximum

tolerance band.
Tolerances on shapes and dimensions
Table 1 (c) Squareness tolerances

Leg length (a or b)
The deviation from nominal on leg length shall be within

Out of square - leg length

Tolerance
mm

the tolerance given in Table 1(a). For unequal leg angles

mm

the longer leg length (a) shall be used to determine the

Up to and including 100

1.0

tolerance band.

Greater than 100 up to

and including 150

1.5

Greater than 150 up to

and including 200

2.0

Greater than 200

3.0

t
a

Straightness (q)

The deviation from straightness

shall not exceed the tolerances

given in Table 1(d). For unequal leg

q

angles, the longer leg length (a)

shall be used to determine the

tolerance band.
Table 1 (d) Straightness tolerances

Table 1 (a) Dimensional tolerances

Leg length a

Tolerance

Tolerance
mm

mm

Over
full bar length

Up to and including 50

1.0

Greater than 50 up to
and including 100

2.0

Greater than 100 up to

and including 150

3.0

Greater than 150 up to

and including 200

4.0

Greater than 200

+ 6.0
-4.0

Over any part bar length

Leg length
a

Deviation
q

Length
considered

Deviation
q

mm

mm

mm

mm

Up to and
including 150

0.4% L

1,500

6.0

Up to and
including 200

0.2% L

2,000

3.0

Greater than 200

0.1% L

3,000

3.0

Section thickness (t)

Tolerance on mass

The deviation from nominal on thickness shall be within

The deviation from the nominal mass of any individual

the tolerances given in Table 1(b).

piece shall not exceed:

a) 6% for thickness for t <\ 4mm or
b) 4% for thickness for t > 4mm.

Table 1 (b) Thickness tolerances

Section thickness t

Tolerance

mm

mm

Up to and including 5

0.50

Greater than 5 up to
and including 10

0.75

Greater than 10 up to
and including 15

1.0

Greater than 15

1.20

The deviation from the nominal mass is the difference

between the actual mass of the piece and the
calculated mass. The calculated mass shall be
determined using a density of 7850kg/m3.
Tolerance on length
The tolerance on ordered length shall be either:
a) 50mm; or
b) -0, +100mm where minimum lengths are required.

40 Corus Construction & Industrial

Structural Sections to BS4: Part 1: 1993 and BS EN10056: 1999

Joists to BS 4:
Part 1: 1993

Table 1: Tolerances for parallel flange channels

Designation

Range

Tolerance

mm
HEIGHT

mm
h 65

mm
1.5

Mass tolerances for joists

65<h

200

2.0

200<h

v/

actual mass per unit length of the

v/

Tolerances shall be applied to the

v/

Property

400

3.0

400<h

4.0

FLANGE WIDTH

1.5

50<b

joist. The rolling tolerances shall

either be:

100<b

b) + 5.0% of the actual mass per

100

2.0

125

2.5

v/

or

50
v/

unit length

v/

a) 2.5% of the actual mass per

125<b

3.0

0.5

unit length where a minimum

mass per unit length is ordered.

10

10<s

Joists ordered as specified or as

15

v/

v/

WEB THICKNESS

Length tolerances for joists

0.7

15<s

1.0

exact lengths shall be supplied as

follows:

10

-0.5

v/

FLANGE THICKNESS

-1.0

15<t

-1.5

v/

r3

a) Specified lengths. When a joist is

10<t

cut to a specified length, it shall

15

be cut to within 25mm of that

length. When a minimum length
within

+50
-0

All Sizes

v/

HEEL RADIUS

is specified, it shall be cut to

0.3t

r3

mm of that minimum

length.
to be cut to an exact length, it

OUT OF
k

SQUARENESS

shall be cold sawn to within

100

v/

b) Exact lengths. When a section is

100<b

2.0
2.5% of b

k + k1

3.2mm of that length.

k1

k1

WEB FLATNESS

100<h

variation from

200<h

specified depth
mm

Up to 305

100

0.5

200

1.0

v/

Maximum permissible

v/

Nominal depth

v/

Depth tolerances for joists

400

1.5

400<h

1.5

mm

+3.2

STRAIGHTNESS

-0.8

150

v/

qxx
qxx

0.3% of L
0.2% of L

300<h

0.15% of L

0.5% of L

qyy

qyy

v/

150

150<h

300

v/

Rolling
tolerances
BS EN 10279:
2000

300

v/

150<h

0.3% of L

300<h

0.2% of L

STANDARD

LENGTH (L)

All

This European Standard specifies

ALTERNATIVE STANDARD

LENGTH (L)

All

requirements for the tolerances on

(by agreement)

-0

+100
50

dimensions, shape and mass on hot

MASS PER UNIT LENGTH

flanges.

Kg/m

125

6%

125<h

4%

v/

rolled steel channels with parallel

NB. Plus tolerances are limited by weight

Corus Construction & Industrial 41